Hey guys!. In this post, I’ll be Ranking The MCU Movies. Since Iron Man burst onto the big screen in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has conquered it's place as one of pop culture's heaviest hitters. And today we're delving into the cream of the crop of the MCU, as we count down our picks for the top 10 MCU movies. And we have a feeling that you're not going to see our #1 pick coming. But before we begin, there may be some slight spoilers ahead, so be warned. So let’s get started.
10. Doctor Strange (2016)
It took some time for Marvel to introduce Doctor Strange to the MCU, and many wondered how the mind-bending magic of the Sorcerer Supreme would fit within the established MCU framework. Thankfully, the first Doctor Strange movie absolutely nailed the magical element, with the splitting realities and ghostly ethereal planes staging some of the MCU's most ingeniously shot fights. And special mention of the movies climax, where Doctor Strange makes a time-bending bargain with the all-powerful villain Dormammu to save the day. Only thing holding the movie back from an even higher spot, is that it's overall origin story plot-structure had become a bit by-the-books by the time of its release.
9. Spiderman: Homecoming (2017)
After years of waiting, Spidey made his long awaited MCU-debut in Captain America: Civil War. His first full-fledged solo outing soon followed with Homecoming, and it was everything we wished for. Tom Holland fits the quirky, awkwardly witty character of Peter Parker perfectly, and has some of the MCU's best chemistry with his reluctant mentor Tony Stark. The movie also benefitted from an outstanding, relatable villain, with Michael Keaton as the Vulture. And who can forget that incredible ferry scene...
8. Iron Man (2008)
The movie that started the pop-culture juggernaut, that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And what a movie it was. Iron Man came out of nowhere, and took world by storm with it's amazing supporting cast, sleek CGI, and strong, memorable villain in Obadiah Stain. But none will disagree, that no factor was more instrumental than the casting of Robert Downey Jr, in the role he was born to play: the brilliant, and playfully arrogant Tony Stark. The actor took the relatively unknown hero and instantaneously turned him into one of the most recognizable characters in pop-culture that we know today.
7. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Captain America's third solo outing definitely blurred the line with the Avengers movies, with so many making an appearance. And if that wasn't enough, the movie also gave us the first MCU-appearances of both Tom Holland's Spiderman, and the late, great Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther. With Black Panther even playing a crucial role in the movie's plot, as it's the bomb that kills his father that sets the story in motion. Still, the movie does manage to stay focused on Cap and the enigmatic Winter Soldier throughout, and hits some powerful emotional beats along the way. And this is all masterfully tied to some jaw-dropping action scenes, with the climactic three-way fight at the end.
6. Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
When Nick Fury showed up at the end of Iron Man, comic book fans started counting down the days to the movie they had been pining for decades. But Marvel didn't rush, taking years to set the stage for the most epic superhero movie that had ever graced the big screen. And it all payed off. Director Joss Whedon perfectly balanced the sci-fi and arrogance of Iron Man, the fantasy and simplicity of Thor, and the sincerity and leadership of Captain America, while also fitting in the lesser-powered Black Widow, without ever making her feel irrelevant. This, while delivering on the absolute biggest stakes imaginable. Also, seeing Loki getting Hulk-Smashed like a Looney Tune is something that never gets old.
5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
We consider the first two Thor movies among the weakest of the MCU. So, when Thor Ragnarok was announced, weren't exactly jumping out of our seats. But director Taika Waititi blew us away with his bold new direction for the franchise. Drawing from Walt Simonson's mid-'80s run on The Mighty Thor, and the more recent Planet Hulk storyline, we get an artistic 80's-ish futuristic aesthetic, where well-established characters, like Thor, Hulk, and Loki play off each other brilliantly, while introducing memorable new ones, like Korg and Valkyrie. And it all adds up to one wildy entertaining movie. With Thor: Love and Thunder on the way, we can't wait to see where the franchise goes next.
4. Black Panther (2018)
After captivating audiences with his debut in Civil War, fans expectations for the new king of Wakanda's solo outing were sky high. But again, Marvel blew expectations out of the water. We see Chadwick Boseman's righteous, but vaguely naive T'Challa go through a compelling hero's journey, that reveals his father wasn't the flawless man he thought. All the while he's pitted against Killmonger, one of the most fleshed-out villains in the MCU, enfused with Michael B Jordan's signature confidence, and swagger. On top of this, the movie also doesn't shy away from powerful, relevant themes, while never forgetting it's comic roots. I guess all we can say, is... "Wakanda Forever."
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
While Cap's first outing introduced us to the perfectly cast Chris Evans as Captain America, we weren't blown away by the WWII-set movie itself. But then we got his first solo effort in modern times, that turned out more a spy thriller than superhero epic... and the movie is way better for it. On top of an excellent plot, the movie further cements Steve Rogers as the righteous hero we all want to follow. The movie also introduces "the Winter Soldier", the enigmatic Hydra superspy with the badass metal arm, and now iconic MCU-mainstay. All around, the film is an incredible combination of mystery, suspense, and superhero-action, with the Cap vs. Winter Soldier fight in the middle of the streets of Washington DC an absolute MCU-standout.
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Like the first Avengers movie, End Game was the result of years of meticulous set-up. As the climactic finale to the MCU's infinity Saga, the Russo brothers constructed an immense victory lap for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Besides the bombastic action, the movie provides deeply rewarding character moments from almost all the MCU's major pillars. And it all culminates into a scene where the hero that started it all - Robert Downey Jr's once arrogant, self-serving Iron Man - uses the Infinity Stones on Thanos to disintegrate him and his army, at the cost of his own life. Endgame truly set a new bar for big budget sci-fi blockbusters. .
1: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
When Marvel first announced Guardians 1, most MCU-fans were left scratching their heads at who this rag tag team of heroes that included a talking raccoon and sentient tree, even were. But then the movie released, treating us to a massive interstellar space opera, headlined by the most lovable misfits, that end up saving an alien planet from a conquering warlord. And all this packed into a retro feel, including a classic rock soundtrack that's just the right amount of cool and dorky. Any formula it could find, the movie broke, and it was always better for it. It gave us a ridiculous dance-off that made absolute sense, just before breaking our hearts by having the talking tree sacrifice himself for the team. Yes... This. was. epic.
That is it from today’s post on Ranking The MCU Movies. If you do not agree with the points in the post and have some of your own opinions, share them with us in the comments section down below.
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