How Every Stephen King Movie Is Connected

All of Stephen King’s stories take place in the same shared universe – you could even call it a multiverse. This means that any movie based on his work is connected to all the others, no matter who directed it, which studio made it, or how many different film adaptations of the same story exist.

Curious about the connections between Stephen King’s stories? Before the new show, It: Welcome to Derry, premieres, check out our video! We explore how all of King’s movies – from classics like The Shining and The Shawshank Redemption to beloved films like Stand By Me – are linked through shared characters, settings, creatures, and abilities. We’ll even talk about the Dark Tower movie with Idris Elba – even though it wasn’t great, it’s key to understanding the bigger picture of how these stories connect.

Watch the full video below:

Enjoyed our video about the connections between all of Stephen King’s movies and stories? You might also like our videos on the hidden details in the Castle Rock TV show, interesting Stephen King movie trivia, and a comparison of the The Long Walk movie and book. Find even more videos on the ScreenCrush YouTube channel – and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss our latest content! Also, It: Welcome to Derry will be available on HBO Max starting October 26th.

Every Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

37. Eternals

Honestly, before Eternals came out, I never would have guessed a Marvel movie directed by an Oscar winner and based on Jack Kirby’s amazing work would end up feeling so… unnecessary. It just didn’t quite work. They stayed pretty true to the core ideas from the comics, but made some frustrating changes – the villains, the Deviants, were turned into these generic, motivationless monsters. While the supporting cast had some good moments, especially Kumail Nanjiani and Brian Tyree Henry, the leads, Gemma Chan and Richard Madden, just didn’t have chemistry. They’re supposed to be deeply in love after 6,000 years, but they came across like it was a terrible first date! The movie occasionally touched on really interesting themes about superheroes, mythology, and religion, but then it would just drop those ideas for another boring fight scene. It’s honestly hard to imagine a more dull movie about immortal alien robots trying to save the world.

36. The Incredible Hulk

This movie feels incredibly rushed and poorly made, as if Marvel wasn’t prepared for the success of Iron Man and quickly threw this together. The biggest mistake? Casting Tim Roth as the villain – it’s a truly terrible choice. (You can find more details here.)

35. Thor: The Dark World

It’s fascinating to think Patty Jenkins might have directed a very different Thor movie. What we got instead was a disappointing adventure centered around a pointless quest and a remarkably uninteresting villain. However, there’s a silver lining: this film’s failure might have pushed Marvel to take the bold, creative risks that ultimately made Thor: Ragnarok so successful. (You can read more about it here.)

34. The Marvels

This isn’t the worst Marvel movie, though it’s better than just three others. It’s definitely the most disorganized and feels overly forced. The film throws three likable heroes – Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau – into a situation where they have to stop a Kree villain who’s simply determined to cause trouble. The actors have great chemistry, but the story is short, confusing, and filled with odd decisions that don’t really add up.

33. Captain America: Brave New World

Many recent Marvel movies, including The Marvels, have talented actors but weak stories. This is particularly true of Captain America: Brave New World, which introduces Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, as the new Captain America, but lets him down with a dull villain and a plot that relies too much on references to The Incredible Hulk. (Did anyone really need to know what happened to Betty Ross?)

32. Doctor Strange

While Doctor Strange has impressive visuals, it feels a lot like another Iron Man movie, but with magic. The ending, with Dormammu, was a clever highlight, but Strange’s cape felt a bit silly. (You can read a more detailed review here.)

31. Iron Man 2

It’s surprisingly decent, though still flawed. Sam Rockwell’s charisma and dancing help distract from the weaknesses, but can’t fix everything. If they trimmed about 15 minutes—specifically the parts that feel like setup for other movies—it could be really good. (You can find a more detailed review here.)

30. Ant-Man

While Ant-Man isn’t a bad movie, it’s hard not to compare it to the bigger, more ambitious film Edgar Wright originally planned. However, Michael Peña’s character, Luis, is arguably the best non-superhero character in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. (You can read more about it here.)

29. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

The new movie pits Ant-Man against Kang the Conqueror, and even Kang (played by a formidable Jonathan Majors) admits Ant-Man is outmatched. This imbalance reflects the film itself: the down-to-earth, humorous world of the Ant-Man movies feels small compared to the large-scale, universe-hopping story Marvel is building in Phase 5. While it works as a standard Marvel action movie, it’s just okay as a continuation of the Ant-Man series. (And fans of Michael Peña’s character Luis will be disappointed – he doesn’t appear at all.)

28. Ant-Man and the Wasp

The movie Ant-Man and the Wasp is most enjoyable when it focuses on lighter moments – Paul Rudd’s playful banter with the cast, Michael Peña’s funny stories, and the heartwarming story of a family working to reconnect. (You can read more about it here.)

27. Captain Marvel

While Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is arguably the most powerful character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie itself didn’t quite hit the emotional mark. However, it remains enjoyable thanks to two standout performances: Ben Mendelsohn as the clever Skrull Talos, and Samuel L. Jackson, who is incredibly convincing as a younger Nick Fury with impressive visual effects. (You can read more about it here.)

26. Black Widow

As a big Marvel fan, I was really excited for Scarlett Johansson to finally get her own standalone movie with Black Widow in 2021. Honestly, though, it didn’t quite feel like the send-off Black Widow deserved. She ended up playing the straight woman a lot of the time, while the other characters – like David Harbour’s hilariously over-the-top Red Guardian and Florence Pugh’s amazing Yelena – got to steal the show. That said, it’s still a really fun, solid Marvel movie with some fantastic action sequences, and Taskmaster was a brilliantly cool villain – being able to copy anyone’s fighting style was a really unique idea!

25. Thor: Love and Thunder

Taika Waititi’s Love and Thunder feels similar to Thor: Ragnarok – the first time around, it was a brilliant surprise, but this time the effect isn’t quite as strong. Christian Bale delivers a chilling performance as the villain Gorr, but his serious, emotional portrayal clashes a bit with Chris Hemsworth’s more lighthearted and humorous Thor. The film includes many of the same enjoyable ingredients as Ragnarok, but they don’t quite blend together as smoothly.

24. Deadpool & Wolverine

The playful dynamic between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is a definite highlight. The surprise appearances are genuinely shocking! However, the plot is overloaded with explanations and still feels confusing – it tries to give too many tragic backstories to a single character. If you can switch your brain off and just enjoy the ride, it’s a reasonably fun movie. Reynolds and Jackman do deliver on the promise of seeing Deadpool and Wolverine team up to save the X-Men characters from the Fox studio. It’s just a shame the writing, even with Reynolds’ involvement, wasn’t quite as strong as it could have been.

23. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

While not as good as you might recall, Iron Man 2 is still an enjoyable movie. The trailers focused too much on a mystery plot, but Anthony Mackie shines as the Falcon, and Chris Evans remains a solid Captain America. However, it’s hard to believe that Nick Fury, a master spy, didn’t realize almost everyone at SHIELD was secretly working against him. He really should have been more aware! (You can read a more detailed review here.)

22. Avengers: Infinity War

This movie is incredibly ambitious and large in scale, with a truly memorable ending. However, it doesn’t quite feel complete. If you’re just looking for a fun, action-packed Marvel film with witty dialogue, you’ll probably enjoy it. But if you prefer movies that focus on character development, strong relationships, and quieter, more emotional scenes, this one might not be for you. (You can read a more detailed review here.)

21. Iron Man 3

This film is solid, but feels a little diminished by being part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story focuses on Tony Stark’s attempt to retire as Iron Man, which feels undercut by the fact that he appears in several more movies afterward. While Guy Pearce’s villain is underwhelming, Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic in his scenes with a remarkably clever young character. (Read more here.)

20. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Okay, let’s be real – that final battle in Shang-Chi? All those dragons and monsters fighting in the fog just looked…bad. The CGI was a mess. But honestly, up until then, this might be Marvel’s best straight-up action movie. There are some seriously impressive and well-choreographed fight scenes – the one on the bus in San Francisco is a total blast! And Simu Liu is great, leading a cast that actually has some depth. Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh deliver fantastic supporting performances, and Ben Kingsley and Awkwafina provide consistent comic relief. Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery, who wasn’t exactly a fan favorite as the Mandarin, has become a surprisingly charming character, which is a clever move by Marvel.

19. Thor

Though it’s a massive, universe-spanning story, Thor takes place largely in a tiny New Mexico town. The movie isn’t perfect, but it was the first Marvel film where strong casting and engaging performances really saved the day—a pattern that would become common for Marvel movies. (You can find more details here.)

18. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Ryan Coogler had a huge task with Wakanda Forever. He needed to create a sequel worthy of the original Black Panther while also dealing with the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, who died before production could begin. The film is most powerful when it channels the grief felt by Coogler and the cast into the story of Wakanda mourning its king. However, the rest of the movie feels disjointed, with a lot of ideas and characters, and a confusing villain in the form of the underwater king, Namor.

17. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Marvel’s new Fantastic Four movie, First Steps, is a clear improvement over the previous four attempts to bring the team to the big screen. Those earlier films ranged from just okay to truly bad, and First Steps stands out with its beautiful visuals and a compelling villain – Galactus, a lonely space god with a rather large appetite. However, despite these strengths, the Fantastic Four themselves feel a bit underdeveloped.

Is it an enjoyable movie? Yes, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. Director Matt Shakman seemed to have perfect casting choices on paper, but the actors haven’t quite fully embodied their characters yet. It’s possible the script didn’t give them enough to work with. Overall, First Steps is a solid start, and there’s definitely potential for the franchise to grow and improve.

16. Captain America: Civil War

The plot falls apart with the slightest bit of examination, and the entire movie feels like a setup for the epic fight between Iron Man and Captain America at the airport. And that airport battle? It’s absolutely fantastic. (You can read more about it here.)

15. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Jon Watts’ third Spider-Man movie is comparable to Sam Raimi’s third installment – both films try to do too much with too many villains. However, this movie does a great job of capturing what makes Peter Parker so likable: he’s someone who struggles but always keeps trying. It also significantly expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing the multiverse in a major way, making it a key moment in the overall story.

14. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Director Sam Raimi returned to the Marvel universe after a 15-year break with this fun and chaotic movie about a fight to save reality itself. Similar to his earlier Spider-Man films, Raimi brought his signature style—including silly jokes, scary zombies, and sudden surprises—to the familiar Marvel format. (You can read more about it here.)

13. Thunderbolts (2025)

Many of Marvel’s projects since Endgame have felt like they were made from leftover ideas, patching together bits and pieces from different comics and movies. But Thunderbolts actually feels like a complete movie, with a compelling story and some interesting characters. Florence Pugh is particularly good as the new Black Widow, who’s relatable in her dissatisfaction with her life and work. She finds a sense of purpose when teamed up with a group of equally disillusioned mercenaries, including Wyatt Russell’s confident U.S. Agent and Hannah John-Kamen’s mysterious Ghost. With exciting action and a meaningful message about overcoming hopelessness and finding strength in unity, Thunderbolts shows what Marvel can achieve when it’s at its best.

12. Avengers: Age of Ultron

I’m still confused by all the negativity towards this movie. It’s true that it isn’t as good as the first Avengers, and the storyline with Wanda and Pietro is a bit confusing. However, the ending – with the Avengers teaming up to save everyone in Sokovia – is classic Marvel at its finest. (You can read more about it here.)

11. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

This movie is overly long, especially with all the extra scenes after the credits! But it’s impressive how they took the generally lighthearted Guardians of the Galaxy and made a sequel with a surprisingly sad ending. It’s the only Marvel film that actually made me cry, and it still manages to include some really silly humor – even jokes about, well, alien anatomy. That combination is a win in my opinion. (You can find more details here.)

10. Thor: Ragnarok

I just really like when Jeff Goldblum plays a space god who DJs his own parties. (Read more here.)

9. Spider-Man: Far From Home

Tom Holland returns as Spider-Man in Marvel’s Far From Home, a sequel that’s almost as good as the first film. It delivers a fun mix of romance, action, humor, and emotional moments. While the famous line about responsibility isn’t spoken, the movie explores that core Spidey theme as Peter Parker struggles to balance his feelings for MJ (played with great wit by Zendaya) and his mission from Nick Fury (a comically exasperated Samuel L. Jackson) to defeat a series of elemental villains.

8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

James Gunn ends his Guardians trilogy on a high note, delivering a classic Marvel experience with thrilling action, imaginative visuals, and characters you truly care about. Volume 3 especially elevates Rocket Raccoon, turning him into a surprisingly compelling and heartbreaking hero. After a few underwhelming Marvel films, Gunn reminds everyone how it’s done – which makes his move to DC all the more bittersweet.

7. Avengers: Endgame

This movie is a significant improvement over Infinity War and ranks as the second-best Avengers film. It’s packed with massive action sequences, plenty of humor, and likely more hidden details than any other movie in the superhero genre. (You can find more details here.)

6. Spider-Man: Homecoming

This is one of the most fun movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! It features great characters, amazing Spider-Man action sequences, and even a hilarious moment where a street vendor asks Spidey to do a flip – which he actually does! It’s pure entertainment. (You can find more details here.)

5. Guardians of the Galaxy

Released roughly halfway through the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s run so far, the first Guardians of the Galaxy film allowed Marvel to experiment with a more playful tone. It also demonstrated that the studio could draw audiences to lesser-known characters. Before James Gunn’s direction, the Guardians were relatively obscure, but the film became a surprising hit. And, for the record, Rocket is the best Guardian – that’s just a fact! (You can read more about it here.)

4. Captain America: The First Avenger

While the plot feels a bit rushed in places – a whole war is summarized quickly – Chris Evans’ portrayal of Captain America is arguably the most successful character adaptation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film transformed a hero often criticized for being boring or outdated into a compelling, likable, and complex man with strong, relatable values. It’s the perfect MCU movie to watch when you need a boost of inspiration. (Read more here.)

3. Black Panther

Many Marvel films try too hard to tie everything together, but Black Panther proves that focusing on a self-contained story can be more effective. Though the ending, where Wakanda is revealed to the world, feels hopeful, it also suggests future movies might become overly connected and rely too much on guest appearances – which isn’t necessarily a good thing. (You can find more details here.)

2. The Avengers

Even with the success of Infinity War, the first Avengers movie still feels like an amazing achievement. It expertly balances a large cast of characters, has a well-written story, and features a spectacular final battle in New York that stands out as one of the best action sequences of the 21st century. (You can find more details here.)

1. Iron Man

It remains the best of its kind. Looking back, the film benefited from not being tied to a larger cinematic universe. The scenes of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark testing and then first flying in his armor perfectly capture the excitement of superpowers – better than any superhero movie ever made, from Marvel or any other studio. (Read more here.)

2025-10-23 23:32