Marvel Cinematic Universe

Been awhile since I’ve seen some of these but I’ve seen almost all at least twice so here goes my ranking:

21. Thor: The Dark World
This one is the least enjoyable out of all these. The story is bland. The characters are mostly unlikable. As a whole it falls flat and leaves you feeling nothing. Even Loki can’t save this one.

20. Iron Man 2
This movie is a pretty poor sequel to the original Iron Man. The script has so much going on that it feels as though nothing is going on as every plot line moves at a snail’s pace. The action scenes are few and far between. And much of it feels like a commercial for the Avengers.

19. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Easily the most confusing movie, AoU is extremely convoluted and strangely paced. Its new characters are forgettable. And the ending feels like a cheap retread of the New York battle. Still though, it’s good to see the Avengers teaming up again and they all give really charming performances.

18. The Incredible Hulk
This is typically found in the bottom spot but honestly it’s not a bad movie. No, it doesn’t have the usual MCU charm and the loss of Ed Norton makes it feel unconnected but discounting that it’s still a pretty competently made origin story with some killer action scenes.

17. Iron Man 3
Probably the most divisive MCU movie, this one doesn’t get Phase 2 off to the best start. We’ve all heard about the villain problem but honestly I don’t care that the Mandarin was a fake. But he was replaced with a lame and cliched villain. The story itself feels very contrived and doesn’t feel like it makes much sense in a movie the takes place after the Avengers. The implications of the ending are cheap as well since we know he’ll be Iron Man the next time he appears. Still though, there are some very fun and creative scenes thrown in there and it entertains if you can see pat its flaws.

16. Doctor Strange
An origin story that doesn’t bring much new to the table. I know a lot of people love this movie but honestly I think it’s just alright. I don’t like the characters all that much and it just jumps straight to the climax. The visuals are stunningly cool and it’s an all around good movie but not one of my favorites.

15. Captain Marvel
Another origin story that feels too derivative for Phase 3, this is a good but forgettable movie. The characters are pretty good (yes even Brie Larson) and it’s a fun romp but not much else.

14. Ant-Man and the Wasp
This is probably the lightest MCU movie but it’s still really fun. The story is maybe a little too shalllow for these movies and the villains can get goofy but it’s a fun palate cleanser considering what came before.

13. Thor
I kinda have a soft spot for this movie. I know the New Mexico setting isn’t the funnest place in the world but it works pretty well for me. And I really love everything in Asgard. The beginning half hour is incredible and the ending battle feels really weighty and epic. I know it’s not everyone’s favorite but I really like it.

12. Ant-Man
One of the enigmatic surprises in here. I did not expect to like this movie but I found it to be one of the most charming and funny entries of the series. It’s a low stakes heist film but it does that really well.

11. Spider-Man: Homecoming
People have called this the best Spider-Man movie and one of the best superhero movies ever. I definitely wouldn’t go that far but this is a movie I really enjoy. It’s cool to see a street level perspective on this universe. The villain is one of the best and the story itself feels relatable and inspiring for what it is.

10. Captain America: The First Avenger
This was a character I didn’t think they could make work but to my surprise they actually made a movie where Steve Rogers is a well done and interesting character. I really really like the first half of the movie. But the second half sadly feels a bit rushed and doesn’t plat out as deliberately. Still a great movie but it gets a bit worse as it goes on.

9. Guardians of the Galaxy
One of the hugest surprises in the MCU. I remembering reading about these characters and thinking there was no way this could work. Boy was I wrong. This is an incredible, insane, fun movie with one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard. It was huge risk at the time but man it paid off.

8. Iron Man
Speaking of risks, Iron Man was a film that was a huge gamble at the time but proved to be a huge success. The casting of Robert Downey Jr. was genius and he made this movie work so damn well. It has a level of grit that has largely disappeared from the MCU that makes it feel a lot more real and belivable.

7. Thor: Ragnarok
This was a movie that I don’t think anyone was excited for. No one likes the Dark World and Thor has become the least favorite Avenger. And the trailers made this feel like a GOTG clone. Yet somehow this crazy experiment worked not only as a movie bad a satisfying capper to a very inconsistent trilogy. Maybe a few too many jokes though.

6. Black Panther
After a string of movies that while enjoyable were beginning to feel homogenous, Black Panther swooped in as a film with a really good story, great characters, and something to say. This was a very different kind of Marvel movie that while not Oscar material, was a definite high.

5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
This is another movie that I didn’t know what to expect from. I really didn’t know where they could take Cap in the 21st Century. But somehow this was one of the most well-crafted movies in the series. It expanded on Cap’s character nicely and contrasted what it means to be a soldier in two different eras. Its action is among the best in the series. And with two very well handled twists, this was a very personal and suspenseful film.

4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But I really love this movie. This one has the best character work of any of these films. It is one of the most emotional. And it has an even better soundtrack than the first. Even when not much is happening, these characters and settings are just so much fun to be around. And also this turned Yondu from a character I was ambivalent towards to one of my favorites.

3. The Avengers
Okay, this movie isnt the best crafted. Part of it is shot like a TV show. The first quarter is kinda boring. But just seeing all these heroes come together as the culmination of six films is nothing short of amazing. The New York battle is something you’re never going to forget seeing for the first time. The characters all have pretty solid arcs. It may not have the best story but it’s one of the best experiences you’ll ever have at the theater.

2. Avengers: Infinity War
This is a movie I was actually quite worried about. But it was so much better than I ever could have imagined. Despite having a truly ridiculous amount of characters, this movie somehow manages to balance all of them in a very focused story. And the thing I thought would be the worst part of the movie turned out to be the best: Thanos. I was worried we’d get another Ultron but through the genius idea of making him the central character, the Russo brothers made one of the best villains in cinema. And not just that, the film is a spectacle to behold and has one of the most jaw dropping finishes to a movie.

1. Captain America: Civil War
But despite how much I love those movies, my number one is Civil War. For my money, this movie has the best story, the best emotion, and some of the best action to come out of this franchise. This movie builds on previous character journeys spectacularly and creates a central conflict that feels earned and feels right. And unlike BVS, this film goes all the way with its premise and delivers an incredibly heartbreaking ending. It also masterfully introduces Black Panther and Spider-Man. It’s not as spectacular as Avengers or shocking as Infinity War. But this one balances all the right elements of what make an incredible movie.