Key Takeaways:
– MCU fans rate Captain America and The Guardians the Galaxy trilogies higher than Iron Man in a recent poll.
– Despite the fan opinion, Iron Man trilogy shows strong box office performance, particularly Iron Man 3.
– Guardians of the Galaxy emerges as the top performer at the box office among the three trilogies.
Fans Favor Other MCU Trilogies Over Iron Man
Recent debates among fans of the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have revealed a surprising preference for two other trilogies over Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man series. The consensus tilted towards the Captain America trilogy, featuring Chris Evans, and the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, directed by James Gunn, pushing the Iron Man installment to a surprising third place ranking.
The MCU has four trilogies – Iron Man, Captain America, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man. The Iron Man and Guardians trilogies have concluded their stretch in the MCU, while the other two franchises have future releases on the horizon. Although Iron Man ignited the global obsession with MCU in 2008, fans believe that its two sequels didn’t live up to their expectations, relegating the trilogy to a lower rank.
The Top Favorites – Captain America and The Guardians of the Galaxy
Fans primarily preferred Captain America and The Guardians of the Galaxy as their top two choices. These trilogies were acclaimed for their flawless execution and captivating narratives. Among these, choosing a favorite was acknowledged as a difficult task. For many fans, the Captain America trilogy stood out due to its intense fight sequences, particularly those in The Winter Soldier. However, dissatisfaction with the first Captain America movie led other fans to rank The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy higher.
Box Office Numbers Showcase a Different Scenario
Despite fans’ preference, the commercial performance of these trilogies paints a contrasting picture. Remarkably, the Iron Man 3 installment, despite its mixed reception, gained higher box office earnings than any films from the Captain America or The Guardians of the Galaxy franchises.
Box Office Comparison – Iron man, Captain America, and The Guardians of the Galaxy
As per The Numbers, the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy holds the top spot in box office earnings, amassing a handsome $2.485 billion. The sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, grossed the highest in the franchise with an impressive $869 million.
The Iron Man trilogy trails behind with a narrow margin, earning a total of $2.421 billion. Interestingly, Iron Man, widely considered the best among the three, fetched the least at the box office. Conversely, Iron Man 3, the franchise’s weakest link, recorded the highest numbers among the three installments, surpassing even the Guardians of the Galaxy films at a commanding $1.215 billion.
The Captain America franchise rests at the bottom rung of the ladder, scraping a cumulative total of $2.236 billion as per The Numbers. All these movies are now available for streaming on Disney+.
Final Thoughts
While Iron Man may not have won the hearts of fans in this recent poll, Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal is undeniably crucial to the very foundation of the MCU. Despite their preference for other trilogies, the commercial success of the Iron Man films is a testament to the enduring love fans have for Downey Jr.’s character.
