10 best MCU movies of all-time, ranked

4. The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers stands as a monumental achievement in the superhero genre, a cinematic experience that transformed the landscape of comic book movies.

The movie managed to combine a diverse group of larger-than-life characters, each with their own deeply established backstories and personalities, into a team that actually works well together. This movie wasn't just about putting all these heroes in one room - it was about creating a dynamic where their interactions felt natural, their conflicts genuine, and their interactions believable. Each character, from Iron Man to Captain America, is given a chance to shine both in solo moments and as part of the team. The battle of New York, a cinematic feast of special effects and intense action, wasn't just a battle against the Chitauri - it was a testament to what these heroes could achieve together.

This movie set a high bar for future ensemble superhero films, proving that a crossover of this magnitude could be done successfully, and more importantly, could resonate deeply with audiences.

The Avengers also marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of the MCU, solidifying the concept of a shared cinematic universe. Before its release, the idea of intertwining separate film franchises into a single, coherent narrative was ambitious, to say the least. But The Avengers didn't just make this concept work - it made it spectacular. It brought together the threads of individual stories told in Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and The Incredible Hulk, culminating in a narrative that was greater than the sum of its parts.