47. She-Hulk (2022)
Speaking of Abominations … coming in at last place, this is by far and away our least favorite Marvel production to date. The CGI is disturbing at best and traumatizing at its worst. $200 million just doesn’t go as far as it used to (for reference Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes cost just $160 million). This was a plotless, emotionless, bland show, and watching each episode felt like a chore, and to be honest I think we’d rather be doing laundry, cleaning dishes, or any other mindless task rather than be watching this mess. It is actually no small feat that the creators managed to make a show that was neither funny, dramatic, or exciting. This felt like eating a “To-Furkey” on Thanksgiving, you know it’s food, but that thing will never be turkey, and although She-Hulk unfortunately technically resides in the MCU, this thing will never be Marvel. She-Hulk could disappear from the MCU tomorrow and we would scarcely notice or miss her – in fact, we’d all probably be better off.
Our Rating: 5.0
46. Thor: the dark World (2013)
Although it’s not totally unwatchable and it’s cool to see Natalie Portman’s Dr. Jane Foster brought into the godly, mythical realm of Asgard, Marvel Studios really failed to execute any real character development for its beloved title character in the follow up to the first Thor film. Malekith might very well be the least impactful villain in all of Marvel, lacking any screen presence or compelling narrative to keep viewers invested. This movie felt like a waste of time and it did nothing to move Thor’s story forward, just a wasted 2 hours of CGI mess. A dreaded feature on all of our Marvel rewatches, Thor 2 is kinda like that one song you always skip on an album.
Our Rating: 6.0
45. Falcon & the Winter Soldier (2022)
Another poorly executed chapter in the Marvel saga that feels more like a set up for something else than a story of its own. This Disney+ show features two of the least charismatic members of the broader Avengers team and a nonsensical villain. Don’t get us wrong, the Falcon and the Winter Soldier are both great characters who have been staples of the series for a long time, but, after this show, we felt like they function better on the fringes rather than front and center. The whole series really just felt shoehorned into a shoddy plot with the sole purpose of propping up Anthony Mackie’s Falcon into the role of Captain America, while the trajectory of Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes feels like an unresolved afterthought. We are interested to see where both of these characters go from here, though!
Our Rating: 6.0
44. secret invasion (2023)
Disney+’s Secret Invasion limited series was probably the biggest letdown the MCU has ever seen, given the anticipation built up behind finally seeing such an iconic character in a solo property. We get a humanized, humbled, and aging Nick Fury, which makes sense given all he’s been through, but we hoped to see more of a return of the Nick Fury we knew and loved by the time the series wrapped up. Instead, Marvel neuters one of the strongest, smartest non-super-powered humans in the MCU. Samuel L. Jackson phoned this one in, and the amount of revisionist history going on here is headache-inducing. The decision to emphasize the secret marriage between Nick Fury and a Skrull was a bizarre twist of revisionist history that felt forced and didn’t really seem to fit the character we’ve watched onscreen for years.
Our Rating: 6.3
43. echo (season one)
*review pending*
Our Score: 6.7
42. Captain marvel (2019)
A forgettable film with a lackluster performance from the poorly cast Brie Larson, whose acting feels strangely empty and void of personality and authenticity. Rather than fly high, this origin story fails to get off the ground, a paper-airplane could have done better. Our apologies if this review is lacking in substance and is short, the black-hole that was Brie Larson’s performance sucked the life out of us and thus we are unable to write any more than this.
Our Rating: 6.7
41. ant-man and the wasp (2018)
Although cool to see Ant-Man and the Wasp suit up together, Ant-Man and the Wasp fares so poorly on our list due to the weakness of its central villain, another head scratcher. Ghost felt like a half-baked pastry without enough structure to hold up her role as the antagonist of the film. Rather than build upon the fun and goofy nature of the first Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp takes a definitive step back and fails to meaningfully add to Ant-man’s story.
Our Rating: 6.7
40. black widow (2021)
A bizarre post-mortem entry in Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character arc, this film was not without its merits, but, overall, feels unnecessary. Black Widow deserved better than this hapless money grab. The one silver lining of this film is the addition of Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. We hope to see her return in the MCU going forward. Bonus points for Natasha Romanoff’s white widow costume puts this film slightly ahead of Ant-Man & The Wasp.
Our Rating: 6.8
39. captain america the first avenger (2011)
We so badly want to like this movie, which introduces one of the most iconic MCU heroes of all time, however, the film suffers from a boring villain and vanilla plot. While Chris Evans perfectly portrays the earnest, boyish, and patriotic budding hero, overall, this movie is just Not Great. It would be naive not to recognize that the first Avenger’s maiden voyage was an important springboard for his lore in the MCU, it’s clear that this movie walked so that the latter, far superior entries such as Civil War and Winter Soldier, could run. Thank you for your sacrifice.
Our Rating: 6.9
38. what if…? (season 1)
What If is a unique addition to the MCU that was memorable at the time of its release for dipping its toes in the wide, wild waters of the multiverse following the conclusion of Disney+’s multiverse-opening Loki series. The standout episode features Doctor Strange’s dark alternate selves and a showdown with reflections of the multifaceted nature of his personality. The episode where Ultron collects all the infinity stones was undeniably awesome as well, and we hope they adapt that story going forward. The problem is, many of the episodes were boring, featuring overexposure of Captain Britain and even Marvel Zombies. There were some highs, no-doubt, but the lows were just as numerous. Hopefully Marvel can leverage some of the successes from Sesason 1 going forward; we look forward to seeing the inevitable live action incorporation of The Watcher in the live action MCU and it would be smart for Marvel to use “What If” as an animated test ground of sorts, wherein concepts and ideas get a dry run as an animated feature before being incorporated into the live action universe.
Our Rating: 7.0
37. ms. marvel (season one)
*REVIEW LOADING*
Our Rating: 7.2
36. what…If? (Season 2)
*Review loading*
Our Rating: 7.3
35. eternals (2021)
On first watch, we actually enjoyed this movie quite a bit. It was a beautiful and impressive spectacle in IMAX. It lost its luster, however, on our small-screen rewatch. The film feels so crowded that it is difficult to forge a real connection with any of the characters. Not only does it feel disjointed and completely separate from the MCU, it also feels inconsequential in the grand scheme of the overarching ‘story’ of the universe we know and the characters we love. Also, its been almost 3 years and we still haven’t sniffed any mention of the impossibly giant celestial carcass frozen in the Atlantic Sea. Earth to the MCU, a world-altering event occurred and nobody has mentioned a peep about it. (P.S. This will FINALLY be addressed in Captain America: Brave New World).
Our Rating: 7.3
34. Hawkeye (Season 1)
Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye has never really been our favorite character, and he’s hardly the lead even as the title character in his own show. Hailee Steinfeld stole the show as his mildly pushy, aspirational young trainee. It’s great to see an original avenger after so much turnover in the MCU, however, and we loved that Hawkeye introduced the low-level criminal underworld of New York City into the mainstream narrative. XX was decent in his reprisal of his iconic mob boss role in the canonized TV offshoot series Daredevil.
Our Rating: 7.3
33. the marvels (2023)
*REVIEW LOADING*
Our Score: 7.4
32. Thor (2011)
Some of this film’s flaws (such as Chris Hemsworth’s Thor’s corny aesthetic and bleached eyebrows can be overlooked, because it is a fun introduction to beloved characters like Loki and Thor. The romance between the two leads felt rushed, and the stakes never really felt all that high. But, Kenneth Branagh did some excellent things here. He managed to build a world (Asgard) that while clearly fantastical, felt real and had emotion and a lived in feel to it. His work with the lead character should be admired as well, it’s not the easiest task to make audiences feel connected to a space-alien with near God- level strength and powers (see SuperMan), but by the end of the film Thor felt humanized and audiences seemed to empathize with his familiar journey of self-reflection, self-discovery, and love.
Our Rating: 7.4
31. Guardians of the galaxy vol. 2 (2017)
While vibrant and fun and boasting a stellar soundtrack, Guardians 2 fails to capture the spirit of the universally beloved first film. It felt forced, like James Gunn & co. were trying a little too hard to replicate the effortless comedy of the original smash hit. The comedic highlight of this film was the introduction of Mantis, though her master (slash-father, as we now know thanks to the Guardians Christmas Special) Ego was a mediocre villain. In spite of a great performance by the bombastic Kurt Russell and the fact that the team was fighting a literal planet, the threat never really felt galaxy-sized, and the film felt overly self-contained compared to the first film. So, while still very enjoyable, this movie unfortunately felt like a subpar retread of Guardians Vol. 1.
Our Rating: 7.6
30. iron man 2 (2010)
This is just a completely average movie. Like Guardians 2, it doesn’t quite live up to the astronomical expectations set up by a superb first entry in each respective character’s solo run. It’s always a thrill to see RDJ don the iron suit, but even his on screen magic couldn’t save this sequel from being mid level marvel.
Our Rating: 7.6
29. guardians of the galaxy holiday special (2022)
Marvels foray into the Christmas Season was a whimsical and light-hearted ride. Drax and Mantis’ quest to bring the Christmas spirit to Peter Quill and “Nowhere” felt perfectly goofy and sweet, and who could say no to the intergalactic kidnapping of Kevin Bacon, another seamless call back by James Gunn. Count us in for any Guardian’s adventure, especially a Christmas-themed romp. The Guardian’s made it home for Christmas, even if home is currently a giant floating celestial head in the middle of the Universe.
Our Rating: 7.7
28. werewolf by night (2019)
Spooky season and Marvel? Yes please! Marvel continues to expand their cultural footprint and now monsters and the Underworld exist in the same universe as spider-man, pretty wild stuff. Werewolf By Night felt like a classic monster bash with some MCU flare. It would be cool to see this character tango with the likes of Moon Knight (more on him shortly) and Blade in the future. Midnight Suns anyone?
Our Rating: 7.7
27. moon knight (2022)
Another misunderstood and underrated Marvel project, we really enjoyed Moon Knight, and Oscar Isaac is masterful as he portrays varying iterations of the titular character Marc Spector. Moon Knight is a dark, slightly comedic, high-paced thrill ride through a lore of gods and monsters. This show keeps the viewer on their toes and leaves them constantly wondering if what they are seeing is real or a production of the protagonists unstable mind. We’re not sure how Moon Knight fits into the greater plans of the MCU, but we hope to see him interact with other heroes down the road. Midnight Suns please!
Our Rating: 7.8
26. iron man 3 (2013)
A definite upgrade over the second interaction, but a weak and underdeveloped villain holds this trilogy back from being upper echelon Marvel. Still, it’s always great to have more RDJ and Tony Stark in our lives, and it was interesting to watch him deal with the fallout from the battle of New York and his newly diagnosed PTSD. The relentless reminder of the impossible size of the looming Thanos threat and his seeming helplessness despite his best efforts to build a suit of armor around the world leaves tony in unfamiliar territory, vulnerable and panicked. Watching Tony grapple with these demons and kick ass with a number of new-grade Mac suits make this a fun but flawed entry in the Iron man saga.
Our Rating: 7.8
25. Ant-Man (2015)
We had our doubts that the goofy but fun Paul Fudd could carry the mantle and weight of a franchise revolving around a somewhat known hero in Ant-Man. However,Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man might very well be the most delightful addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some time. Rudd brings levity to the character and the threats he faces as a down-on-his-luck divorced dad and former criminal/Baskin Robbins clerk. Watching Scott Lang downsize and interact with the world as a miniscule hero is just plain fun and there were some sets and form-fitting camera work that audiences hadn’t experienced before. Ant-Man is now an iconic character world-wide and we’re happy to have been proven wrong.
Our Rating: 7.8
24. Spider-man: homecoming (2017)
While Spider-Man’s first solo MCU film didn’t hit quite as hard as the Tobey McGuire led films, this first entry in the trilogy felt refreshing and sincere. Most if not all MCU films that came before Homecoming focused on young adult or full on 4 kids and a mortgage aged characters, Homecoming gave us a window into the angst and drama of highschool. It was fun watching Peter Parker try to balance the constant turbulence of high school life, friendship, young love, and being a web slinging super hero infected by a radioactive spider. Tom Holland plays a charming and more innocent rendition of the character and his chemistry with Zendaya is palpable, which isn’t surprising given the 2 are an item in our reality. While we weren’t enthralled with the skillset and backstory of the Vulture, Michael Keaton is great as usual in the villain role. Overall this is another fun and very enjoyable entry in the MCU, that doesn’t quite reach its lofty potential.
Our Rating: 7.8
23. Doctor Strange (2016)
Talk about home run casting, the MCU called it’s shot like Babe Ruth and hit it out of the park when it signed Benedict Cumberbatch to play the Sorcerer Supreme. We still can’t believe they got Benedict to agree to play the role, but we’re sure happy he did. Marvel’s first on-screen foray into magic and the mystical arts, Doctor Strange adds even more layers to the ever growing onion that is the MCU. We had a blast watching Mr. Doctor Strange rebuild himself and heal both physically and spiritually while learning to become the most powerful Wizard in the universe. The visuals were also awesome, no need for an edible, just trip on whatever the hell the special effects team cooked up for this one. Unsurprisingly, Mads Mickelson was also awesome and menacing as the antagonist evil wizard Kaecilius, who is hell-bent on courting Dormamu, a floating ever-present head-cloud monster who feeds on worlds, to Earth for a snack. We know it sounds “Strange” but go see this movie and enjoy the magic if you haven’t already, you’ll be glad you did.
Our Rating: 7.9
22. Avengers: age of ultron (2015)
This one has grown on us and aged well as time passes. We think we may have underrated it initially. Despite its flaws like cheesy writing (“what you didn’t see that coming?”) and formulaic plot points, this movie serves as another powerful entry in the Avengers line of films. We thought it was really smart that the overarching theme and thread connecting this Avengers movie to its predecessor was the overwhelming anxiety that Tony Stark experiences following the events of Avengers 1. After he fends off previously unimaginable alien threats and sends a nuke through a wormhole at giant flying whale creatures, Tony becomes obsessed with protecting his vulnerable home from the seemingly unlimited and increasingly powerful threats that lay beyond our purview. This obsession directly leads him to creating “Ultron” an AI system that is meant to serve as a shield around the world that protects mother earth without any need for human intervention, which would allow the Avengers to peacefully retire without risking further injury or death. In this way, Tony is trying to allow the Avengers to have their cake and eat it too. But, the universe decided that not only would they not have any cake, they would instead get a sentient, rapidly-evolving, sociopathic AI that would build an unbreakable artificial exo-skeleton and try to rid the world of any heroes while reshaping it in his image. It’s fascinating to watch the Avengers try to put their squabbling over the cause and effect of the Ultron program aside in an effort to try to Avenge the Earth once more as a team, this time from a threat that can reincarnate itself from anywhere at any time as long as it has wifi access? (PSA we don’t really know how he does it) . James Spader crushes it as the villainous robot, his terrifying rendition of “I’ve Got No Strings” will live in your nightmares. While this Avengers film is not of the same caliber as the original Avengers, it is still an action-packed romp that introduces new and exciting characters like Wanda Maximoff to the founding squad.
Our Rating: 7.9
21. spider-man: far from home (2019)
The second entry in the MCU for the web-slinging neighborhood hero felt like an upgrade over “Homecoming.” The visuals were awesome and the addition of Jake Gyllenhall as the foil to the now deceased Tony Stark (even in death they’re still using iron man/RDJ to sell the crap out of these movies) made for a very compelling intellectual chess match with Peter Parker. Tony’s posthumous presence continues to be felt as we discover that he has entrusted his technology to Peter. On top of that giant boulder of responsibility, Spider-Man adds even more to his plate with this installment, which sees him struggling to maintain his secret identity, while juggling fighting crime through the streets of Europe as the illusive “Night Monkey”, chasing a relationship with MJ, and attending assigned group activities from his high school chaperones. Balancing all of these emotions, choices, and relationships of high school can be a whirlwind, and this movie did a nice job of manifesting those emotions through Spider-Man’s journey. Although it was maddening to watch Peter repeatedly make head-scratching reckless decisions, he made up for it with effort and positivity. Ned Leeds serves admirably as Peter’s guy in the chair, lending comedic relief throughout the film, while Zendaya’s MJ and Peter officially hard-launched their relationship. Spider-Man Far From Home built on what came before it with deeper character development and another fun spidey story.
Our Rating: 8.0
20. Thor love and thunder (2022)
While flawed and a clear step down from its predecessor, Thor: Love & Thunder has enough positive’s to land squarely in the middle of our rankings. An up and down movie (with more ups than downs), we’ll start with the lowlights. Why did this story feel so rushed? Was the House of Mouse falling on hard times and needed to cut screen time? The pacing was much too fast and didn’t allow the necessary time and breathing room for crucial character development. The high-paced film was it’s own worst enemy at times, and the relationship between Thor and Lady Thor, played artfully by Natalie Portman, didn’t pop like it should have. The return of Natlia Portman as Thor’s on and off again girlfriend should have elicited powerful moments that were the culmination of their 3 movie arc, instead these moments typically felt rushed and half-baked. The hall of the gods scene was also a bizarre and strangely sexualized detour with choppy CGI and poor writing, with Zuess, played by Russell Crowe, making sure to deliver the difficult news to Thor that he would no longer be permitted to attend the Orgy of the Gods. Side note, but shouldn’t Aphrodite be coordinating the Orgy of the Gods, doesn’t Zuess have more important stuff on the to-do list? I digress. Sometimes it feels like Taika Waititi can’t help himself from acting out his high school like fantasies with crude goofy jokes, and while they hit much more than they didn’t in Thor Ragnarok, he was probably batting about .500 in this one. Now for the highlights. We thought Christian Bale was a revelation in his first outing as a Marvel Villain, we just wish he would have gotten more screen time. Mr. Bale was creepy and whimsical and imposing as Gorr the God Butcher as he emerged from the shadows stealing every scene he was in. The introduction of Eternity, another cosmic celestial entity in the MCU, felt like it was plucked straight from the pages of Marvel’s “Strange Tales #138.”
Although she feels much more natural playing the scientist Jane Foster than the Lady-god Thor, it was an absolute treat getting to watch Natlia Portman’s Lady Thor fight alongside Thor with some epic lightning thrusts. Maybe her ending up in Valhalla after a heroes death leaves the door open for her return to the MCU in some capacity, but who’s to say. Another positive development was the continued evolution of Thor’s character, which will the god of Lightning enter a new phase of his life as a father to his new hammer-wielding, eternal-spawn daughter. There’s no shortage of love and thunder in this movie, but it’s lows prevent it from landing higher on our list.
Our Rating: 8.2
19. Shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings (2021)
Shang-Chi carves out new real estate in the MCU, with the introduction of mythical beasts, ancient magical artifacts, and high-flying heart-pounding sublimely choreographed Kung Fu. Although the CGI suffered at times and there are definitely prettier MCU movies, they made up for it with beautifully rendered mystical lands. Simu Liu crushes this role and he did so effortlessly while cementing himself as a future tentpole of the MCU. His rendition of Shang-Chi is lighthearted, earnest, strong when he has to be, and perhaps most importantly, believable. Yes, the good-hearted moral son who needs to grow from within himself in order to defeat his much more powerful, seemingly irredeemable evil father story is well trod ground in Hollywood (see Star Wars Episodes 4 – 6), this story really worked and the tension and explosive nature of the relationship between father and son felt earned by the end of the film. The addition of Awkwafina as the protagonist’s goofy best friend, and Morris, a flying faceless “chicken-pig” creature who happens to be a guardian of the realm, added some levity and comedic relief throughout. A surprise cameo reminds the audience of the ever present inter-connected nature of the MCU in what otherwise is a fairly self-contained film. We can’t wait to see where Shang-Chi goes next and we hope he plays a leading role in future Avengers films, although it remains to be seen if the wide gap between films causes his character to lose some steam by the time Avengers: Doomsday rolls around.
Our Rating: 8.2
18. Black panther (2018)
Black Panther and it’s showcase of the mystical, hidden, and impossibly high-tech nation of Wakanda, felt new and refreshing. It was really cool to see a giant slice of the MCU that we had never experienced before, with new fantastical canvases like the ancestral plains, where the Kings of yesteryear roam the lands as legit Black Panthers. Chadwick Boseman crushes it as T’Challa, and it was entrhalling to watch the black panther try to grow into the shoes that his father used to fill and lead a nation facing a formidable external threat with blood ties to the Wakandan ruling class. His high-paced and frenetic fighting style is also really badass, like a mix between Ben Affleck’s Batman and Captain America. Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger comes in hot with a claim to the throne that threatens to forever change Wakanda. Beautifully shot and richly made, with a powerful story beat and action to match, Black Panther is squarely in the top third of MCU films.
Our Score: 8.3
17. black panther: wakanda forever (2022)
Placed in a very tough position by the tragic loss of the former King, Chadwick Boseman, Ryan Coogler managed to match the spirit of his first entry into Wakanda lore with this sequel. The whole crew handled a terrible situation deftly and although Letitia Wright’s Shuri doesn’t match the presence and power that Chadwick Boseman brought to the role, she does very well to fill the large void he left and highlighted the emotional weight of her brothers death. Angela Basset forcefully conveys a mothers sadness in the wake of losing her son, and although there are a lot of necessary dark and gloomy moments in this film, there are also sparks of hope placed artfully throughout, particularly at the close of the film when we find out that T’Challa and Nupita Nyongo’s Nakia brought forth an heir before his untimely death, who would appear to be the rightful heir to the Wakandan throne. If The Young Avengers know what’s good for them they’ll make a call to the young king in a couple years and add some royalty to the roster. Black Panther: Wakanda forever and the ever-expanding MCU finds itself in an Atlantas like local, literally under the sea. Namor, played by Tenoch Huerta, felt like a villain who could have some legs in the MCU. Don’t let his merman esthetic looks fool you, he packs a punch, a formidable threat hellbent on protecting his people at any and all costs. Ultimately, this movie does the impossible and lives up to the hype of the phenomenon of the first film while laying the ground work for an even brighter future with the rightful King. Heavy is the crown.
Our Score: 8.3
16. ant-man and the wasp: Quantumania (2023)
While we understand some of the valid criticisms surrounding this movie, i.e some of the CGI was wonky looking and Kang was defeated by group of Ants, we feel that a lot of the good things in this movie are being overlooked thanks to the prevailing feelings about the film. The wasp definitely felt like a second-rate character in this one, but we really enjoyed getting more time with Cassie and Scott deepening their relationship. Cassie followed in her dads footsteps, donning a purple-tinted pym suit and kicking some ass along the way. We thought the CGI criticisms were overblown, most of the CGI was passable to solid and it never negatively impacted our viewing experience. Although we concede that his demise in the conclusion was head-scratching, this movie served as a nice introduction for wider audiences to Kang the Conquerer, the next big-bad and ever present threat to the avengers and the multiverse. Jonathan Majors played the character wonderfully, his narcissism and intense focus on his perceived mission on full display. We thought Ant-Man’s confusion and concern at the end of the movie was the perfect encapsulation of the anxiety-producing omnipresence of Kang, with Ant-Man wondering internally if he had really vanquished Kang or if a more significant threat was on its way. This foreboding cliffhanger left our heroes with an ominous cloud overhead and set the stage for an exciting foray into the multiverse saga. We believe the public is being too critical with this one, it’s a fun time at the movies, and that’s really all you can ask for with a movie that has Ant-Man in the title
Our Score: 8.3
15. X-men 97′ (2024)
*Review loading*
Our Rating: 8.5
14. Captain america: the winter soldier (2014)
The follow up to Captain America: The First Avenger improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way. This rendition sees Cap more vulnerable than ever, as he finds himself caught in a showdown with HYDRA, who has secretly infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D from within through years of carefully placed moles. It was fascinating to watch Captain America unsure of who he can trust, dig deep against impossible odds, and coalesce around a small group of friends in an effort to restore stability to S.H.I.E.L.D. The relationship between Steve Rodgers and Natasha Romanoff grew deeper, as the two were forced to lean on each other in a time of chaos and turmoil. The film also saw the return of Bucky Barnes, who in true comic book movie fashion survived an estimated fall of the cruising altitude of a Boeing 737 and was subsequently experimented on by HYDRA and crafted into a mind-controlled evil super soldier. Bucky’s metamorphosis into the Winter Soldier adds intensity and emotional weight to the movie. Who knew politics could be this fun? The Russo Brothers knock this political thriller out of the park, with drama, tension, and heart stopping action, Captain America: The Winter Soldier lands comfortably in our top tier MCU films.
Our Score: 8.5
13. WandaVision (Season 1)
The MCU’s true maiden voyage into television (sorry Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Agent Carter) was an awesomely fun journey through some of the most beloved TV shows of each generation. This was an important step for the MCU, as they proved they could produce quality content on the “small screen” that could stand up to the best that the silver screen entries had to offer. This felt like Elizabeth Olsons coming out party, she was fantastic vacillating between different time periods and even going from black and white to color film. We had a blast reliving some of the most classic tv shows of the last 60+ years. The mystery and oddities of the strangely absurd town of Westview, New Jersey, with its bizarre cast of residents, including the always hilarious Kathryn Hahn, kept us on our toes and craving answers. It was also great to see post-mortem Vision get some shine, and he honestly looked great considering when we last saw him Thanos was splitting his head open like a pistachio nut, manually removing his “brain” (the mind stone), and tossing his body like a raggedy ann doll. The emotional ending with Wanda coming to the realization that she has to let go of the AI love of her life felt earned and real. It’s amazing they can get the audience to care this much about a centuries old witch and AI xenomorph thing, but “it works,” and while we are sad we won’t be getting a season 2, a wise AI once said, “A thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts.”
Our Rating: 8.5
12. spider-man: no way home (2021)
Casting aside some obvious flaws like important plot points being forced and half-baked, Spider-Man: No Way Home brought everything we want out of a Super-Hero Movie. Although a couple fan service moves felt like the executives were more glutinous than Joey Chestnut scarfing down 80 nathan’s dogs and buns on 4th of july, it definitely felt like a cinematic spectacle seeing familiar heroes and villains for the first time in decades. There was plenty to chew on, like bringing back Green Goblin, Doc Oc, Electro, Sandman, and others from the pantheon of the Same Raimi/Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield led Spidey films. But, nothing got a bigger pop than Andrew Garfield and Tobey McGuire suiting up as the beloved web slinger for the first time in years. Spider-Man has always been my favorite of all the superheroes and Tobey McGuire was the first Spider-Man I grew up with, to this day I vividly remember waiting in line with a Spider-man t-shirt at the Farmingdale Multiplex with my dad for opening day of Spider Man in 2002. Getting to see Tobey McGuire sling it again, this time in the MCU with a new Spider Man who we’ve equally grown to love, felt like cinema at it’s best. Someone wake up Marty, this was absolute Cinema! As comic book movie lovers, seeing Peter 1 – 3 team up and literally face their demons together in the form of villanous blasts from the past, was everything we could hope for. Spider-Man fans are in for a treat with moments ranging from powerful to hilarious like Andrew’s Spider-Man making the catch this time, or banter about how strange it is that Tobey’s Spider-Man makes his own webs. The Spider-men have great on screen chemistry, with well-timed jokes flowing from the moment they meet. Due to the large number of moving parts, the movie can feel haphazardly done at times with a rushed plot that needed more time to breathe, but, at its core, this is another wonderful entry in the MCU which will have audiences laughing, crying, and cheering for their favorite neighborhood spider-men once more. With great power comes great responsibility x3.
Our Rating: 8.5
11. captain America: CivIL WAR (2016)
Although Captain America is in the title and the film does serve as a worthy finale to Cap’s trilogy, this is essentially an Avengers movie and might as well be Avengers 2.5. The Russo Brothers did a masterful job of balancing all of the different characters and storylines, while weaving in multiple heavy hitting new MCU characters including a certain teen web-slinger. Marvel took a huge swing going against the grain and having their now brand-name heroes fight to the death on a massive airport tarmac, the decision turned out to be a good one and it was a delight to watch our heroes hurled into new and uncomfortable positions that we aren’t used to seeing them in. Viewers were torn watching two of their favorite characters in Captain America and Iron man absolutely bashing each other’s faces in like they were El Cucuy vs. Anthony Pettis at UFC 229, and this conflict also lays the groundwork for the squad being torn apart and then coming back together in Avengers: Infinity War. While the introduction of Spider-man was choppy plot-wise (we couldn’t help but wonder why Tony Stark would enlist a teenager who is greener than St. Patrick’s day to fight alongside him against some of the most hardened and veteran Heroes in the game), but it was a fan-boy’s (and girl’s) dream to see Spidey enter the MCU and interact with the already established heroes. He added some needed comedic relief and his innocence and overt positivity in the face of a confusing and layered conflict which he had just been enlisted in juxtaposed well with the more-serious than usual tones of Captain America, Iron Man, and others. Spider-Man wasn’t the only massive character introduced to the MCU, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa also made his grand entrance as the newly minted Wakandan King. The King’s athletic ability and kinetic fighting style is awesome to watch visually and the Russo Brothers even managed to squeeze in some important character development when he realizes that vengeance is consuming the Avengers and he is through letting the same poison consume him. It’s amazing that they were able to juggle this many moving parts while maintaining a proper exposition of all the major characters story arcs, it’s still a political thriller Captain America movie at its core, which we are now accustomed to, but, this movie is so much more as it serves as a springboard to the future and the eventual resolution of Phase 3 and the Infinity Saga. While not nearly as bloody as the other Civil War of 1861, this battle packed a serious emotional punch that resounded through the MCU.
Our Rating: 8.5
10. guardians of the galaxy (2014)
We’re all hooked on a feeling with this one. The critics weren’t wrong to be skeptical that the Marvel team could make a successful movie, let alone franchise, out of a ragtag and relatively obscure team of outlaws, headlined by a talking tree, a quasi-human experimental racoon who might be the smartest being in the galaxy, and a green lady who is the daughter of a genocidal purple war lord. But the MCU showed that it could take just about any heroes from its seemingly endless rolodex and create a cultural phenomenon. The strange and misunderstood Guardians have a way of making audiences fall in love with them, a skill that James Gunn is particularly adept at. It’s hard not to root for a bunch of forgotten loveable losers (literally people who have lost things) who are trying to find their way in the universe and come together to form a haphazard intergalactic team. The direction and style of James Gunn fit like a glove, from dance offs to save the galaxy to the vibrant neon colors that pop in a way we hadn’t previously seen in the MCU. Gunn’s 70’s era Yacht Rock album felt like a character all to its own. Everything flowed and made sense in this movie and it perfectly lays the groundwork for one of the most beloved franchises in the history of the MCU. The gullible goofiness of Drax the destroyer, angry tortured curious brilliance of Rocket Racoon, good natured humanoid tree Groot, deadpan severe intensity yet underlying softness of Gamora, and happy yet depressed but overly confident and cocky leader Peter Quill all blend together to create a delightful concoction of characters and personalities. They even managed to properly introduce Thanos, the ever present black cloud looming over the MCU who pulls the strings from the shadows as usual in this entry. Guardians is top tier marvel and they deserves an immense amount credit for taking unforeseeable risks and massive swings with a truly bizarre but beautiful group of bandits who we have the pleasure of watching become a family.
Our Rating: 8.6
9. loki (season 1)
Is this the greatest power in the universe? Loki’s debut on the small screen was a smashing success, we follow along as the God of Mischief continues his bizarre and monumental journey through time and space. This is character development at its finest. It’s amazing watching notorious douchebag trickster Loki evolve into something of a hero, and its deliciously ironic and no surprise that he falls in love with himself in female variant form. Sylvie, played by Sofie Di Martino, plays a female loki variant out of time, who is on a mission to thwart he who remains and set her timeline free. Slyvie doesn’t just serve as a love interest, she is a mirror to Loki who is forced to see a reflection of himself for the first time, which is good considering he spends so much time disguised as other people he doesn’t get much time to self-reflect. The former king of narcissism actually seemed to enjoy the taste of some humble pie, as he realizes that there are powers far greater than himself contained in the far corners of the MCU. Loki must confront the knowledge of his own failures and death at the hands of Thanos, which he witnesses in crystal clear 8K definition. The introduction of Mobius, the TVA truther played fantastically by Owen Wilson, furthers Loki’s development as he forges a semi-friendship with Mobius. Marvel is at it’s best when the audience is theorizing between episodes, and we consistently found ourselves hypothesizing about the motives and past of Mobius, He Who Remains, Miss Minutes, and the TVA itself. Loki is a delightful entry to the MCU, it’s simultaneously a self-contained introspective journey for the adopted Odin-Son, while also serving as a massive springboard for the Multiverse Saga and the omnipresent threat of Kang the Conqueror.
Our Rating: 8.7
8. guardians of the galaxy vol. 3 (2023)
Our favorite entry in the trilogy, this movie was stunning visually and tied a perfectly crafted bow around the gift that was this iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy. The comedy and banter between the team was as witty as ever and we had an absolute blast lifting off to space with the Guardians perhaps for the last time. As fun as this movie was, at it’s core lies a dramatic and deeply emotional story that saw the Guardians truly become a family. While the team acting as a unit is at the heart of this story, we were long overdue for a Rocket origin story and James Gunn delivered, shining a spotlight on the angry little raccoon’s devastating past. It was fascinating getting an insight into the trauma in Rocket’s past that forced him to develop an angry sarcastic exterior as a protective shield over his own vulnerabilities and feelings of worthlessness. Watching Rocket become the captain of the squad and gain real purpose in his life was a brilliant and fitting sendoff for such a complicated character. Overall, Guardian’s 3 served as an emotional exclamation point for this version of the guardian’s saga.
Our Rating: 8.7
7. loki (season 2)
Glorious purpose indeed! In a high watermark for Phase 4, Loki Season 2 delivers a deeply satisfying conclusion to the Loki Disney+ saga. This is what top tier Marvel looks like. The character arc of Loki has to be one of the most insane in all of pop culture. This was a man who viewed Earth as nothing more than a mole hill filled with insects to rule over or destroy, depending on how he woke up that morning. He had no humility, a god-sized narcissist. But then, back in Season 1, the unthinkable happened and Loki the God of Mischief was humbled for perhaps the first time in his life. Learning that his power was fairly miniscule in comparison to other Titans like Thanos and an unseen malevolent God of Time and Space, shook Loki to his core and altered how he views the world. Seeing his own death play out before him in stunning 4K high definition forced him to confront the reality that he wasn’t quite the immortal being that he thought he was, he was finite and the rules of nature applied to him as well, which made him not all too different from those pesky human insects. Coming face to face with an entity in Kang who was seemingly impervious to the rules of time and space and had found a way to conquer the former, while Loki was simultaneously undergoing his own reckoning with his rightful place in the Universe, forced him to become the Hero literally nobody knew he had in him. Loki went from desperately needing a throne and a people to rule over so that he could find a feigned sense of purpose, to willingly giving up his freedom so that his newfound friends could have a chance to live their lives on their respective timelines. The old Loki, the mischievous one, would have taken this immense and endless power and used it for some meaningless evil plot and subjugation of others, the new Loki, the God of Stories, used this power to give his people a fighting chance. If anyone had Loki performing one of the most selfless acts in the history of the MCU on their Bingo Card, sitting in eternal boredom alone and isolated from reality, all to give his human friends (who he used to think of as equivalent to Ants) a chance at life, please come up and collect your prize. I guess Loki is a hero now, what an absolutely nutty turnaround for the most infamous trickster villain in MCU history. This is character development at its finest.
Our Score: 8.8
6. thor ragnarok (2017)
Thor gets a much needed makeover in the trilogy and Taiki Waititi puts his stamp on this one with a unique new vision for the character and a fresh, light and hilarious tone that contrasted starkly with the darker notes of the first two. Even the color scheme is a complete departure from the previous films, with neon highlighter tinted extraterrestrial landscapes replacing the dark and gray overtures of The Dark World. Ragnarok is a 180 degree change (for the better) from the prior Thor movies as this entry strongly leans into the goofiness and natural comedic timing of its lead, rather than forcing an out of place overly serious tone. The Thor franchise was in danger of becoming stale and wasting a top tier, perfectly casted character, but Ragnarok righted the ship in a big way. There’s to digest here with many moving parts, but Taika Waititi threads the needle seamlessly, introducing new staple characters of the MCU like Valkyrie while even managing to mix in a planet hulk movie. Thor isn’t the only one experiencing a character rebirth, audiences are also introduced to a side of Hulk we haven’t seen before. The Hulk is more than just a rage-induced muscly green freight train in this one, he feels more human, expands his vocabulary beyond simply “Hulk Smash,” and shows some autonomy and emotion. Also, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the performance of Cate Blanchett as Hela, it’s pretty cool that Marvel can coax actors of her ilk into playing a seemingly one-off obscure villain, and she played the role of the Goddess of Death to a T. She was terrifying and managed to make Thor and Loki’s usually other-worldly power seem Junior Varsity in comparison. It’s cliche to say, but this movie was just damn fun, it’s bright, loud, fast-paced, action packed, funny and awesome. Thor Ragnarok finds itself securely in the coveted, rarified air of our top 5 MCU selections, and it would take a lot of firepower to dethrone it from its mantle.
Our Rating: 8.7
5. deadpool & wolverine (2024)
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Our Score: 8.8
4. iron man (2008)
The origin story that started a multi-billion dollar interconnected superhero film franchise, Iron Man broke the mold and laid the groundwork for a previously unheard of pop-culture and cinematic phenomenon. Iron Man was the first domino to fall and it lit the fuse that would burn brightly within the MCU circa 2008 to present day, with movies reportedly planned through 2034. Donning the now iconic iron suit revived Robert Downey Junior’s career and made the Iron Man character a universally known and beloved household name, on par with the likes of the holy trinity of superheroes: Batman, Superman and Spider-Man. RDJ perfectly encapsulated the billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, Avenger, and it’s exceedingly difficult to imagine another actor inheriting the role. The character development of Tony Stark as he becomes just a little less self-centered, taking on real responsibility for the first time in his life is what drives the movie, but the action is also really badass and the audience feels as if they are traveling alongside the the Mak III at sonic speed, launching AI guided precision missiles from seemingly any part of the Man shaped suit. The arc of Tony’s romantic relationship with Pepper Potts felt earned and served as the emotional crux of the movie. Without the overwhelming success of this movie, the MCU likely doesn’t even exist, and for that we are all eternally grateful. Jon Favrue hits every note, like a Leonard Burnstein composition, making this a nearly perfect origin story. Iron Man carries the weight of the MCU as he jets through the sky at breakneck speeds, and like the aluminum Avenger, the MCU continues to test its limits to this day thanks to the example set by the #4 ranked movie on our list. They definitely didn’t build this movie with a bunch of scraps, this was pure cinema gold.
Our Rating: 8.8
3. avengers (2012)
The epic culmination of the grand experiment that is Phase 1 and the nuclear jet fuel that would propel the MCu for many years to come, The Avengers remains a singular cinematic marvel the likes of which we had never seen before. Taking a half dozen or more superheroes from disparate but somehow connected cinematic universes and weaving them together seamlessly in a monumental battle for the fate of Earth. Marvel and Kevin Feige smartly played the long game while taking years to acquaint the audience with these characters and establish a rapport. It felt fresh and exciting watching characters we had grown to love interact for the very first time. From Tony Stark and Bruce Banner bonding over their stunning brilliance, Thor’s wholly out of place customs, and the man out of time Steve Rodgers’ (who’m Tony has a close personal family history with considering his father created him out of a test tube) and Iron Man’s constant feuding and philosophical differences makes for explosive and hilarious banter throughout. Loki and his narcissistic wit was the perfect foil for the Avengers maiden voyage, the God of Mischief brought the rag tag Avengers together for the first time like only he could, and he even got to taste some humble pie courtesy of Hulk’s smash. Witnessing the Avenger’s finally assemble on the big screen makes this a truly iconic MCU film that laid the foundation for the infinity saga. Although the new Avenger’s squads seem to grow in numbers each year, may we always pay homage to the humble, and at the time tiny, group of heroes that started a movie-going movement. Avengers Assemble indeed.
Our Rating: 8.8
2. Avengers: endgame (2019)
While not as prolific as Avengers Infinity War, the Russo Brothers struck twice as Avengers: Endgame accomplishes the monumental and seemingly impossible task of wrapping a perfect bow around the Infinity Saga of the MCU. Tying up all the loose ends and capping off (no pun intended) over 10 years of interconnected story arcs, with dozens of characters, in a satisfying and emotional way, is one of the greatest feats in cinematic history. Endgame served as a love letter to all that had come before it in the MCU and the fans who had been there every step of the way since Tony Stark first donned his iron suit in 2008. The directors seemed to go above and beyond and out of their way to serve the fans and give them an incredible experience they would never forget. Consuming the unending torrent of crowd pleasing moments felt like being a chubby kid with an all you can eat pass at Dylan’s Candy Bar, from smart Hulk to fat Thor, and even Captain America wielding Mjolnor, proving he was worthy all along, there’s something for every die-hard MCU fan to enjoy. Of course, the Avengers still had that pesky, inter-galactic war-lord, giant purple scrotum chin guy, Thanos, to contend with, and those battles were absolutely epic, but this movie is clearly a tribute to the original Avengers who served as the foundation upon which a decade of MCU storytelling would rest. Captain America, Thor, Hulk and even Tony Stark all got the endings they deserved. Cap finally got to be with Peggy and live out the life he had always dreamed, Thor got redemption with Thanos’ second and final? Death, he founded New Asgard and established a future for his people, and he continued his adventures with his newfound Guardian friends, Hulk continues his journey of living life with the duality of Bruce Banner and the ongoing question of how best to co-exist, and even Tony Stark got as happy an ending as a guy who was electrocuted to death with mystical infinity stone juices could ask for, Tony can rest easy knowing that he has finally created a world that is safe for his friends and family (at least for the next couple of years when Kang the conqueror and endless multiversal threats reer their ugly head, but let’s let Tony enjoy this victory). We’d be remiss not to mention the impossibly epic final battle where they managed to fit in every possible character you could imagine against the game and massive Army of The Mad Titan. Captain America exclaiming “Avengers Assemble” as he summons Mjolonor, while the full cast of comic characters spread for miles around him stormed at their adversary with a shout, will live on in the anals of movie history as a cinematic spectacle that could never be forgotten. Endgame was the cherry on top of the beautifully crafted cake that was the 10 year Infinity Sage of the MCU, we may never see the likes of a run like this ever again and we are lucky to have witnessed this interconnected cinematic masterpiece.
Our Rating: 8.9
1. avengers: infinity war (2018)
The Magnum Opus of the MCU. This film was the Mona Lisa, the Sistine Chapel, the Taj Mahal of superhero storytelling. You simply can’t do it any better than this. Everything about this movie was perfectly crafted with reverence for the many movies that had led up to this cinema shaking moment. The full unveiling of the Mad Titan and his quest to acquire all six infinity stones and wield their universe altering power to bend the world to his will and annihilate half of all life on Earth, was done as well as anyone could have asked. Having him kick in the door of the MCU by beating the ever-living shit out of the freaking Hulk in hand to hand combat without the use of his infinity stone made it very clear that Thanos was a different beast and he was not a villain to by trifled with, infinity stones or not. Following that up immediately with the Mad Titan choking the life out of Loki like he was the Undertaker at Wrestlemania sent a clear message to the Marvel heroes that he was playing for keeps and he put the audience on notice that characters that they had come to love would be meeting their end by his purple hand, and nobody was safe. The massive amount of character development the Russo brothers managed to squeeze into this absolutely massive superhero ensemble bonanza was an astonishing accomplishment. Iron Man comes face to face with the big bad boogey man who had haunted his dreams for the better part of a decade, and all of his brains and his most cutting-edge tech amounted to a tiny scratch on the cheek of his genocidal adversary. Tony must live with the gravity of his failure as he watches half the population turn to dust. He had made it his life’s purpose to be the suit of armor around the world protecting those he cared for, but all of his efforts were for nought all at the snap of Thano’s fingers. Hulk doesn’t handle his first loss well as he literally becomes a shell of his former self when he refuses to come out to aid Banner and his friends in the frey. It was ironic watching Bruce Banner try to convince Hulk to fight, and the one time he’s needed Hulk refuses to comply. The inner struggle between Banner and Hulk continues throughout Infinity War. Thor joins Iron Man on the guilt train, feeling responsible for the untimely deaths of many of his people, including his brother, at the hands of the Mad Titan, and he seeks redemption while remaining hell bent on killing Thanos. Captain America continued his quest to do what’s right while remaining independent from the US government. When he learns of the new extinction level threat that is Thanos, he doesn’t hesitate to reach out to T’Challa to mount a joined defense effort, which shows Steve’s renewed trust in others. Doctor Strange is taken out of his comfort zone when he is forced to work with other heroes he neither trusts nor likes very much. He takes on a leadership role, subtley guiding the course of events to the necessary nexus for the Avengers to have a chance. Some of the most satisfying moments in Infinity Ware came when now globally recognized superheroes like Doctor Strange and Iron Man tested each others wits and snark with quips and verbal sparring upon their chance meeting. Other notable and delightful first-time meetings included Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, the Guardians and Thor, and later the Guardians and Tony Stark/Doctor Strange/Spider-Man. Moments like those when these iconic characters crossover like they so often do in the comic book world is one of the many things that makes the MCU special. The action in this movie was artfully crafted and beautifully done, with impeccable VFX that creates an incredibly immersive experience. The pacing of the film, with a frenetic inter-galactic space heist feel, makes it amazingly re-watchable. The directors also deserve a ton of credit for massively subverting expectations. These guys cahones were dragging on the floor when they decided to kill of SPIDER MAN and half o of the other heroes and all life on earth, I could have sworn I heard a little kid sobbing in the back of the theater, hell I may have shed a tear.. We had grown accustomed to watching the Avengers struggle with an adversary, possibly suffer the loss of a fairly minor side character, and ultimately prevail. Witnessing the Avengers lose in epic fashion as the credits rolled to black and beloved characters evaporated into dust left my theater speechless in the most fantastic way. It left people shocked, sad, and most importantly, craving MORE. Infinity War is not only a perfect Avengers/Superhero extravaganza, seamlessly weaving in countless of characters and storylines, but it is also our highest rated movie of all time. There may be more technically sound films, but this movie fully encapsulates what it means to be a movie fan better than any other before it, and for 3 hours you blissfully lose yourself to a super-hero spectacle that you don’t want to end.
Our Rating: 9.6
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