A new graph measuring the various MCU characters’ screen time shows some very interesting and surprising results.
Before we begin discussing which Marvel Cinematic Universe character has been most prominently featured in the franchise, it will come as no surprise, even to the most casual fans, that Iron Man has beaten every single character by a long shot. After all, Tony Stark used to be the face of the MCU until Avengers: Endgame, even if he only had three solo Marvel films with his name on them.
However, as the data reveals, some characters have been more present in the overarching history of the MCU than even most fans might think. Let’s not forget that there are now multiple Marvel TV shows in the MCU continuity, which propped up the screen time of several characters.
Let’s take a look at some of the most unexpected characters’ screen time numbers in the MCU so far.
Hawkeye Has More Screen Time Than Hulk
While both characters are founding members of the Avengers, most fans would tell you that the Hulk is a more emblematic Marvel character than Hawkeye. However, it seems like the producers behind the MCU have a preference for Clint Barton over Bruce Banner.
Barton (Hawkeye) had a brief cameo in the first Thor film, which might be part of the reason why he has featured for a longer time in the MCU than Hulk. There’s also the fact that Hawkeye has a show on Disney+, leaving the Hulk with the chance to tie with him once the She-Hulk series makes its debut.
Loki Is More Prominent In The MCU Than Thor
In the most fantastic example of Marvel’s iconic sibling rivalry, Loki has more screen time than his stepbrother, Thor. This might be cheating a bit, though, as there have been multiple versions of the God of Mischief in the MCU so far.
Loki’s Disney+ show, with its 6 episode season, is the reason why he has beaten Thor in seconds of screen time in the MCU. However, this might change a bit once Thor: Love and Thunder releases later this year.
Black Widow Is The MCU’s Leading Lady
With her sudden popularity, one might think that Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, is the new Queen of the MCU. However, the numbers don’t lie, and the one and only “Scarlet” leading the cinematic universe is Scarlett Johanson.
Black Widow is one of the founding members of the Avengers and has featured prominently in most films in the MCU. Her solo film, Black Widow, made her achieve a higher screen time than the Scarlet Witch. Let’s wait and see how those numbers look after Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.
Spider-Man Is More Popular Than Captain America
It’s no surprise that the MCU version of Spider-Man has quickly become the de-facto face of the cinematic universe. Even though Kevin Feige insists Doctor Strange is the new poster boy for the MCU, Spider-Man has broken records with each new entry in his new trilogy.
Perhaps surprisingly, Spider-Man has a higher screen time than Steve Roger’s Captain America. While the two heroes are tied with three solo films, Cap’s movies often involve other characters sharing the screen with him. For example, Captain America: Civil War might as well be an Avengers flick.
On the other hand, Spidey features quite prominently in each of his solo outings. Also worth noting is that there are not just one, but three versions of the character sharing the screen at the same time in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which might be part of the reason why he has appeared more in the MCU than even the First Avenger himself.
The Hulk was treated like garbage by the Russos in the last two movies. They obviously had no love for the character and ultimately disappointed countless Hulk fans. Regardless of how the Russo’s felt about the Hulk, he was an original Avenger, an iconic Marvel character, and a loyal fanbase. The fans and the character deserved more than to be simply tossed to the side and treated like a whatever character which is exactly how the Russos chose to handle him.