Every MCU Movie Ranked
#23: “Thor: The Dark World” (2013)
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A contender for the most forgettable entry in the MCU, "Thor: The Dark World" has a couple of points in its favor along with plenty of things that drag it down. Thor and Loki's dynamic is great and the movie jumps up quite a few levels when the siblings pair up. Although "The Dark World" learned from its predecessor and spends more time in Asgard, the likes of Odin, Frigga (FREE-gah), and Heimdall are barely allowed to do anything cool. And the movie’s strengths can’t overcome its remarkably bland villain, and humor that misses more than it hits. It’s telling that references to “Dark World” during “Endgame” were more enjoyable than the movie itself.
#22: “The Incredible Hulk” (2008)
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Standing out like a sore thumb among the rest of Phase One's releases, "The Incredible Hulk" is barely a footnote in the MCU. But that doesn't mean the film offers nothing. Edward Norton delivers a solid, subdued performance as Bruce Banner. His portrayal complements the film's somewhat grounded tone compared to other Marvel flicks. Since this version of the Hulk seems angrier than usual, the movie solidly translates his destructive emotions in various action scenes. As the film kind of ends where it starts and doesn't add too much to the overall universe outside of a post-credit scene, "The Incredible Hulk" is definitely skippable during an MCU rewatch.
#21: “Iron Man 2” (2010)
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As the third MCU film, “Iron Man 2” was the first entry to push the shared universe aspect to the forefront. This made it a rather messy flick. Bogged down by too many storylines and characters, “Iron Man 2” starts strong, meanders for around an hour, and picks up some steam in the final act. Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash and Sam Rockwell's ineffective Hammer didn’t help improve the MCU’s reputation for lackluster villains. And while Black Widow's presence is welcome and gives us a great fight sequence, she’s not given much of an arc or strong storyline. As deeply flawed as this sequel is, at least Tony and Pepper’s chemistry is still on point.
#20: “Captain Marvel” (2019)
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“Captain Marvel” was given the difficult task of introducing a key player right before the "Infinity Saga’s” conclusion. Set in the mid-'90s, the movie chronicles Carol Danvers's transition from Kree Starforce soldier to an army-destroying superpowered heroine. Along the way, she establishes an entertaining buddy cop dynamic with a young Nick Fury. "Captain Marvel'' sprinkles in good character moments alongside a few enjoyable set-pieces. However, the action and storyline aren’t enough to make it stand out as a unique MCU entry amongst its peers. Although it doesn’t take too many risks, "Captain Marvel" still introduces significant story elements and characters that appear in the universe later on. Its place in the timeline and big debut for Carol still make it worth a watch.
#19: “Iron Man 3” (2013)
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Standing as the most polarizing entry in the MCU, "Iron Man 3" focuses on Tony's PTSD following the events of "Marvel's Avengers." The film's greatest strength is that it strips Tony of most of his gadgets to force the hero out of his comfort zone. "Iron Man 3'" really peaks during the second act when Tony finds himself suit-less with only a young boy as a companion. This culminated in an insanely clever action sequence before a huge third act twist. Enjoyment of this film hinges on how you feel about the shocking story turn and some of Tony’s dumb decisions. Directed by Shane Black, "Iron Man 3" has wit that will delight anyone with a story that might not win everyone over.
#18: “Thor” (2011)
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Thor’s debut film is the definition of a mixed bag. The movie is split between Asgard, New Mexico, and an action-packed excursion to Jotunheim. Whenever Earth is out of the picture, "Thor" is an engaging fantasy delight with larger-than-life personalities based on Nordic mythology. Unfortunately, the movie spends too much time away from Asgard. New Mexico's blandness isn’t helped by the slow pacing of the movie. And while characters like Jane and Darcy are solid, they don’t get too many exciting things to do. Fortunately, Loki’s complex and sinister performance keeps things entertaining. And the movie serves as a good enough intro for Thor years before he became a charming and comedic MCU darling.
#17: “Ant-Man and the Wasp” (2018)
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After the absurdly high stakes of "Avengers: Infinity War," Scott Lang lightened things up again. "Ant-Man and the Wasp" tells a personal tale as Hank and Hope work to reunite their family by saving Janet from the Quantum Realm. Unfortunately, their goal can only be achieved by securing tech that some dangerous people want to steal. "Ant-Man and the Wasp" is an easy and unassuming watch that comes with one-of-a-kind shrinking and growing superhero action. However, morally ambiguous characters such as Ghost and Bill Foster weren’t given enough time to shine, and some of the jokes come off as a little tame. While "Ant-Man and the Wasp" is a little unbalanced, it’s ridiculously entertaining every time it finds its footing.
#16: “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015)
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After 2012's "Avengers," expectations were through the roof for the next team-up. While by no means a bad film, "Age of Ultron'' doesn't feel as tight as the other "Avengers'' flicks. That’s mainly due to its disjointed pacing and all the time it spends setting up future films. And despite being set up as a terrifying robot in trailers, Ultron comes off as a more comedic and immature villain. We can thank "Age of Ultron'' for introducing characters like Hawkeye’s family and the Maximoff twins. While all of them add layers to the story, the large cast still doesn’t make the movie feel like a big event film. At least the party sequence with the Avengers goofing off will never get old.
#15: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017)
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The Guardians' second space adventure is once again packed with emotion, silliness, and epic scenes. A relatively stand-alone story for the MCU, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" splits up the main group and forces them to re-evaluate their places in the universe. Star-Lord's immaturity is called out, Rocket has to face his self-sabotaging ways, and Yondu steals the show. Meanwhile Nebula and Gamora continue their ongoing story by getting some much-needed quality time. While some of the humor doesn't quite land as organically as the first "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Vol. 2" still tells an intelligent and captivating story about family and friendships.
#14: “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (2019)
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As Spidey is synonymous with New York, this 2019 sequel took quite a risk when it shipped Peter Parker to Europe. Luckily, "Far From Home" proved the MCU had a future post "Avengers: Endgame." Peter Parker finds himself buckling under the weight of being Tony Stark's successor. As he struggles, Jake Gyllenhaal's Quentin Beck challenges the young hero to step up to face Avenger level threats. The movie provides our first glimpse into the world's state after the events of “Endgame” without losing focus on Peter’s journey and development. “Far From Home” ultimately feels like a character-driven piece that's just as much of a road-trip comedy as it is a superhero extravaganza.
#13: “Ant-Man” (2015)
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Compared to most of the MCU, Scott Lang's debut flick comes across as a more low-stakes affair. Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, handpicks a thief named Scott to be his replacement and to stop his former protege turned egomaniac. The final product essentially feels like a heist movie set in the "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids" universe. "Ant-Man" elevates what could’ve been an average story through the sheer likability of its main characters. Paul Rudd’s Scott, Michael Douglas’ Hank, and Evangeline Lilly’s Hope make for a fantastic trio. The action scenes aren’t as world-shattering as other MCU films. However, the film broke new ground by cleverly using Ant-Man's shrinking powers to both thrilling and hilarious effect.
#12: “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011)
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"Captain America: The First Avenger" offers a huge change of scenery by setting its story during the events of World War II. A race to crack the super-soldier code culminates in Steve Rogers becoming Captain America. This puts the hero on track to clash with one of the earliest corrupt super soldiers, Hydra's Red Skull. A throwback to pulp movies and comics from the '40s, "The First Avenger" tells an effective story that manages to balance action with character moments. While the movie can feel overly earnest at times, Rogers' romance with Peggy, friendship with Bucky, and wartime setting still ground the film in reality. Seeing where Captain America started and what he overcame is still inspirational today.
#11: “Doctor Strange” (2016)
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After watching tons of modern superhero team-ups, it can be difficult to get excited about yet another origin story. However, "Doctor Strange" is unique enough to stand out from the crowd. The movie strikes an intriguing mix between realism and fantasy as Stephen Strange goes from an egotistical surgeon to a Master of the Mystic Arts. Since the MCU's resident wizard is rather unlikable when the movie begins, Strange's eventual growth is all the more satisfying. Visually, "Doctor Strange" might very well be the MCU's most creative film to date. The mystical visuals seep into every aspect of the film and lead to an insanely memorable climax.
#10: “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)
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Following his "Civil War" debut, Peter Parker effortlessly transitioned into his very own solo film. For the most part, "Homecoming" focuses on Parker trying to balance the life of a high-school student with that of a hero who's hoping to become good enough for the Avengers. While Tom Holland delivers a magnetic performance as the wall-crawler, Parker doesn't carry "Homecoming" on his own. Michael Keaton's Adrian Toomes succeeds in being both terrifying and somewhat sympathetic, making Vulture one of the MCU's best villains. Charming humor, great action, and Tony Stark’s presence ensure that "Homecoming" is a must-watch.
#9: “The Avengers” (2012)
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After five solo films, the MCU released its ultimate proof of concept when the Avengers assembled for the first time. A roaring success that feels ripped right out of the pages of a comic, “The Avengers" delights in letting its heroes banter and squabble. Looking back on it, the main story is not as complex as the future team ups would become. But "The Avengers" easily gets by on the strength of its core personalities and its unapologetically bombastic set-pieces. Thor's arrival, Hulk's one-sided battle with a puny god, and the heroes coming together all blew us away. These awesome moments and more got the “Avengers” series of films off to an amazing start.
#8: “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014)
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Embracing Marvel's cosmic side, "Guardians of the Galaxy" took a relatively niche comic property and made it mainstream. Directed by James Gunn, the movie quickly leaves Earth behind for a grand adventure that brings a ragtag group of lovable criminals to an interstellar prison. After they ally together, they journey to a colony inside a Celestial avatar’s head and fight an explosive battle on Xandar. Colorful, energetic, and thematically nuanced, "Guardians of the Galaxy" grabs the concept of the "reluctant hero" and runs with it. Five broken people come together to sell an orb, defeat Ronan the Accuser, and perhaps save the universe along the way. Their cosmic adventure is backed by a magnificent retro soundtrack.
#7: “Iron Man” (2008)
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"Iron Man" is unquestionably one of the most important films in the MCU's history to date. Serving as the shared universe's debut flick, the 2008 blockbuster proved that a mainstream hero like Spider-Man didn't need to be on the cover for a Marvel movie to be a runaway success. Years later, "Iron Man" still holds up due to its thrilling action scenes, irresistible performances, and exceptional character work. Through his relationships with characters like Ho Yinsen and Pepper Potts, Tony Stark convincingly transforms from a selfish egomaniac to a genuine hero. Outside of a few S.H.I.E.L.D mentions and a legendary post-credits scene, "Iron Man" soars as a standalone piece.
#6: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)
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After a string of relatively traditional action-packed blockbusters, the MCU decided to take a different story approach for Steve Rogers' second solo outing. Inspired by Cold War thrillers, "The Winter Soldier" sees Captain America becoming an enemy of S.H.I.E.L.D. At the same time, a ghost from Rogers' past makes an unexpected comeback. Although hardly devoid of over-the-top action, "The Winter Soldier's" high points all revolve around more grounded sequences. Just look at that excellent elevator scene. Rogers also fully comes into his own in this MCU entry. After facing the morally grey world, he adds a tiny hint of cynicism that makes him more interesting and majorly informs his character going forward.
#5: “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)
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During the God of Hammer’s third go around, he hit the nail on the head with an electrifying story. Cataclysmic events aside, Taika Waititi’s "Thor: Ragnarok'' is a lighthearted romp that – regardless of the situation – is always on the verge of delivering a punchline. After losing Mjolnir and taking a trip to a garbage planet, Thor forms the Revengers to save Asgard from his twisted sister Hela. Although practically every character in "Ragnarok" has comedic lines, everyone, including the villains, feel genuine. And Hela lives up to her reputation as the goddess of death. Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster performance is also peak Goldblum. All these elements come together in the “Thor” entry fans had been waiting for.
#4: “Black Panther” (2018)
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“Black Panther” was both an important cultural event and a fantastic movie that marks a dizzying high-point in the MCU. While T'Challa was already introduced in "Civil War," "Black Panther" serves as the hero's proper origin story. The movie definitely serves its titular character well in a captivating story. At times, Killmonger steals the show as a villain who challenges the hero both physically and ideologically. Supporting characters such as Shuri, Zuri, Okoye and Ulysses Klaue are also well-defined and fantastic. Thematically rich, visually engaging, and emotionally stirring, "Black Panther" is a triumph from beginning to end. Chadwick Boseman truly brought an inspiring hero to life.
#3: “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
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This is the big one. After more than a decade, "The Infinity Saga" came to a close with "Endgame," a movie that celebrates the MCU's past while paving the way for its future. Naturally, "Endgame’s" sheer size and scope means it wouldn't work as a standalone piece, which means you can’t watch this without prior knowledge. But for those who have been following the universe, this is an event movie like no other. The story begins with a decidedly somber tone. But it soon incorporates the Avengers' heist through time, a ridiculous amount of characters and the climax to end all climaxes. "Endgame" is a glorious epic filled with crowd-pleasing and tear-jerking moments. This saga could have not hoped for a better conclusion.
#2: “Captain America: Civil War” (2016)
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Marvel loves its hero versus hero storylines, so it was only a matter of time before the MCU followed suit. After a series of high-profile battles featuring the Avengers, the UN introduces the Sokovia Accords to oversee and control what the heroes do. The disagreements over this new system only intensify after Bucky is accused of a terrible crime. Both complex conflicts spark a "Civil War" that divides heroes right down the middle. Ideologies and fists clash in this tense movie that culminates in a fierce battle between Stark, Rogers, and the Winter Soldier. "Civil War" manages to explore its main heroes’ low points, while also elevating Spider-Man, Black Panther and the legendary Baron Zemo to new heights.
#1: “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
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After years of build up, Thanos takes center stage for “Infinity War”. While the movie features a gigantic roster of characters, the movie belongs to him. The Mad Titan seeks out the Infinity Stones in a twisted attempt to save the universe by erasing half of it. Executing his plan comes at a high cost. From the Guardians of the Galaxy to Doctor Strange, "Infinity War" brings together nearly all of the MCU's greatest heroes. And the film doesn’t waste a single one of them. Its massive story wraps up with easily the most devastating conclusion in the universe. “Infinity War” assembles awe-inspiring action, complex characters and superhero-sized stakes into a perfectly balanced movie that’s the best of the MCU so far.
