Blade 25 years ago, New Line Pictures launched "Blade" became the pioneer of superhero films.
Then, in 2000, 20th Century Fox released the "X-Men" film series.
In 2002, Sony Pictures released the Spider-Man movie.
In 2008, Marvel Studios launched "Iron Man" and created a bigger empire.
By the 2010s, Marvel's superhero revolution had begun to quietly rise again on television.
To date, major companies have released at least 68 movies based on Marvel Comics.
In addition, there are more than 20 TV dramas.
Not long ago, "Variety" magazine selected the best characters in Marvel's live-action works.
This list includes all adaptations of Marvel Comics, regardless of production company, movies and series.
The selection criteria are based on the actor's performance, the character's influence, the popularity of pop culture, the arc of the story, and its importance to the past, present, and future of the Marvel Universe.
20th place: Thor Thor.
Played by: Chris Hemsworth.
Debut: Thor (2011).
Recent appearance: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).
No. 19: Norman Osborne, Green Goblins.
Played by: Willem Dafoe.
First appearance: "Spider-Man" (2002).
Recent appearance: "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021).
18th place: Nebula.
Played by: Karen Gillan.
Debut: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
Recent appearance: "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" (2023).
No. 17: MCU version of Peter Parker Spider-Man.
Played by: Tom Holland.
Debut: Captain America: Civil War (2016).
Recent appearance: "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021).
No. 16: Wade Wilson Deadpool.
Played by: Ryan Reynolds.
Debut: Wolverine (2009).
Most recent appearance: Deadpool 2 (2016).
Coming soon: "Deadpool 3" (2024).
No. 15: Peggy Carter.
Played by: Hayley Atwell.
Debut: Captain America: The Avengers (2011).
Recent appearance: Avengers: Endgame (2019).
No. 14: Eric Lansell, Magneto.
Cast: Sir Ian McLaren, Michael Fassbender.
Debut: "X-Men" (2000).
Recent appearance: "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" (2019).
13th place: Natasha Romanoff Black Widow.
Played by: Scarlett Johansson.
First appearance: "Iron Man 2" (2010).
Recent appearance: "Black Widow" (2021).
12th place: Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier.
Played by: Sebastian Stan.
Debut: Captain America: The Avengers (2011).
Recent appearance: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021).
Coming soon: "Thunder" (2025).
11th place: Thanos.
Played by: Josh Brolin.
Debut: "The Avengers" (2012).
Recent appearance: Avengers: Endgame (2019).
The ranking of "Variety" originally selected the best 40 characters.
But there is too much content, so let's only do the top 20.