One of the great thrills of the MCU is seeing the same actors return to these iconic roles repeatedly. Some of these actors have been a part of the universe since the beginning, while others are quickly solidifying their place in it.
Before we look at the MCU’s M.V.P.s, we’ll need to set some ground rules. We’ll be counting all MCU feature films up to and including Spider-Man: Far From Home. Though we know some heroes are confirmed for future films, we’ll stick to only those films that have gotten released. While it might not be fair in all cases, post-credit scenes will be counted as appearances.
Updated September 29th By Rhys McGinley: While 2020 has led to the first year in a decade where audiences do not get graced with an MCU film, there have been two since this original ten got listed. Avengers: Endgame proved to be an epic climax to the infinity saga, with Spider-Man: Far From Home a delightful epilogue. Those films meant that many, many more characters got at least one more appearance and that drastically changes the standing for most MCU movie appearances.
Paul Bettany - 7
While some roles are played by two actors in the MCU sometimes, Paul Bettany has the distinction of playing two characters, with there even being a crossover between Vision and J.A.R.V.I.S.
Between these two characters, Bettany appears in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, The Avengers, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, with his unfortunate death coming in Avengers: Infinity War, his last appearance. Of course, that will not be the last MCU fans get of Bettany, with the actor returning to the role of Vision for WandaVision.
Gweneth Paltrow - 7
Despite not being a part of the superhero team or getting into the saving-the-world action pre-Endgame, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts has been a constant presence in the MCU since its very beginning. However,
She has been by Tony Stark’s side in all three Iron Man films and made quick appearances in The Avengers, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Avengers: Infinity War, with her final, surprisingly action-packed appearance coming in Avengers: Endgame, when Pepper Potts and little Morgan Stark said goodbye to Tony.
Sebastian Stan – 7
It certainly pays to be friends with Captain America. Not only does he seem like a really nice guy, but you may get to join in on his superhero adventures. Such is the case with Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes who would later become a super-soldier himself as The Winter Soldier.
Stan was merely a supporting role before becoming crucial to the MCU in The Winter Soldier, having appeared in all of Cap’s standalone films, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and two post-credit scenes in Ant-Man and Black Panther. With a T.V. show on the way, Stan’s count will rise, and who knows, there may be another film in his future.
Don Cheadle – 7
James “Rhodey” Rhodes is another superhero sidekick who has become an increasingly big part of the MCU over the years. In another instance of recasting, Don Cheadle took over the part from Terrence Howard and brought War Machine to the big screen in Iron Man 2.
Since then, Cheadle has appeared in Iron Man 3, Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and the post-credit scene from Captain Marvel before making his latest, and possibly last appearance in Endgame.
Mark Ruffalo – 7
Rounding out those with seven appearances is Mark Ruffalo, one of the few re-cast roles in the MCU after Edward Norton decided not to return as the Hulk in future films. But while he didn’t originate the role, Ruffalo has managed a solid number of appearances since debuting in The Avengers.
Ruffalo would end up returning for every Avengers sequel, with Endgame marking his latest appearance, where he plays Professor Hulk, a mellow version of the big guy who Bruce Banner has complete control of. As well as these appearances, Ruffalo has a big role in Thor: Ragnarok, and post-credit scenes in Iron Man 3 and Captain Marvel.
Chris Hemsworth – 8
The God of Thunder is one of the most important heroes in the MCU, with Chris Hemsworth being one of the most popular actors in the entire franchise, but one who has primarily avoided crossovers. That, of course, is not the case anymore, considering he has appeared to join the Guardians of the Galaxy post-Endgame.
He has headlined all of the soloThor films, and he has joined his fellow Avengers in the four team-up films that have been released so far with his other appearance coming in a Doctor Strange post-credits scene. Thankfully, Thor survived Endgame, and with Thor: Love And Thunder and Guardians Of The Galaxy 4 on the way, it is unlikely fans have seen the last of the God of Thunder.
Scarlett Johansson – 8
First appearing in Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson’s has been another staple of the MCU going way back. She also has the distinction of being the first female member of the Avengers, which is thankfully no longer the case.
Johansson has jumped around to plenty of different films in the MCU, appearing in The Winter Soldier and Civil War, as well as all of the Avengers films. She is also seen in the post-credit scene for Captain Marvel. She has a solo movie due to come out soon, adding one onto her total, but with her shocking death in Endgame, her solo film may be the final time audiences get to enjoy the excellent character.
Robert Downey Jr. – 10
Robert Downey Jr. – the man who started it all. It’s hard to imagine a time in which this man was a longshot to play a superhero. Downey Jr. proved to be the perfect man to play Tony Stark/Iron Man, and he has embraced the character, playing him ten times in ten years.
Along with the three Iron Man films and the four Avengers films, Downey Jr. has also shown up in The IncredibleHulk, Civil War, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Endgame saw the end to the character as his tragic death broke hearts around the world in what was the perfect send-off for an unbelievable character.
Chris Evans – 11
The last member of the big four Avengers to get his solo film, Captain America, has emerged as the heart of this franchise. A lot of that has to do with Chris Evans’ fantastic performance in the role.
Evans was first reluctant to take the part. Since then, he has appeared in Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, and a painful end of his run as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame, as well as post-credit scenes in Ant-Man and Captain Marvel.
Samuel L. Jackson – 11
Nick Fury has been a critical character for the MCU as the man responsible for bringing all these extraordinary heroes together to save the world. Samuel L. Jackson has been the ideal man for the job as one of the few actors with enough authority to play Fury.
Jackson has been a constant in the MCU, with the joint-most appearances with eleven, those coming in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Captain America: Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and finally, Spider-Man: Far From Home.
He has appeared in all manner of a role, and we have most certainly not seen the last of him in the MCU, getting the nod over Chris Evans in rank plainly due to Captain America only technically being in 10 films, with Loki taking over in Dark World.
