Entertainment

Stan Lee speaking at the Phoenix Comicon in 2014. Photo by Gage Skidmore

A Definitive ranking of stan lee cameos in the marvel cinematic universe and Beyond

Editor Jessican Munley

With the Marvel icon's passing in November, there was a hole made in the Marvel cinematic universe dwarfed only by those left in the hearts of fans around the world.

As a long overdue send off, we here at the Dukes Dispatch compiled a definitive ranking of the legends 36 on screen cameos (yes. 36. These go back to 1989!)

Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2015- Thor tells others at a party that his alcohol was “not meant for mortal men.” Stan fires back with “Neither was Omaha Beach, Blondie. Stop trying to scare us. Come on.” Stan is later shown being escorted out by two security guards, saying “Excelsior”.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, 2017- This cameo has inspired many conspiracy theories about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Stan is shown of a strange planet speaking to aliens known as the Watchers about his past experiences. After he referred to one of his past cameos, fans were given the impression he has been playing the same character in all of the Marvel movies.
Incredible Hulk, 2008- Bruce Banner accidentally infects a bottle of Pingo Doce with his blood. Stan is later shown grabbing that same bottle out of his fridge, taking a sip, and immediately contracting gamma sickness.
Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014- Rocket Raccoon spots Stan flirting with a pretty lady and shames him, asking “Where’s your wife, old man?”
Daredevil, 2003- In a roadside scene, young Matt Murdock prevents Stan Lee, who is immersed in a newspaper, from walking in front of a bus. Bewildered, Stan stares as the blind boy walks away.
Spider-Man 3, 2007- When Peter Parker stops in the street to look at a sign above a movie theater that states Spider-Man will receive a key to the city, Stan appears beside him to give a few words of wisdom. He tells Parker, “You know, I guess one person can make a difference. ‘Nough said.”
X-Men: Apocalypse, 2016- This short but sweet camoe included Stan’s wife, Joan. The two are seen clutching each other as the character Apocalypse causes worldwide chaos.
Avengers: Infinity War, 2018- Appearing as a bus driver for Peter Parker’s class, Stan asks the kids a question when they freak out over a large, alien ship that appeared in the city: “What’s the matter with you kids, you never seen a spaceship before?”
Venom, 2018- In another conspiracy theory-inspiring cameo, Stan tells Eddie, in regard to Anne, “Don’t give up on her… either of you,” hinting that he is aware of Venom.
The Avengers, 2012- After the Battle of New York, a news channel takes to the streets, interviewing all kinds of people. Stan Lee is among the interviewed, and all he had to say about it was this: “Superheroes in New York? Give me a break.”
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2014- Working as a security guard at the Smithsonian, Stan predicts he will be fired upon finding Captain America’s old suit is missing.
Thor: The Dark World, 2013- Appearing in a mental institution, Stan listens to a lecture given by Dr. Selvig, who is using two different shoes to create a visual aid. At the end, Selvig asks for any questions and receives only one: Stan asking for his shoe back.
Captain America: Civil War, 2016- Providing some comic relief in this on-edge film, Stan shows up at Tony Stark’s door as a Fed-Ex worker. He says he has a package for a “Tony Stank”. James Rhodes is particularly appreciative of this mistake, and makes fun of his friend for it.
Doctor Strange, 2016- This notably ironic scene earned itself a higher place on the list. As Doctor Strange commences in a dimension-warping battle in the streets, Stan sits on a bus, unbothered, reading Aldous Huxley’s “The Doors of Perception”.
Spider-Man, 2002- Playing the part of a heroic bystander, Stan shields a little girl from harm after the Green Goblin causes an explosion in the streets.
X-Men: The Last Stand, 2006- As a Young Jean Grey demonstrates her powers of telekinesis, Stan Lee is shown baffled by the water floating out of his water hose as he attempts to water his lawn.
The Amazing Spider-Man, 2012- In a heated fight, Spider-Man battles the Lizard; they end up in the same library as Stan, who is completely oblivious to them both as he jams to some music and goes about his business. Not even nearly being hit over the head with a table could bring him to his senses.
Hulk, 2003- This cameo is set outside Bruce Banner’s lab. Stan, dressed up in a security officer’s uniform, is seen complaining to a fellow officer, played by Louis Ferrigno, about how he thinks “Security oughta be beefed up a lot more. In a place like this-”and the scene cuts off.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2, 2014- When Stan notices Parker showing up late to his own graduation, he comments, “I think I know that guy!”
Fantastic Four, 2005- Stan plays a friendly mailman by the name of Willie Lumpkin, welcoming Dr. Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic, back to the Baxter Building with a stack of “Final Notice” envelopes.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, 2007- Stan Lee shows up as himself in this cameo, as he tries to get into Sue Storm and Reed Richard’s wedding. He is stopped by a security guard who, upon hearing Stan’s name, tells him, “Yeah, nice try.”
Iron Man 2, 2010- This cameo is on the shorter side; Stan is only showed for a few seconds. Tony Stark shakes his hand and calls him “Larry,” referencing Larry King. It seems that, in this Iron Man movie, Stan is actually playing another character; this is believed because more than one person calls Stan “Larry”.
Iron Man, 2008- Tony Stark arrives at his party and pats a man surrounded by women on the back saying, “You look great, Heff.” The man turns around, revealing himself as Stan. It is unclear if Stan was playing as Hugh Hefner, the man referenced, if Stark simply mistook Stan as Heff, or if Stark was just messing with him.
Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2017-When Spider-Man causes a commotion by some apartment buildings, Stan reaches his head out of a window to say, “Don’t make me come down there you punk!” A woman then says, “Hey, Gary, how ya doin’?” to which he replies, “Margery, how are ya? How’s ya mother?”
Spider-Man 2, 2004- Similar to his appearance in the first Spider-Man, Stan is showed saving an innocent bystander from falling debris.
Iron Man 3, 2013- This another shorter cameo; Stan cheekily gives a beauty pageant contestant a perfect score of 10.
Thor: Ragnarok, 2017- In one of his more popular cameos, Stan shows up on the planet Sakaar as a barber. He is shown with a complex tool on one of his hands, presumably for cutting Thor’s trademark hair.
Black Panther, 2018- After T’Challa wins a game of poker but is uninterested in collecting his chips, Stan humorously comes to take them “for safekeeping.” Some believe that this represents the common white man taking what is not his from his fellow humans, although that particular theory seems a little too far-out to be true.
X-Men, 2000- In the first X-Men movie to come out, Stan is spotted at a hot dog stand on the beach when Senator Kelly washes up, exposed, as a mutant, on the shore. The camera pans by him, allowing the viewers time to take note before the next scene.
Ant-Man and the Wasp, 2018- Just as Stan is about to get in his car, it is shrunken by a disk thrown by the Wasp. “Well, the ’60s were fun, but now I’m paying for it,” he comments.
Deadpool, 2016- In one of his raunchier cameos, Stan shows up as a strip club MC. He tells the clubbers to “Give it up for Chastity!”
Ant-Man, 2015- Stan shows up in one of Louis’ flashbacks as a bartender. He only comes up for a quick moment to describe a girl as “crazy stupid fine”.
Thor, 2011- In a scene showing lots of locals attempting to lift Thor’s grounded hammer, Stan comes along to give it a try, too. With the hammer chained to his truck, he attempts to drive off, resulting in a broken vehicle and a still-implanted hammer. For poor Stan, not only does this earn him a trip to an auto-repair shop, but it means he is unworthy of lifting Thor’s mighty weapon.
Captain America: The First Avenger, 2011- At a press conference for Captain America (to which the Captain himself does not show up) Stan is seen sitting in the crowd, decked out in a World War II general’s outfit.
The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, 1989- Stan made his first cameo nearly three decades ago, as a jury member in David Banner’s imaginary trial. This cameo was on the shorter side, but anyone paying attention would have noticed him.
Deadpool 2, 2018- This bland “cameo” fails to give Stan any screen time. His face is shown painted on a wall, and the camera moves on.