Ranking the Marvel Cinematic Universe

In 2008, a burgeoning, then-independent Marvel Studios was up against the impossible. The landscape of superhero films was dominated by the likes of Fox’s X-Men trilogy, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and, the titan of them all, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. And yet, this new studio sought to carve out a niche for itself and its soon-to-be franchise in the minds of the masses. Armed with a director whose biggest hit was Elf (2003), a washed-up star, and a B-list alcoholic superhero, Iron Man opened to a strong box office and positive critical reception, all the while Marvel Studios began scheming for something even more ambitious. In a mid-credits stinger featuring Samuel L. Jackson, the film promised something hitherto unseen: a universe full of interconnected heroes all building towards a common end.

Since the release of Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has risen to a total stranglehold over the film industry (perhaps a waning hold) that no other franchise has ever come close to. Encompassing thirty-four films spread across five content “phases” and with over $30 billion US at the box office, the supremacy of the MCU as a force in pop culture and entertainment is undeniable. With Deadpool & Wolverine, the 34th MCU movie and fourth in “Phase Five,” now in theatres, I’m taking a look back through the sixteen-year-old franchise and ranking each installment, worst to best.

For the purposes of this list, I will only be talking about the feature films explicitly within the MCU’s main canon. You won’t see any TV series or specials here (no Moon Knight or Agents of SHIELD or WandaVision or Werewolf by Night), nor any movies retroactively folded into continuity (Raimi’s Spider-Man or the Deadpool movies) — just the main line movies. A list featuring everything would be too long, and this list is already too long.

Excelsior!

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34. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

“I want you to remember: you could’ve gone home. You could’ve seen your daughter again. But you thought you could win.”

Phase 5 began with the anti-climactic, deeply annoying Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, an Ant-Man threequel that bites off way more than it can chew. In an era of MCU filmmaking where no hero can just be the “little guy” anymore and every installment has to have universe-altering implications, Quantumania might just be the worst offender. The film throws away all of the small-scale (get it? Cause he shrinks?) familial drama and visual flourishes that made the first film work so well, in favour of a backdoor pilot for the MCU’s next big bad. Horrific visual effects, cheap production design, and bad performances (Michael Douglas phones it in completely) abound. If you like the endearing, simple, and visually interesting first Ant-Man movie, you’re going to really hate this one. This is a prime example of Marvel’s compulsion to build a “greater story” gets in the way of telling a compelling story. Why did anyone think that an Ant-Man movie would be the perfect way to jump-start Kang the Conquerer? Creative bankruptcy!

You can read my full review here.

Directed by Peyton Reed.

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33. Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)

“If you don’t shut up, you won’t be invited to the orgy.”

Where Taika Waititi’s bouncy Thor: Ragnarok was an excellent course correction for the title character, his follow-up, Love & Thunder is lazy and lifeless. The film takes notes from two of the best arcs from Jason Aaron’s impeccable run on the Thor comic books but manages to kill everything that makes that series such incredible fiction. While I’ve previously really loved director Taika Waititi’s work, Love & Thunder is him just going through the motions. It feels like an AI-generated Waititi movie made by the man himself. The characters are annoying, the stakes are paper thin, and the film doesn’t coalesce into anything worth mentioning with its cop-out “emotional” ending. That’s not to mention the hideous CGI and the horrific art direction. In what might be the MCU’s most direct adaptation of a comic book story to date, it manages to eliminate everything that made the original so good.

I am begging you to read Jason Aaron’s Thor.

You can read my full review here.

Directed by Taika Waititi.

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32. Eternals (2021)

“We’re Eternals. We came here seven thousand years ago, to protect humans from the Deviants.”

Chloé Zhao is a very exciting contemporary filmmaker. Modelling her filmmaking style off of the 20th-century neorealists, Zhao approaches her mundane subjects with a sense of respect and awe. Unfortunately, slapping Zhao’s naturalistic aesthetic on top of an MCU movie makes for a pretty weird movie. And not weird in a good way: weird in the very uncomfortable, unnatural, disturbing, and perverted way. And not in the cool John Waters or Ken Russell way. Eternals, named after the group of immortal demigods controlling the fate of the world at the centre of the film, wants to be more esoteric and thoughtful than past Marvel movies but ultimately doesn’t understand how to make a thoughtful, thematically rich superhero movie. What we’re left with is a pack of unmemorable, lifeless characters with a story that feels sluggish and unmotivated. The film looks good some of the time, but it’s evident that Zhao is simply not cut out for this sort of work. Lifeless!

You can read my full review here.

Directed by Chloé Zhao.

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31. Thor: The Dark World (2013)

“How’s space?”

For many years, this was the defacto “worst MCU movie.” While some more recent MCU movies have taken that title, including a much worse Thor movie, this one is still a major stinker. With an awkward screenplay and uninspired direction, Thor: The Dark World is a pretty life-less ordeal. Chris Hemsworth has never been more weirdly stilted than as he is here. Natalie Portman is entirely wasted. There are a few attempts at humour, but they come across as being forced and pretty unfunny. And then there’s Malekith, perhaps the worst central villain of the entire MCU. I guess there are some good visual effects sometimes. The bit where Thor and Malekith are jumping through the different realms is kinda fun. But honestly, there’s not much to like.

Fun fact: this was the first MCU film I ever saw in the theatres.

Directed by Alan Taylor.

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30. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

“You know, I know a few techniques that could help you manage that anger effectively.”

I often forget that The Incredible Hulk exists, which is pretty indicative of how I feel about the film as a whole. Despite being about a giant green rage monster, the film feels a little too quiet and reserved most of the time. Edward Norton and Liv Tyler are both very uninteresting as the two leads (a problem I will attribute to director Louis Leterrier who, as I discovered with Fast X (2023), cannot direct compelling character beats for the life of him). In retrospect, the film also feels strangely disconnected from the rest of the franchise. In a cinematic universe where everything is so carefully and intentionally connect (to a fault), The Incredible Hulk is a weird outlier. Hell, it took eight years for any actor from this film to appear in another MCU project — an honour that goes to William Hurt who finally returned as General Ross in Captain America: Civil War (2016).

Producer Gale Anne Hurd described this film as a “requel” (part-reboot, part-sequel) to Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003). Does that mean that film is also set within the MCU? Does that mean that Bruce Banner was played by three different actors? Did the MCU technically start in 2003? I guess we’ll never know.

Directed by Louis Leterrier.

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29. Black Widow (2021)

“Such a poser.”

After a two-year gap since the release of the previous MCU film, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Phase 4 kicks off with a tremendous dud. Set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, Scarlett Johansson’s farewell performance as Black Widow feels like too little, too late. There are a few interesting plot beats here and there and the strong supporting performances from David Harbour and Florence Pugh do a lot to keep this film afloat, but the whole film stinks of a tired, beaten franchise with not much new to give. It’s boring in an existential way.

You can read my full review here.

Directed by Cate Shortland.

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28. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

“You can do it. You can do anything. You’re the world’s greatest grandma.”

Hot off the heels of the stellar one-two punch of Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a real let-down. In a cinematic universe full of ugly visual effects and uninteresting cinematography (two trends that unfortunately colour a lot of the MCU), this might just be the most offensive example of those in action. Where the first Ant-Man film has enough residual energy from Edgar Wright’s work on the film to keep it afloat, this film demonstrates that director Peyton Reed is really bringing nothing of note to this series. There are a few good comedic performances here and there, but the emotional beats and the visuals are so disappointing. Forgettable!

Directed by Peyton Reed.

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27. Iron Man 2 (2010)

“Sir, I’m gonna have to ask you to exit the donut.”

While the first Iron Man flick was a really solid superhero adventure (more on that later), Iron Man 2 is a bit of a disappointment. While not quite a complete travesty, it still distinctly disappoints. The film juggles way too many parts and can’t quite keep itself narratively clear enough to provide a cohesive experience. The film tries to dig into Tony Stark’s mental health and addictions, while also delivering an action-packed sequel, while also cramming in the awkward SHIELD/worldbuilding beats. The unfortunate side-effect of all of this cramming is that Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell (Rockwell especially) are given far too little screen time as the film’s villains, Whiplash and Justin Hammer respectively. However, in this movie’s defence, the Monaco race action sequence is one of the best action sequences in the MCU. The suitcase suit-up sequence? Glorious. It also still looks better than most MCU films thanks to the fact that it’s one of the few actually shot on film (film shooting makes a difference, people).

Directed by Jon Favreau.

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26. The Marvels (2023)

“I walked into a witch hex and now I can teleport through objects.”

Do you remember all of the worst parts of Captain Marvel, WandaVision, and Ms. Marvel? Wouldn’t it be so cool if there was a movie that combined all of those things and removed all the things you liked about the previous installments? No wonder this movie bombed. Brie Larson sleepwalks through the lead role, while Teyonah Parris delivers a totally personality-less performance. There’s a left-field musical number in here, though, which means it’s not entirely terrible. I will always be disappointed that we got this film instead of a Captain Marvel movie about Carol battling through the Kree-Skrull war. The Marvels highlights how poorly treated the Kree have been in this entire franchise: frequently featured, yet never fully understood. That’s just the thing with this movie: there are no interesting characters, no real motivations here. It’s just a “light” and “fun” action blockbuster who two leads who are the least fun, relegating Iman Vellani and Samuel L. Jackson to do way too much with way too little.

Directed by Nia DaCosta.

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25. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2000)

“You get hurt, hurt ‘em back. You get killed . . . walk it off.”

While it’s not a complete disaster, Age of Ultron is a major step down for the Avengers series. The film replaces the narrative simplicity of the first with a story that’s completely buried by so many subplots and character arcs. The frustrating part is that when Age of Ultron is good, it’s firing at all cylinders. The fights in the Hydra base and in South Africa are particularly excellent, I enjoy the chill character scenes in the tower early on and on Clint’s farm, and Ultron is great whenever he’s on screen. I just wish that these scenes were in a better movie. Unfortunately, there are bits like Thor’s tidal pool visions, Natasha and Bruce’s relationship, and the often ugly colour grade. The film also seems to sabotage Tony’s arc from Iron Man 3. It’s a mixed bag!

Directed by Joss Whedon.

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24. Captain Marvel (2019)

“You know anything about a lady blowing up a Blockbuster? Witnesses say she was dressed for laser tag.”

Brie Larson’s debut as the god-like Captain Carol Danvers is a pretty mediocre adventure. Set in the 1990s and featuring an uncannily de-aged Samuel L. Jackson, Captain Marvel takes us through a U.S. Air Force pilot’s journey to becoming the galaxy’s most powerful hero. Despite its cosmic ambitions, Captain Marvel finds itself a little too tied down to Earth, hindering the scale of the narrative it desperately wants to tell. One part sci-fi action epic, One part espionage thriller, and all parts messy and underwhelming.

Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

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23. Thor (2011)

“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.”

Thor, the God of Thunder, is the favourite son and crown prince of the fantastical realm of Asgard. But when a mission to the frozen wastelands to Jotunheim goes array, Thor is stripped of his amazing powers and is banished by his father to Earth where he must learn to be a hero. Despite the magical and supernatural elements of its premise, Kenneth Branagh’s Thor spends most of its time dickering around in Small Town, New Mexico. There’s some fun “fish out of water” stuff with Thor as he tries to navigate his surroundings and figure out this new world. The human support cast is fun and Tom Hiddleston provides a foretaste of what Loki will become in the near future. Most of all, this is probably the most “chill” an MCU movie has ever been. Is there a more natural combination than Shakespeare and New Mexico?

For a time, this was my dad’s favourite MCU movie. I’m not sure if he still holds that position now.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

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22. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

“I am Queen of the most powerful nation in the world! And my entire family is gone! Have I not given everything?”

The first act of this film is perhaps some of the strongest stuff ever put to screen for the MCU. Responding to the real-life death of Chadwick Boseman with grace and creativity, Wakanda Forever wants to be a more sombre MCU outing that ends up killing most of its potential by the end. There is some beautiful camera work on display, the start of some poignant themes, the creative inclusion of real-world political discourse, nuanced performances, and gorgeous worldbuilding. And then the film shifts into its second half and kills most of the good vibes created in the first. While the film wants to respect the legacy of Boseman, and the fictional T’Challa, it doesn’t find a proper new protagonist, creating a hole in the centre of the film that’s never filled. There are narrative beats that were clearly meant to be given to T’Challa now poorly glommed on to other characters. Angela Bassett — who managed to win an Oscar for her work here — carries the film’s emotional core on her shoulders but gets unfortunately lost in the increasingly disastrous second half. After a pretty excellent fight sequence in Wakanda, the film ends on what might be the worst final fight in the MCU: a poorly lit, poorly staged battle on a singular, poorly designed boat. If only the rest of the film was as compelling as the first act!

You can read my full review here.

Directed by Ryan Coogler.

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21. Doctor Strange (2016)

“Dormammu, I’ve come to bargain!”

There’s a lot to like about Doctor Strange. Visually, there are some really interesting ideas at play. The design of the magic in this film is unique and always exciting to look at. There are some well-designed alternative realms. Jumping into the Mirror Dimension, the film descends into an M. C. Escher-esque funhouse which is a delight to watch. The Dark Dimension folds in some wonderful ideas from Jack Kriby’s 1960s Doctor Strange art. The finale with Dormammu, the film’s big bad, is very memorable and a lot of fun. Doctor Strange suffers, however, by not being particularly unique narratively. It’s a common observation that this film has many similarities to the original Iron Man. While I’m not convinced that Stephen Strange is a mere copy of Tony Stark, I do agree that there’s nothing storywise that makes this film exceptional. Most of the supporting cast is weak and underutilized (Rachel McAdams especially). Unfortunately, fun visuals and a cool cape do not make a movie good.

Directed by Scott Derrickson.

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20. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

“Wait so you’re Spider-Man too? Why didn’t you just say that?”

The emotional impact of Spider-Man: No Way Home relies almost purely on nostalgia. Which, when you’re watching this film for the first time in a sold-out theatre opening weekend, leads to a really effective experience. The problem here is that beyond that one, specific experience, No Way Home doesn’t have a leg to stand on. While it is plenty of fun to see the heroes and villains of the three generations of Spider-Man (Spider-Men? Spider-Mans?) unite, the narrative told here doesn’t really do much with this crossover beyond “Hey! Look! Those things from your childhood!” It’s especially unfair to this movie that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse came out just three years previously and executed this exact same concept with so much more artistry, emotional resonance, and thematic richness, all without having to rely on bringing back Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire. It’s unambitious and uninteresting! Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina steal the show and make almost all of the lame parts seem worth it. Maybe I’m not so immune to the nostalgia-baiting . . . 

You can read my full review here.

Directed by Jon Watts.

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19. Ant-Man (2015)

“Wait I didn’t steal anything! I was returning something I stole!”

I like the first Ant-Man movie a decent amount. Paul Rudd is pretty great as Scott Lang. Michael Douglas is great as the remorseful Hank Pym. Michael Peña’s Luis and his colour stories steal the show. Evangeline Lilly is just kind of there. Could you imagine how ant-mazing this film would be if Edgar Wright hadn’t ant-bandoned the project? It’s pretty obvious from watching later ant-stallments that this movie is only successful because it’s coasting on what residual Edgar Wright ant-ergy was left after he quit. It’s fun!

Directed by Peyton Reed.

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18. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

“It’s easy to fool people when they’re already fooling themselves.”

Immediately following up Avengers: Endgame, this coda to Phase 3 feels like a Spider-Man road-trip movie awkwardly forced into a position of emotional clean-up. Far From Home is a film of many disconnected parts: many that work very well and many that drag the whole affair down. Tom Holland’s performance as Peter Parker is much stronger here than in Homecoming and the dynamics between the main cast are quite strong. Pulling Spider-Man out of his native New York City lends the character to exploring and interacting with some fabulous new locales. Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio is amazing and makes for one of the MCU’s best-ever villains. And then there’s the rest of the movie, filled to the brim with ugly CGI, a few too many characters and plot threads kicking around, a thematically unsatisfying story, a few questionable character beats for Spider-Man, and some shoehorned post-Endgame emotional fallout. It’s not the best Spider-Man movie, but it’s got its charms.

Directed by Jon Watts.

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17. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

“Disney brought him back. They’re gonna make him do this till he’s 90.”

Marvel Studios’ first foray into their newly acquired X-Men IP brings back the two most popular characters from 20th Century Fox’s universe of Marvel superheroes, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, in a multiversal send-off to the entire Fox legacy. While it pulls in some elements from the wider MCU, Deadpool & Wolverine sits very much in its own corner of the universe. Reynolds and Jackman carry the film with their excellent chemistry and the film’s deeply meta sense of humour pokes fun at some of the more common issues within the recent MCU films. However, despite its self-awareness, the film still falls into common pitfalls. The film’s visual language is decidedly lifeless, especially when it journeys into the dry, grey “Void,” a metaphysical junkyard of the multiverse. The narrative feels quite underbaked, especially in the handling of its character arcs, which becomes apparent in the second half when the film’s many surprises start to dry up. Emma Corrin puts in a great performance as the film’s main villain, Cassandra Nova, if only she was given a genuine arc and personality. Ultimately, the 200-million dollar budget and the Disney sheen make the anarchistic spirit of Deadpool feel rather disingenuous.

You can read my full review here.

Directed by Shawn Levy.

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16. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

“Just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.”

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a movie torn asunder by two opposite forces — the convoluted and messy screenplay of Michael Waldron and the energetic and imaginative directing of Sam Raimi. For this reason, I got back and forth about whether or not I like this movie. Its highlights are through the roof, but when it falters, oh boy, does it ever stink. There’s some really great production design, set pieces, and weirdly good cinematography for an MCU movie. And then all that goodwill is undercut with ham-fisted universe-building content, an unfortunate choice in villain, and a multiverse that doesn’t really live up to the “madness” promised in the title. It’s a real mess that Sam Raimi has given everything he has too. It might not be the best MCU movie, but it’s one of the most interesting.

You can read my full review here.

Directed by Sam Raimi.

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15. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

“You can’t outrun who you really are.”

This is the part of the list where we go from movies that are just “alright” to movies that are actually pretty solid. Starring Canada’s own Simu Liu, Shang-Chi has a lot of distinct charm and style often missing from this franchise. The martial arts-infused, wuxia-inspired action is a great creative touch and the worldbuilding is so much fun to explore. Liu proves himself as a viable leading man and Tony Leung delivers the MCU’s best villain performance yet. While the third act crumbles into typical MCU visual and narrative oversaturation in a way that betrays its more unique approach to the superhero format, the first two-thirds are rock solid. It’s one of the few recent MCU movies that had me excited to see more from its corner of the universe. I just hope a potential sequel embraces its unique niche even more.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.

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14. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

“Can’t you just be a friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man?”

Welcome home, Spider-Man! After debuting in a limited role in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker gets some time to spread his wings. I like Homecoming quite a bit. While it doesn’t get anywhere near the emotional and narrative highs of Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004), it’s an inoffensive, back-to-basics start for the Wall-Crawler in the MCU. Holland is great in the title role. Iron Man is used quite effectively here — this is the most nuanced performance RDJ has ever given as the character — even if the inclusion of his tech does take away from the idea of Spider-Man being a home-spun hero. Like its sequels, its villain is quite excellent. If this list were a ranking of all of the MCU villains, Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes (AKA the Vulture) would be right near the top. The filmmaking leaves something to be desired. Jon Watts is no Sam Raimi and the direction lacks a lot of personality. While I like the design of the Spider-suit, the digital effects sometimes render the character’s movements to be just a little too weightless. Still, with its rock-solid third act, Homecoming leaves a strong impression.

Directed by Jon Watts.

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13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

“That shield doesn’t belong to you. You don’t deserve it! My father made that shield!”

Phase 3 starts off with a bang. Captain America: Civil War is what Age of Ultron was trying to be, but much more successful. It pushed the MCU into a darker, divided chapter, manages to progress all of the arcs of the main characters, while also introducing major players, and delivers a pretty solid villain. There’s a lot of really strong stuff here. There’s a strong central conflict which sees the Avengers finally face some consequences for their rampant property destruction. Captain America’s arc is pretty stellar and serves as a nice progression from “America’s golden boy” to “wanted fugitive” (there’s definitely something to dig into there about the loss of the American soul in the 21st century but I digress). The introductions of both Black Panther and Spider-Man are great. There used sparsely and strategically and leave the audience wanting more from the characters. The film also feels more like a follow-up to Iron Man 3 than Age of Ultron does. Here, Tony has gone into light retirement, is off the Avengers roster, and is rather hesitant to use an Iron Man suit.

It’s not perfect by any stretch. Bucky isn’t much of an actual character in this movie and is rather just a vehicle to explore Steve and Tony’s trauma, the airport fight looks horrendous, and I’m pretty sure the whole argument could have been resolved with just better communication. The film also suffers by trying to cram in so much narrative content that it feels just a little too full. Still, it’s remarkable how successful the film is in its story while still keeping the drama primarily focused on Captain America and Bucky.

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.

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12. Iron Man (2008)

“I am Iron Man.”

The film that started it all. As I mentioned in the introduction, Iron Man was a bit of a surprise hit back in 2008. The film that made Tony Stark and Robert Downey Jr. household names also managed to launch a mega-franchise that grew into a behemoth unlike anything else in the industry. Thankfully, Iron Man still holds up. There is an obvious amount of care put into the production that is not always found in recent installments. The visual effects have aged better than a lot of other recent films thanks to some well-imagined suit-up sequences and a great blend of practical and digital effects. The simplicity of the narrative is also rather refreshing with no world-building strings attached. This might also still be one of Downey’s best performances as the title character with his excellent playboy jerk-to-superhero character arc.

Directed by Jon Favreau.

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11. The Avengers (2012)

“The Avengers. That’s what we call ourselves; we’re sort of like a team. “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” type thing.”

Looking back on it now, I probably shouldn’t like the original Avengers as much as I do. Does it have the lighting of a TV movie? Yes. Are these the worst costumes any of the Avengers wear in the franchise? Yes. Is Tony Stark just a little too unbearable? Also yes. But after seeing it at such a young age, The Avengers has wiggled its way into my heart. I think the film’s two biggest strengths are its great team dynamics and the pretty stellar third act. The film has a lot of really solid energy throughout, both in its pacing and from the banter of its main characters. The action is spectacular and only improves as the film rumbles along. Tom Hiddleston delivers a less whiny and much more self-assured performance as Loki this time around, blending in equal measure charm and menace. It’s just an all-around great blockbuster.

Directed by Joss Whedon.

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10. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

“A creepy old man cut my hair off!”

Thor was in a pretty tough spot in 2017. It was pretty clear that the MCU wasn’t too sure what to do with the God of Thunder. After a lifeless sequel and a role in Age of Ultron that reduced him to an exposition machine, New Zealand comic filmmaker Taika Waititi stepped in to inject some new life into the character. Capitalizing on Chris Hemsworth’s underutilized comedic chops and WITH a story that gives the character a clean break from the previous films, Ragnarok left a strong impression on audiences (myself included) when it first premiered. While among the most “silly” entries in the MCU, Ragnarok features some great performances, excellent action, and a fantastic finale. Jeff Goldblum makes a solid impression as the Grandmaster, Tessa Thompson kills in her debut as Valkyrie, and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner is a welcome inclusion to the chaos. It’s a good time all around.

Directed by Taika Waititi.

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9. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

“I am going to die surrounded by the biggest idiots in the galaxy.”

When I first saw it, I really didn’t like Guardians of the Galaxy. The rather unusual and unlikeable cast of heroes threw me off as a young teen. As I revisited the film, I came to appreciate it for what it is. James Gunn is one of the few filmmakers in the MCU’s arsenal that is able to transcend the limits of the MCU formula to create films that are both stellar blockbusters and emotionally rich and personal films. While the later Guardians films will make an even bigger emotional impact, things start off well with this 1970s-scored space opera. The cast is pretty dynamic and the production design is absolutely stellar. There are some blips in the film, none more noticeable than Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), the film’s main antagonist. After a great introduction sequence, the character fails to deliver on any of his supposed menace or danger and just becomes another villain of the week. All in all, Guardians of the Galaxy is just a great time at the movies.

Directed by James Gunn.

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8. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

“I’m just a kid from Brooklyn.”

With pulp-inspired action and a great amount of heart, Captain America: The First Avenger is a pretty rocking good time. The storyline is totally endearing, the 1940s setting is such a treat, and the film has some pretty solid action. The performances are also pretty solid across the board. Chris Evans sells the boy-scout nature of Steve Rogers will so much sincerity and conviction, Sebastian Stan is extremely charming as Bucky Barnes, Hayley Atwell is one of the most ferocious characters in the whole MCU, and Hugo Weaving chews so much scenery as the main villain, Red Skull. There’s not a whole lot of complexity to this one, but when you parade yourself with this much conviction, it’s hard to not be charmed by the whole experience. Who doesn’t like watching Nazis get beat up?

“The Star-Spangled Man” rivals only “Agatha All Along” as the greatest song to come out of the MCU.

Directed by Joe Johnston.

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7. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

“I know what it’s like to lose. To feel so desperately that you’re right, yet to fail nonetheless. Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same.”

The first part in the epic Phase Three finale, Infinity War is an exciting, sprawling action film.  The film begins a very satisfying pay-off to the first ten-ish years of MCU storytelling with the Avengers and their new-found allies engaged in a desperate fight against the greatest threat they’ve ever known: Thanos. Josh Brolin takes centre-stage as the Mad Titan, the villain the MCU till this point had been building solely towards, and he arrives with a vengeance. Infinity War is a delicate balancing act and is pretty successful in pulling its many pieces together. The ending is still surprising, even knowing what the result will be.

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.

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6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

“Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?”

The conflict of The First Avenger is a clean-cut good vs. evil fight. It’s the valiant Allies against the monstrous Nazis. In The Winter Soldier, the line between us and them gets a little more blurry as Captain America’s idealism is challenged by a threat from within the so-called “good guys.” The film is a surprisingly good spy thriller with the typical superhero shenanigans thrown in. The action is solid throughout with some of my favourite set-pieces in the MCU included here. Chris Evans delivers another bang-up performance as the title character, with some strong support from Scarlett Johanson and Samuel L. Jackson. The Captain America suit in this film is the best the character has looked in the whole MCU.

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.

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5. Black Panther (2018)

“You’re a good man with a good heart. And it’s hard for a good man to be king.”

After a fantastic debut in Civil War, the anticipation for Black Panther’s solo film was high, but I’m not sure anyone was expecting this film to become so big. Led by the late, great Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther is a pretty exceptional film in the MCU brand. While there are some iffy visual effects in the third act, the vast majority of this film works so well. The casting is great with Boseman and Michael B. Jordan being the standouts. The production design is excellent and the costuming is phenomenal. The design of Wakanda’s cultures and environments is so detailed and carefully thought out and Ludwig Göransson’s score is probably the best in the franchise. The Kendrick Lamar-curated soundtrack is an absolute treat. It’s surprisingly thematically ambitious for an MCU movie and dares to ask the question “Can Marvel movies be about serious themes and not just aliens and magic stones?”

Directed by Ryan Coogler.

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4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

“He may have been your father, boy, but he wasn’t your daddy.”

When it was first released in theatres, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 wasn’t received quite as fondly as its predecessor. It’s easy to understand why. Released just a year before the massive crossover Avengers: Infinity War, the second Guardians adventure seems like a diversion more than anything. Set in one remote corner of the universe, the Guardians spend a bad weekend at Peter’s dad’s house featuring a pretty uncomfortable family reunion. The stakes are intimate and it lacks any of the worldbuilding or setup that the first film was able to do so well. It is, however, one of the most emotionally resonant MCU films, only surpassed by its own sequel. I connect to this film so strongly. There’s some gorgeous production design here, in the fantastical visual effects and the practical sets. The cast is really excellent here as well. Kurt Russell shines as Ego the Living Planet, one of the best MCU villains (refreshing after Ronan), and Michael Rooker steals the show as Yondu. Of course, that finale leaves the viewer absolutely speechless.

Directed by James Gunn.

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3. Iron Man 3 (2013)

“A famous man once said, “We create our own demons.” Who said that? What does that even mean? Doesn't matter. I said it because he said it. So now, he was famous and that basically getting said by two well-known guys. I don’t, uh . . . I’m gonna start again.”

Iron Man 3 has been a rather divisive film for fans ever since it premiered over ten years ago, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t love it. Taking place right after the events of The Avengers, this film sees Tony Stark develop a whole lot of PTSD and unhealthy coping mechanisms while also facing off against some old demons. It’s a great premise executed very well. It’s willing to tear pretty hard into the Iron Man mythology and bring Tony back to a pretty low point while also having quite a bit of fun. Writer/director Shane Black is a great fit for the Iron Man character mostly due to the fact that he works so well with Robert Downey Jr. Aldrich Killian is a surprisingly strong villain, as well. The big controversy, of course, is how it handles the identity of the character “The Mandarin.” Personally, I’m so OK with the Ben Slattery reveal (especially after Shang-Chi), but I’m not so much of a fan of Killian claiming the title. Still, I’m not gonna pretend like that detail ruins this for me at all. I’m also a sucker for the Christmas setting.

Directed by Shane Black.

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2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

“Avengers! Assemble.”

I couldn’t really have put this film much lower on the list. This gargantuan three-hour conclusion to the MCU’s first eleven years of storytelling is overwhelming and a little too stuffed, and yet, it manages to pull it all off. While it’s easy to criticize Endgame for being just fan service (and, yes, there’s plenty of that), the film primarily works because it’s an effective finale to the narrative slowly built over its 20-odd predecessors and as a send-off to beloved characters, namely Captain America and Iron Man, that audiences have spent the better part of a decade getting to know. Its jaunt-through-time plot structure is a fun way to revisit the highlights from the MCU’s past (and Thor 2), the final confrontation between the assembled Avengers and friends is a thrilling finale, and all the while it finds some of the most genuine bits of characterization that the series has ever been able to hit. I might be the first to say this, but Endgame is pretty good.

I still maintain that the only trailer that should have been released for this movie is the original teaser trailer. So cryptic, so enigmatic, so captivating — it’s hard to fully express the hold that that those two minutes of footage had on me in the early part of 2019.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.

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1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

“We’ll all fly away together, one last time, into the forever and beautiful sky.”

It’s quite funny to me that Marvel Studios released their worst and their best film in the same calendar year.

When I first walked out of Guardians 3, I had a feeling that the film might eventually rise to be my favourite MCU movie. I didn’t want to call it that at the time, for fear of a recency bias, but I’m not sure my opinion has changed. I’ve been sitting with the film for well over a year now and I struggle to find a film in this franchise that has stuck with me this much. From its incredible production design and visual effects, to its excellent narrative and character writing, James Gunn’s belated finale to his Guardians of the Galaxy saga is the MCU’s finest hour. It’s his most self-assured film to date, where he finds the perfect balance between his signature sense of humour and the powerful emotions waiting to be mined out of his characters. The performances from the entire lead cast are incredible, with Bradley Cooper’s Rocket managing to be the emotional lynchpin I didn’t know was possible. Vibrant direction, killer set pieces, rewarding character beats, gorgeous world design, and some excellent musical choices make Guardians 3 the most lively and engaging MCU experience to date. And to think, Marvel Studios turned to the co-CEO of their Distinguished Competition to make this movie happen.

Into the forever and beautiful sky . . . 

You can read my full review here.

Directed by James Gunn.