With the recent uptick in quality MCU movies in the past year or two—Deadpool & Wolverine, Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I thought it was a good time to update my top 10 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie list.
Without further ado…in alphabetical order:
- Avengers (2012) — it has become a little underrated over the years but it is still one of, if not the, greatest and quintessential, superhero team-up movies ever. It set the blueprint for the big, overstuffed (in a good way) comic book movie mashup.
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)—the culmination of 11 years of interwoven, unprecedented cinematic storytelling like we had never seen before. A fitting end to the biggest movie franchise in film history. It raised the bar for superhero movie-making, but as we have also seen, it has made it tough schlepping (to measure up to) for even the genre’s best efforts since 2019.
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)—it is in my Mt. Rushmore (top four) of comic book movies. It reminds me a lot, tonally and emotionally, of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. In both movies, our heroes bravely battle villainy in different corners of the galaxy BUT the good guys actually lose in both movies!
- Black Panther (2018)—is still perhaps the best film, in terms of depth and themes, that the MCU has had to offer. The weight of the story tragically spills over into real life when it’s titular character, deftly played by the late, great Chadwick Boseman sadly passed away before the filming of the film’s sequel, Wakanda Forever. The franchise will live on but while Boseman’s legacy continues to shine bright.
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)—when I saw that the plot featured heroes fighting heroes, I was initially leading up to the film’s release nine years ago. Like, where are the stakes? But then a funny thing happened. I watched the film and somehow got sucked in by the practical effects, fight choreography and and realistic moral struggle that Captain America is enduring as he breaks the law to protect his dear friend Bucky Barnes.
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)—it is my second favorite MCU film and probably the second best narrative to Black Panther in the franchise. Steve Rogers grows up in this film. It’s more serious and darker than the pulpy Captain America:The First Avenger (2011), and it kicks ass with an assist from ScarJo’s scene-stealing Black Widow, and Anthony Mackie’s Falcon. I simply love 💕 this flick!!
- Iron Man (2008)—this film will always be in my top 10 MCU movies list, no matter what. It birthed the MCU and there would be no MCU, no top 10 MCU list, and no Robert Downey, Jr. career rebirth without this film. The movie’s unexpected success kickstarted the greatest movie franchise of all-time, and saved Downey’s career. It will remain a part of our cultural lexicon for years to come.
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)—the year 2014 was one of the greatest years in MCU history. Starting off with the bang of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in April and closing the year with Guatdians of the Galaxy in August, the MCU had really hit its stride. Who would have ever thought that a talking raccoon, a barely talking tree, a green-colored warrior, a musclebound, greenish brute, and a Han Solo knockoff (Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord) would capture our hearts and funny bones? Eclectic director James Gunn made it work. Somehow.
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)—Toby Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland brought one of Internet’s most popular memes to life, and then some. It was emotional, fun and fast-paced. It’s probably the apex, along with Deadpool & Wolverine, of the MCU providing tons of fan service while still serving up a good story.
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017–my third favorite MCU movie brings me back to my childhood. It reminds me of high school as well as a more scaled-down, friendly-neighborhood hero owning his little world while being connected to a broader, “super” world beyond Queens. It had an 80’s feel with its Ferris Bueller meta references and even includes a 1980’s superhero movie legend, Michael Keaton, portraying the film’s grounded antagonist—Vulture, who happens to be my favorite MCU villain after Thanos and Erik Killmonger.
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)—Taika Waititi’s zany re-tonig and reframing of Thor, in the franchise’s third installment, miraculously works and saved the Thor franchise. Who would have thought that there would be more Thor movies than any MCU titular character to-date—four and counting?
I gave strong consideration to adding Fantastic Four: First Steps and/or Thunderbolts to the list. They’re just outside of it. And there’s no shame in that.
