Controversial but data-backed ranking of the 10 best MCU movies

7. Guardians of the Galaxy

In 2014, Marvel Studios shocked the world by producing one of its best movies about a group of its lesser-known heroes. The Guardians of the Galaxy were somewhat well-known among Marvel Comics readers, but to mainstream movie audiences, they were mostly unknowns. So, for the franchise to pull off such a success story, so early into its run, well, it's truly one of Marvel's most remarkable feats.

The Guardians of the Galaxy movie is still regarded as one of the MCU's best origin stories, with the ragtag group of outcasts and misfits (featuring Chris Pratt's Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana's Gamora, Dave Bautista's Drax, Bradley Cooper's Rocket Raccoon, and Vin Diesel's Groot) all endearing themselves to audiences in both this one and every other one of their appearances in the Infinity Saga and beyond. The cast's chemistry also made this one an instant classic, while unique characters like Groot, Rocket Raccoon, and Drax the Destroyer made it an incredibly enjoyable film.

James Gunn unleashed chaos on the MCU with Guardians of the Galaxy, so it's no surprise that the film is still so well-regarded among fans and critics. Holding a 92% score on the Tomatometer highlights how strong the Guardians came out of the gate, and in many people's minds, it's still their greatest adventure to date. You'd be hard-pressed to find an argument against that one.