The internet loves a good fight. Especially when it involves four guys named Chris. But honestly, the "Chris Wars" have always felt a little lopsided when you actually look at the data versus the memes. Most people think of Chris Pratt and Chris Evans as two sides of the same coin—the goofy space outlaw and the stoic boy scout.
It’s easy to group them. They both hit the stratosphere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). They both have that specific "buff guy from a 2000s rom-com" energy. But by 2026, the gap between their career paths and how the public sees them has widened into a canyon.
The Super Bowl Bet That Actually Changed Things
Remember 2015? It feels like a lifetime ago. That was the year Pratt and Evans basically won the internet with a Twitter (now X) wager over Super Bowl XLIX. Evans, a massive New England Patriots fan, and Pratt, a die-hard Seattle Seahawks supporter, bet that the loser would have to visit a children’s hospital in the winner's city, in full superhero costume.
The Patriots won. Obviously.
Pratt didn't just pay up; he showed up at Christopher’s Haven in Boston as Star-Lord. But here’s the thing: Evans went with him. Then, a few weeks later, they both went to Seattle Children’s Hospital together, with Evans suited up as Captain America.
This wasn't just a PR stunt. It raised over $27,000 for the hospitals and cemented the "wholesome Chris" narrative. But it also highlighted a weird truth. While they played best friends on social media, their actual screen time together is surprisingly low. They were the faces of the MCU, yet they barely shared the frame until Avengers: Infinity War.
Why the "Worst Chris" Label Still Sticks to Pratt
You've probably seen the polls. Every couple of years, a viral tweet asks people to "eliminate one Chris." More often than not, Pratt ends up at the bottom.
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Why?
It’s complicated. Evans has mostly stayed in the "internet's boyfriend" lane. He tweets about his dog, Dodger, and occasionally gets political in a way that aligns with the vocal majority of social media. He’s the safe bet.
Pratt, on the other hand, became a lightning rod. People got weird about his perceived religious and political views, even when he didn't explicitly voice them. There was that whole "healthy daughter" Instagram caption controversy that people interpreted as a dig at his first wife, Anna Faris. Honestly, it felt like the internet was looking for a reason to turn on him because he was too successful for a while.
He was in Guardians, Jurassic World, The LEGO Movie, and Mario. He was everywhere. People got Pratt-fatigue.
The Box Office Reality Check
If we’re talking raw numbers, Pratt is winning. Period.
By the start of 2026, his worldwide box office total as a lead is hovering around $14 billion. With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and his new sci-fi thriller Mercy hitting theaters, he’s on track to potentially become the highest-grossing lead actor of all time, rivaling Zoe Saldaña and Robert Downey Jr.
Evans has taken a different route. Since hanging up the shield in Endgame, he’s been experimenting. Some stuff worked (Knives Out), some stuff... didn't (Ghosted). He seems less interested in being a "franchise boy" and more interested in being an actor who occasionally does big movies so he can go home to Massachusetts.
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What’s Actually Happening in 2026
If you’re looking for a reunion, keep your eyes on the trades. The big news right now is Avengers: Doomsday.
For a long time, we thought Evans was done. But the first teasers have officially confirmed he’s back. Not as a multiverse variant, but as a version of Steve Rogers who apparently had a life—and a child—with Peggy Carter. It’s a massive pivot that puts him on a collision course with Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.
Meanwhile, Pratt is trying to prove he can do more than just "Star-Lord in a different hat." His new project, Mercy, is a "Screenlife" thriller where he plays a detective accused of murder by an AI program. It’s a 90-minute ticking clock movie played out in real-time. It’s a huge risk for him. If it lands, it might finally kill the "Worst Chris" meme by showing he has actual range beyond the smirk and the six-pack.
A Quick Look at the Stats
| Feature | Chris Evans | Chris Pratt |
|---|---|---|
| Defining Role | Captain America | Star-Lord |
| Current Vibe | Retired legend coming back for one last ride | Box office juggernaut trying to be "serious" |
| Recent Win | Marriage to Alba Baptista; MCU return hype | Super Mario Bros. massive success |
| Biggest Hurdle | Overcoming the "he's only Cap" stigma | Constant social media scrutiny |
The Nuance We All Miss
We like to pretend these guys are rivals. They aren't. They’re peers in a very small, very weird club.
The "Chris" thing is a fan construction. In reality, Evans and Pratt represent two different ways to handle extreme fame. Evans chose to pull back, protect his privacy, and pick-and-choose projects that didn't require six months of chicken-and-broccoli diets. Pratt leaned in, became the face of three different billion-dollar franchises, and took the hits that come with that level of exposure.
There’s also the "Anna Faris" factor. Evans and Faris starred in What's Your Number? together back in 2011. Pratt was actually in that movie too—playing "Disgusting Donald." It’s a weird bit of Hollywood trivia that links the three of them long before any of them stepped onto a Marvel set.
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Moving Beyond the Memes
If you want to actually understand the Evans/Pratt dynamic, stop looking at the "Who is the Best Chris?" polls. They’re meaningless.
Instead, look at the career longevity. Evans is leveraging nostalgia. He knows the world wants Steve Rogers, and he’s giving it to them on his own terms in Avengers: Doomsday. Pratt is trying to build a post-Marvel legacy that doesn't rely on a mask or a spaceship.
One isn't "better" than the other. They're just playing different games.
Actionable Insights for the "Chris" Observer:
- Watch the Box Office: Keep an eye on the opening weekend for Mercy. If it underperforms, expect Pratt to pivot back to established franchises (like more Jurassic or Mario) immediately.
- Follow the MCU Threads: With Evans confirmed for Doomsday, watch for "incursion" theories. His return isn't just a cameo; it’s likely the catalyst for the multiverse collapsing.
- Ignore the "Worst Chris" Noise: It’s a social media echo chamber. Pratt’s "Q-rating" among general audiences (the people who actually buy tickets) remains incredibly high despite the loud minority on X.
- Check the Credits: Both actors are moving heavily into producing. If you want to see where their true interests lie, look at the projects they are funding, not just the ones they are starring in.
The era of the "Four Chrises" might be evolving, but Evans and Pratt remain the two most fascinating case studies in how to survive—and thrive—after the superhero bubble bursts.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start by re-watching Avengers: Infinity War specifically to see the "Titan" scenes. It’s one of the few places where the different "Chris" energies actually collide on screen, and it gives you a great sense of how their acting styles (Evans' groundedness vs. Pratt's improvisational timing) play off each other. Then, look up the 2015 Seattle Children's Hospital photos to remind yourself why this "rivalry" started with a lot of heart.