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The Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts some of the greatest actors working in modern Hollywood.
For many of them, however, their work outside the confines of the MCU are just as superheroic.
But after Iron Man took off as a multi-million dollar blockbuster, gone was RDJ’s radioactive aura.
The vast and expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise has recruited countless actors into its ranks.
But the MCU isn’t all-encompassing, and thus many Marvel stars have done impressive work outside the MCU.
Here are 35 of the greatest movies with Marvel actors that aren’t Marvel movies.
Don Lee plays a feared gang boss whose reputation is damaged after he’s attacked by a stranger.
(Imagine The Color of Money with poker, basically.)
Challengers (2024) with Zendaya
In the MCU, Zendaya is Spider-Man’s girlfriend.
But in Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, she’s the villain.
After The Avengers, Gregg spent several years starring in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..
29.
Amid their investigation, they find their own lives are in jeopardy.
A snow-covered thriller, Wind River is not one to be missed.
Then check out Ron Howard’s blistering sports drama Rush.
Rush reveals how their machismo rivalry takes on dangerous degrees of severity before ultimately ending in mutual respect.
Parachute (2024) with Dave Bautista
26.
Room (2015) with Brie Larson
Room turned Brie Larson from an up-and-coming actress to legit Oscar winner.
(Jacob Tremblay co-stars as her son.)
The Before Trilogy (1995-2013) with Ethan Hawke
Beforehe was the villain of Moon Knight (get it?
), Ethan Hawke was a wandering romantic in Richard Linklater’s revered Before Trilogy.
The final movie Before Midnight sees how their lives have ended up together.
Without giving too much away, the movie’s iconic ending is not for the faint of heart.
Try not to lose your head over it.
Inside Llewyn Davis turned Oscar Isaac into an overnight movie star, catapulting his profile for good.
Prisoners (2013) with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal
Hugh Jackman: Wolverine.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Mysterio.
These characters may never meet in the MCU.
Prisoners is utterly absorbing, being a far cry from any of the Marvel movies both men have appeared.
Hot on their tail is an LAPD detective, played by Avengers star Mark Ruffalo.
While stashing the money, he attracts the attention of a ruthless killer (Javier Bardem).
In Barbara’s imagination, fantastical giants roam and are fast approaching her sleepy harbor town.
Tessa Thompson, from the Thor movies, co-stars as Creed’s neighbor and love interest.
Boseman is thunderous in Lee’s film, being an alluring figure of masculine energy.
Its sense of yearning and passion is almost too much to bear.
Also in the movie: Tim Roth, as the diner robber before his Marvel role as the Abomination.
In the grim, frosty dystopia of Snowpiercer, a massive train roams Earth containing the remnants of humanity.
The poor are relegated to the back while the rich enjoy the clean luxuries of the front.
