Controversial but data-backed ranking of the 10 best MCU movies
9. The Avengers
The one that turned the MCU from a safe bet into a sure-fire success story, The Avengers allowed it to cross the $1 billion mark for the first of many times. Released in 2012, it brought the characters from the previous movies together for the first time, as Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, Chris Evans' Captain America, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth's Thor, and Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye all returned, teaming with Mark Ruffalo, who stepped in as the Hulk to replace Edward Norton. And the six of those heroes led the Marvel Studios franchise into the future, as it became a global phenomenon.
The Avengers made great use of its cast and the expansive franchise storytelling that had led up to it. From Tony Stark squaring off with Steve Rogers and Thor, to Black Widow pulling the wool over Loki's eyes, it was an exhilarating experience seeing all of those unique dynamics, even if they had to stay on one of SHIELD's hellicarriers for an extended period of time to facilitate them.
The moment that it was revealed the Chituari were led by Thanos was the moment that the MCU really came together as a franchise capable of long-form storytelling. The Avengers may have been the end of that original chapter of the franchise, but the real story had only just begun. That's one of the many reasons why the 2012 film has stood the test of time as one of the MCU's very best.
With a 91% fresh Tomatometer score, the film has stood the test of time and remains one of the MCU's very best.