All Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies Ranked
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is without a doubt, the most successful film franchise of all time. We are living in an era where comic book movies are being released by major movie studios all year round. Marvel Studios has successfully crafted a universe with character arcs that have unfolded over the course of several films, and they are still going strong.
Since the first Iron Man movie in 2008, Marvel Studios has been pumping out films year after year. Avengers Endgame marked the official ending to the MCU’s decade long—“Infinity Saga.” With a new slate of films and streaming shows (Disney+) on the horizon, allow me to reflect on some of the MCU’s best and worst outings.
Below is The Boba Culture’s “All MCU Movies Ranked”
*Disclaimer: Not everyone will agree with this list*
23) Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Let’s be honest, you saw this one coming. Sometimes I even forget this movie was meant to introduce audiences to the Reality Stone. Much of this films success can be attributed to the money that the first 'Avengers' pulled in to the box office, and the onscreen chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston.
I will say it here: I don’t hate it as much as the Comic Book community does, but it’s definitely the most forgettable MCU film there is. I mean, what was that Dark Elf’s name again?
22) The Incredible Hulk (2008)
I don’t hate this movie, it just feels strange to watch it. Although this film takes place in the MCU, it feels so separated from everything else. Maybe it’s because it is the MCU’s second film, or maybe it’s because the Hulk is given no backstory, but this movie feels so foreign to watch.
If it wasn’t for the ending tag with Tony Stark, you could almost put this film in another cinematic universe. The Incredible Hulk is a forgotten MCU film, but not because it is a bad movie. The answer lies with its importance and relevance to the wider MCU.
21) Iron Man 2 (2010)
This one strictly comes down to its villain. With the surge of success that Marvel Studios was experiencing from the first Iron Man, they needed to whip out a sequel. With that in mind, Iron Man 2 is an epic film, that doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Whiplash and Hammer have no lasting effect on Tony Stark, and instead the film serves as more of a launching point for future MCU outings.
This is the first time we get to see Don Cheadle as Rhodey, and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow. Not to mention, the ending tag to this film introduces Thor. While Iron Man 2 does a lot to set up the future, it only satisfies as eye candy.
20) Captain Marvel (2019)
Ahhh yes, the infamous Captain Marvel film of 2018. You either hated it or you loved it. Regardless of where you stand on the matter, there is no use in trying ignore Captain Marvel as a character. She is one of the most powerful characters in the MCU, and she assisted the Avengers in their final battle against Thanos.
As for her solo outing…it’s not the greatest. I don’t dislike it as much as other people do, but it’s definitely not my favorite amongst the 23 films. This movie is out of place, and while it rolls right into Endgame, its 90’s setting does more harm than good. Captain Marvel is a filler episode in the middle of the most epic superhero story ever to be told on film; but this doesn’t make it a complete heap of trash. It just doesn’t quite compare.
19) Iron Man 3 (2013)
Like the second installment in this trilogy, Iron Man 3 is only as good as its villain. From the trailers, fans were promised an appearance by the classic Iron Man villain—The Mandarin. Instead we were met with a phony Mandarin, and a hotheaded businessman who could grow his body parts back.
Despite the film falling flat with its villain, Tony Stark’s character arc is built to a tipping point. Much of Tony’s arc up until this point was all about him trying to help the people he loves. After this movie, we see Tony take on a new persona. In other words, Iron Man 3 sets Tony’s character arc up for the next movies he appears in. It’s a fitting end to a trilogy featuring the MCU’s most heavy hitter, but it is no where near the ending of his story as a whole. In fact, this is just the beginning of the end for him.
18) Thor (2011)
The first Thor was a movie that needed to happen. While looking at the MCU post-Endgame, I find it funny that Thor and Loki didn’t like each other at one point in the MCU. 'Thor' is a phase one film, and it fits right into that category. To understand the way that Thor has evolved as a character, it’s always a good idea to remember where he started.
If anything, 'Thor' is the phase one movie that does the most to set up the first Avengers film. Loki is the main villain here, and he is also the main villain in that movie (or is he?). This film is the first “off world” outing that the MCU has, and ever since then, the Asgard’s presence has only become more prominent.
17) Ant Man and The Wasp (2018)
Ant Man and The Wasp is an extremely vital piece to the MCU when you consider what takes place after it chronologically. This film gives us a look into the Quantum Realm, and quantum time jumping. The only problem with this movie is the fact that it plays with much of the material it was already given. It doesn’t quite create anything new, but is a solid outing for Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne.
The movie is extremely watchable, and Paul Rudd’s portrayal of Ant Man makes the movie all that more interesting. It’s hilarious and fun. It might not be the heaviest hitter in terms of MCU movies, but it’s a good one to put on when there is nothing else to watch.
16) Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
The “Age Of Ultron” only lasted about two hours. This movie sets up more of the MCU’s future, than actually being a movie with a lasting impact. The next time we see Thor, he is a totally different character; the next time we see Steve and Tony, they are at odds; and Vision and Wanda were just getting their introductions.
Age Of Ultron is not a bad film, but it preformed exactly to expectations. Being an Avengers movie, people wanted leave the theaters with their jaws to the floor. Instead, they saw more of what was already established in the first one. It’s a world builder, bringing a close to the epic phase two. The MCU was forever changed after the first Avengers, but Age Of Ultron made it feel like those changes were better off at being side plots. The Hulk vs. Hulkbuster is an easy highlight, but it just wasn’t enough.
On a side note, the trailer for this film single handedly changed the landscape for YouTube. It broke records, and people made meme’s about it. Trailer reactions became a mainstay of “nerd YouTube,” and people broke down the trailers frame by frame starting with Age Of Ultron. Not only did AoU usher in the next era of MCU films, but it gave birth to a new era of nerd culture.
15) Ant Man (2015)
Ant Man is one of the most self contained MCU films there is. This movie was used to close the MCU’s second phase, and it did so with a bang.
Taking place directly after the events of 'The Winter Soldier' and 'Age Of Ultron,' Ant Man does the job of bridging the gap between the ending of Phase Two, and the explosive start to Phase Three. It is a heist film with stakes that don’t include the wellbeing of the universe. Paul Rudd showed the world that he could do action and comedy at the same time. He got jacked for the role, and he established Scott as a key player in the MCU.
While 'Ant Man' features a villain that is forgettable and disposable; much of the story centers on Scott’s origin. He is an ex-con who is just trying to pick up the pieces, and he finds himself in a world of super heroes.
14) Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
'The First Avenger' is the last film in Phase One before the first Avengers movie. CA:TFA is a time piece set back in World War II. It follows Steve on his journey from a scrawny guy with a lot of heart, to a super hero with morals. TFA makes you believe that Steve Rogers is truly the star-spangled man with a plan.
With a score from Alan Silvestri, TFA sounds as heroic as Captain America actually is. The film’s ending has become much of a joke among MCU fans. People believe Steve could have done more to save himself, but the result of TFA follows Steve until his story arc ends in Endgame.
Red Skull and Peggy are key players in the future of the MCU. CA:TFA is different than the other films in the Captain America trilogy, but it is still a great watch.
13) Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Guardians 2 is a solid movie all around, but the weight it carries is very self contained. The first Guardians film helped establish the rag-tag group as prominent figures in the galaxy; but Vol. 2 served as more of an origin story. Peter’s parentage was hinted towards the ending of the first Guardians, and that is exactly where the second one picks up.
This movie is about family. Literally. Peter and Ego. Peter and Yondu. Yondu and Rocket. Nebula and Gamora. Groot and The Guardians. The whole plot to this film was driven by the relationships that the characters had already forged.
In terms of the wider MCU, this outing acts as a standalone, but much of it makes audiences grow closer to the Guardians character arcs. This movie was important for GOTG as a team because the next time we see them, they are fighting the ultimate bad guy.
12) Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange opens the MCU up to a much bigger multiverse. Up until this movie, the MCU had only explored as far as the cosmos, but Doctor Strange introduces the idea of different dimensions. As said in the film, The Avengers deal with the physical threats, but the sorcerers deal with what you can’t see.
While Kaecilius might not be the most compelling MCU villain, his boss could pose a threat to the future of the MCU. Doctor Strange introduces a whole other power level that characters are capable of. Strange starts off as an arrogant surgeon, and the film turns him into a super sorcerer.
On the surface level, 'Doctor Strange' has one of the most standout visual effects from any MCU solo outing; and the theme song is catchy. Everything about this movie screams “origin story” and Doctor Strange is a dang good one.
11) Iron Man (2008)
The one that started it all. It’s hard to believe that Tony Stark’s story arc begins all the way back in that cave. The first Iron Man has gone down as one of the greatest super hero movies of all time because of what it has done for comic book movies and Marvel Studios as a whole. Looking back, its nostalgia meter is off the charts.
This is the first time we meet some of the MCU’s most important figures. We get see Tony get inside the armor for the first time, and we even see the Mark II suit that eventually becomes War Machine.
The original Iron Man told a story that had never been told before. It breathed life into a new era of super hero films, and it acted as Robert Downey Jr’s comeback. People doubted it before they even had the chance to see it, but regardless of their words, the first 'Iron Man' is a legendary film.
10) The Avengers (2012)
Everything led to this point. It’s crazy to think that this was once the most epic super hero film to ever exist; in many respects it still is. This was a once in a generation event. When the first 'Avengers' came out, Marvel movies weren’t yet the cultural craze that they have become today. 'The Avengers' gave Marvel every bragging right they deserved. It put them on another level.
It was the first movie of its kind. A crossover film with characters built inside of different franchises. Sure we make fun of the costume designs today, but nothing takes away the spark that that movie had on opening night.
It functions as the origin story for the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and it opens up the MCU for its second phase. None of the characters come back the same after 'The Avengers,' and it also marks the beginning of Thanos’s quest for the Infinity Stones. We are shown just how powerful the Space Stone can really be.
9) Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
'Spider-Man: Homecoming' is in the top ten on this list because it throws a teenage hero with teenage problems, into a world of adult villains. Michael Keaton’s Vulture is one of the greatest MCU villains not because he is immensely powerful, but because he is extremely menacing.
Peter is a kid who just want to be a hero like Tony Stark is, but Tony thinks he’s still just a kid. Peter puts on his hero pants and tries to do hero work, but when he messes up, he is left without his suit. This creates a certain tension onscreen between Tom Holland and RDJ, where you want Peter to do well, but you as the viewer, know he is not ready yet.
While the conversation of “Who’s the best Spider-Man?” continues to rage on, I believe that Holland gives the best performance of the web-slinger, because he portrays a real kid. This quality was most prominent in this film.
8) Black Panther (2018)
The first part of T’Challa’s origin took place in Civil War. In that film he had to deal with the grief of losing his father, and taking on the role of Black Panther. In his solo outing, T’Challa is thrusted into taking on the role of King of Wakanda.
Erik is a compelling villain with a motive that is evil because his reasoning is not incorrect. In another movie, he could even be seen as a protagonist. He has a heartbreaking backstory, and you can’t help but feel like he was done wrong as a child. Erik is a bad guy, but he wasn’t born that way.
As great as this movie is, it only opens the door to another realm of heroes the MCU has to offer. T’Challa’s sister—Shuri is a crowd favorite, and a lot of people want to know more about her. The Dora Milaje are some epic bodyguards, and M’Baku seems like a cool new ally. Black Panther is the film that takes place right before Infinity War, and it does a great job of building up Wakanda as a location for the epic battle field that it becomes.
7) Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Even as the first space opera entry in the MCU, GOTG is one of the MCU’s most compartmentalized film’s. The Guardians were a relatively unknown super hero group up until this movie came out. GOTG was a smash hit, and it caught everybody off guard. Some thought it would not be as good as other Marvel films because of the lack of knowledge people had about the characters.
Marvel overcame the adversity, and GOTG ended up becoming an extremely popular group of superheroes. This film features the first interactions with the Power Stone, but it still feels like it could be its own thing. Side note: This is the only movie that has a full adult Groot in it.
GOTG is the epitome of the underdog story. It exceeded all expectations and then some. This film has a unique sense of comedy; much of it coming from director James Gunn. Also, the soundtrack is one of Marvel’s best.
6) Thor Ragnarok (2017)
Easily one of the best MCU film’s… for me. I have seen people love this movie to pieces, and I’ve seen some tear it to shreds. To put it simply, Ragnarok is one of the MCU’s most acquired tastes. It is a major blockbuster superhero movie, yet it feels like an indie film.
This is of course attributed to Taika Waititi’s writing and direction. He completely reinvented Thor’s image, and made the character interesting again. Not to mention, this film rolls right into Infinity War, so it scales Thor’s powers up even more.
Ragnarok is uniquely funny. It’s awkwardly funny. It is a total breakaway from everything that comes before it in the MCU. Waititi also does a great job of making Loki a likable anti-hero. With the announcement of 'Thor: Love and Thunder' on the horizon, I am very excited to see where Thor is taken next.
5) Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Far From Home is a shoe in for the top five MCU movies…for me. If Homecoming was the movie that proved Peter could be a hero, Far From Home showed that he could hang with the heavy hitters. This film was all about him trying to fill Iron Man’s shoes. Even with all this going on, director Jon Watts was able to weave an awkward love story in the midst of it all.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio is a psychotic villain who wants to live the hero life, but will do bad things to achieve it. The MCU’s Spider-Man franchise has featured some of the most compelling villains in the MCU. Mysterio is a bad guy that was “created” by Tony Stark, and Peter is left to pick up the pieces.
On the other side of things, this film is an accurate representation of a real “awkward teen movie.” As many critics have said, the MCU Spider-Man movies feel like a John Hughes movie inside of a superhero universe. Far From Home does not shy away from this notion at all, in fact, it embraces it. Peter is as much a superhero, as he is still a kid.
Some long time fans of Spider-Man dislike the MCU’s version of the character because they say the films are too “lighthearted.” It all comes down to personal preference, but Far From Home does it all for me.
4) Captain America Civil War (2016)
How can a political disagreement between two work friends become the catalyst for disbanding the Avengers? You make it personal; and The Russo Brothers made it personal. Even though this film had almost all the Avengers in it, it was still very much Captain America’s movie. Cap had gone from a person who was the face of America, to someone who questioned it.
Civil War is another test of Cap’s moral compass. He is forced to put his friendships aside in order to do what he thinks is right. CACW features some of the MCU’s greatest fight scenes. First, the airport battle in Germany; then “Steve & Bucky vs. Tony.”
Without a doubt, Civil War’s final fight scene is emotional. The two lead characters of the MCU were going head to head in a fight that started out of sadness. Bucky killed Tony’s parents, and Steve didn’t tell Tony about it. All three of them acted out of emotion, and the issue over the Sokovia Accords went away. It was just Steve, Bucky, and Tony; and when it was over, the Avengers weren’t only split legally, but their relationships were torn.
3) Captain America The Winter Soldier (2014)
The first Captain America movie represented that “the true hero lies within,” while the second one says “the true villain lies on the inside.” Up until this film, SHIELD was a major player inside of the MCU, but 'The Winter Soldier' dismantled them as an organization. HYDRA was right in front of our faces the whole time.
It’s The Russo Brother’s first film with Marvel Studios, and they made such an impression that they ended up making three more MCU movies. 'The Winter Soldier' is a political thriller that flipped the MCU on its head. It tore down the fabric of the MCU, and it built a new one. As the film picks up on Cap’s arc right after the events of New York, Steve is forced to adapt to modern times.
Much of the Captain America franchise deals with the morality of his character, and 'The Winter Soldier' takes hold of the fact that he is righteous in all he does. Cap will do what is right, even if it’s the old fashioned way. This film was the first time that a Marvel character had been painted in such a light, and it caught people off guard. Some promos for the movie even said it was “better than the Avengers.” I can’t say they are wrong.
2) Avengers Endgame (2019)
I think instead of explaining why I love this movie so much, I’m going to have to explain why I have it at number two. For many people, Endgame is the greatest superhero movie to ever exist, and they wouldn’t be wrong in saying so. Endgame is the most epic superhero movie of all time, and nobody could convince me otherwise. It wraps up a decade long storyline that weaves in a multitude of characters. It’s a fitting send off to the original Avengers, but why do I have it at number two?
Endgame is a love story to all that came before, and it doesn’t try to disguise it in any way. The entire first half of the movie is dedicated to all the major events that shaped the MCU. Every question gets answered, and all loose ends are tied up. There are cameos by characters we never expected to see again, but yet they were all in this film. References on references, easter on eggs, Endgame has them all.
People talk a lot about how they wished for Endgame’s first half to be different, but I think there was no other way to send the character’s off. Not only did it wrap up many of the character arcs, but it also built a lot of character doing so. Thor goes back and receives encouraging words from his mother, Clint has to watch Natasha sacrifice herself. Everything that happened was for a reason, and it ultimately builds into the biggest superhero battle royale ever. It’s emotional, and it’s flawlessly done. These scenes are the last time that we will ever get to see some of these characters, and there’s something very melancholic about that. You knew this movie was going to end on a good note; but at what cost? The original Avengers had to go their separate ways, but in doing so, they allowed for a new future for the MCU.
It’s in terms of scale, Endgame is the most epic MCU film; but I think there is one movie that edges it out narratively.
1) Avengers Infinity War (2018)
The Avengers are broken up. Cap and friends are on the run. Loki is dead. Thanos is collecting the Infinity Stones. It’s hard to believe that Thanos had existed in the MCU since the first Avengers movie, and it would’ve been sad to see him get off-ed in one movie. Avengers Infinity War is at the top of this list because of the way it handles the villain. Superhero movies are only as good as their villain, and Infinity War provided the backstory to the MCU’s biggest bad.
Thanos thinks he’s right. In many respects, he is, but his methods are mad. Despite this, he is fully committed to his plan. Thanos is willing to do “whatever it takes”—even if that means he must sacrifice his own daughter.
From a narrative viewpoint, Infinity War stands out because it does something no other movies dare do. It tells four separate stories, in one movie. 1) Thor needs Stormbreaker 2) Cap’s squad protects Vision 3) People go to Titan 4) Thanos collects the stones.
Infinity War is able to equally balance each of these stories, and it tells them well. No story over powers the other, and every character plays a role. Every scene in this film is significant in some way, and you can’t get lost in the fighting. Endgame is the heart, and Infinity War is the mind. We needed Infinity War to get to Endgame, and we needed Endgame to answer all the questions left by Infinity War.
It’s a film of massive proportions, yet everything feels so compartmentalized. Tony and Steve don’t even have any scenes together, but the movie feels so full. In any other movie universe, Infinity War would not have worked. It relies on the things we already knew, in order to craft a masterful story from multiple fronts. It lays down the final pieces left for the Avengers to pick up in Endgame. Infinity War is the one.
Everybody has a preference. I would bet someone in this world hated every MCU film except for Thor: The Dark World; but that alone would be their preference. I made this list as a long time fan. As someone who was there on opening night for every Marvel Studios movie, I am glad to say I’ve been a fan since the MCU started.
In all honesty, this list is a reflection of the movies I think stand as the best MCU films, not my personal favorites. If it were down to my personal biases, my top three would actually be
1) Endgame
2) Infinity War
3) Far From Home
Those three are movies that I can continually watch over and over. They never get old.
All 23 of these movies have cemented their place in history, regardless if people reacted well to them or not. The MCU’s Infinity Saga has forever changed the face of pop culture, and in doing so, gave us some awesome movies along the way.
We can only wait to see what Marvel Studios has in store for us next.