Marvel Comics characters have been the focus of many movies and for that matter TV shows and cartoons for years. It is a misnomer that Disney+ is the one and only place for Marvel comics movies in the streaming world. While the movie-going public is currently focused on the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has spawned multiple billion-dollar blockbusters, there have been a number of other movies made about Marvel Comics heroes, including many of the same characters currently being featured such as Dare Devil, The Hulk, and of course Spider-Man. This is a guide on where to find other content based on Marvel heroes outside of Disney+ including one movie that has taken on new importance due to its canonical relationship with Disney+ series She-Hulk. Any films not listed such as Elektra or The-Amazing Spiderman were not because as of press time they are not available outside of a VOD platform. The article also concentrates on major motion picture releases vs TV movies such as The Incredible Hulk Returns.
Netflix
Sam Raimi’s Spiderman
This is the series of Spider-Man movies that launched the mainstream acceptance of Marvel Comics-based movies worldwide. While they were not made to establish a connected universe like later films, the movies caught the imagination of the public and paid off with Tobey Maguire’s appearance in Spider-Man No way home which linked the original trilogy to the MCU in a concrete way.
Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Morbious (2022)
Part of Sony’s Spiderverse/MCU adjascent Universe this film is linked to the more well-known MCU by its direct references to the Venom movies (which have already crossed into the MCU, and the inclusion of Michael Keaton’s The Vulture.
HBO Max
Dare Devil (2003)
This 2003 outing starring Ben Affleck was the first of two connected movies, the other being spinoff Electra, staring Jennifer Garner. Michael Clarke Duncan starred opposite Affleck as Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin. The film was considered a low point for Affleck but did feature to the Evanescence hit Wake Me Up Inside. The film also featured Jon Favreau, who would go on to play Happy Hogan in the MCU, as Murdock’s co-council Foggy Nelson.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Ed Norton’s MCU film, which was produced by Marvel Pictures but distributed by Universal sits in an odd spot outside of the Marvel family but still totally acknowledged as seen in the new Disney+ series “She Hulk” Characters introduced in this film are found in the new series and MCU movies such as Tim Roth’s Abomination and William Hurt’s Thunderbolt Ross. While Norton did not continue to play the role the story from this movie is acknowledged as Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner’s past.
STARZ
Sony/MCU Spiderman
The MCU launched without Spider-Man in the fold as the characters rights were controlled by Sony. After years of waiting Spider-Man debuted in the MCU via the 2016 movie Captain America Civil War. That appearance was followed up with Sony’s Spider-Man Homecoming and other appearances in both MCU projects and the sequels that followed. Spider-Man Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man Home Coming (2017)
Spider-Man Far From Home (2019)
Spider-Man No Way Home (2021)
Venom Series
The movies based on the Spiderman character Venom are part of Sony’s Spiderverse. In this series of movies Venom is an alien antihero who struggles to exist with his human symbiotic host. There are two movies helmed by Tom Hardy in the title role. Venom recently crossed over to the MCU via two after-credit scenes in Venom Let There Be Carnage (2021) and Spider-Man No Way Home (2021).
Venom (2018)
Venom Let There Be Carnage (2021)
Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man (2014)
This film was Sony’s attempt to reboot the Spider-Man character after the critical failure of Spider-Man 3. The film also got one sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, before the burgeoning franchise was left again. Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man had a chance at a redemptive arc in the 2021 film Spider-Man No Way Home.
Hulu
Sam Raimi Spiderman Series
This is the series of Spider-Man movies that launched the mainstream acceptance of Marvel Comics-based movies worldwide. While they were not made to establish a connected universe like later films, the movies caught the imagination of the public and paid off with Tobey Maguire’s appearance in Spider-Man No way home which linked the original trilogy to the MCU in a concrete way.
Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Origional Blade Movies
Soon to be rebooted and included into the MCU, the first series of Blade movies is a story of a half-man half-vampire who hunts vampires. The trilogy that started in 1998 stars Wesley Snipes as the titular character. With lots of martial arts and a thumping soundtrack, blad became a major cult hit and revived interest in the character for comics readers. The new version of the character will feature Mahershala Ali in the title role.
Blade (1998)
Blade 2 (2002)
Blade Trinity (2004)
Hulk (2003) “The Eric Bana one”
Hulk was an earlier attempt to launch a Hulk movie franchise but it failed to do so. Criticized for changing the origin of the character and early CGI (it really isn’t done that bad) The character was rebooted later with Ed Norton in the role of Bruce Banner. The film is unrelated to subsequent appearances by the character in the MCU nor the Solo film The Incredible Hulk.
Peacock
The Punisher 2004
The second of three stand-alone stories based on the Marvel anti-hero, the 2004 film tells the origin story of Frank Castle (Thomas Jane), a violent vigilante known as the Punisher, who shoots first and doesn’t really ask many questions ahead of time or later. Also starring John Travolta the film failed to spawn any sequels but did revive interest in the character that had been previously put on screen via a 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren.
Punisher War Zone (2008)
Ray Stevenson plays Frank Castle in a gritty version of the Punisher which is an origin story for the character. The film is unrelated to the 2004 film and any previous or subsequent depictions of The Punisher.
