MCU: All 34 Marvel Cinematic Universe films ranked from worst to best

Marvel Studios changed the game when it launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008. The franchise that started with Iron Man has grown into the biggest commodity in Hollywood, generating billions of dollars for the studio across what is now 34 movies. It’s the gift that just keeps on giving, producing adventure after adventure and single-handedly reinventing the superhero movie genre.

Iron Man’s arrival paved the way for other heroes like Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, the Incredible Hulk, and Black Widow before those six formed the almighty Avengers. By the time the first billion-dollar-generating team-up movie had arrived in 2012, there was simply no turning back for the juggernaut franchise, and it continued to go from strength-to-strength throughout its revered Infinity Saga, telling a coherent and compelling story across 23 movies. That culmination came in the sensational Avengers: Endgame.

Its new focus is the Multiverse Saga as it welcomes in both new and classic characters, many of which have stemmed from the 20th Century Fox Marvel movies. It’s also expanded the franchise in new ways, allowing for the continuation of MCU arcs across television in the Disney Plus shows.

Like with all franchises, there have been highs and lows along the way. Phases Four and Five haven’t been among the saga’s high points, but there have been a lot of highs in there. The question is: Is the newest release, Deadpool and Wolverine, among them?

With that in mind, let’s look back through Tony Stark’s archives and rank all of the MCU movies so far.

34. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Scott Lang has encountered a lot during his time as Ant-Man, but not even that could prepare him for the adventure that awaited him in his third solo outing. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the biggest that the Ant-Man franchise has ever gone, and it pulls it all off by going small – well, subatomic, to be more specific – as the Ant-Fam’s journey into the Quantum Realm brings them face-to-face with Kang the Conqueror.

Quantumania is a big movie that is much more important to the overarching MCU story than the two previous Ant-Man movies were. The benefits of that are a grander production, full of the epic visuals and mind-boggling special effects that Marvel Studios is known for, and it finally gifts Ant-Man with that ambitious adventure he had been overdue. And it all comes together when Kang the Conqueror makes his frightful debut, captivating audiences with his performance and making us all excited about the fact that he’s just getting started.

The drawbacks of the more spectacle-driven approach is the loss of the lower-stakes heart that made the previous two Ant-Man movies so much fun, while some of our favorite characters often fade into the background because there is so much going on. It doesn't completely sour what is a hugely entertaining extravaganza (mostly due to the remarkable performance of Michelle Pfeiffer) but it does result in the MCU's weakest outing to date, with the murky landscapes and too-serious storyline robbing it of the Ant-Man identity.

33. Eternals

From the moment that Eternals had visionary director Chloé Zhao attached to the project, we knew that it would allow the MCU to move in something of a different direction. With stunning visuals so beautifully shot you would think you were watching an Academy Award winning picture, and a compelling story that greatly exceeded the scope of what we have come to expect from a Marvel Studios origin story, that’s exactly what the 2021 offering accomplished, hopefully setting the stage for more outside-the-box adventures from the shared universe in the future.

It also boasted a star-studded cast, with the likes of Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie all bringing the MCU’s oldest superheroes to life, and once again highlighting the drawing power that Marvel possesses.

As adventurous as the movie is, however, it isn’t without its faults (which its now notorious reputation as the lowest-rated MCU film on Rotten Tomatoes would suggest), with its highly-expositional script, convoluted timeline and extended runtime all hindering the flow of the story.

Is Eternals the worst MCU movie? Well, as its placement on this list would suggest, no. But in the middle of that entertaining-but-flawed good movie is a great one. If it had overcome some of those issues, maybe it could have found it.

32. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever might just be the most important movie of Phase Four of the MCU. While it certainly follows in the footsteps of previous titles in the line-up in setting the stage for new heroes, new stories, and new chapters, this one is about paying tribute to one of the MCU’s brightest stars Chadwick Boseman.

The beloved actor’s tragic passing in 2020 was felt around the world, as it was clear just how much of an impact he had made on people. And Ryan Coogler, Kevin Feige and all involved in Wakanda Forever made it their mission to ensure that the sequel was a love letter to that legacy. The movie honors Boseman by honoring T’Challa, as those in Wakanda carry on his legacy in a movie that can only be described as a beautiful and heartfelt tribute.

With a string of incredible performances (including a stunning turn by the incomparable Angela Bassett), and one of the MCU’s strongest antagonists in Namor (Tenoch Huerta), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever mostly lives up to the high standard of its predecessor, all while paying the ultimate tribute to its beloved star. It is upended, however, by some very questionable creative choices and its far-too-long runtime.

31. Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2 came along at a time when the MCU hadn’t really figured out what it was. Sure, it was still dropping hints but, at the time, it was still primarily focused on the task at hand. As a result, the film was little more than a direct sequel to its 2008 predecessor.

While that’s not necessarily a bad thing (we still love standalone sequels), this just very much felt like “another adventure with” and the fact of the matter is that the adventure wasn’t all that great.

Though it does have a strong story in that focused on the decline of Tony’s health after his arc reactor began to fail, the execution leaves something to be desired as if often prioritized the entertaining elements of the story over the story itself.

Thus, while it cleverly utilised Tony’s charming immaturity as a mechanism for the character to cope with everything happening to him, the script relied on it too heavily which resulted in endless immature acts (the explosive house party) which were anything but charming. This hindered the development and pacing of the story which, when you met the one-dimensional villain, didn’t really improve.

Far from a poor film, it’s a highly-entertaining romp which Robert Downey Jr once again pulls off to perfection – and it also deserves credit for introducing Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow – but it was an uncharacteristic weak point for the MCU.

30. The Incredible Hulk

You’d be forgiven for getting that The Incredible Hulk ever took place in the MCU as, since the planned sequel was scrapped, it seems that Marvel Studios have gone to as much effort as possible to essentially retcon the film out of the shared universe – recasting Hulk for The Avengers while breaking down his backstory so that viewers didn’t need to watch the 2008 film.

That being said, it’s not just the behind-the-scenes changes that differentiate the film from all the rest, because The Incredible Hulk doesn’t even feel like an MCU film. It has a significantly different tone and is a lot more unnerving than the vast majority of the saga’s offerings, with some of The Hulk-centric and/or Abomination-centric scenes being rather terrifying.

The special effects were impressive and story itself is rather strong. And it was admirable that, being a reboot only six years removed from the less-enjoyable Hulk, it didn’t bother retreading Bruce Banner’s origin story all over again.

Instead, it used those off-screen origins to catapult us straight into this story. On that note, the relationship between Bruce and Betty was one of the most endearing we have seen from the MCU as Edward Norton and Liv Tyler’s natural chemistry made it feel like the pair had history and, considering we didn’t actually see that history, that’s quite the feat to pull off.

29. Thor: The Dark World

The God of Thunder’s second offering gets a lot of unwarranted flack but it is admittedly hard to overlook the fact that it took its title far too seriously. With dark elves who wanted to use their dark weapons to plunge us all into a dark world, the film was, for lack of a better word, dark. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it was just too far removed from the whimsically hopeful tone that made its predecessor so enjoyable.

The film’s use of Jane Foster is also rather questionable. In Thor, she may have fallen head over heels for a complete stranger far too quickly, but she was still a strong, independent woman who was determined to get to the truth and, in doing so, lived up to her reputation as one of the world’s leading astrophysicists.

In The Dark World, however, she became the archetypal damsel in distress, waiting to be saved by Thor as the Aether infected her. As a result, she remained at the center of the story throughout the whole film without ever really being involved in it.

That said, it’s still an enjoyable spectacle that deserves more credit than it gets (the Asgard portion of the film is visually-stunning) and the dark picture is flooded with metaphorical color every time that Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is on-screen – it’s just a shame that his screen-time barely amounts to 15 minutes in length.

28. Thor: Love and Thunder

Taika Waititi reinvented Thor with Ragnarok, so his return for the fourth movie in the franchise, Thor: Love and Thunder, was inevitable. This time, the story took place in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, as Marvel Studios sought to show us a Thor that had lost himself in and amidst all the loss that he suffered.

The biggest hook for this one was the return of Natalie Portman, who brought Jane Foster back to the big screen for the first time in almost a decade. This return saw her wield Mjolnir as she became the Mighty Thor and joined New Asgard’s fight against Gorr the God Butcher.

Very loyal to the tone that was set in Ragnarok, Love and Thunder is campy, colorful and completely over-the-top, but it does manage to get a better balance between serious and silly than its predecessor does. The downside to that is that these mismatching tones don’t always gel well together, making for some disorienting moments.

All in all, this one’s priority is having fun and it succeeds in that mission with flying colors (and goats). There are some bumps along the way, but thanks to some mighty show-stealing performances from Natalie Portman and Christian Bale, it’s another win for Waititi’s weirder Thor, even if it goes to the well of weird way too many times.

27. The Marvels

The Marvels may have been marketed as a fun adventure in the MCU but it was more important than it appeared. Among the reasons for that is that it was the first MCU project to significantly feature characters who originated in the Disney Plus shows in leading roles. The merger worked very well, as WandaVision‘s Teyonah Parris and Ms. Marvel‘s Iman Vellani joined Brie Larson in the long-awaited Captain Marvel sequel.

The titular trio of heroes teamed up to take on the vengeful Dar-Benn, who was destroying the resources of the people Carol Danvers loved. While the villain herself left a bit to be desired, we’ll give her credit for bringing Carol, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau together because they make one hell of a trio.

The Marvels is just 100 minutes of pure unadulterated fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and is there simply to entertain – something that it accomplishes from start through finish. With the MCU venturing into an era of more serious and convoluted stories, we needed this one to remind us just how fun superhero movies can be. Honestly, this is the most Marvel that Marvel has felt in some time. And I love this movie so much for that!

26. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians Of The Galaxy was such an unlikely success that a second offering was an inevitability. That said, the 2014 film was such a unique and eclectic mix of crazy that set the bar incredibly high – leaving most of us wondering if lightning could ever strike twice. After all, could a sequel really recapture all of that?

Well, you know what? Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 came along and that’s almost what it did.

The cast was as vibrant as ever, with Dave Bautista’s Drax once again stealing the show in a number of genuinely side-splitting moments while Hollywood icon Kurt Russell nailed the ambitious Ego, serving as the perfect yin to Chris Pratt’s yang.

Speaking of Ego, the visuals were even more impressive than those that featured in the original, with his home planet offering some stunning shots. And then, of course, the sounds of Peter Quill’s Awesome Mix Vol.2 bring this colorful adventure to life in a soundtrack that could rival its perfect predecessor.

The film’s main pitfall, however, lies in its plot – or lack thereof. In a way, it feels like it tried too hard to recreate the successful formula of the original that it left itself a little light in the story department.

Ego may be Quill’s father but, the fact that he was just an egotistical villain obsessed with surviving reduced him to a rather one-dimensional antagonist – in spite of how good the twist was. That being said, the emotional arc between Quill and Yondu certainly made up for it.

25. Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel made some long overdue history earlier this year when it became the first female superhero movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and, in doing so, ended up shocking the world to become the first ever female-led film to cross the one-billion mark at the box office.

Starring Brie Larson, the film is essentially a prequel as, despite the fact that its a Phase 3 film, it’s set in the mid ’90s and tells the tale of Carol Danvers – who comes to Earth when it’s caught in the midst of an ongoing war between the Krees and the Skrulls.

There’s a lot to love about Captain Marvel, but nothing more so than the way in which Larson effectively brings Danvers to life. And pairing her youthful charm and powerful presence with the incomparable Samuel L. Jackson was a stroke of genius, as the two become quite dynamic duo. Having said that, elements of the opening are hard to follow, Ronin never amounts to anything and the villain is, again, rather one-dimensional.

The story of Captain Marvel‘s release is much more remarkable than the story of the film, but that said, it’s a thoroughly entertaining and fully enjoyable superhero movie – and one that is worthy of holding the great honour being the MCU’s first solo female offering.

24. Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange may just be Marvel’s most visually pleasing movie ever. Yes, we’re fully aware that we’re saying that about a universe that has taken us back to the ’40s while also transporting us to Wakanda, but the fact of the matter is that no one sight can really compare to the masterful illusions created by this mind-bending film.

That said, while the visuals certainly helped sell this movie to the casual fan, they weren’t its only strength. It was, very much, centred on the character journey of Stephen Strange himself who, in the space of the film, evolved from a lovably charismatic (and highly egotistical) neurosurgeon into the universe’s most gifted sorcerer – capable of taking on its darkest elements in battle.

While a Tony Stark redemption of sorts is always an intriguing one to watch, the thing that truly made Stephen Strange’s escapades of madness stand out was the man behind the magic cloak, as Benedict Cumberbatch brought every one of the character’s eccentricities to life.

The film isn’t without its faults, such as the fact that Tilda Swinton’s Sorcerer Supreme isn’t fully utilised to the best of her ability and Mads Mikkelson’s Kaecilus never feels like the fully developed antagonist he is portrayed as – in spite of a truly convincing performance from the veteran actor.

That aside, however, Doctor Strange is an awe-inspiring spectacle that had all of our jaws on the floor from start to finish.

23. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Sam Raimi’s influence over Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is instantly clear, as the much-anticipated sequel adopts a much darker tone than its predecessor right out of the gate, and it rolls with that for pretty much its entire runtime.

A vivid, tense and unexpectedly gory installment, the film follows Stephen Strange through the multiverse as he attempts to protect the universe-hopping America Chavez from perhaps the greatest threat that all of the worlds had ever seen. And joining him for that thrilling ride is Wong, Christine Palmer and Wanda Maximoff.

Elizabeth Olsen returns fresh off the heels of her Emmy-nominated turn in WandaVision and she is, without question, the greatest aspect of the film, bringing the Scarlet Witch to life with such radiance and poise that you couldn’t look away whenever she was on-screen. And that made it easier to overlook some of the film’s more questionable qualities.

Speaking of those, it struggles in the pacing department, occasionally gets bogged down in universe-building and has an odd tendency to jump from lengthy conversation to lengthy battle and back again. That said, it stands apart as one of the MCU’s most unique offerings (and a larger-than-life one at that!) and the performances from Olsen, Cumberbatch, Xochitl Gomez and Benedict Wong guide it through its flaws.

22. Ant-Man and The Wasp

Hitting theaters in the same year as the jaw-dropping war spectacle that was Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and The Wasp was never going to be 2018’s most memorable MCU offering, but it might just be its most enjoyable. Granted, the former is a near-perfect film, but there’s a charm to Scott Lang’s second outing that just captured everything about the superhero genre to perfection.

Ant-Man was an unexpected mix of both comedy and heart that it almost seemed unlikely that they could recapture that – and yet that’s exactly what the sequel accomplished.

Our hilarious supporting characters played an even greater role as they attempted to set up their own private security firm, while the film’s central family of Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly and Michael Douglas were both as heartwarming and hilarious as ever – a dynamic that was ultimately enhanced by the arrival of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet van Dyne.

Using that delicious tongue-in-cheek tone it’s now renowned for, the film managed to provide a worthwhile conclusion to Janet’s long-running vanishing arc, while also proving that it learned from its predecessor’s mistakes by featuring a layered villain that we could actually care about in Ghost.

It was funnier than its predecessor in just about every way imaginable. And much like Spider-Man: Far From Home was to Endgame, it was a delightful reminder of just how ridiculous the Marvel Cinematic Universe could be and, for a moment, it allowed us to forget the harrowing events of Infinity War.

Damn good light-hearted superhero fun.

21. Avengers: Age Of Ultron

The long-awaited direct sequel to The Avengers, 2015’s Avengers: Age Of Ultron attempted to be bigger and better than its predecessor without actually destroying Manhattan in the process. Was it successful, though?

It’s true that, through Tony’s creation of Ultron, the film went down the Terminator route of highlighting the dangers that self-aware artificial intelligence systems can pose – which certainly made it more than just another alien smackdown in New York – but the execution of the story elements resulted in the whole thing coming off as quite muddled.

There are times when Age of Ultron poses some thought-provoking questions, but there are also times when it feels like it’s outwitting itself in its attempts to be clever. There’s also the rather sudden Natasha/Hulk subplot that progressed far too quickly and confused us even more than the complicated plot did.

All that aside, it was still successful in its attempts to be an entertaining superhero movie – so much so that it left us wishing that it would maintain the focus on the heroics instead of the overly-complicated Ultron narrative – and it’s worth it alone for that awe-inspiring fight sequence during the final act.

Only paling in comparison when compared to the other Avengers movies, Age Of Ultron is enjoyable enough without context and delivers some of the most impressive visuals in the entire MCU.

20. Ant-Man

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.

19. Thor

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.

18. Black Widow

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.

17. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The Guardians of the Galaxy may be the MCU’s most reliable source of comic relief, but the third installment in the trilogy brought audiences to tears. Undoubtedly one of the most emotional movies in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, the film’s purpose is to take its titular line-up of superheroes on one more adventure through the galaxy before sending them off into the sunset.

James Gunn promised a rollercoaster of emotions with this one and it delivered on all fronts. A thrill-ride that doesn’t waste anytime getting started, it introduces us to the entity responsible for experimenting on Rocket Raccoon, the High Evolutionary, with Chukwudi Iwuji gifting us with an incredible performance as the villain.

As all of this is going down, the post-Endgame version of Gamora struggles to settle in with the “family” she hadn’t met in her own timeline yet, meaning that she had to fall for Star-Lord all over again. And to say that this storyline wields some powerful moments would be an understatement.

Guardians 3 is a huge improvement over its predecessor and a welcome return to form for the MCU. It’s also a fitting farewell to James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

16. Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 is a film that really doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves. Sure, it may not have broken ground like the first film in the franchise or felt as redundant as the lackluster second offering, but that doesn’t mean it deserves to languish in the mediocre territory that some often place it in, because in all honesty, it’s the best Iron Man film of them all.

Set in the aftermath of the larger-than-life The Avengers, Iron Man 3 had a task similar to that of the 2008 film in that it had to kick-start its own respective era. And it did so incredibly well, letting viewers know that, just because The Avengers was in the rear-view mirror, the MCU wasn’t automatically going back to filler films. No, this was an example of how the past can still influence the future.

That benefited the story really well, as Tony found himself struggling with post-traumatic stress following his near-death experience in Manhattan and, as a result, he struggled to move on with his life. However, thanks to the heartwarming bond he had with new friend, Harley Keener (Ty Simpkins), he discovered that there was life – in both him and the MCU – after The Avengers.

Iron Man certainly deserves appreciation for how it paved the way for the  MCU but the fact of the matter is that Tony’s story here is even stronger, highlighting what a nuanced and emotionally deep character he still is after his primary development had taken place and, whether you liked the infamous twist or not, that simply made it an equally (if not more) interesting film.

15. Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming had one job to do, and that was to prove to fans that the MCU iteration of Peter Parker/Spider-Man was capable of leading his own movie. Well you know what? It pulled it off… with ease.

Set in the high school environment and focusing on Peter Parker’s teenage life, the film had all the ingredients of John Hughes movie – not to mention a wonderfully infectious ’80s aesthetic – giving it a refreshingly youthful vibe that instantly set it apart from everything that came before it. But that was the film’s M.O.: To prove that Spider-Man wasn’t like any of the other more-accomplished heroes in the MCU – he was a young boy with a gift and a good heart that loved being a superhero more than anything in the world.

With a strong goal (to prove himself to Tony) and perhaps the best standalone villain the MCU has ever seen in Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes/Vulture, Peter’s character arc was a compelling one, while he was one of the most relatable superheroes to ever grace our screens.

On reflection, there were some weaknesses, such as the absence of Peter’s “Spider-Sense” (which literally made no sense) and the romance he had with Liz was really underdeveloped.

That aside, Spider-Man: Homecoming offered something different to your average MCU film in that it portrayed Spidey like the heavy-hitter that we knew he’d become while also focusing on his inner childishness at the same time. The result was a smackdown of non-stop fun – just like Spider-Man himself.

14. Guardians Of The Galaxy

If anyone could make a film about a rogue space pirate, the daughter of the deadliest being in the universe, a literal destroyer, a talking racoon and a tree work, it’s Marvel. And just in case you don’t believe that, go and watch Guardians of The Galaxy.

An eclectic mix of the most unorthodox beings in the galaxy, the film sees this five-piece of extraterrestrial beings reluctantly team up – and what ensues next is nothing short of hilarious. With phenomenally funny cast performances, Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista have no problem grabbing our attention with their ludicrous behaviour, while other characters like Groot often steal the show with their dialogue (Yes, you can say “I am Groot” countless times and somehow mean something different each time).

The best part about the whole thing, however, has to be the soundtrack. From “Hooked On A Feeling” to “I Want You Back”, there is such a retro feel to the film that you  absolutely never tire of hearing it and, quite frankly, it gets better each time.

A hilarious, witty and comedic superhero movie, Guardians of the Galaxy is appropriately light-hearted and is fun for the whole family – what more could you ask of a superhero movie?

13. Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: The Dark World may have been a low point for the Thor franchise, but we can all be grateful to it as, without its darkness, we may never have gotten the overwhelmingly colorful sequel, Thor: Ragnarok.

Nothing like its predecessor in all the best ways, the Taika Waititi film lifted some of that whimsicality from the first Thor film and multiplied it tenfold, while also imbuing it with the spirit of Guardians Of The Galaxy. The result was an off-the-wall, charming and surprisingly hilarious adventure that pushed the boundaries of lunacy in the most ridiculous and yet totally plausible of ways – all while being enriched with a killer soundtrack and a beautiful aesthetic.

Aside from that, everything else comes together beautifully. Asgard once again stuns when on-screen, while Cate Blanchett’s Hela isn’t just terrifying – she’s one of the best and multi-layered villains that the MCU has ever produced. The real star, however, is Loki – who gets the attention we all wanted for him in The Dark World and, in doing so, highlights how far he has come as a character.

It was packed full of laugh-out-loud moments that, heading into it, shouldn’t have worked and at the very least, might catch you off-guard upon a first viewing. That said, the genius decision to change Thor into this comedy-heavy gem single-handedly reinvigorated the franchise.

12. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

The MCU’s fourth phase is built on Marvel Studios’ promise to introduce us to a new generation of heroes in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings marked its first attempt to do that with a brand new character. And it quickly proved that the franchise could still easily thrive with new heroes at the helm because Shang-Chi ended up being the studio’s best standalone movie in years.

With a vivid exploration of Asian culture, it is full of stunning visuals and heartfelt storytelling, solidifying its central character as not only a great protagonist for the movie at hand but a great hero that would be at home at the forefront of the MCU for years to come. Its most impressive aspect? Well that might just have to go to the fighting sequences – which boast ambitious stunts as well as what is, without question, the greatest choreography in the history of the franchise.

The movie was also a major step forward for Asian representation on the big screen, with Simu Liu’s casting as the titular character making it the first Asian-led Marvel movie and its success will no doubt pave the way for more movies like it. And if they are anything like Shang-Chi, they will have very bright futures.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had a lot to compete with on the Marvel front, arriving the same year that franchise vets have starred in critically-acclaimed Disney Plus shows and Spider-Man finally splits open the multiverse, but it set itself apart as a unique and compelling origin story that we’ll still be talking about many years from now.

11. Iron Man

It’s hard to imagine what the superhero landscape would look like today had Marvel Studios not released Iron Man all the way back in 2008. The first in what is now a 23-film saga, the film wasn’t tasked with setting up an entire shared universe of superheroes – it just had to introduce us to its primary superhero.

A darker tale than the two Iron Men sequels, the film used Tony Stark to highlight how one man can undergo an extreme character development upon realising the error of their ways – and that’s exactly what happened here. Upon witnessing how dangerous his technologically-advanced weapons could be if they fell into the wrong hands, Tony took it upon himself to use that technology to create something instead. And just like that, Iron Man was born.

We could go on about the strength of the script here, but it would be ridiculous to overlook the fact that the film’s greatest asset was undoubtedly Robert Downey Jr. The charismatic actor didn’t just play Tony Stark; he became him and, in doing so, set the standard immensely high for every hero that would follow him.

In spite of its compelling narrative, Iron Man kick-starts that Tony Stark tradition of not taking itself too seriously and thus, it’s also a whole lot of superhero fun – highlighting that Marvel had found the perfect formula for their empire.

10. Spider-Man: Far From Home

To say that Spider-Man: Far From Home was under a lot of pressure to succeed would be a major understatement.

The film should have just been the wall-crawler’s second chance to impress viewers in a standalone offering, but instead, it was tasked with dealing with the aftermath of the earth-shaking Avengers: Endgame and tying up the MCU’s current story by bringing Phase Three to a close.

Somehow, it managed to achieve all of that and still offer viewers a standalone Spider-Man adventure that, believe it or not, actually proved to be superior to its 2017 predecessor.

From its overarching sense of youthfulness to the strength of Peter and Ned’s heartwarming bond, the film took everything that was perfect about Homecoming and magnified it to produce a more engaging, inclusive and downright hilarious narrative. It also learned from its predecessor’s mistakes by giving Zendaya’s MJ the leading role that she deserved and, in doing so, gave the developing romance between her and Peter the room that it needed to breathe.

Peter’s character arc was a more well-defined version of his original journey – only this time, he wasn’t trying to prove that he was a good hero (we already knew that), he was trying to prove that he was worthy of carrying on the legendary Tony Stark’s legacy. An emotional narrative that set the stage beautifully for his showdown with the villain – and one that Tom Holland portrayed beautifully.

Avengers: Endgame may have been a masterpiece, but it was a heavy masterpiece that left us all in a state of emotional turmoil. This, however, was something else entirely. Full of youthful vibrance and genuine laughs, Far From Home was the perfect antidote to Endgame and one that illustrated a hopeful future for the MCU. Spider-Man was, quite simply, the hero we needed.

9. Captain America: Civil War

The final installment of Captain America’s standalone trilogy didn’t feel all that standalone due to the sheer amount of Avengers that featured in it, but it was, at its heart, about one man’s never-ending bid to overthrow the powerful to protect his best friend. And if you really think about it, that’s all the Captain America movies have ever been about – and, perhaps more importantly, why they always worked.

Civil War owes a lot to its predecessors, borrowing its serious tone and government-heavy premise from The Winter Soldier – which, of course, adds depth (and context) to Steve’s reluctance to sign the Sokovia Accords. In doing so, it cleverly manages to weave some of the MCU’s strongest and most powerful long-running narratives into the story.

From Cap’s attempts to protect Bucky, to Tony’s desire to get to the truth, the plot is expertly-engineered in such a way that it’s hard to outright root for one side and, although it is Steve who is ultimately right about everything, it’s hard not to feel for Tony at the same time. And that, ladies and gentlemen is some beautiful internal conflict – much like that which the characters felt throughout the movie.

Of course, we can’t praise Civil War without referencing the wonderful battle sequence which saw Team Cap and Team Iron Man collide (while also introducing Spider-Man) and, in doing so, gave us the best battle the MCU had ever seen (at the time).

This was, very much, the end of the MCU as we knew it – and what an unforgettable way to go out.

8. Black Panther

“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. Deadpool and Wolverine

Perhaps the most pivotal moment in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga came to pass with the release of Deadpool and Wolverine. The title alone is enough to excite Marvel fans, but the fact that it is an MCU movie is simply extraordinary, as Marvel Studios found a way to incorporate Ryan Reynolds’ Merc With A Mouth and Hugh Jackman’s claw-wielding Logan into the franchise. The result was incredible.

I can’t fully put into words how well Deadpool and Wolverine exceeds at what it sets out to do. It’s a bloody, violent, hilarious movie that makes history as the franchise’s first R-rated installment, and it’s all of that while continuing to pay tribute to both the Deadpool and X-Men franchises.

The chemistry between Jackman and Reynolds ensures that the long-awaited team-up thrives, as they light up the screen faster than a snap of Pyro’s fingers. And the action scenes – oh man, the action scenes – are among the MCU’s finest, as the double act slice and dice their way through anything that moves.

After a lackluster year in 2023, it was hoped that Deadpool and Wolverine would be the major comeback that the MCU needed. It was all of that and more, producing something truly magical in the process. Outrageous in every single way imaginable, but magic too.

As the chaotic duo like to say: “LFG!”

6. Spider-Man: No Way Home

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.

5. The Avengers

The Avengers was undoubtedly a huge gamble for Marvel, if for no other reason than the fact that it was their initial endgame. If it hadn’t worked, everything they had been building towards for five years would have been for nothing, and it would have left the MCU in a state of uncertainty. But it didn’t just work, it excelled.

We could waste this entry going on about the film’s impressive box office takings or the legacy that it left behind, but quite frankly, none of that would have been possible if the film wasn’t up to scratch. And it was, it oh-so-was.

Bringing together the heroes already established in previous films, Nick Fury had a plan to have Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow and the Incredible Hulk form what he initially referred to as the Avengers Initiative in a bid to stop Loki’s reign of terror. However, Loki ended up dragging both Thor and Hawkeye into the mix and, just like that, the world’s greatest heroes were united.

The Avengers was, in many ways, a well-oiled machine, tasked with showing us that the long-awaited team up was indeed worth waiting for, but that it wouldn’t be smooth-sailing. The conflict all felt very natural and the dynamics were great – and it all set the stage for one hell of a showdown in Manhattan as the disagreeing heroes came together to battle the Chituari in one of the greatest film scenes of the decade.

4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

There’s something to be said for taking a film about the world’s most star-spangled super soldier and turning it into an edge-of-seat espionage thriller. Captain America: The Winter Soldier isn’t just your average superhero sequel and, having said that, it rarely feels like anything other than its own entity. That’s how good the world that Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely built is.

An soldier out of time and with no desire to be there, Steve Rogers is thrust into the midst of a war between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the resurgence of Hydra and, after failing to comply with the corrupt rules of either organization, is declared Public Enemy No.1.

The film was very specific about its supporting characters, adding only those who would thrive in this surprisingly more realistic world such as Black Widow and Falcon, and the whole narrative built towards the reveal of Bucky’s fate beautifully. And it all served as the perfect vehicle for Chris Evans, who really came into his own here as the modern day iteration of Captain America.

Thrilling, suspenseful and, at times, unnerving, if the MCU had an equivalent to The Dark Knight, then it would undoubtedly be this one. The fact that Markus, McFeely and the Russo brothers managed to take Cap, who had literally just battled freakin’ aliens in The Avengers, strip him down to his core values and make him a believable protagonist in a gritty tale of corruption and backstabbing is something that really should be, well, marvelled at.

3. Avengers: Infinity War

The history books may remember Avengers: Endgame for bringing about the culmination of the Infinity Saga but the fact of the matter is that that film was only an extension of a story that Avengers: Infinity War started.

The beginning of the end, so to speak, the film was responsible for pulling the trigger on Thanos’ long-teased master plan and, in doing so, also pulled the trigger on the long-teased crossover between the Avengers and the Guardians of The Galaxy – who had, up until this point, only featured in their own films.

Infinity War was many things all rolled into one. It was a beginning, it was an ending and it was something that had never been done before – bringing together a number of long-running arcs in a bid to give fans the best (and most shocking) opening to the bumper-sized final chapter of the MCU.

From the multiple different narratives to the new dynamics between characters who had never interacted before, the film felt larger scale (if that’s at all possible) than every single previous offering and, as result, set the stage for what may have been (at the time) the most incredible battle in Hollywood history. And it’s worth it just alone for Thor’s epic entrance.

Heartbreaking, triumphant and jaw-dropping all at once, Infinity War is an emotional rollercoaster that, most of the time, actually flows better than its successor and, even though there are times that it often just feels like the beginning of the end(game), it accomplished everything it set out to do and, in the process, amazed audiences beyond belief.

2. Avengers: Endgame

How do you pull off the official conclusion to a 22-chapter series? That’s been the question that has been on the collective minds of fans for years – and it’s one that Marvel Studios found themselves having to answer this year.

Avengers: Endgame provided the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the closure that it had been building towards for quite some time, and it did so by pulling together a number of different elements.

Focused primarily on the events in the present, it dealt with the fallout of Thanos’ infamous snap, as the survivors sought out a way to undo the damage he caused. However, it also wasn’t afraid to call upon faces from its past (through a series of time-travel tributes) and its future (Captain Marvel and Spider-Man) in order to give fans the star-studded smackdown they had been waiting for.

The fact that it relies heavily on its predecessors may render it virtually unwatchable to those who haven’t seen Infinity War (at least), but therein lies the charm of the movie. No one thing functions on its own, as the majority of the story is an ensemble narrative in which every moving part relies on the other. And the emotional rollercoaster is worth every single laugh, tear and look of awe, as the final battle exceeds expectations and could very well be the greatest cinematic showdown of all time.

So just how do you pull of the conclusion of a 22-chapter series? Well, the answer to that question is a tricky one but it probably looks something like Avengers: Endgame. It may not be a perfect movie, but it is, without a doubt, the perfect conclusion to this awe-inspiring tale – and one that does justice to almost every major character involved.

1. Captain America: The First Avenger

To even refer to Captain America: The First Avenger as a class act still wouldn’t encompass just how wonderful a picture it truly was. Hidden in the midst of louder Phase 1 films and outshined by its espionage-themed sequels, it’s often unfairly overlooked when fans recall their favorite MCU movies, but the fact of the matter is that this might be the most important of them all.

At its heart, The First Avenger is the story of Steve Rogers – a man who, long before he ever becomes a revolutionary super soldier, exhibits qualities of the world’s greatest superhero. However, when enhanced with the serum, he’s given the tools to become the world’s greatest superhero and, in doing so, stands up to the bullies known as the Nazi and saves the world.

A period piece, the film is essentially a war film and that’s something that sets it apart from every other Marvel film, as it uses that hopeless setting in order to highlight how one man inspired a generation with just that: hope.

A strong goal and a solid antagonist, Captain America’s maiden voyage was both a triumph and a tearjerker, and it solidified Chris Evans as the beloved MCU icon that he is today. The love for Steve, however, would not be possible without his pure relationship with Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter which is, without a doubt, the greatest Marvel love story ever told.

Steve left his heart in the ’40s and it wasn’t until Endgame that he finally got it back. We, however, left a piece of our hearts right there with his because this was nothing short of an understated and heartfelt classic. And that ultimately sets it apart from all the rest.