When talking about the best Marvel Cinematic Universe projects ever made, it's impossible not to bring up Avengers: Endgame. The latest Marvel crossover was the culmination of over a decade's work that had every right to be disappointing, yet somehow it managed to meet all expectations. The movie had the difficult task of shining the spotlight on many different characters through its runtime, giving a fitting conclusion to iconic heroes such as Iron Man, bringing half of the universe back to life, and welcoming audiences who never watched a Marvel movie to the franchise. However, as impossible of a task as that all seemed, Avengers: Endgame delivered big time and is still widely considered one of the best MCU movies almost six years later.
However, it isn't the very best thing Marvel Studios has ever done.
The thing is: We all love to see Earth's Mightiest Heroes assemble on the big screen as we know something iconic will unfold. There are big expectations beforehand, and usually, they're met. But there's a very different movie that not only met every single expectation it had on its shoulders, but also surpassed them all. It's a masterpiece that didn't have the luxury of being built for more than ten years. Instead, it was the one that set up big things to come, and it's all courtesy of the legend himself, Captain America.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the best MCU movie to date
Action-packed, fast-paced, and with a lot of heart — Captain America: The Winter Soldier is everything you'd want from a superhero movie. But even then, it wouldn't have reached the same levels of success without an amazing story that flawlessly puts Steve Rogers in a very interesting and unique spot. Everything audiences learned during the first Captain America movie was basically deconstructed and almost thrown out the window. Cap isn't in the 1940s this time around, and he needs to adjust to a new era where technology advanced so much that a simple algorithm can decide who lives and dies. It's a brilliant setup that only gets better once the movie's true villain is finally revealed.
HYDRA infiltrated the high ranks of the government, meaning Cap needs to go against the authorities of his own country after working alongside them to defeat the Red Skull. Oh, and his former best friend? Yeah, he's now a killing machine working under the bad guys' every order. Such a premise only makes Steve Rogers' character shine even more, as he's willing to go against everything he once knew and loved if it means saving the lives of innocents. Besides, we also need to acknowledge how the narrative sets up many future storylines in an effortless way, as opposed to other MCU movies such as Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The tension between superheroes and government agencies allowed for the events of Captain America: Civil War to take place. The fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. left Earth unprotected against the dangers of the cosmic threats we saw in Infinity War. Furthermore, Cap's second stand-alone movie introduced big Marvel characters to the big screen such as Sam Wilson, while making Steve's friendship with Bucky Barnes a fundamental plot point moving forward. It can't be overstated how pivotal this movie was for the MCU as a whole.
We also need to state the obvious: Captain America: The Winter Soldier has some of the best action scenes in any Marvel movie alongside Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings. The hand-to-hand fight choreographies are flawless — particularly that highway battle between Steve and his old best friend, Bucky. While the MCU has a tendency to create a lot of action scenes with pure CGI, this movie decided to go back to basics and do things the practical way (as you can see in this Behind the Scenes footage). Many months were spent creating and practicing choreographies of engaging battles, and the results speak for themselves. Every single punch and kick feels real, and that's no easy feat whatsoever.
The VFX, soundtrack, acting, and directing were all superb in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Besides, it had a completely different tone compared to any other MCU project created up until that date. Had that movie not found the levels of success it did, then perhaps the Russo Brothers would've never gone on to helm other critically acclaimed films such as Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame. The current state of the MCU could look very different without them, and it wouldn't necessarily be for the better.
I know very few things can compare to watching every single live-action Marvel hero coming together to stop Thanos. No other movie so far has been able to replicate such a feeling as Endgame. But Captain America: The Winter Soldier allowed that crossover to happen, and it did so by delivering frenetic action sequences, a gritty and interesting story, and shining the spotlight on a very emotional arc where Steve and Bucky were at the center. It is not only a fantastic sequel, but a brilliant movie altogether, and one that will always be remembered for being one of the best things Marvel has ever created.