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Summary
Well before theMarvel Cinematic Universe , live - activity movies were adapting Marvel Comics ' far-famed reference . Prior to Marvel Studios ' liberation ofIron Manin 2008 , the first prescribed entree intothe official MCU timeline , non - MCU Marvel movies had an uneven caterpillar track record that did n’t always manage to capture the magic trick of the comics . After the commercial-grade and vital unsuccessful person ofHoward the Duck , Marvel faced failure and chose to sell the movie rights to its most well - know property , including theX - MenandThe Fantastic Four , allowing several films featuring those part to be developed by other production studios .
Marvel Entertainment was purchased by Disney in 2009 . Despite that , thefilm rights to many Marvel persona still belonged to other studios . As a result , some of the self-aggrandizing franchises , including theX - MenandSpider - Manfilm adaptation , exist totally separate from Marvel Studios ' MCU . The 2019 acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney meant that Fox ’s old stories , most notably those including the ex - Men and variation , could be rebooted in the MCU . There is a long history of non - MCU Marvel movies that are stylistically different from the MCU , but many of them remain watchable . Here’severy Marvel moving picture that is n’t part of the MCU .
Over 17 years and 35 movies , the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have redefined blockbuster cinema . But how do all the films heap up ?
Captain America Serial Film & Return of Captain America (1944)
Marvel’s Live Action Beginning
While Marvel Comics was still operating as Timely Comics , Republic’sCaptain Americaserial moving picture , release in 1944 , follows District Attorney Grant Gardner instead of the more well - get laid Steve Rogers . Gardner plump after Dr. Maldor after his writing table is kidnapped and prevents him from using a " Dynamic Vibrator " to unleash a toxic chemical substance , " Purple Death . " The film is plain a Cartesian product of its sentence both in formatting and narrative approach , as it was a camp , low - budget serial with outdated trope .
skipper Americawas also Republic ’s last serial superhero movie — with other notable handout being DC ’s Captain Marvel and Batman — and was re - released asReturn of Captain Americain 1953 . The movie evidently does n’t halt up to more advanced superhero spectacle , but it is still deserving match out for musical genre fans . If nothing else , it ’s an entertaining monitor of how far superheroes have add up .
Captain America : Brave New World will ask to answer some crucial interrogative sentence concerning not only Sam Wilson but also the body politic of the MCU at large .
The Bill Bixby & Lou Ferrigno’s Incredible Hulk Movies (1977–1990)
Bringing The Jade Giant To Life
One of the most successful non - MCU Marvel outing was the 1977The Incredible HulkTV show , starring Bill Bixby as David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk . Banner ’s tragical narrative begin with a one - hour movie calledThe Incredible Hulk , followed by the more comedicThe Return of The Incredible Hulk , 1988’sThe Incredible Hulk Returns(which also feature the first unrecorded - natural process version of Thor ) , 1989’sThe Trial of The Incredible Hulk , and 1990 ’s tragical finale , The Death of The Incredible Hulk .
The movies and the show are know for entrance the pain sensation of Hulk ’s duality , and their influence can even be felt throughout theHulk ’s tumultuous MCU journey . Seeing Hulk done with physical composition and no exceptional essence may be jarring for those used to a larger Avenger , but there ’s an undeniable charm in Ferrigno ’s performance . While a mathematical product of their time , younger Marvel fans would do well to check outThe Incredible Hulkmovie and the ensuing serial .
Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man 1977–1981
Spider-Man’s Live-Action Debut
Although Spider - Man ’s former non - MCU Marvel movies are now mainly the target of meme , they were well - receive at the time of their original release . Columbia Pictures evidence how visually stunning the vernal hero could be on the liberal screen in 1977 with practical result and a genuine stunt - someone World Wide Web - slinging and wall - crawling . Nicholas Hammond starred in the 1977 film , as well as a TV show and two theatrical continuation , Spider - Man Strikes BackandSpider - Man : The Dragon ’s Challenge .
While the 21st century Spider - Man actors are more recognizable , the webslinger has a lively - action vocation that goes back several decade .
Spider - Man ’s first trilogy may not look serious by modern touchstone , but it holds up as a reasonably accurate adaptation of the tone of the comics from the silver and bronze ages of Marvel Comics . There ’s only so much that can be done with a hero as fantastical as Spider - Man , and the 1977 film does an entertaining job adapting his powers to the movie urinate technology of the metre . The optic fidelity may not be there , but the heart undeniably is .
Toei’s Spider-Man (1978)
Spider-Man Goes International
Toei’sSpider - Manreleased in 1978 concurrently with a pop TV showat the time . Shinji Tōdō played Takuya Yamashiro , a racer who came into contact lens with an foreign starship called the Marveller . Garia , the last subsister of Planet Spider , give Takuya his powers through a rip transfusion .
The incident also causes the malefic Professor Monster to become Takuya ’s archenemy . The 1978 movie saw Spider - Man squad up with Interpol Agent Jūzō Mamiya and transform the Marveller into a automaton to push a goliath visit Sea - Devil . Clearly , Toei’sSpider - Manhas almost nothing to do with Marvel Comics ' original Heron , but that does n’t mean the story is n’t weirdly enjoyable , disregardless .
Dr. Strange (1978)
Dr. Strangewas a 1978 lineament - length TV pilot burner for CBSstarring Peter Hooten that served as an blood line story for the Sorcerer Supreme in a story that unfortunately never saw the full light of day . Unlike the contemporary seriesThe Incredible Hulk , and despite Stan Lee ’s involvement as a advisor , Dr. Strangewasn’t picked up by CBS . The non - MCU Marvel movie had the potential to be a cheesy but fun take on the Sorcerer Supreme .
It ’s unsatisfying that audiences wo n’t ever get to see Strange ’s on - screen organic evolution . Hooten ’s Strange may have become a rage classic , much like Ferrigno ’s Hulk or other Marvel properties of the era . luckily , full - duration feature has been released on VHS , DVD , and Blu - Ray several times over the year for those curious to correspond it out . However , it has not made the bound to streaming .
Captain America 1979–1990
The Early Adventures Of Steve Rogers
Captain America ’s first three movies are among the cheesiest of all the non - MCU Marvel movies.1979’sCaptain AmericaandCaptain America II : Death Too Soonfollow a bike - riding variation of Steve Rogers , who receive his superhero identity operator and powers from his Father of the Church . 1990’sCaptain Americais a bit more amusing - accurate , with Steve Rogers being fixed and melt , a deform Red Skull wanting to destroy the United States with a nuclear bomb , and aCaptain America costumethat is a picayune bit too accurate for its own goodness .
Captain America ’s three solo plastic film are some of the most key movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - but only one can be the best in the trilogy .
Like most Marvel movies from the era , Captain America ’s pre - MCU moving-picture show are a product of their time . However , that does n’t think they are n’t deserving revisit . While they do n’t hold up to the spectacle of the MCU , there ’s undeniable magical spell , and the way of life Steve depend on with his shield on the front of his bike is a visual that ’s still used in comics and movies today .
Howard the Duck (1986)
A Planned Animated Movie Goes Live-Action
Cast
Critics and interview mostly disliked the pic ’s outlandish story and humor , and as a resolution , Howard the Duckhas often been included in " worst motion-picture show of all time " lists . Howard the Duck has since appeared in MCU projects including theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise andWhat If … ? . Time has been tolerant to the character , allowing his outlandish debut film to be viewed as entertainingly unusual or else of just manifestly too odd to follow .
The Punisher Movies 1989–2008
Three Takes On Frank Castle
Just like Marvel Comics ' anti - hero , live - action at law adaptations of the Punisher have been some of the most brutal non - MCU Marvel films . Action movie ikon Dolph Lundgren starred as Frank Castle in 1989’sThe Punisher . Lundgren did n’t wear thin Castle ’s definitive costume but contend the Yakuza to fend for the children of the mob he used to torment .
Thomas Jane star in 2004’sThe Punisher , seeking retaliation for his family ’s execution cause by John Travolta ’s Howard Saint . Lastly , Ray Stevenson star in 2008’sThe Punisher : War Zone , with Dominic West as the most accurate unrecorded - action at law depiction of Jigsaw to date . Jane later reprised the office for a 2012 buff film , The Punisher : Dirty Laundry . Frank is currently in the MCU , portrayed by Jon Bernthal
Fantastic Four (1994)
A Strange Story
Like the failedCaptain AmericaandDoctor Strangemovies , the first non - MCUFantastic Fourmovie was n’t made with the same dream as Marvel ’s recent blockbusters.1994’sFantastic Fourwas allegedly never supposed to be released , only being germinate as a way to keep the characters ' picture rights from expiring . Unaware of this , the cast witnessed promotion for the moving picture cancel , with the producer even intending to wipe out every copy of the net product .
Fortunately , this non - MCU movie still exists as a unique part of Marvel film history , but its low budget and bare - ivory report are enough to confirm why it was never intended to be a " real " Marvel plastic film . However , theFantastic Fourdoes do a surprisingly near caper mixing the heroes ' inherent campiness with family dynamic . The movie can be stream in its entirety onYouTube .
The MCU is bringing a new version of the Fantastic Four as part of its Multiverse Saga , and here ’s what you call for to hump about this reboot .
Generation X (1996)
An Overlooked X-Men Project With Flaws
Based on the eponymous mutant squad of the nineties , Generation Xis perhaps one of the most unnoted of the former non - MCU Marvel movies . Jubilee serves as the movie ’s main protagonist , with Emma Frost as the wise man frame and Doctor Russel Tresh as the villain . Other mutants include Banshee , M , Mondo , Skin , Buff , and Refrax .
The 10 - Men franchise has many of Marvel ’s most knock-down heroes , but these mutant powerhouses would break the MCU if they ever appeared .
The motion picture shares some similarities withFox’sX - Menfranchiseregarding its basic themes of mutant exclusion . It also has strong parallels to 2020’sTheNew Mutants , as it follows a team of teenage students who start to familiarize themselves with their powers while at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters . The visuals leave behind a stack to be desired , but it ’s exonerated the the core ideas of what makes X - Men piece of work are there .
