Love it or hate it, Rotten Tomatoes is now more important than ever when it comes to whether moviegoers decide to check out the latest releases in theaters, and it's not uncommon for studios to tout scores as proudly as star ratings. These days, the chances of a successful opening weekend can hinge on one of those all-important "Certified Fresh" badges.
We've seen that in action this year, and 2022 has certainly been an interesting one for Marvel and DC. Multiple delays have seen highly anticipated titles like Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom slip into 2023, while even Marvel Studios has been far more hit-and-miss than usual.
That makes this ranking particularly interesting, especially when you throw Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special into the mix (they are, after all, more akin to movies than TV shows). How do they all compare and does Marvel or DC come out on top? We think you'll be very surprised by how these releases stack up!
To take a look through this ranking, simply click on the "Next" button below.
9. Morbius
Score: 15%
Rotten or Fresh? Rotten
Critics Consensus: Cursed with uninspired effects, rote performances, and a borderline nonsensical story, this dreary mess is a vein attempt to make Morbius happen.
By far the lowest-rated movie listed here, Morbius deserves the score above as it has few redeeming features. Jared Leto certainly did his best to inject some life into the Living Vampire, but a borderline nonsensical plot and Fantastic Four-style cuts resulted in an origin story that was a total mess.
Throw in two of the worst post-credits scenes we've seen, and this is well and truly rotten to its core. We just hope Sony Pictures isn't foolish enough to ever move forward with a sequel.
8. Black Adam
Score: 39%
Rotten or Fresh? Rotten
Critics Consensus: Black Adam may end up pointing the way to an exciting future for DC films, but as a standalone experience, it's a wildly uneven letdown.
Dwayne Johnson promised that the hierarchy of power in the DCEU would change with Black Adam, and while the character is certainly formidable, this wasn't the fresh start this franchise needed.
A mediocre movie, it hits far too many familiar plot beats and fails to do its characters justice, with a forgettable take on the Justice Society and a lot of annoying supporting players. Still, we can't fault the badass action scenes or the lead's performance...it's really not that much better than Morbius, though.
7. Thor: Love and Thunder
Score: 64%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: In some ways, Thor: Love and Thunder feels like Ragnarok redux -- but overall, it offers enough fast-paced fun to make this a worthy addition to the MCU.
What a disappointment. While Thor: Love and Thunder wasn't a bad movie, an over-reliance on silly humour and a paper-thin bad guy means it ranks among some of Marvel Studios' most underwhelming blockbusters.
We loved The Mighty Thor, but like everything else in this sequel, her arc was incredibly rushed. The movie had its moments, but it didn't live up to expectations, and we're still struggling to figure out what went wrong here. We can only assume Taika Waititi was given a little too much creative freedom.
6. DC League of Super-Pets
Score: 73%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: Although it never quite soars, DC League of Super-Pets is a more than satisfactory diversion for families in search of four-legged fun.
Very much a middle-of-the-road animated feature, DC League of Super-Pets was only a few levels above the direct-to-DVD movies Warner Bros. frequently releases.
A ripoff of The Secret Life of Pets mashed together with the DC Universe, the blockbuster features an impressive voice cast and some enjoyable Easter Eggs, but there's not a huge amount of substance beyond that. It's a shame too because this concept could have been used to much greater effect on screen.
5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Score: 74%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness labors under the weight of the sprawling MCU, but Sam Raimi's distinctive direction casts an entertaining spell.
While Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange sequel wasn't top-tier Marvel Studios (or even close to being on the same level as Spider-Man 2), there was still a lot to love about this one.
This trip into the Multiverse admittedly wasn't anywhere near as mad as we'd hoped, but an argument could be made that we should blame all those bogus rumours for building expectations up too much. As it stands, Earth-838 was pretty wild, and the horror vibe Raimi brought to the table was definitely appreciated.
4. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Score: 84%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: A poignant tribute that satisfyingly moves the franchise forward, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever marks an ambitious and emotionally rewarding triumph for the MCU.
While not quite up there with Black Panther, Wakanda Forever is still an emotional and powerful tribute to Chadwick Boseman with terrific performances from its cast (Angela Bassett is, without a shadow of a doubt, Oscar-worthy).
Throw in some great work from Letitia Wright and a phenomenal villain in Tenoch Huerta's Namor, and this is a sequel it's worth celebrating. We could have done without the Everett Ross subplot, but hope to now see the character better utilised in Secret Invasion next year.
3. The Batman
Score: 85%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: A grim, gritty, and gripping super-noir, The Batman ranks among the Dark Knight's bleakest -- and most thrillingly ambitious -- live-action outings.
Set in its own world away from the messy DC Extended Universe, The Batman was able to soar with a mature and beautifully shot take on Gotham City. The Riddler was a suitably formidable foe, and there wasn't a single bad performance to be found here, with Robert Pattinson stealing the show as the Dark Knight.
We do wish a sequel was coming a lot sooner, and hope this franchise doesn't get lost in the shuffle with what Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios are now doing with the DCU.
2. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Score: 89%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: More of a stocking stuffer than a fully-rounded parcel, this yuletide excursion is a delightful showcase for Drax, Mantis, and a very game Kevin Bacon.
An instant Christmas classic, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special welcomes James Gunn back into the MCU and, boy, we sure have missed him. Packed full of heart, humour, and plenty of rockin' Christmas tunes (including some new ones), this is a very special experience we plan to revisit again and again.
The real scene-stealer, however, is Pom Klementieff as Mantis. Given the chance to shine, the actress makes this character this shared world's new MVP.
1. Werewolf By Night
Score: 90%
Rotten or Fresh? Fresh
Critics Consensus: A spooky yarn told with taut economy, Werewolf by Night is a standout Marvel entry that proves Michael Giacchino as atmospheric and skilled a director as he is a composer.
A real departure for Marvel Studios, Werewolf by Night was presented in black and white and told in the style of a classic Universal horror movie. Suitably gory and weird, this Special Presentation was a riot and added three great new characters to the MCU: Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, and Elsa Bloodstone.
The opening chapter in what promises to be a monstrous new era for Marvel Studios, we're very excited to see where this story takes us. More like this moving forward, please!