21. Ant-Man (2015)
Before Ant-Man hit theaters, the character was very much considered the outcast of the MCU. Now, obviously a lot of people didn’t feel this way but, it’s hard to deny that in a world full of super soldiers, iron men and skilled assassins, the concept of an ant-man sounds a little, well, redundant. Well, if you were one of those people that felt that way, then you were wrong.
With a family-centric story and a goofy premise, Ant-Man is an example of the MCU’s light-heartedness at its finest. It’s fully aware of the fact that nobody is going to take it seriously and, as a result, it doesn’t take anything seriously.
It’s incredibly funny, a little baffling and completely enjoyable – and the eclectic mix of characters really make it something special.
That said, the villain, Darren Cross, is without a doubt one of the most bland and one-dimensional villains to ever rear his head in a superhero movie. But as dull villains were, at one point, a recurring theme for the MCU, we’ll not single out Ant-Man for it – especially when Cross doesn’t feature too much. That said, the film is at its most enjoyable whenever he’s not on-screen.
20. Thor (2011)
Thor may be one of the most underrated offerings of the MCU, but that stops right now because, as far as this writer is concerned, it absolutely deserves its high placement on this list.
Introducing us to the God of Thunder for the very first time, the 2011 film is a tale of redemption for the all-powerful Thor – who must learn of the humility that comes with being a triumphant hero. And thus, it’s only when his power is taken away from him that he truly becomes worthy of it.
Chris Hemsworth’s first offering in the role that he would become synonymous with, his conviction was clear even then and his on-screen chemistry with Natalie Portman set the stage for a romance between Thor and Jane Foster that should have been greater than the sequel allowed it to be.
And then, of course, you have Tom Hiddleston who, in a supporting role, delivered a performance that can only be described as mesmerizing – one that absolutely justified the MCU’s subsequent reliance on the Loki character.
There is a shiny, triumphant and uplifting feeling to Thor that few modern day superhero movies possess and that, alongside its ability to balance the emotionally heavy stuff with plenty of well-timed humor, made for a thoroughly enjoyable outing that tells its tale perfectly without ever taking itself too seriously. And finally, it has what may just be the best score of any MCU film.
19. Black Widow (2021)
There was once a time that it felt like Black Widow would never get released. The first film of the MCU’s long-awaited fourth phase, it had to follow in the looming shadows of the critically-acclaimed Disney+ shows WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki while also living up to a decade of anticipation. For the most part, it succeeded.
Giving Scarlett Johannsson’s beloved Natasha Romanoff the spotlight she deserved long ago, Black Widow offers up a grounded tale that brings the MCU back to reality – something that only the Widow would have been capable of doing. It also places the spotlight on her mysterious past, showcasing how the Red Room molded her into the assassin that she became while also filling in the gap between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War.
The movie is much more serious than the vast majority of films that it shares a universe with – something that is evidenced by the haunting opening credits sequence – and it thrives because of that. It also doesn’t play too heavily on the action and instead gives us a compelling look into how Natasha Romanoff became the Black Widow on her quest to clear some of that red in her ledger.
Though some wanted a little more, Black Widow succeeded in what it set out to be: A love letter to Scarlett Johansson’s legendary hero. And with Johansson herself on form as always, the gripping story is elevated further by a show-stealing turn from Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova.