3. Captain America: Civil War
When the Sokovia Accords were created, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes were divided into two opposing teams: those in favor of them (led by Tony Stark) and those against them (guided by Steve Rogers). However, being a part of Team Iron Man comes at a great cost and nobody knows that better than James Rhodes.
Even though the experienced colonel had flown more than 138 combat missions, it wasn’t until the airport fight that he suffered a serious injury that almost incapacitated him. Worst of all, the accident was provoked by The Vision, who was once an ally to Rhodey. That just goes to prove that Captain America: Civil War was truly a tragic event for our beloved heroes.
While most MCU movies have a reputation for being fun, quippy, and having no lasting repercussions, Captain America: Civil War was the complete opposite. The Russo brothers crafted a tense action thriller that felt like a breath of fresh air for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It was dramatic, serious, and filled with heart-breaking moments (like the final dialog and fight between Cap and Iron Man). The movie also managed to create a lot of discussion surrounding it, as many fans debated for months which hero was on the right and who was on the wrong.
Captain America: Civil War not only succeeded in bringing a darker tone to the MCU but also in balancing many different characters while developing Steve Rogers’ stand-alone arc. Other superhero movies that have a similar scope have failed to provide a cohesive experience that doesn’t feel like a complete mess.
It would’ve been easy for Cap’s third movie to go in that same route, especially considering it had to introduce big heroes like Spider-Man and Black Panther. Fortunately, all storylines in the movie made narrative sense and every character had an important role to play as opposed to being there just for the sake of fan service.
Captain America: Civil War was entertaining, heartbreaking, and exciting. While the special effects weren’t always polished and Zemo’s plan was incredibly convenient at times, it had many more positives that made it an unforgettable experience.
It was one of the best projects in the third phase of the MCU, and it provided an epic conclusion to Steve Rogers’ trilogy as well (proving that he has, by far, the best trilogy out of any hero on the MCU alongside with the Guardians of the Galaxy).