MCU: Every 2023 Marvel release ranked from worst to best

3. The Marvels

Landing at the number three spot in my 2023 MCU lineup, The Marvels brings back the fun element we've been missing from superhero movies lately. 2023 was a year where the movie world was a game of musical chairs - but the music's a mix of pandemic blues and writer and actors' strikes samba. Despite all this, The Marvels steps up to the plate, swinging for the fences in a box office that has been playing hard to get all year long for the superhero genre. It's a tough gig when movie-goers are swapping big screens and reclining seats for couch cushions and TV screens for streaming.

But here's where The Marvels shines and struts its stuff - this movie is a bold statement against the sour grapes in the fan world. The film throws open the doors of the superhero clubhouse and acts as a high-five to all the teenage girls and women out there - it's a move that's incredibly refreshing. This isn't just about flexing superpowers - it's about the power of connections, the ties that bind mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. This emotional undercurrent gives the film its heartbeat. In a nutshell, The Marvels is more than a superhero flick. It's a celebration of stories for everyone, served with a main course of kick-ass action and a side of feels.

Some people might get caught up on the story of the movie's underperformance at the box office, but the story of The Marvels is far better than that one.