Marvel has, in the span of 33 movies, set the standard for the superhero genre. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the MCU, officially started in 2008 with the release of Iron Man. That kicked off what would come to be known as Phase One, which ended with The Avengers in 2012. Since then, more phases have come and gone:
- Phase Two began with Iron Man 3 (2013) and ended with Ant Man (2015).
- Phase Three began with Captain America: Civil War (2016) and ended with Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).
- Phase Four began with Black Widow (2021) and ended with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2021).
- Phase Five began with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and is still going on. It will end with Blade (2024)
As for Phase Six, that starts with Deadpool 3 (2024) and ends with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2026). This will also end the Multiverse Saga.
With that many movies already made and quite a few more in the works, I think now is a good time to rank them all from worst to best.
SPOILER ALERT: I will be talking about the movies and may describe what happens! Keep in mind that this is my ranking, which may or may not line up with yours or that of the internet or large. You and I may have differing opinions. And it’s ok to be wrong!
33. Eternals (2021)
Marvel’s Eternals was heavily criticized by viewers due to its slow pacing, lack of action, and paucity of character development. I also felt the movie was too long, and the plot lacked focus or direction. Despite its amazing cast (including Kit Harington, Richard Madden, Selma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie, to name a few), it didn’t have much more to offer viewers. On the other hand, its unique visual effects and exploration of themes like family, identity, and human mortality were praised by critics and viewers alike.
Overall, Eternals could have been more focused, and the characters could have been given more time to develop. A few more action scenes would have been great as well. Big waste of a fantastic cast.
32. Black Widow (2021)
Black Widow was an attempt to close out Natasha Romanoff’s storyline, but I was not impressed with it. The CGI is pretty bad and the plot is just not that interesting. The opening scene was actually really good and teased a promising story, but they could not follow through with it. I loved seeing Rachel Weisz, though.
31. Iron Man 2 (2010)
This movie was a little disappointing to me. I’m not one to actively avoid movies, but I make a point not to rewatch it.
Iron Man 2 is a really sad follow-up to the first movie, Iron Man. The plot and characters are very predictable. The movie basically serves as a means to introduce Black Widow. It had some potential, but ultimately doesn’t stand on its own. It feels more like an advertisement for The Avengers than an entertaining movie in and of itself.
30. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The Incredible Hulk was praised for its action sequences, visual effects, and exploration of Bruce Banner’s internal turmoil, with Edward Norton being praised for his work in the title role. But the movie lacks depth and relies on CGI a bit too much.
Also, some felt the movie was too short and that the story was underdeveloped, the action sequences too tame, and the overall tone of the film too dark and brooding. According to the crew, Edward Norton was also hard to work with, which may have been one of the reasons the part of Bruce Banner was later recast with Mark Ruffalo, which worked well for the MCU.
29. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
The Dark World is not a bad movie…but I had to rewatch it and see Tom Hiddleston to remember what happened. The main villain, Malekith the Accursed, is very forgettable. The only important plot point in the movie is that Frigga, Thor’s mom, dies to save Jane, Thor’s love interest. Jane also got on my nerves a smidge, too.
Yeah, this is just an “if you want to watch Tom Hiddleston, watch this” kind of movie.
28. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
I will start off by saying that I found this movie underwhelming, but I give it a huge pass because of the circumstances under which it was made. It had to be entirely rewritten after the unfortunate passing of Chadwick Boseman, who brought the Black Panther to life. The grief you see on screen isn’t acting; It’s real.
That said, Wakanda Forever comes up short in some key areas. I didn’t much care for the new villainous civilization, and having Agent Ross in the movie felt kind of pointless, unless it’s supposed to set up something else. The after-credits scene touched my heart and made me reach for my tissue box. A compromised movie with moments of excellence.
27. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
This one is bittersweet; I’ve ranked it pretty low, but it has my favorite MCU villain.
I absolutely love the Thor movies. I also really enjoy movies directed by Taika Waititi, but this one felt a little…off. Waititi’s last Thor movie, Ragnarok, had really good humor and a big helping of charisma. But in Love and Thunder, the line between plot and comic relief becomes blurred, especially for the first hour and 16 minutes. It missed the mark a bit, and it pains me to put the movie so low in my rankings.
However, I have to say that I have watched it a few times and I always end it with a smile on my face, which says a lot about how much I loved the ending. I’d also like to point out that Christian Bale looked absolutely amazing as Gorr, and I feel like the movie should have centered more on him and his awesome powers instead of constantly trying to elicit chuckles from the audience. Bale’s performance literally make the film for me. For what it’s worth, the last 43 minutes actually feet like a Thor movie.
26. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Though the plot is not bad, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 isn’t as good as the first movie. It’s still fun and has a great soundtrack, but it was a bit too over-the-top for me.
Yondu and Rocket bonding and finding out how similar they are is wholesome and paves the way for Youndu’s sacrifice at the end, a touching moment. Nothing against Kurt Russell, but I wasn’t a big fan of the villain Ego. The whole thing just felt a little forced, like Marvel Studios wanted a sequel just because the first movie was a big hit.
25. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
The introduction of Kang the Conqueror and his variants to the MCU was epic. Paul Rudd is everything. His performance in this movie was one of his best yet, and I was actually freaking out over the thought of Kang beating him to death. Which, surprisingly, doesn’t happen.
Scott, Hope, Hank, Janet, and Cassie all get sucked into the Quantum Realm and meet Kang, Janet’s friend who she forgot to mention existed. Oh, he’s just a world-destroying villain who’s obsessed with winning and gets exiled to the Quantum Realm by his own variants.
This movie is funny, intense, and entertaining. Bill Murray makes a surprise appearance, we see M.O.D.O.K., we see what’s in the Quantum Realm… but the movie’s flaws stick out too much to ignore. Michelle Pfeiffer’s acting is as cold and forced as my 6-year-old’s tears when I won’t let her have ice cream. The CGI is hit or miss. The humor that does not slap (I’m looking at you, you weird blob of a transparent alien with no holes). Most importantly, Janet. I do not like Janet. Her character is badly written and I feel the Ant-Man franchise would actually be a lot better if Janet wasn’t in it.
24. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
This is a cute first movie for Tom Holland’s take on Spider-Man. Holland is perfect as a younger Peter Parker; he’s charismatic, funny, smart, and kind of awkward. We see how Peter starts getting involving in crime fighting and how he really wants to be part of the Avengers, only to be told to stand down.
I didn’t like how involved Iron Man was in the movie, influenced the movie, or that he was Adrian Toomes’ motivation for becoming a criminal. But overall, this was a nice little introduction to the new friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
23. Iron Man 3 (2013)
Better than Iron Man 2 but nowhere near as good as Iron Man, Iron Man 3 disappointed me with the bait-and-switch regarding the Mandarin and had Pepper Potts be the one who saved the day. Tony destroys all his suits, which felt…unnecessary. This movie felt like a little misstep, especially with it coming out right after the first Avengers movie. Not impressed.
22. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Bucky! Cap! Nazis! Massive betrayal! Hail Hydra!
Seeing Captain America torn about what to do regarding his childhood best friend and what Hydra turned Bucky into really humanized Steve Rogers. The entire S.H.I.E.L.D. betrayal was shocking. I had never read any of the Captain America comics, so that really came out of nowhere for me. The Winter Soldier was the perfect setup for the moral dilemma that would split up the Avengers in Civil War, and holds up as a fun and entertaining movie in its own right.
21. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Age of Ultron introduces Vision and the most powerful would-be-Avenger in the entire MCU so far: Wanda Maximoff. Her twin Pietro is also introduced, with the both of them helping the malevolent AI creature Ultron.
The biggest issue with this movie for me is how the character Ultron was represented, how quickly the Maximoffs turn against him, and how Pietro dies before his character really establishes himself. Ultron is depicted as a sarcastic, sentient AI who kills Jarvis and takes over what would have been Jarvis’ future body. He hates his creator Tony Stark and takes literally his words about having “peace in our time.”
This movie ably shows off Wanda’s powers and suggests how dangerous she would be if she decided to turn against the Avengers in the future. More than anything, it helps set up Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, which didn’t come out until 2021, six years later.
20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
The sequel to Ant-Man is just as fun and funny as the first movie, but focuses a bit more on Pym and his daughter Hope as they try to bring his wife and Hope’s mother Janet back from the quantum realm. I’m all for happy endings and admittedly I am not very knowledgeable about quantum physics, but I don’t think they should have been able to bring Janet back without any major consequences for her. I mean, she was in the quantum realm for apparently 30 years, and her mind and body are unaffected. It seemed like a dangerous rescue mission without much in the way of sacrifice or stakes.
I enjoyed the movie, I was very entertained. But it just seemed like the story could’ve been punched up a bit.
19. Captain Marvel (2019)
I really enjoyed this movie. I thought Brie Larson did a great job as Captain Marvel, I liked seeing a younger Nick Fury, and I loved the twist with the alien villains having a sympathetic motive. However, I had a hard time remembering who the main villain was and why he was doing what he was doing.
This movie got a lot of hate when it came out. This is a “girl power” movie, but not in an obnoxious or forced way. Captain Marvel was originally a man in the comics, but with the feminist movement in the 70s, Carol Denvers has an accidental encounter with a Kree machine, which alters her DNA.
I was also frustrated with how Carol’s character was written. But flaws aside, this movie entertained me and delivered a fun origin story for an absolute badass.
18. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
This movie was FUN. The main characters, Shang-Chi (Shaun) and Katy, have perfect chemistry and their friendship is very believable. The action scenes are some of the best choreographed fights in the MCU. The villain, Xu Wenwu, is one of three MCU villains whose motives are clear and understood. The inclusion of Michelle Yeoh brought on a wave of nostalgia for me; it reminded me of the first time I ever saw her in 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Shang-Chi opened the doors for new heroes within the MCU. With Wong bringing Shang-Chi and Katy to Kamar-Taj at the end, we wonder if we’ll see them interact with Dr. Strange and possibly America Chavez in the future. With Shang-Chi’s sister not disbanding the Ten Rings and the rings acting as a beacon for something, who knows what we’ll see next?
17. Black Panther (2018)
To start, this movie is beautiful. Not only that, but it has characters you want to root for and a story that make you think. T’Challa is soft spoken and kind hearted, and the movie touches on the dilemma of what to do when you’re able to help the rest of the world, but fear acting because it might make you vulnerable. In a way, it’s the opposite of Thanos’ approach to “helping the universe,” which is to eradicate half the beings living in it. T’Challa revealing Wakanda to the world and wanting to share vibranium and scientific research with other nations that need help is a big step for Wakanda, and he is both respected and criticized for his decision.
I feel that this whole conflict with Killmonger could have been avoided by King T’Chaka telling the truth about his brother betraying the nation instead of telling everyone he just… ran away. But Killmonger does provide some great conflict, so it’s not a huge deal.
16) The Marvels (2023)
From the get-go, this movie takes the MCU and propels it further than we ever expected. Carol Denvers (Captain Marvel), Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), and Monica Rambeau get their powers entangled with each other. With this new complication, they have to figure out how to fight together to beat the absolutely drop-dead gorgeous fierce Kree leader Dar-Benn. The first fight scene sets the tone for the movie: this is a fun ass-kicking movie. This is the kind of superhero movie I would have done anything to have when I was Kamala’s age. Kamala represents all of us: young kids who adore these superheroes. The way she fangirls over Captain Marvel is the exact same way any of us would react if we were in her shoes.
The only part of this movie that I didn’t really like was the whole singing language thing when they visited the planet Aladna, where Carol Denvers is apparently married and a princess. As someone who’s not very fond of musicals or people breaking into song randomly, I found myself cringing so hard during this segment that it actually physically hurt. I didn’t know Brie Larson could sing — that’s amazing — but please don’t introduce singing into the MCU. This isn’t one of your animated movies, Disney. Thank you.
Overall, a really fun movie to watch.
15. Thor (2011)
I like to compare Thor from this movie to teenage Groot: he’s stubborn, defiant, and very immature. This origin story gives Thor a great character arc, as he learn that being a king means more than just being a good fighter. Loki’s
gorgeous smile
mischievous ways are a highlight, as is his desire to be accepted and loved by Odin.
In terms of the broader story, this movie gets S.H.I.E.L.D. interested in researching ways to protect Earth against the dangers out there in space, and reinforces the need for an Avengers team.
Awesome origin story for a really relatable superhero.
14. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
This movie came out of the left field and scored big time. Laugh-out-loud funny, featuring a group of the most unlikely heroes and an awesome soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy was the first MCU movie that took the viewers deeper into the open universe. It has a memorable villain, Ronan, and spotlights Thanos’ desire to collect all the infinity stones for the first time.
Quill, Rocket, Gamora, Drax, and Groot are truly the best dysfunctional family, and it solidifies the Guardians of the Galaxy as a sort of space Avengers. In short, it’s an excellent origin movie and it helps set a lot of things in motion for the MCU.
13. Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)
Why is Tom Holland so good at playing Peter Parker? Why is Jake Gyllenhaal such a good bad guy?
In this movie, Peter Parker is a young superhero trying to have a normal life while concealing his identity and trying to prove himself to Nick Fury. And then his identity is revealed to the world and Parker finds himself as public enemy number 1.
Though the story itself is good, it feels like it’s hard to have a serious moment in the movie. Every situation turns into a comic moment, especially with Ned. But as distracting as that is, Far from Home still nails the action and heroics that we’re used to from Spider-Man movies.
12. Ant-Man (2015)
Paul Rudd is the perfect Ant-Man. His humor is on point, and his chemistry with the other actors in the movie is impeccable. This film has a good balance of serious, funny, and wholesome moments. Ant-Man is a fun and exciting movie that is perfect for family movie night. My only issue is the fact Scott Lang wasn’t riding or commanding a horde of ants in Avengers: Endgame. How epic would that have been?
11. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (2021)
I know and agree that there there are plot problems with this movie, but I cannot help how much I enjoy it. I understand that making Scarlet Witch the villain right after the events of Wandavision was a little…backwards, but I think it works. I really enjoyed Sam Raimi’s direction; this was definitely a Marvel horror movie.
It also introduces America Chavez, a relatively new Marvel character introduced in 2011 in the comics, and leaves us wondering if she’s going to appear in Doctor Strange 3, whenever that comes out.
10. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Captain America: The First Avenger tells the story of Steve Rogers, a wimpy dude who becomes a buff superhero and takes down Nazis during World War II. The cast is awesome, with Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, and Tommy Lee Jones totally nailing their roles. The special effects are top-notch too, making for some pretty epic fight scenes.
But while Captain America is a solid movie and a great introduction to the character, it’s not the best installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sometimes, the plot is a bit too predictable, and the supporting characters don’t get enough love. Plus, it doesn’t have the same emotional depth and complexity as some of the other Marvel movies (looking at you, Guardians 3 and Avengers: Endgame).
9. Doctor Strange (2016)
We are introduced to Stephen Strange in this visually stunning movie. Benedict Cumberbatch was born to play this role.
I do have a couple complaints about the movie, the first one being how Marvel wasted the glorious Mads Mikkelsen by having him play a forgettabl\e villain. Another one is the casting of Tilda Swilton as the Ancient One. Nothing against her at all, she’s an excellent actress, but this was not a role for her to play. I would have much rather someone like Ken Watanabe or Donnie Yen played the part.
Otherwise I really enjoy this movie. It’s super fun and has ground-breaking special effects for all the spells and mirror dimension fights. Truly a fun one to rewatch on a rainy day.
8. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Best. Spider-Man. Movie. Ever. At least for me. Such nostalgia.
I loved seeing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield back on the big screen as Peters Parker/Spider-Men, with their own problems and regrets, teaching our current Peter Parker some valuable lessons about loss and responsibility. The coolest thing I noticed was that even though Holland’s Parker is the youngest of the three, he’s still the one calling the shots. Holland’s Peter is used to working with others because of his involvement with the Avengers, something Maguire and Garfield’s versions did not get to do, so this gives him control of the story. After all, it is Holland’s movie.
Seeing Spider-Man and Doctor Strange having a bit of conflict was also neat, especially with Spider-Man actually winning and trapping Strange in the mirror dimension. The villains were great, with Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin being extremely scary and Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus also very solid.
Definitely one to rewatch. Not perfect by any means, but it entertains and makes us old people feel like we’re in our early teens and in love with Maguire again. No? Just me? Ok.
7. Iron Man (2008)
Robert Downy Jr. was made to be Iron Man. The quirks, the looks, the attitude, the swift replies: absolute perfection. His performance combined with the interesting plot and big-budget special effects are the core reason I am writing an article about all 32 MCU movies released thus far. This movie propelled Marvel forward and towards a very successful 10 years, introducing other Avengers and delivering solid flick after solid flick. This is the MCU’s best standalone and origin movie to date. It literally changed everything. It defined the superhero genre. It’s a solid classic.
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is an emotionally charged goodbye to our favorite group of interplanetary misfits.The plot is dark and sad, the stakes high. Writer-director James Gunn does a tremendous job closing this chapter of the Guardians’ story, and should absolutely win an award for sneaking in the first F-bomb in a Disney/Marvel movie.
This movie is more ambitious than the previous two Guardians films. There aren’t as many jokes, and the ones that are here don’t feel as forced. There is real character development for almost every Guardian. The acting is terrific, and Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff giving the best performances as Nebula and Mantis. This is a meanty Marvel movie: everything is well-balanced, and the story goes to a place of trauma and heartbreak we don’t often get.
5. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
I always get giddy watching this movie. The airport scene is one of my favorite moments in the franchise, with its flowing choreography and a high stakes. It always felt like a mini-Avengers movie to me because of the number of characters present.
On top of that, Civil War touches on a very likely situation superheroes might find themselves in: being held accountable for the death and destruction they cause while trying to protect people. You could reasonably argue for joining either Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, who find themselves on different sides of a moral dilemma.
4. The Avengers (2012)
Ah. The movie that made me not only jump, but dive into the MCU. The first movie with the original six Avengers sharing the screen; a very difficult feat, but managed deftly by writer-director Joss Whedon (who has since been canceled out of show business, FYI). The plot and characters are well-written and every single actor pulls their weight in this big step forward for the MCU. It set the standard for every Avengers movie that followed, and shows that when heroes act as a team, there’s nothing they can’t do.
3. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
This is my favorite Taika Waikiki film. The humor, the gravitas, the soundtrack, Cate Blanchett…I love everything about this movie. Hela is brutal, thanks in part to the writer and in part to Blanchett’s predictably brilliant work. Jeff Goldblum’s provides an off-kilter breath of fresh air, but still fits within the movie’s tone. It’s fun, funny, and intense right through to the end.
2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Infinity War and Endgame were complete game changers for the MCU. They reintroduce Thanos as the big bad and revisit knowledge gained in previous movies, e.g. where the infinity stones are, what they do, and who has them. The movie ends with the Avengers losing and half the population of the entire universe disappearing with a snap. The Avengers are defeated while Thanos feels he’s finally served his purpose.
As all our favorite Avengers fight and disappear, it feels like something important is happening in the MCU. The only part of the movie I cringe at is when Thor, Rocket, and Groot go to Nidavellir to get Stormbreaker made. I adore Peter Dinklage, but I was not fond of his character and his performance.
1. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
“I… am… Iron Man”
This is the movie that marks the end of the MCU for us as we knew it, or at least for me. Beautifully executed and very touching, you never finish this movie without crying. I like the plot and I think it flows very well together and makes sense, the effects are great, and the fights are very well done. The acting is also phenomenal, and I am filled with goosebumps every time Captain America says “Avengers! Assemble.” I got them now just thinking about it.
Ten years of entertaining and moving films brought us this masterpiece that will, along with Infinity War, be two of my absolute favorite movies for until end of my days.
That’s it for my list, and I wait anxiously for the next MCU installment. How would you rank the 32 MCU movies?
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