History LighterAndSofter / MarvelCinematicUniverse

* The MCU movies in general were and are still considered to be this in comparison to previous and concurrent non-Disney Marvel properties like the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' or even DarkerAndEdgier adaptations like ''Film/ThePunisher2004'', the ''Film/BladeTrilogy'', ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'', ''Film/{{Logan}}'', or ''Film/TheNewMutants'' due to having less violence, gore, profanity, and sexuality and remaining firmly seated in the [[MediaNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating PG-13]] bracket.

* ''Series/WandaVision'' is rated TV-PG, a lower rating than other Marvel productions. This rating is [[{{Irony}} ironic]] though, since ''[=WandaVision=]'' has ''extremely'' dark and disturbing subject material beneath its campy {{Sitcom}} setting.

** Baron Helmut Zemo. When he first appeared in ''Civil War'' Zemo was a cold and ruthless antagonist determined to rip the Avengers apart in revenge for his family who were accidentally killed in Sokovia [[spoiler:after succeeding in doing so, tried to kill himself before Black Panther stopped him]]. In the show, Zemo has mellowed out considerably and isn't out to destroy superheroes, only justly targeting dangerous [[SuperSoldier super soldiers]] like the Flag Smashers. He's also AffablyEvil, being extremely polite and helpful to Sam and Bucky and willing to get down and "[[SucksAtDancing dance]]" at a club. This also extends to [[ComicBook/BaronZemo comic Zemo]], a SmugSnake and whose identical grandfather was a Nazi, both of whom aren't nearly as pleasant as the Zemo found in the show.

* The MCU movies in general were and are still considered to be this in comparison to previous and concurrent non-Disney Marvel properties like the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' or even DarkerAndEdgier adaptations like ''Film/ThePunisher2004'', the ''Film/BladeTrilogy'', ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'', ''Film/{{Logan}}'', or ''Film/TheNewMutants'' due to having less violence, gore, profanity, and sexuality and remaining firmly seated in the [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating PG-13]] bracket.

* Almost every MCU film after ''Film/IronMan1'' and ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'' is comparatively LighterAndSofter partly due to Creator/{{Disney}} buying Marvel in 2009 and pushing for more [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating family friendly standards]] and more due to the cinematic universe itself getting [[DenserAndWackier wackier]] like the comics as it went on. ''Iron Man'' had sex, alcohol, smoking, and unflinching and gritty depictions of UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}} that were very close to real life, and ''The Incredible Hulk'' similarly is quite gritty and even its more fantastical elements are mixed with BodyHorror. ''Film/IronMan2'', ''Film/{{Thor}}'', ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', and ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' do have very violent and dark moments, but embrace the more spectacular and lighthearted comic book tone rather than be gritty and grounded like the first two MCU films. One massive exception is of course ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3'' which is easily the darkest film the studio has ever produced and features a character actually saying “fuck”.

* Almost every MCU film after ''Film/IronMan1'' and ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'' is comparatively LighterAndSofter partly due to Creator/{{Disney}} buying Marvel in 2009 and pushing for more [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating family friendly standards]] and more due to the cinematic universe itself getting [[DenserAndWackier wackier]] like the comics as it went on. ''Iron Man'' had sex, alcohol, smoking, and unflinching and gritty depictions of UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}} that were very close to real life, and ''The Incredible Hulk'' similarly is quite gritty and even its more fantastical elements are mixed with BodyHorror. ''Film/IronMan2'', ''Film/{{Thor}}'', ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', and ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' do have very violent and dark moments, but embrace the more spectacular and lighthearted comic book tone rather than be gritty and grounded like the first two MCU films.

** The Skrulls in ''Film/CaptainMarvel'', while they don't have clean hands in their [[ComicBook/TheKreeSkrullWar war]] with the Kree, are still an amicable race willing to help the heroes of Earth. In the comics only a handful of Skrulls are nice, while the rest are [[EvilColonialist tyrannically]] [[AliensAreBastards evil]] infiltrating Earth to take it over, rather then just hiding there to escape genocide. The Kree conversely become DarkerAndEdgier with AdaptationalVillainy.

** [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in the [[Film/IronMan films]] isn't TheAlcoholic and BrokenAce and his extreme StrawmanPolitical actions from ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' are expunged. He's a more relatively mentally stable character, who generally learns from his mistakes rather than making more.

* ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' plays with this; overall it has a LighterAndSofter tone than the [[Film/{{Thor}} two previous]] [[Film/ThorTheDarkWorld Thor films]]. The humour is taken UpToEleven, the colours are vibrant instead of muted, Thor (per the request of his [[Creator/ChrisHemsworth actor]]) is a much more [[LargeHam fun]] and [[{{Slapstick}} goofy]] [[BoisterousBruiser character]], both Hulk and Bruce Banner are more humorous, Creator/JeffGoldblum delightfully chews scenery, a [[Creator/TaikaWaititi New Zealand voiced]] rock monster Korg provides PluckyComicRelief, and even the BigBad Hela is full of LaughablyEvil quips. Although on the other hand the film has [[spoiler:the [[KilledOffForReal permanent death of four major characters]] (Odin, Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun), the dark murderous history of the Asgard royal family uncovered, the [[WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide near genocide]] of Asgardain race, the explicit annihilation of Asgard at hands of [[BigRedDevil Surtur]] (which gets PlayedForLaughs), and Thor [[EyeScream loses an eye]]. ''Thor Ragnarok'' comes across as a lighthearted BlackComedy which is conversely very colourful]].

[[folder: Films]]
* The MCU movies in general were and are still considered to be this in comparison to previous and concurrent non-Disney Marvel properties like the the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' or even DarkerAndEdgier adaptations like ''Film/ThePunisher2004'', the ''Film/BladeTrilogy'', ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'', ''Film/{{Logan}}'' or ''Film/TheNewMutants'' due to having less violence, gore, profanity and sexuality and remaining firmly seated in the [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating PG-13]] bracket.
* Phase 1 adapts a few elements from the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel line (Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. being the linchpin of the Avengers, an alien invasion led by an InNameOnly Chitauri), but leaves outside the AdaptationalVillainy and greater violence of the Ultimate comics.
* Almost every MCU film after ''Film/IronMan1'' and ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'' is comparatively LighterAndSofter partly due to Creator/{{Disney}} buying Marvel in 2009 and pushing for more [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating family friendly standards]] and more due to the cinematic universe itself getting [[DenserAndWackier wackier]] like the comics as it went on. ''Iron Man'' had sex, alcohol, smoking and unflinching and gritty depictions of UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}} that were very close to real life, and ''The Incredible Hulk'' similarly is quite gritty and even its more fantastical elements are mixed with BodyHorror. ''Film/IronMan2'', ''Film/{{Thor}}'', ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' and ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' do have very violent and dark moments, but embrace the more spectacular and lighthearted comic book tone rather then be gritty and grounded like the first two MCU films.

* ''Film/AntMan1'', ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'', and ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' are lighter than the rest of the films; focusing on far smaller stakes than most films and playing Peter's and Scott's antics for laughs a lot of the time. The latter two examples are [[BreatherEpisode Breather Episodes]] compared to the film that comes before it, which are the two most serious films of the entire ''Infinity Saga''. [[spoiler:However, the latter two both have some darker themes and {{Cruel Twist Ending}}s.]]
* ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' plays with this, overall it has a LighterAndSofter tone than the [[Film/{{Thor}} two previous]] [[Film/ThorTheDarkWorld Thor films]]. The humour is taken UpToEleven, the colours are vibrant instead of muted, Thor (per the request of his [[Creator/ChrisHemsworth actor]]) is a much more [[LargeHam fun]] and [[{{Slapstick}} goofy]] [[BoisterousBruiser character]], both Hulk and Bruce Banner are more humorous, Creator/JeffGoldblum delightfully chews scenery, a [[Creator/TaikaWaititi New Zealand voiced]] rock monster Korg provides PluckyComicRelief and even the BigBad Hela is full of LaughablyEvil quips. Although on the other hand the film has [[spoiler: the [[KilledOffForReal permanent death of four major characters]] (Odin, Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun), the dark murderous history of the Asgard family uncovered, the [[WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide near genocide]] of Asgardain race, the explicit annihilation of Asgard at hands of [[BigRedDevil Surtur]] (which gets PlayedForLaughs) and Thor [[EyeScream loses an eye]]. ''Thor Ragnarok'' comes across as a lighthearted BlackComedy which is conversely very colourful]].
** ''Thor: Ragnarok'' is also a loose adaptation of ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' with the GladiatorGames on Sakaar. But the film naturally [[AdaptedOut doesn’t]] include Iron Man and other heroes launching Hulk into space on purpose nor does it have Hulk starting a family and having his wife killed by the shuttle he arrived in exploding, triggering Hulk’s RoaringRampageOfRevenge in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk''. The bug alien Miek is also PluckyComicRelief rather than the bastard who made said shuttle explode in the first place.
* ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', the first Spider-Man film set in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse continuity, is this full force compared to the previous, more angsty and gritty Spider-Man films. Instead, ''Homecoming'' is a teenage comedy about [[ComingOfAgeStory a young teen boy learning to be a true hero]]. It's also the lightest MCU film, even compared to the two other MCU comedies released in 2017, due to the relatively small stakes; Spider-Man's just trying to save a few neighborhoods in Queens instead of the entire world/galaxy/universe.
* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' is relatively lighter than its predecessor, ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' in some points. [[spoiler:Thanos is killed off very early on in the movie, thus keeping him and his devastating powers out of most of the film until Nebula encounters a past version of him and he uses her technology to bring him and his army back for the climax. While various plot threads of ''Infinity War'' were all focused around trying to stop Thanos and his forces and had a general feeling of impending doom, ''Endgame's'' plot threads are simply based on stealing the Infinity Stones from the past, and most (barring Nebula's and Natasha's / Clint's) have a generally light-hearted feeling with plenty of references to previous films in the series. Unlike ''Infinity War'', which had 4 major characters die as casualties of Thanos' crusade, ''Endgame'' has only two major character deaths (although both are more important than the characters who died in ''Infinity War''), both of whom successfully sacrifice themselves to save the universe. And while ''Infinity War'''s finale is comprised of several losing battles that culminate in Thanos successfully wiping out half the life in the universe, ''Endgame's'' finale has the heroes who fell in ''Infinity War'' as a result of the Blip being revived and joining the survivors in a grand, triumphant battle against Thanos' forces.]]
* In general a lot of the dark elements of the Marvel characters in regards to their personalities and backstories from the comics are either toned down or removed completely in the MCU.
** [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in the [[Film/IronMan films]] isn’t TheAlcoholic and BrokenAce and his extreme StrawmanPolitical actions from ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' are expunged. He’s a more relatively mentally stable character, who does generally learns from his mistakes rather than making more.
** [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Steve Rogers]]’ DarkAndTroubledPast with his drunken and [[AbusiveParents abusive]] father Joseph is omitted from ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger''. Cap implies in one FlashBack in the ''[[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier Winter Soldier]]'' that his father was a good man.
** [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]]’s truly horrific childhood, where he created the Hulk as a coping mechanism for the abuse he got at his father Brian’s hands and witnessing his Brian kill his mother Rebecca first hand is all AdaptedOut. At worst, Bruce felt he was [[WellDoneSonGuy unable to impress his father]] according to ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'' tie-in MotionComic, which isn’t nearly as severe compared to the comics. Hulk is also a less monstrous character overall, having a lower body count and becoming a GentleGiant in ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. Bruce himself becomes a more humorous and lighthearted character as the movies go on.
** [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter Parker]]’s High School life is comparatively more breezy and lighthearted in the MCU than it was in the comics. Peter in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' isn’t constantly bullied and taunted by Liz and Flash and while the latter is still a dick to Peter, delighting in opportunities to publically humiliate him, he doesn’t get into physical fights with him like he did in the comics and previous adaptations. Not to mention Peter’s own attitude is far more upbeat, rather than irritable, like it was in the original Stan Lee and Steve Ditko run. The grief and angst over the Uncle Ben’s death has seemly already happened off-screen. [[spoiler: This doesn't last, as the public reveal of his identity and [[UnPerson the fallout]] of restoring it end up getting aunt May killed, making all his remaining loved ones forget he even exists, and force him to drop out of high school and get a GED while living by himself.]]
** ComicBook/{{Thanos}}’s backstory is significantly less messed up. In the comics his mother tried to kill him as soon as she saw what he looked like and after killing some cave aliens who ate his classmates in revenge, he becomes an outright serial killer who kidnaps and cuts his victims open - spurred on by [[TheGrimReaper Death]]. In the movies Thanos cherished his race despite being born different looking to them and the destruction of his homeworld is the source of his insanity and desire to “balance out” the universe. His infatuation with the personified Death is AdaptedOut.
** [[ComicBook/AntMan Hank Pym]] and [[ComicBook/TheWasp Janet Van Dyne]] had a loving marriage in the comics which turned sour and divorced due to emotional and physical abuse. This along with building ComicBook/{{Ultron}} eventually resulted in Hank JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope and becoming FallenHero. In the movies, Hank and Janet’s relationship remains loving and enduring as seen when they reunite and have a BigDamnKiss in the Quantum Realm during ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp''. Their daughter Hope is also a hero rather than a villain as she was in ''ComicBook/MarvelComics2''.
** [[ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} Clint Barton]]’s dark past with two abusive fathers in a row and being raised by supervillains isn’t brought up in the films. He seemly had a normal healthy childhood growing up in Iowa.
** [[ComicBook/BlackWidow Natasha Romanov]] in the comics had a terrible childhood and backstory in Russia being subjected to the Black Widow Program’s TrainingFromHell in the Red Room and was put in a ArrangedMarriage. In the movies, while Nat still suffered greatly from the Black Widow Program, she has (as her [[Film/BlackWidow2021 solo film]] reveals) adoptive parents Alexei and Melina and a sister Yelena who care for her greatly. In the comics Nat only had her foster dad Ivan who personally enlisted her for the Red Room and became a PervertDad to her.
** ComicBook/NickFury and ComicBook/MariaHill are loyal and supportive allies to the Avengers rather than totalitarian anti-heroes who distrust Marvel’s heroes and go against them frequently. At worst they come off as GoodIsNotNice in the movies whilst in the comics, they are frequently antagonistic and unpleasant.
** ComicBook/{{Loki}} in the comics was abused by his real father Laufey and the Frost Giants and after being adopted by Odin, Loki spent the rest of his life trying to take over Asgard and kill Thor out of jealousy. In the films Loki is still an antagonistic character, but thanks to Odin and Frigga’s upbringing he does genuinely love his Asgardian family and comes to regret his villainous actions [[spoiler: and [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices]] his life to save his brother Thor from Thanos]].
** Comic book Dr Strange prior to his TookALevelInBadass sorcery training is depicted as a greedy, money oriented and selfish DrJerk who couldn't care less about his patients. MCU Strange, while definitely arrogant and abrasive in his surgeon days, is the kind of guy who would continue trying to save his patients while the Chitauri battle is raging outside the hospital.

** Zigzagged with ComicBook/{{Gamora}}, her origins are technically more messed than the comics. As rather than Thanos rescuing her from the genocide of her people, Thanos abducts her while killing half her race himself. On other hand in the films Gamora’s brutal TrainingFromHell is not shown and her brainwashing from Thanos and the bit where she’s gang raped by alien thugs is all understandably omitted.
** [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Nebula]] isn’t nearly as deeply complex or sympathetic in the comics compared to the films. She’s unapologetic DarkActionGirl who gets put in a horrific between state of life and death in ''ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet'' and tries to kill Marvel’s heroes herself once she gets the Infinity Gauntlet. In the films Nebula starts off as a nasty character, [[TookALevelInKindness but softens over the course of the movies]] to the point of becoming a compassionate and heroic NiceGirl in ''Endgame''. Her torture at Thanos’s hands is less gruesome than the comic too.
** The Skrulls in ''Film/CaptainMarvel'', while they don’t have clean hands in their [[ComicBook/TheKreeSkrullWar war]] with the Kree, are still an amicable race willingly help the heroes of Earth. In the comics only a handful of Skrulls are nice, while the rest are [[EvilColonialist tyrannically]] [[AliensAreBastards evil]] infiltrating Earth to take it over, rather then just hiding there to escape genocide. The Kree conversely become DarkerAndEdgier with AdaptationalVillainy.
** ComicBook/ShangChi’s family is decidedly less messed in ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'' than it is in the comics. His father Zheng Zu aka Fu Manchu, is abusive and controlling and his mother Jiang Li was one of his Manchu’s [[SexSlave concubines]]. In the film, his father Xu Zenwu [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes genuinely loves his wife Ling Xi as well as children]], and his actions in the film are born out of a grief-stricken and manipulated desire to bring his wife back. Additionally Xu Zenwu is a CompositeCharacter with [[spoiler: [[Characters/IronManCentralRoguesGallery The Mandarin]]]] who again is more darker and [[CardCarryingVillain unapologetically evil]] and unlike his film counterpart, is a terrible father.

** Bucky Barnes the Winter Soldier. In the movies as well as the comics, Bucky is a shell of his former self who struggles to adapt of a life of non-violence after being TheDreaded ImplacableMan for so long. Even when cured of brainwashing in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', he’s still a trigger-happy wreck who only lets his guard down around Cap. In the show, Bucky has been completely cured of the Winter Soldier program and regularly goes to therapy. He’s also willingly to crack jokes and socialise, displaying a similar personality to how he was in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' before getting captured by Zola.
** Baron Helmut Zemo. When he first appeared in ''Civil War'' Zemo was a cold and ruthless antagonist determined to rip the Avengers apart in revenge for his family who were accidentally killed in Sokovia [[spoiler: after succeeding in doing so, tried to kill himself before Black Panther stopped him]]. In the show, Zemo has mellowed out considerably and isn’t out to destroy superheroes, only justly targeting dangerous [[SuperSoldier super soldiers]] like the Flag Smashers. He’s also AffablyEvil, being extremely polite and helpful to Sam and Bucky and willingly to get down and “[[SucksAtDancing dance]]” at a club. This also extends to [[ComicBook/BaronZemo comic Zemo]], a SmugSnake and who’s identical grandfather was a Nazi, both of whom aren’t nearly as pleasant as the Zemo found in the show.
* A few ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021'' episodes such as: Episode 1 “What... If Captain Carter Were The First Avenger?”, Episode 2 “What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?” and ''especially'' Episode 7 “What If… Thor were an only child?” are considerably more LighterAndSofter than even the most lighthearted elements of the films. Red Skull and Zola are more cartoonishly evil and the terrifyingly destructive villains with genocide-level power such as Thanos and Surtur are [[GentleGiant Gentle Giants]] with the former being TheBigGuy for T’challa’s team after [[AdaptationalHeroism reforming]]. The humour and one-liners are also more greatly empathised. Averted '''hard''' with the rest of the ''What... If'' episodes which are extremely DarkerAndEdgier for MCU standards and even borderline nihilistic in their conclusions.
** Episode 5 “What... If [[ZombieApocalypse Zombies!?]]” while easily one of the darker episodes in the series, due to censorship is much lighter and less gruesome than the [[ComicBook/MarvelZombies comic]] its based on, which is far BloodierAndGorier and less hopeful. [[spoiler: Spider-Man is also SparedByAdaptation most likely to prevent traumatising kids (and probably some older fans) by seeing their beloved icon getting horribly zombiefied like he did in the comic.]]
* After three live-action shows with heavy themes and serious stories, ''Series/Hawkeye2021'' is a lighthearted and low-stakes show concerning Hawkeye being pulled into AnAssKickingChristmas by a big fan of his who he eventually accepts as a successor.

* As a whole, the Disney+ shows are much lighter in tone and content than the Marvel shows on Netflix, which could be quite graphic in their depictions of violence, sex, rape, organized crime, drug abuse, etc [[note]] The recent exception is ''WesternAnimation/MODOK2021'' which despite being brought to Disney+ is rated R, although admittedly it’s not set in the MCU [[/note]]. That being said, the decision to move all MCU tv properties to one network--and that network being Disney+--has caused many fans to wonder if the MCU will ''ever'' release darker, grittier fare again.

* ''Series/MsMarvel2022'' is presented as a light, Creator/JohnHughes-influenced series in the vein of ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', and is even rated TV-PG, as opposed to the TV-14 ratings of the previous Disney+ shows, and ''especially'' by contrast with the BloodierAndGorier PsychologicalHorror of [[Series/MoonKnight2022 its immediate predecessor on the platform]].