6 Marvel TV Shows That Outshine Most MCU Movies

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While the Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts many excellent films, some of the related TV shows are actually considered even better. When people discuss the top Marvel movies, titles like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Infinity War, Iron Man, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Panther consistently come up.

These Marvel TV shows are among the best the studio has produced, even surpassing many of the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While not all Marvel shows have been hits – some are best left forgotten – these stand out. Future Marvel movies need to be truly exceptional to be considered better by fans.

Beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, several TV shows – both within and outside the MCU – have successfully built interconnected worlds based on comics. Here are six of those shows that are arguably better than most of the Marvel films.

Agents of SHIELD

Initially, Agents of SHIELD was a TV series closely tied to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, as it went on, it evolved into something unique, becoming a strong Marvel TV show that ultimately proved to be as good as, or even better than, many of the films it started with. The show’s surprising creative choices actually worked out really well.

Whether it was unexpectedly reviving Phil Coulson or forging its own path outside the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, the choices Agents of SHIELD made ultimately helped it surpass many Marvel films. The show featured a fantastic version of Ghost Rider, exciting time travel adventures similar to those in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, a strong ensemble cast, and genuinely moving emotional moments.

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has produced many fantastic films, fans of the show Agents of SHIELD often consider it to be just as good, if not better.

Daredevil

Like Agents of SHIELD, Daredevil has a complicated connection to the official Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. It originally seemed to fit within the main MCU story, but it later developed its own separate continuity as part of the Netflix Defenders series. However, unlike Agents of SHIELD, Daredevil was later re-established as officially part of the MCU.

Despite any past issues, Daredevil ranks among the very best of Marvel’s movies and shows. It stands out with its darker, more mature tone and a level of intensity not always seen in the MCU, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The show balances this with humor, compelling characters, and the exciting superhero action fans expect.

Unlike most Marvel movie series, the original Daredevil (across its three seasons, excluding the Born Again reboot) really took the time to develop its characters. Its more serious and mature themes also make it a more gripping show than some of the lighter, more comedic Marvel projects, and these qualities all contribute to its overall appeal.

Loki

When it comes to true Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) TV shows, Loki stands out. Produced by Marvel Studios, it’s always been considered a core part of the MCU story. But what really makes Loki special is its unique feel – it’s different from almost everything else in the MCU, which helps it rank higher than many of the films and all other TV series in the franchise.

The series Loki was groundbreaking for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, opening the door to stories involving time travel, alternate versions of characters, and bizarre concepts like The Void – all with a unique feel. Unlike many other MCU films and shows that tend to follow a similar pattern, Loki, similar to Daredevil, stands out with its distinct style and tone.

Loki stands out as truly original, blending science fiction and fantasy in its stories, characters, and look. The series reached a high point with a powerful moment for Loki, establishing him as a god of the multiverse. Deep, character-driven stories like Loki are unusual in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making the series exceptional and arguably better than most of the MCU films.

X-Men ’97

X-Men ’97 is a new Marvel Studios show that continues the story from the original X-Men: The Animated Series. Since it’s even better than that beloved show, many fans consider it to be as good as or better than some of Marvel’s live-action movies. It’s a fantastic series with beautiful animation, compelling character development, and a well-written story.

Even now, certain lines from X-Men ’97 remain memorable, beautifully capturing the series’ core message of fighting prejudice – something X-Men has always excelled at. Because of this, X-Men ’97 surpasses all of the X-Men films and is only surpassed by a handful of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.

The Spectacular Spider-Man

Many fans consider The Spectacular Spider-Man to be the greatest animated Spider-Man series ever created, especially considering the quality of other shows. It’s even often ranked higher than most movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the MCU’s Spider-Man films are popular, they’ve also been divisive, with Spider-Man: No Way Home being a widely praised exception.

Despite its strengths, the movie doesn’t concentrate on a single version of Spider-Man the way The Spectacular Spider-Man does. The show skillfully adapts many classic Spider-Man stories over its two seasons, resulting in a particularly compelling portrayal of Peter Parker.

Many fans consider The Spectacular Spider-Man to be a stronger Spider-Man story than any of the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Considering Spider-Man: No Way Home is frequently ranked as one of the best MCU films, that places The Spectacular Spider-Man in even higher esteem.

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is famous for being the first successful series of interconnected live-action superhero films. But, surprisingly, the animated series The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes actually achieved this same interconnected storytelling two years earlier, before the first MCU Avengers movie came out. This show built a complete Marvel universe, featuring heroes beyond just the main Avengers team.

The show was a huge hit with fans and viewers. When it came out in 2010, it quickly became a better comic book adaptation than movies like The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2. While The Avengers certainly boosted the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it often didn’t quite reach the same heights as The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

As a huge Marvel fan, I honestly think this show surpasses even Avengers: Age of Ultron. It’s better than most of the solo movies too, aside from real gems like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy – those are definitely exceptions. When you look at the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe, though, very few films actually hit the same high notes as The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, or the other shows on this list, in my opinion.

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2025-11-09 05:00