The past 11 years have been quite the ride, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe becoming the biggest force in Hollywood and gifting us 23 feature films, dating all the way back to 2008's Iron Man, all of which are intertwined in some way. I have attempted to rank them all from worst to best, though this was very difficult. With a few exception (some amazing films and some lack luster ones), most of these films were extremely close and difficult to separate.
One quick note, this list is NOT ranking all movies based on a Marvel Comic, only those included in the MCU. That means no X-Men, no Fantastic 4, no Deadpool, no Blade, no Daredevil, no Elektra, and no pre-Tom Holland Spidermans. Got it? Great. Without further to do:
#23. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
This seems a bit unfair, as the film was not originally going to be a part of the MCU and just doesn't seem to fit well with the others. That being said, it was by far the most boring and emotionless of the 23 films and it's the only Marvel film I have 0 interest in rewatching. Edward Norton portrayed this lackluster version of the Hulk before Mark Ruffalo replaced him and made the character a fan favorite in all other MCU films. No storylines from this movie really carry over and outside Bruce Banner himself no other characters from the film ever appear again. It's an incredible franchise to finish last in, but somebody still has to be last.
#22. Iron Man 2 (2010)
Marvel's third film ranks just ahead of it's second, which makes sense considering the studio was still trying to figure out how to set the stage for the Avengers and how everything was going to tie together. The Iron Man trilogy was great, but the middle film was not of the same caliber as it's predecessor nor its sequel. Still, the usual Tony Stark antics puts this film way above Hulk and we're introduced to Black Widow in it. However the villain is made up and the film is trying to do a lot at once (again because they are building for what's coming) and thus is a bit messy and one of the lesser installments in the universe.
#21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
The Ant-Man films aren't bad films, they're a charming mixture of weird and funny, but I preferred the original. This one has an overabundance of quantum physics, a forgettable villain, and plain and simply we just don't have the same attachment to these characters as some of Marvel's more quintessential ones. Still, Paul Rudd and Michael Cena keep the movie fun and funny and the quantum realm ended up being a major factor in the events of Endgame.
#20. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Another example where the middle movie in a trilogy just isn't as strong as it's beginning or ending. There's a reason Marvel had to pump the brakes for Thor 3 for four years and the finger is pointed at Thor 2. It wasn't terrible, the cliffhanger ending was clever and Tom Hiddleston's Loki stirring up chaos is always worth watching, but once again: middle movie, forgettable villain, messy plot lines, not Marvel's best.
#19. Ant-Man (2015)
It's tough to bump Ant-Man higher on the list when both films seem like more of comedies than traditional super hero films. Still, this movie does a nice job on the origin story and making the most of Scott Lang's size shifting abilities. It's a lightweight in a universe of heavy weights but it's one of the funnier films and not as lame as the hero sounds.
#18. Doctor Strange (2016)
If I wasn't taking into consideration the visual effects of this film it may rank even lower but the best part of this film has nothing to do with the plot or characters but rather the trippy imagery where we see things like bending matter and solid buildings being folded up and spun on top of one another. The sorcery aspect of this film is cool but Bennedict Cumberpatch's Strange lacks personality and this is another film with a very forgettable villain. Still, it was something different with it's themes of wizardry and stunning footage and for that squeaks just outside the bottom 5.
#17. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
The only Avengers film I did not love. I remember being so excited for this movie after the success of the first Avengers film but this one left my high expectations and I disappointing. This film tried to do something more, warning humanity of the dangers we face as a species against technology and AI, but I'm not sure a Marvel film was the right time or place. This film has it's moments, we begin to see a more human side of Tony Stark, and the introductions of Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Vision. Ultron gets a bid tiresome as a villain with all the monologues and it just seems like the studio needed a movie that would bridge the gap between the Avengers and the events of Infinity War/End Game.
#16. Thor (2011)
This was Marvel's next big introduction after Iron Man and it was alright. The theme of an entitled and arrogant Norse god being sent to earth, where he is humbled and cares for the people, is a good one but also made the film more boring than some originally hoped. The fantasy and mythology mix works and Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston became instant fan favorites so it could have been worse and served as an appropriate intro to the characters of Asgard.
#15. Captain Marvel (2019)
My biggest issue with this film is its all-too-familiar feminist approach, but this was Marvel's only stab at a movie with a female lead (for now, Black Widow coming in the future) so I can cut them some slack. Once you get past that and its super generic 90's approach it's an enjoyable film. Brie Larson's Carol Danvers is a strong character who can go toe to toe with the boys and this film gave a promising debut of the character's future potential.
#14 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
A fitting origin story for the MCU's most honorable hero. Meeting pre-serum Steve Rodgers and the undersized kid who has the heart of a lion and is a true patriot just makes you appreciate him so much more in the grand scheme of things. Adding in a World Wor II era setting and Nazi's as the villains gives almost any film a boost as well. We see one of the better romance stories between Steve and Peggy Carter and Bucky Barnes also goes on to become one of the important players in the MCU. It's a nice blend between a war film and a superhero film only mirrored by DC's Wonder Woman. While I love the beginning, the film has some lackluster moments in the middle and towards the end but it's still a perfectly serviceable origin story for the Avengers' fearless leader.
#13. Iron Man 3 (2013)
Marvel's first film following the events of The Avengers was a fitting ending to it's first film trilogy. This film was a very different take on Stark then we saw in all other films, we see authentic scenes with him in small-town America helping out a little kid and we see Stark trying to get his mojo back throughout the film after the PTSD from the first Avengers. I wasn't a huge fan of the twist of the presumed terrorist villain being an actor and the plot is a bit convoluted, but this film is a nice change of pace and a turning point for RDJ's character.
#12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
It didn't live up to the original, but Guardians 2 was still a worthy sequel that re-used many of elements that made the first one so special such as belly-deep laughs and a killer greatest-hits soundtrack. It also explores many family themes, like the biological father/son relationship between Star Lord and Ego versus the non-biological one between Star Lord and Yondu, as well as the sister relationship between Gamora and Nebula, who have their own daddy issues being daughters of Thanos. Factor in Bradley Cooper's Rocket and the adorable baby groot and this was indeed a worthy sequel.
#11. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Spider-Man has been attempted many times but Marvel and Tom Holland's version is my favorite by a country mile. Far From Home is both the most recent Marvel Film and the first one setting a new stage of storylines following the events of Endgame. Zendaya is by far the best MJ we've had and Jake Gyllenhall gives a memorable performance as Mysterio. This film did a great job of carrying over what made the first one great, Peter Parker's struggle to balance his super hero responsibilities with those that come with being a high school teenager. The twist in the post-credit scene was a juicy cliffhanger and gives the Spider-Man story a direction it hasn't gone before, but I'm not going to spoil it here.
#10. Iron Man (2008)
It hurts my heart a bit to leave the OG that got this whole franchise started barely inside the top 10 but there were just too many good candidates to choose from. It was a bold choice to pass up opening with Captain America in favor of Iron Man, but Robert Downey Jr. was absolute perfect casting for everyone's favorite billionaire/genius/playboy/philanthropist. The world instantly fell in love with Stark, they loved his quick wit, his high tech suit, and the fact that he was a bad ass who rolled around to an AC/DC soundtrack. This movie set the precedent for the large character development Stark would then undergo as he matured and his heart grew and it will always score points for being the cornerstone of this 11 year journey.
#9. Black Panther (2018)
Some are going to bark at me and insist this should be #1, and while I think it was a terrific film I do think some of its Oscar worthy acclaim was due to political reasons. Politics aside, this film had so much going for it. The costumes, the set design, the culture, the performances of Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, and the final product of a film that intertwined elements similar to Lion King like sibling rivalry over the rightful heir to a kingdom following the death of a parent, with elements similar to James Bond like high speed car chases and slick gadgets. No it isn't a black superhero film, it's a Marvel superhero film and a damn good one. Wakanda Forever, Wakanda Forever indeed.
#8. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Marvel took a huge risk on launching Guardians of the Galaxy, which featured questionable and largely unknown characters like a tree and a talking Raccoon, but sometimes big risks pay off and that was the case with GOTG. This was largely helped by a star-studded cast that included Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, and Dave Bautista. The summer blockbuster was hilarious but also had surprising emotional depth as a group of space criminals with troubles pasts came together to change their ways and be the good guys. This movie really allowed Marvel to flex their skills a bit and prove they could take unpopular characters and make audiences fall in love with them on the big screen. And of course the famous "Awesome-Mix" soundtrack is the icing on the cake.
#7. Thor Ragnarok
After a lackluster first 2 films, Thor's third film finally got it right and gave the character the breath of fresh air it needed. It traded out all the norse mythology for humor and it worked like a charm. Similar to Guardians, this film is less of a plot driven superhero film as much as it is an ensemble comedy. In addition to Hemsworth and Hiddleston being at their very best, we get Jeff Goldblum in his Goldbloom element as the Grandmaster, Korg the rock alien with a New Zealand accent, and Mark Ruffalo's unrestrained Hulk. Furthermore, Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie gave the MCU another bad ass female to add to its collection. This film may not have added too much to the bigger picture, but gosh was it fun.
#6. Spider-Man: Homecoming
This was the best Spider-Man movie ever made. It wasn't just about the origin story of the webslinger and fighting bad guys, it really tapped into the struggles of being a high school teenager trying to figure things out. Watching Tom Holland portray the awkward wide eyed teen trying to live up to Tony Stark's expectations while also juggling things like decathalon team, his middle-school like crush on Zendaya's MJ, being picked on by Flash Thompson, his relationship with his Aunt, dealing with cheesy teachers, and his friendship with fellow socially awkward nerd Ned. Marvel's adaption also does an excellent job of letting Tony Stark be the father figure Peter Parker never had and the plot twist towards the end where Peter picks up MJ for the homecoming dance is a fun one. In a franchise of fighting OP supervillains from other worlds this film succeeds just from sticking to the roots of friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
#5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
This is my highest ranking stand alone film because it just does so much right. The film addresses Cap's struggles of adjusting to the modern world after being frozen under the ocean since WWII. His antagonist ends up being Bucky Barnes, his childhood best friend and war buddy who had his memory wiped by HYDRA (the bad guys) who molded him into a bloodthirsty assasin. Those two go on to have one of the most complex friendships seen in film. We're also introduced to Sam Wilson's Falcon, who becomes Cap's loyal sidekick. Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow also has a huge role in this film as her and Cap bond over the course of their mission over the fact that both feel so isolated and alone in society due to their unique backgrounds. The movie is shaken up further later on when we find out HYDRA has infiltrated SHIELD which further taps into the themes of identity and trust issues. Cap's largest struggle isn't the physical battles, but the internal ramification of wanting to protect humanity but also cause no harm to his childhood friend.
#4. The Avengers (2012)
This was the team-up film that set the standard for all other team up films, and it was the culmination of the first 4 years of the MCU's efforts to interconnect many solo movies and provide fans screen moments they had long dreamed of. Things such as Iron Man fighting thor, Cap working alongside the Hulk, and then all 6 of them being dropped in the middle of an alien invation in New York spearheaded by Loki. And they hit a home run with it. The film beautifully interconnected all the heroes who prior to this movie were only in stand-alone films. They struggled to work together at first, but once they did they were unstoppable and even greater than the sum of their parts. This movie could have been a complete mess and utter failure, instead it was perfectly scripted and executed and set the stage for many future films.
#3. Civil War (2016)
This film was loads of fun but also emotionally stressful all at the same time. Perhaps the only thing more fun than seeing the Avengers fight bad guys was seeing them fight each other. The 6v6 fight at the airport between Tony's team and Cap's team arguably the most fun battle in the entire MCU, one that combined great action sequences with fun banter between the heroes. But then the film also has a very serious and realistic tone, as what sparks the civil war is disagreement between government involvement in super hero activity, and it's done so in a way where neither party is completely right or completely wrong. You can cut the tension with a knife between Tony and Cap, who truly get under each other's skin, and watching them beat the crap out of each other at the very end is somewhat heart breaking, largely fueled by a big twist including Bucky and Tony's parents. If all that wasn't enough this film is where Spider Man and Black Panther made their debuts in the MCU and their introductions were done perfectly.
#2. Infinity War (2018)
Another huge risk/huge reward for Marvel was casting the mad titan Thanos, it's biggest baddest villain, as the protagonist of Infinity War. Yes, it's essentially part 1 of a two-part movie, but the story that needed to be told could not have been squished into a few hours time. There is a good blend of humor and genuine heartfelt interactions between characters who hadn't met before, but the ending is what made this movie what it is. Seeing half the characters that we have loved and supported for many years just vanish to dust was a cliffhanger that left the entire theatre in shocked silence while simultaneously setting up Endgame perfectly. It just cut so deep and was a generation defining cliff hanger, even knowing that another movie was coming.
#1. Avengers: Endgame
Marvel's culmination of 11 years of work was so beautifully concluded. It was done so in a way that did right by it's central characters and gave everyone an ending viewers could accept and be at peace with. We knew the climax and the battle scenes would be beyond epic, but the emotion, man, made my eyes water at multiple scenes. We see the humanity of so many characters we love when they hit their lowest points , we take nostalgic trips down memory lane when the surviving Avengers time travel to retrieve the stones, and we want to cheer, cry, laugh, and yell all at the same time in ways that our soul only experiences few times throughout life. It was a film that brought people together and beautifully wrapped and put a bow on one heck of an 11 year ride, one that I can't wait to share with my children someday.
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