MCU: All 18 Marvel Phase Four movies and TV shows ranked from worst to best

13. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes finally got to step into the spotlight of their own adventure in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and it was truly an adventure for the ages. The Disney Plus series dealt with the rise of new antagonists the Flag-Smashers as they sought to take the world back to the way things were before the Blip, and their leader was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen – meaning that Sam and Bucky had their work cut out for them.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier also balanced the theatrics of the MCU with some really nuanced storytelling, exploring racism, PTSD and other struggles throughout its six-episode run. And that paved the way for some excellent performances from Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Brühl, Wyatt Russell and Carl Lumbly.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s biggest flaw is that it often functions as a six-part movie, so its pacing doesn’t always lend itself to the series format, resulting in a sometimes-slow-moving plot in the first half. Thankfully, it finds its groove around the third episode and enjoys a much smoother run after that. And the payoff – which delivers a moment we were all waiting for – is absolutely worth the wait.