Joey Magidson
*As you may well have figured out, this article/list is updated and slightly tinkered with to include the new release this week of The Marvels*
For the first list, click here, while the second one is here, the third one is here, the fourth one is here, the fifth one is here, and the most recent one is here. In conjunction with The Marvels having hit theaters, here now is my 100% current ranking of the films that make up the MCU:
33. Thor: The Dark World – So, if this is the worst that Marvel can do, we’re in a good place. Thoroughly acceptable but without much of a spark, this sequel has Thor pretty much doing the same thing as in the first one. The enjoyably larger role for Loki saves it from turning into a slog, as does the slight re-evaluation Avengers: Endgame gives it. Again, if this is the bottom of the barrel, things are just fine over at the Marvel offices.
32. The Incredible Hulk – More a byproduct of not knowing how to use Hulk properly than anything else, this outing shows Marvel as a studio still finding their footing in the world. The fact that it’s more or less not referred to at all in the canon of the MCU should be telling, though it’s not unenjoyable at all. Still, this and the title above are the clear weak links to date.
31. Iron Man 2 – The downside of overt world building. The one film in the series that got too concerned with setting up The Avengers, there’s plenty to like here with Tony Stark/Iron Man just as fun as always. At the same time though, it’s a bare bones plot where the sequel building is unfortunately the prime focus. It’s middle of the road for Marvel in just about every way (though by proxy fairly low on this list), and definitely should have been better.
30. Thor – Okay now. From here on out, the titles move to the good/very good/great range, with the God of Thunder perhaps just suffering from being their least interesting character. There’s nothing wrong with this movie, and the Hawkeye cameo is pretty cool, but it’s on the forgettable side, that’s for sure. The character is still at his best when not going solo and partnered with other heroes, if you ask me.
29. Eternals – This is a bit from my recent review here on the site: “The Marvel Cinematic Universe can often be accused of giving off a repetitious feel. Those who don’t dig on the MCU claim that the films do the same things over and over again. Even someone like yours truly, who almost exclusively enjoys the movies, sees some of their argument. Marvel has a formula, one they don’t really waver from. Now, with Eternals, they’ve given Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao the most free rein of anyone so far playing in their sandbox. For a while now, speculation ran while that Zhao had used that cache to make a flick unlike anything else we’ve seen from the entertainment giant before. Well, that’s true, but not necessarily in the manner we were hoping for. Over a week after having seen Eternals, I still can’t quite figure out if I liked it or not.”
28. Iron Man 3 – Making this the Tony Stark show as opposed to watching him just use the suit for two hours was a top notch decision. Besides just showcasing Robert Downey, Jr. in a big way, it mixes up the formula, which was needed. If this is how the Iron Man solo films wrapped up, and it likely is, they went out on a solid note.
27. Avengers: Age of Ultron – As much as this is certainly good summer blockbuster entertainment, I found myself hoping for a little bit more. Considering what was still to come, being slightly disappointed by it wasn’t an overreaction. Part of that might just be that we’ve now seen the group together already, so some of the magic is gone. Still, this is more than effective and well worth seeing.
26. Captain America: The First Avenger – Admittedly a bit cheesy at times, but intentionally so, this is the most throwback of any Marvel outing to date. The ending is very solid, but up until then it’s basically an unexceptional World War II tale. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good, but it’s put to shame by its sequel (now its two sequels, until the next one), as you’ll be seeing below within this particular list.
25. Ant-Man – One of the sillier Marvel outings to date and a riskier one too, this probably shouldn’t have worked, or at least not as well as it did. The original combination of Paul Rudd working with Edgar Wright had many pumped up, but Wright obviously left the project, ultimately leaving it in the hands of Peyton Reed. At times Reed lets things get a little generic, but the script is still partially credited to Wright and it shows. His clearly influenced moments are by far the best, but it’s a fun flick throughout. It’s at its best when the ridiculousness of the idea isn’t being shied away from. Plus, it’s just enjoyable to watch MCU fight scenes done on a totally different scale.
24. Black Widow – Here is what I said in my recent review (here) on the site: “Black Widow is here, in all of its blockbuster glory. The Marvel adventure is a lot of fun and very well done, but there admittedly is a sense that this is coming a bit late in the game. The narrative is a solid one for Romanoff, but it works more as a filling in of the character, as opposed to the tribute it might have been at this point. Had it come out in Phase One or Phase Two, it would have been thrilling. Now, it’s very good, but lacks just a little something to make it great.”
23. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – While there are diminishing returns from the first one, it’s still a massively entertaining adventure. It does way more right than it does wrong, including finding an interesting way to have one of Marvel’s more creative villains. The charm is in full effect, and while it does the least to advance Phase Three of the MCU towards its conclusion, it remains a welcome change of pace.
22. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – The tiniest hero in the MCU gets his biggest adventure yet. From my recent review (here) of the Phase Five starter: “The Marvel Cinematic Universe is ever expanding, and with the start of Phase Five, it’s gotten both bigger and smaller. Yes, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the largest scale installment of the character’s now trilogy, but it’s done so by getting so small, it enters the Quantum Realm. Starting this MCU section off with Ant-Man is an interesting choice, and while it doesn’t always pay off, more here works than doesn’t. It’s not Marvel’s upper echelon, but it’s an entertaining science fiction adventure, even if it’s a bit of a bumpy ride.”
21. The Marvels – I really don’t get the hate that some have given to this particular sequel. This is what I had to say here about the latest MCU outing: “I consistently enjoy a new outing within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the same time, the more recent efforts, especially as they navigate the Multiverse and their latest buildup, has been a bit of a bumpy ride. In some ways, I miss the simplicity of the first few phases of the MCU. Well, The Marvels is here to be a bit of a throwback. In terms of how self-contained it mostly is, it’s similar to a middle of the road Phase One or Phase Two release. It ends up being a mid-tier Marvel outing, but that does mean that it’s a substantial amount of fun at its best. The Marvels is much lighter on its feet than Captain Marvel, leaning into some very overtly comedic elements. One of the shortest MCU outings, it’s definitely a bit thinner than others, only really tying into the broader story with a very big swing of a credits sequence. Other than that, it’s just an adventure, almost like a Star Trek episode (or Star Trek Beyond, which did that pretty well, too). You’re not going to be blown away, but you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by the good time this offers up.”
20. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – An out of nowhere spy thriller that could have almost come out in the 1970’s and been about the Cold War, this was one of the MCU’s most pleasant surprises. It’s no shock that the filmmakers here were then given the keys to the Marvel kingdom from here on out, taking over the massive Avengers sequels. The Winter Soldier has only gotten better as time has passed too, making this an underrated gem in the universe for many.
19. Doctor Strange – Easily the weirdest outing in the MCU to date, this is also definitely the most visual as well. Benedict Cumberbatch makes a great superhero and Tilda Swinton is a scene stealer, even if the casting is problematic. The odd look of the film is really what’s best here, but it’s also one of Marvel’s more effective origin stories as well. It’s all just a fun mix, giving you something a bit different. Even more so than usual, I’ll be eager for another adventure with this hero when he enters the Multiverse of Madness.
18. Ant-Man and the Wasp – What a pleasant surprise, this one was. Everything you like about the first installment is still in effect here, only better. This is also one of the most female centric MCU outings yet. Rudd’s comedic portrayal of a hero is totally on point too. With smaller goals than in probably any other outing for the company, there’s more opportunities for fun. The result is a blast in just about every way. Ant-Man is now a character I’m even more eager to see more from in his impending third flick.
17. Captain Marvel – One look at this and you knew that Carol Danvers was set to mess Thanos up. Brie Larson is an inspiration here. It’s rare to want to stand up and cheer in a superhero movie, where your protagonist is literally superhuman, but she brings that out in you. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck lean in to the science fiction aspects of the flick way more than expected, resulting in something rather odd at times. A re-watch could actually shoot it up into the top ten, that’s how impressed I initially was with this MCU outing.
16. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – This here is some of what I said earlier in the week when I reviewed the movie: “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is probably as close as Marvel will ever get to making a horror movie, courtesy of Raimi. There’s a few jump scares, some disturbing imagery, and even a bit of gnarly gore. Essentially, it’s starter horror, filtered through the MCU and this particular world of sorcery. Not everything works, but there’s a relentless feel that Raimi and company keep you invested with. Plus, the film actually does a really good job of leaving you wanting more.”
15. Thor: Love and Thunder – This small sample here is part of what I said earlier in the week about this one, when I reviewed it : “Thor: Love and Thunder continues to show how Waititi’s interpretation of Thor makes all of the difference. He sees the heart and the humor in the God of Thunder, making him, perhaps surprisingly, given where he began, Marvel’s most consistently funny character. The dour nature of the character in Thor and Thor: The Dark World is gone. If some of the magic from Thor: Ragnarok isn’t here, it’s only due to that having the element of surprise on its side.”
14. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Here is a bit of what I said back a few months when the film first came out: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has equal amounts of action, heart, and humor. The result is as satisfying an outing as Marvel has had in some time. By moving out of their comfort zone, they’ve found an almost universally appealing tale to tell. Shang-Chi will certainly be one of their prime characters moving forward, and with good reason, too. He’s a winner.”
13. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – There’s so much emotion in this conclusion of the James Gunn helmed trilogy, on top of the action and humor, that this nearly cracked the top ten for me. This is some of what I said from my rave review here on the site: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is one last ride with a team you’ve grown to love. Moreover, Gunn has made this Rocket’s story, which invests you in a CGI raccoon more than you’d ever expect. To that end, it’s worth noting that there are several harrowing scenes involving animal endangerment, albeit of the computer generated variety. It’s not done in a manner that’s offensive, but if you’re an animal lover, it’s going to be intense. That’s more evidence of how Gunn gets you to identify with his characters. The agony and the ecstasy, the heartbreak and laughter, it’s all here, just sandwiched within a sci-fi sequel in the MCU.”
12. Thor: Ragnarok – Simply put, this movie is utterly hilarious. It already seemed like a winner considering how it was teaming up Thor with Hulk, but the fact that filmmaker Taika Waititi fuels this with laughter is a stroke of comedic genius. Letting Jeff Goldblum go to town as well results in some great moments, including one of the funniest post credits scenes in the MCU yet. The whole tone just works. When it becomes more of an action outing, it’s a bit more generic, though still livelier than previous Thor flicks. The movie is supremely entertaining, cracking Marvel’s top ten.
11. Guardians of the Galaxy – One of the biggest gambles Marvel has made since actually setting forth with the MCU concept, this turned out to be one of their biggest and most purely entertaining success stories. Taking their universe and truly making it universal, this space opera of sorts is as much Star Wars as a miniature version of The Avengers. It’s just so much fun, and has stayed that way on subsequent viewings.
10. The Avengers – It was all leading up to this one, so it was a joy to see just how well the meeting of Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor ultimately was. Probably the biggest superhero movie ever (at that point), it was lighter than the Batman franchise it was opening up the same year as, and while not quite as amazing, still more than blew audiences away. It may not 100% hold up to the euphoria we had when first seeing it, but it’s still definitely an iconic moment in Marvel history, and overall just a great time.
9. Captain America: Civil War – This is only a tiny step down from the top spot here, which makes it the best Marvel outing since the end of Phase One. In fact, it might be the best of the lot after a revisit or two. At the very least, it’s right on the level of the first Avengers film, which I’m currently slotting a minuscule bit below this one. This builds on Captain America: The Winter Solider in all the best ways. The main set piece battle is outstanding, but the story is just perhaps the best that the MCU has had to date, including finally having a villain that’s not easily dismissed, which has been something Marvel has occasionally struggled with.
8. Spider-Man: Far From Home – Not only is Spider-Man: Far From Home another great Spidey adventure, one that ties into the past and future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s also another tremendous high school story. Tom Holland is the best Peter Parker and the best Spider-Man yet, Jake Gyllenhaal is tremendously fun, Zendaya continues to be an absolute spark plug, and the entire product is just a tremendous amount of fun. Plus, this movie has two of the best post credits sequences for the MCU yet, both of which are actually pretty important, plot wise. One actually works as a final scene for the adventure audiences just watched, which is a really bold move. It’s not spoiling anything to say that it really does change what you saw before. That’s the mark of a rock solid feature, that even the final moments can add to the enjoyment. Jon Watts and company really set the stage for Phase Four of the universe in a compelling and surprising manner.
7. Avengers: Infinity War – A spectacle unlike anything we’ve ever seen, with a bold cliffhanger ending to boot, this is something truly special. Assembling nearly the entire MCU lineup in a deeply satisfying way, the film is also unafraid to have a body count. The stakes are high, the humor is on point, and the action sizzles. If not for how amazing the conclusion is, this would be even more of a high point…
6. Iron Man – It’s hard to beat the one that started it all, and up until now, nothing had. RDJ is just perfection as the title character, setting up everything that has come since. If he hadn’t been at the top of his game, none of this would have turned out the same. For that alone, it’s worth heavy praise, but this is also a nearly perfect superhero film, helping to set the tone for what would come next. It stood tall among the MCU titles so far, though admittedly a few of the recent titles have closed in on it, but it took a certain webslinger and just recently a King to finally top it.
5. Black Panther – In time, this could easily become Marvel’s best. In fact, it probably is, but I still want to sit on it for a bit, especially now that I can compare it to its sequel. Black Panther stands out for many reasons, notably for both being their most auteur driven work (kudos to Ryan Coogler) and for giving the MCU perhaps their best villain ever (bravo Michael B. Jordan). Aside from some slight repetition and occasionally generic action, this is damn near perfect work. Everyone involved should be very proud. Now, the first Marvel film to win an Academy Award, the Oscar love has helped cement it as a cultural touchstone.
4. Spider-Man: No Way Home – You can find more in my review here, but this is some of what I had to say: “Spider-Man: No Way Home continues the strong run for Spidey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While not quite as utterly delightful as Spider-Man: Homecoming, it matches and often exceeds the already strong Spider-Man: Far From Home. A ton happens, with lasting impact for the MCU. While not as overtly optimistic as the prior installments, this hero’s optimism is necessary for the tests on display here. Truly, his entire life has been building up to this. An epic and high stakes Marvel adventure for the character, it’s darker and more serious than the previous two, but also big emotions and several moments that will make your jaw drop.”
3. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Obviously fresh in my mind, I just reviewed the film here, but this is some of what I said. Spoiler alert if you haven’t read the review, but I loved it. Why? Behold: “In a lot of ways, the first Black Panther was lightning in a bottle. Capturing the zeitgeist like it did is a rare achievement, made even more so by how it brought together mass entertainment and prestige Oscar attention. It felt like a once in a generation achievement for Marvel Studios, which has never matched that kind of Academy Award recognition. So, you’d be forgiven for going into Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with a certain amount of checked expectations. After all, it was made in the shadow of the unexpected death of lead Chadwick Boseman, requiring a major re-write. Well, I’m happy to report that all of your fears are for naught. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may not get as many nominations at the Oscars, but in many ways, the film is an improvement over the first one. Wakanda Forever, indeed.”
2. Spider-Man: Homecoming – This MCU outing was the best yet for a short while, to me. As much a high school comedy as an action epic, this is another nearly perfect superhero film. By combining their sensibilities with Spidey’s, it makes for something really different. Traditionalists might be split on how Peter Parker and Spider-Man are portrayed here, but I loved this take. Tom Holland is phenomenal too, blowing both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire (and they were each terrific in their own right) out of the water. Integrating Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and even a bit of Iron Man into things fits the character into the MCU, but this is a much lower fi character, even with a Stark enhanced suit (which provides a ton of comic relief as he learns how to use it). It all just works.
1. Avengers: Endgame – No surprise, but Endgame stands tall. This is the best Marvel has ever done. Truly. Avengers: Endgame brings the Marvel Cinematic Universe in its initial form to a worthy conclusion, eliciting more emotion than any superhero movie yet. I laughed, I cried, and I was filled to the brim with joy. This is a triumph for anyone who has invested a decade and over 20 films worth of material into one giant story. Over three hours long but paced perfectly, you won’t want it to end. Somehow, Marvel, Kevin Feige, and the creative forces have exceeded expectations. It’s a stunning achievement, without question.
What is your current ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let us know!
Comments
Loading…