8. Black Panther (2018)
“Wakanda forever!” Two words that were on everyone’s lips by the time that the credits rolled on Black Panther – and for good reason.
Black Panther wasn’t just any old superhero origin story, it was a tale unlike anything audiences had ever seen in their entire lives. A film centred on family, it explored the character of T’Challa to a much greater extent than what we already saw of his appearance in Civil War and ultimately allowed him to prove himself a worthy king of the people of Wakanda.
Chadwick Boseman delivered a wonderful performance and was backed up by an incredibly strong script which ultimately allowed him to do just that. However, T’Challa was also supported by a ton of exceptionally strong characters, such as Ramonda and Shuri who, thanks to powerhouse performances from Angela Bassett and Letitia Wright, stole the show on a number of occasions. And, of course, Michael B. Jordan’s turn as Killmonger deserves his spot amongst the greatest MCU villains we’ve ever seen,
However, the icing on this already-perfect cake was undoubtedly the visual wonders that graced our screens on a regular basis throughout the film. From the aerial views of Wakanda to the beautifully-shot car chase in the streets, our eyes were constantly blessed in Black Panther in this near-perfect film that was absolutely worthy of its Academy Award nomination.
7. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Even “the most anticipated movie of 2021” never felt like a fitting enough title for Spider-Man: No Way Home. A film that was, in all honesty, one of the most anticipated of the decade, it vowed to finally follow through on the promise of the multiverse that its predecessor teased us with, using that film’s genuinely jaw-dropping cliffhanger to spawn a narrative that would see Peter Parker reach out to Doctor Strange for help in changing the timeline and making everyone forget that he was Spider-Man.
The subject of endless rumors about which actors and characters from Marvel’s past would surface throughout the movie, No Way Home had a reputation too big for even it to handle. Or at least that should have been the case. But it wasn’t, as the mammoth expectations ultimately fueled its success. Why? Because the movie was so good in spite of the returns of Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Electro, Sandman and the Lizard, not because of them.
As someone who has always wanted that little bit more from the MCU’s Spider-Man movies, this was finally the one that took it over that finish line for me. An emotional rollercoaster from start through finish, and full of nostalgic fanservice along the way, Spider-Man: No Way Home is truly the ultimate Spider-Man movie, and it didn’t just live up to the hype; it exceeded it.