The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become a cornerstone of modern pop culture, captivating audiences worldwide with its interconnected stories, complex characters, and larger-than-life, epic battles. Launched by Marvel Studios with the release of Iron Man in 2008, the MCU has grown into one of the biggest and most popular franchises that includes over 30 films, numerous television series, and a vast array of multimedia content, with the theatrically released films ranking in over $11 billion worldwide.

But why has it maintained that staying power for audiences over a decade? It crafted a universe where heroes are born, whether humans gaining powerful abilities, Gods, or even aliens, come together to defeat evil on-screen, which is a dream for those who’ve read comic books since childhood. Since then, we’ve formed a deep connection with super soldiers, a talking raccoon, and a teenage web-slinger. The franchise’s success can be attributed to its innovative approach to storytelling, blending genres, and maintaining a cohesive narrative through a rich tapestry of diverse characters and settings. This diversity adds depth to the story and makes the audience feel more connected. And who doesn’t love being part of this connection? Those who think they’re above everyone, especially filmmakers who believe they’re not part of cinema. There hasn’t been one I missed in theaters, and it’s always my job to see them opening weekend (except the first Captain America). To this day, the biggest challenge was rewatching everything leading up to Infinity War in one week.

During its current phase, not all of them are box office successes or critical hits (also implies to some of their TV series), with some questioning the quality of them not living up to backing the heyday. Eventually, there had to be a few stumbles that didn’t level up to what we got peak-Endgame. But does that cause major fatigue? Not always. It’s part of the course for any blockbuster nowadays, and though I love this franchise, not everything is perfect. But as the MCU continues to expand with new characters and storylines, it remains a testament to the power of visionary storytelling and the enduring appeal of its iconic heroes. And will we still pay for a ticket to see them?

With the recent release of Deadpool & Wolverine, I personally rank all 34 movies inside the MCU that have come out thus far. This ranking only includes the films, not any of the shows on Disney+. Two reasons: They deserve a list of their own, and it’s because I haven’t watched all of them based on time or heard some of the more recent series are a waste of time.

With all said and done, here’s where I currently stand with these movies in the MCU:

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34) ‘Thor: The Dark World‘

Directed By: Alan Taylor

Release Date: November 8, 2013

Budget: $271 million

Domestic Box Office: $206.4 million/ Worldwide: $644.8 million

RT Score: 67%

With every MCU ranking, Thor: The Dark World will be near the bottom of everyone’s list. Let’s be honest with ourselves: this 2013 sequel directed by Alan Taylor is one of the more forgettable superhero movies in the last ten years. It’s not a bad sequel to a surprisingly good first film, but it’s so dull that watching it again doesn’t really make it worthwhile. The romance between Thor and Jane Foster feels nonexistent this time, eliminating her purpose in the film. The only relevance this has is introducing us to the Reality Stone, which the Aether infected Jane. On the plus side of what stood out in Thor: The Dark World: This explores more of Asguard, Chris Hemsworth still gives an excellent performance as Thor, and Tom Hid­dle­ston as Loki still brings entertaining moments that make him a likable anti-hero next to Hemsworth. Any scene with the two of them remains the best part. But this also suffers because of Malekith, played by Christopher Eccleston, the weakest and the most underdeveloped MCU villain. He’s always been an afterthought without a memorable motivation.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

33) ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

Directed By: Peyton Reed

Release Date: February 17, 2023

Budget: $276 million

Domestic Box Office: $214.5 Million / Worldwide: $476.1 Million

RT Score: 46%

Considering how entertaining Peyton Reed made Ant-Man and its 2018 sequel, to say the third installment, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, is a step-down is shocking. Phase 5 kicked off with mixed or even negative results, seeing Scott Lang, Hope, and the Van Diem family trapped inside the Quantum Realm, which sees Ant-Man face a new threat, Kang the Conqueror. The most severe issue with Qunantumania is that it attempts to do too much with its world-building within the Quantum Realm. The story is unmemorable, and the film barely permits itself to be fun. Paul Rudd continues to be a selling point to fans. And, despite the legal issues that arose shortly after its release, Jonathan Majors’ portrayal of Kang kept everyone from dismissing the film. The drawback is that we won’t see him again once this establishes him as the franchise’s main threat. Some visuals looked decent with their environment, while a few key moments showed why they were heavily lambasted (M.O.D.O.K.). The more I sat on it months later, the less likely I will rewatch Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania since it was seen as disappointing and very forgettable in the eyes of fans. It was one of the few MCU entries that failed to meet expectations at the box office and the first to earn Razzie nominations.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

32) ‘Iron Man 2‘

Directed By: Jon Favreau

Release Date: May 7, 2010

Budget: $200 million

Domestic Box Office: $312.4 million/Worldwide: $623.9 million

RT Score: 72%

Just released two years after its predecessor was a smash hit and launched the ongoing franchise, Iron Man 2 had the impossible task of being as great. It is by far the weakest in the trilogy, and it’s sad when it follows its predecessor’s surprise hit. When closely examined, this 2010 sequel tried too hard to build upon the rest of the universe instead of staying more grounded with what it got. Although it’s difficult not to compare this to the original. When there is time to demonstrate it, most of the action is quite well-handled. Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow received a decent introduction, and Don Cheadle showed potential in taking over Terrence Howard as Roddy/War Machine. But besides expecting more from Justin Therox’s script, Mickey Rourke’s Ivan Vanko/ Whiplash makes him a one-dimensional antagonist easily forgotten, leading to a rushed storyline that makes this sequel fall short. They had given him more time to flesh out his character, yet it must’ve been left on the cutting room floor. Since then, Jon Favreau hasn’t directed another film in the MCU after, and you can sense this was a more overwhelming experience.

31) ‘Thor: Love and Thunder‘

Directed By: Taika Waititi

Release Date: July 8, 2022

Budget: $250 million

Domestic Box Office: $343.2 million/ Worldwide: $760.9 million

RT Score: 63%

Sometimes, you must hate the internet for ruining something good. Initially, I had a positive perspective on Thor: Love and Thunder, riding high on it and calling it the best in the Thor series. You start to look under the cracks and realize it could’ve been better than what Taika Waititi brought with Ragnarok five years prior. To the fourth installment’s credit, this allowed Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster to get in on the action as Mighty Thor and sense better chemistry with Chris Hemsworth this time. And it offers some cool ideas, like the Shadow and Eternity realms serving as standout sequences. Looking back at it with new eyes, I see that it almost falls short of having that adventurous spirit one would expect from Thor. When it has the time to say something profound about love and what makes us feel worthy in life, it can get bogged down by iffy CGI and some feeble comedy that’ll grow tiresome aside from some chuckles here and there. Fans repeatedly calling Thor: Love and Thunder one of the worst superhero movies are exaggerating, but sadly, it’s fair to say it’s a disappointment within Phase 4.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

30) ‘Captain Marvel‘

Directed By: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

Release Date: March 8, 2019

Budget: $175 million

Domestic Box Office: $426.8 million/ Worldwide: $1.131 billion

RT Score: 79%

This was the first MCU film with a female lead, and it’s challenging to argue that Captain Marvel is a tad underwhelming when it wasn’t the game-changer it claimed to be. Not to say that this is one of the MCU’s weakest offerings (though audience ratings suggest otherwise), but I believe it should have had a better origin narrative set in the mid-1990s because it is the first time we’ve seen her in a pretty standard film. Brie Larson performs alright as the titular character, and she works well alongside Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury with decent de-aging effects and Ben Mendelsohn as the Skull Talos. However, the action is pretty forgettable, and nothing particularly stands out until the third act. The movie is a mixed bag of what we consider good and bad. That being said, some people consider Captain Marvel watchable.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

29) ‘The Marvels‘

Directed By: Nia DaCosta

Release Date: November 10, 2023

Budget: $274.8 million

Domestic Box Office: $84.5 million/ Worldwide: $206.1 million

RT Score: 61%

Whether The Marvels improved upon Captain Marvel wasn’t too shocking; many ignored it. It became a box office bomb and is currently the lowest-grossing MCU movie to not even cross over $100 million domestically. But putting that aside, it’s a pretty basic sequel with stakes too low to compel what’s going on. The benefit of having Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambow, and Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel for an intergalactic team-up certainly has its moments when they work together, figuring out how to make perfect sense of their powers. The problem is that they’re surrounded by a lackluster plot with an equally lackluster villain nobody remembers. Would it have been better if it was longer than 105 minutes? Who knows? As it stands, The Marvels is perhaps one of the more average comic book movies despite a talented filmmaker like Nia DaCosta involved and its three actresses doing their best with what they’re working with. We do get a hint at Young Avengers that kind of piques my interest, but who knows when we’ll get that?

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

28) ‘Eternals‘

Directed By: Chloé Zhao

Release Date: November 5, 2021

Budget: $236.2 million

Domestic Box Office: $164.9 million/ Worldwide: $402.1 million

RT Score: 47%

Fresh off her Award-winning work for 2020’s best film, Nomadland, director Chloé Zhao challenges its audience with a more ambitious superhero movie than imagined, Eternals. A property pretty unfamiliar with non-comic book readers, fans will get some getting used to introducing new faces like Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikaris (Richard Madden), and Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani). With Eternals, Zhao attempted to create something unique in the MCU by delving into the life of these immortal aliens who have spent thousands of years protecting Earth from Deviants. So, technically, they are the universe’s first heroes. The character dynamics are interesting, but none stand out, and you only remember a few of their names. With the slow runtime, the Deviants not excelling as memorable antagonists, and the messy plot structure made this entry difficult to love throughout, this makes the decision to rewatch it up in the air. It might gain a considerable cult following somewhere in time, but it’s only a matter of time before the world will see these characters on screen again.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

27) ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘

Directed By: Sam Raimi

Release Date: May 6, 2022

Budget: $350.6 million

Domestic Box Office: $411.3 Million/ Worldwide: $955.8 Million

RT Score: 73%

With the absence of Scott Derrickson, director Sam Raimi returned to the superhero genre after his original Spider-Man trilogy to blend with his usual horror trademarks with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. As someone who has always talked highly about the first, the results for this 2022 sequel were okay, albeit not as entirely superb as its predecessor. Having Raimi step back into the comic book realm made me forget how creative he can control this story, and its horror tones are found in hits and pieces. Once again, Benedict Cumberbatch hasn’t lost touch with his latest appearance as Dr. Stephen Strange. Elizabeth Olsen brings her best to show her surprisingly villainous side to Wanda Maximoff/ Scarlet Witch, providing the audience with a darker follow-up from what we’ve seen in WandaVision. But for a movie titled “Multiverse of Madness,” there should’ve been more to cash in on our expectations, causing the main story to get lost in those two hours beneath some cool visuals. The cameos with the Illuminati in the second half were distracting. Though I was happy to see John Krasinski as Mr. Fantastic show up, it felt like a waste considering what happened to them. 

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

26) ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp‘

Directed By: Peyton Reed

Release Date: July 6, 2018

Budget: $195 million

Domestic Box Office: $216.6 million/ Worldwide: $622.7 million

RT Score: 87%

Ant-Man and the Wasp takes a lighter approach, following how Avengers: Infinity War tragically ended a few months earlier. For fans of the original, the Peyton Reed sequel keeps elements of what made it a hit, but it’s not as great as it has somewhat of an okay and simple story that’s only serviceable, added on with hit-or-miss jokes and mostly weak villain in Ghost. Most would say this is better than the original, to which I don’t agree. With that said, Ant-Man and the Wasp does what it can by promising some quality action sequences, using the abilities to shrink, and the performances/ chemistry of Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lily make for a fun film, even compared to the original. Not the greatest among Phase 3, but a solid sequel that won’t harm anyone. 

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

25) ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron‘

Directed By: Joss Whedon

Release Date: May 1, 2015

Budget: $365 million

Domestic Box Office: $459 million/ Worldwide: $1.403 billion

RT Score: 76%

The buzz for Avengers: Age of Ul­tron was real, with everyone enthusiastic about the darker tone that this sequel was taking, based on all the promos. Did we get that? No, but besides delivering on the action (the Hulk vs. Hulkbuster fight being a standout) and the ensemble still holding firm (the team trying to lift Thor’s hammer was a highlight), it’s less entertaining the more it’s thought about with Joss Whedon in charge. Simply put, Age of Ul­tron didn’t have the same impact the first film had, with nothing particularly remarkable. Most of us thought Ul­tron (voiced by James Spader) would be a dark villain in the trailers, and he just appeared as a sarcastic and menacing villain mostly, and that’s about it. It didn’t feel like Whe­don gave it his all in what felt like a setup for future movies. At least we get to know more about Hawkeye and his family life while also getting our introduction to Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and the Vi­sion. It’s probably the one Avengers movie that I watched the least.

24) ‘Black Widow‘

Directed By: Cate Shortland

Release Date: July 9, 2021

Budget: $288.5 million

Domestic Box Office: $183.7 million/ Worldwide: $379.8 million

RT Score: 79%

Black Widow would’ve been best if it came out before the Infinity War or Endgame events. Kind of left in the background, it’s a decent prequel that’s a good enough swan song to Scarlett Johansson’s famous heroine. You’re still given an action-packed and intimate standalone story able to connect us to the character, even though we already know what will happen since it takes place when Natasha Romanoff is on the run from the law and enlists the aid of her surrogate family to take down the Red Room. Johansson, as Natasha, is excellent, as usual. Still, she’s playing second fiddle when this got two scene-stealing performances from Florence Pugh’s Yelena and David Harbour’s Alexi/ Red Guardian. While the plot may not offer high stakes and Taskmaster’s portrayal may not live up to the comics, there’s still room for Black Widow to grow. It may not be top-tier, but it’s not a complete disappointment either.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

23) ‘The Incredible Hulk’ 

Directed By: Louis Leterrier

Release Date: June 13, 2008

Budget: $150 million

Domestic Box Office: $134.8 Million/ Worldwide: $264.7 Million

RT Score: 67%

The In­cred­i­ble Hulk was the second film released in the MCU mere weeks after Iron Man blew up at the box office. A lot forget this was a part of the franchise and Phase 1 since it was released through Universal Pictures. It’s not perfect, although I’ll never understand how few would declare this one of the worst. Audiences and fans of the comics definitely needed a second attempt at the iconic raging green monster that wasn’t as campy as the late ‘70s television series with Bill Bixby or Ang Lee’s adaptation that was cartoony and too serious in the worst way. We got an improvement from Louis Leterrier that worked well in this alternative look at the Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story. The action sequences were exciting enough, and Edward Norton’s performance as Bruce Ban­ner/​Hulk is delivering more credit. Many forgot the Oscar-nominated actor portrayed the character. Since his involvement in rewriting the script and disagreement over the final cut, he’s only to blame for not reprising his role later. Yet, in fairness, Mark Ruf­falo is the definitive answer to the title role since The Avengers. It also has that MCU trope of the hero fighting someone with the same abilities (Hulk vs. Tim Roth’s The Abomination). Though it’s been for­got­ten as time passes, The Incredible Hulk shouldn’t be one to skip.

22) ‘Iron Man 3‘

Directed By: Shane Black

Release Date: May 3, 2013

Budget: $200 million

Domestic Box Office: $409 million/ Worldwide: $1.215 billion

RT Score: 79%

As a fan of Shane Black (who worked with Robert Downey Jr. on the underrated Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), I was excited to see what he could do with Iron Man 3. Taking place a year following the events in The Avengers, the film is better than the second installment, although I see where it has both its detractors and defenders out there. We see a change of pace by seeing more of Tony Stark out of his Iron Man suits, which was different, but it made sense with him trying to get back on his feet and wanting to show some redemption for the character when suffering from PTSD. It delivered some amazing action throughout, and, of course, Downey Jr.’s performance was nothing but superb. However, the big twist with the Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley), Iron Man’s greatest enemy in the comics, will undoubtedly make or break the rest of the experience. Though I wasn’t a fan of what they did with the villain, Iron Man 3 is another sequel in the MCU I don’t mind revisiting.

21) ‘Thor‘

Directed By: Kenneth Branagh

Release Date: May 6, 2011

Budget: $200 million

Domestic Box Office: $181 million/ Worldwide: $449.3 million

RT Score: 77%

Some were worried about Thor being cheesy when it was announced, but Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of the “God of Thunder” was a surprise. The film uses its fish out of water storyline, feeling different and out of place, especially being the film first for the hero. However, even when the film gets bogged down by too much Earth stuff with Jane Foster and her team, which leads to not having too many sequences on Asgard afterward, and some of Branagh’s direction appears distracting, it’s still highly entertaining. It also gave Chris Hemsworth the huge breakout role that made him the star he is today. And Tom Hiddleston as Loki is still considered one of my favorite villains in the franchise, and you can’t complain about that. Out of the entries in Phase 1, I’m probably more positive about Thor than most.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

20) ‘Captain America: The First Avenger‘ 

Directed By: Joe Johnston

Release Date: July 22, 2011

Budget: $140 million

Domestic Box Office: $176.7 million/ Worldwide: $370.6 million

RT Score: 80%

Released the same summer movie season as Thor, Captain Amer­ica: The First Avenger could’ve gone in the wrong direction as a solo film during Phase 1. They last represented this hero in a laughably terrible 1990 film. Instead of making it corny for the start of his arc, this went for a serious tone. The way director Joe Johnston brought him into the World War II setting is more enjoyable upon further thinking. Though I was worried about the casting decision, Chris Evans was the perfect choice to portray Steve Rogers/​ Captain America as a skinny guy from Brooklyn who wants to fight for his country and defeat Hydra’s Red Skull (Hugo Weaving). And let’s not forget, we also have a cute romance between Steve and Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter. The action is old-fashioned, but it’s never placed higher because most of it goes by quickly, and the film loses some energy after a while. Positioned to be known as the weakest in the trilogy and this low on the list still means it’s one to have fun with a decade later.

19) ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘

Directed By: Destin Danel Cretton

Release Date: September 3, 2021

Budget: $200 million

Domestic Box Office: $224.5 million/ Worldwide: $432.2 million

RT Score: 91%

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings could’ve been the one MCU film to fail since it deals with another origin story about a character non-hardcore fans have even heard of. With help from Destin Daniel Cretton, another filmmaker who transitioned from smaller indies to blockbusters, it was a memorable adventure that might’ve impressed me the most in Phase 4. Simu Liu’s task of making his character easy to resonate with made him an early fan-favorite, from the breakout star of going from a regular guy to knowing how to throw down with a flip of a switch. He’s also backed by Awkwafina’s comic relief, Katy, or Tony Leung’s decisive villainous turn as Wenwu. What makes Shang-Chi stand out from the rest is not just the heart and drama but also basking in how awesome the action was captured through the fast-paced fight choreography. These are some of the best fight sequences we’ve seen from Marvel until now that can slide martial artists into the mainstream. Aside from not feeling it had to include the return of Sir Ben Kingsley’s role as Trevor Slattery and the CGI during the third act doesn’t look the finest, especially the soul-sucking Dweller-in-Darkness, it’s a film I think is great on second viewing. Like Black Panther, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings pushed forward with the diversity factor to spread to a broader audience. I’m curious to see what a sequel will bring to this hero next.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

18) ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘

Directed By: James Gunn

Release Date: May 5, 2017

Budget: $200 million

Domestic Box Office: $389.8 Million/ Worldwide: $863.8 Million

RT Score: 85%

We all knew Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would not be nearly as great as its predecessor, but it’s still close to being more adventurous and fun in a sequel I dare say is misunderstood. Not only does it improve from a visual standpoint, but James Gunn does an excellent job of fleshing out a few characters in the second installment, and you understand why certain people like Yondu and Nebula are simply the way they are. Yondu, in particular, is given one of the most emotional arcs of any character in the entire series. It even inspired casting to hire Kurt Russell as Ego, the Living Planet. Some people weren’t the film’s biggest fans then because they thought too much humor was thrown in despite being a sci-fi/comedy. Does every joke land? Probably not. However, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is one of, if not the MCU’s more underrated movies. It would be appreciated if they did not fixate on problems that aren’t big deals. It had a good balance of laughs, another great soundtrack (“The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac is a fitting choice), and emotional family beats for an entertaining installment. Vol. 2 also might’ve been the second MCU film to make me cry, with an ending that hit too close to home for me.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

17) ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home‘

Directed By: Jon Watts

Release Date: July 2, 2019

Budget: $160 million

Domestic Box Office: $390.5 million/ Worldwide: $1.131 billion

RT Score: 91%

For Spider-Man: Far From Home to take place following the events of Avengers: Endgame was a tough job, serving itself as an epilogue. This Jon Watts sequel might take Peter Parker on a class trip around Europe and not deal with strange occupances, but it shows the sudden responsibilities he must take on following his mentor’s death and must be stronger than he ever was. Honestly, fans don’t deserve this with all their complaining on social media. Some rank this as the worst Spider-Man movie, and I couldn’t disagree more. However, aside from a few nitpicks to not be as surprising as Homecoming, Watts upped his game with the action and provided an unexpected villain turn from Jake Gyllenhaal as Quentin Beck/ Mysterio. While I love the first more, Spider-Man: Far From Home is still a blast to watch.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

16) ‘Doctor Strange‘

Directed By: Scott Derrickson

Release Date: November 4, 2016

Budget: $236.6 million

Domestic Box Office: $232.6 million/ Worldwide: $677.8 million

RT Score: 89%

They have sold the logline for Doctor Strange as “Iron Man but with magic,” and I would have liked it already. At the time, this is the trippiest and freshest take on a new char­ac­ter that experiments with magic under Scott Derrickson’s direction. This was probably the most complex character to pull off for a standalone movie since he’s built around the concept of magic. Benedict Cum­ber­batch as the Sorcerer Supreme captured the role perfectly (he can do no wrong sometimes) for a character who starts unlikable, then turns around as the film continues once he learns the mystic arts. This also has the best visual style out of all these films, especially the entire sequence of the Astral plane and the mirror dimension (it earned an Oscar nomination for Visual Effects for a reason). It falls short of a familiar story and villain with Mads Mikkelsen’s Kaecilius. Even so, Doc­tor Strange is a solid origin story. Probably, the Phase 3 film deserves more attention.

15) ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘

Directed By: Shawn Levy

Release Date: July 26, 2024

Budget: $200 million

Domestic Box Office: $211.4 million/ Worldwide: $444.6 million (as of 7/29/2024)

RT Score: 78% (as of 7/29/2024)

This nervous thought was in my head, thinking Deadpool & Wolverine would be some mess. Thankfully, Shawn Levy and his teams handled this long-awaited team-up so crowd-pleasing that Multiverse of Madness should take notes on how to do it right. Everything fans loved about those first two movies, from the bloody violence to the laugh-out-loud meta humor, is brought over to this latest installment to ensure Wade Wilson fits perfectly into the MCU and not taint what we loved about Logan. It’s a buddy comedy with Deadpool and Logan/Wolverine that sees these characters at a low point in their lives, and this adventure might lead to some purpose to change them. And it worked, thanks to the fun performances of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, who continues to show why he can’t be replaced as this hero. Surprisingly, it also proves to show love for the Fox Marvel movies. Aside from wanting more out of Cassandra Nova and the story from feeling less messy concerning the timelines, there’s nothing better than having a hurting grin on my face for 90% of the runtime, primarily because of the surprises. Deadpool & Wolverine is fulfilling, making us comic book movie geeks pleased. It’s a great time that you want to rewatch the good X-Men movies (Logan, Days of Future Past, etc.).

Full Review— RIGHT HERE

14) ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘

Directed By: Ryan Coogler

Release Date: November 11, 2022

Budget: $250 million

Domestic Box Office: $453.8 million/ Worldwide: $859.2 million

RT Score: 83%

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever doesn’t get the respect it deserved after its release, and the Ryan Coogler-directed sequel is one of the most substantial entries during Phase 4. It may not compare highly to the original. But one must also remember the difficulty before shooting must’ve been hard because not only did they have to come up with a new story after the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, but to honor his character, T’Challa, simultaneously. Just the opening scene lets you know what you’re in for. That said, Wakanda Forever has much to say about revenge and grief, along with the introduction of Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) and his kingdom of Talokan. Some elements don’t work compared to the original, such as adding Riri Williams/ Ironheart or the subplot with Agent Ross. But Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a lesson in how a blockbuster can deliver on its action while compellingly addressing the importance of one’s legacy. While it earned an Oscar for Costume Design, Angela Basset became the first actor in any Marvel movie to receive an acting Oscar nomination.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

13) ‘Thor: Ragnarok‘

Directed By: Taika Waititi

Release Date: November 3, 2017

Budget: $180 million

Domestic Box Office: $315 million/ Worldwide: $854 million

RT Score: 93%

Thor: Ragnarok instantly made me realize that Taika Waititi should direct more colorful and stylish superhero movies (at the time) because he was a work of art in being the right director to change up the franchise in the third film. Serving as a change of pace to the Thor films, most would understandably call it the best of the four we’ve seen him lead. It was the killer action and the humor that never fell flat that made Thor: Ragnarok stand out as one of the most fun blockbusters in a long while. Without these qualities, the movie could have been deemed garbage. Instead, it made me love Thor more than ever. The performances of Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner nails it. Cate Blanchett isn’t as memorable as Hela, honestly, but how rare is it to see an actress of her stature be an entertaining villain? Thor: Ragnarok was one of the freshest MCU flicks that no one had probably seen coming.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

12) ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘

Directed By: James Gunn

Release Date: May 5, 2023

Budget: $250 Million

Domestic Box Office: $359 Million/ Worldwide: $845.6 Million

RT Score: 82%

While I mostly felt the Marvel slump, as did everyone else, there’s no reason to throw Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in the slump pile when we all know it deserves the right to be called one of the better superhero movies in 2023. Many of us wanted James Gunn to complete his trilogy, and once he returned, the third time’s the charm in sending off these beloved characters in another adventure through the cosmos. Once again, we’re seeing the Guardians do what they do best with style and bravery, giving us that nice balance of laugh-out-loud humor with some of that sentimentally we’ve come to appreciate. But it’s surprisingly Rocket’s movie. Once we learn about his past and what made him the flawless animal we were introduced to in the first movie, he is the heartbeat throughout all three films and one of the best characters in the franchise. And something about the ending always resonated with me, even after seeing it twice in what it means for the future. You have to be a heartless bastard to not have happy tears during the climax that’ll have you put on “Dog Days Are Over.” Didn’t think it was possible, but Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is just as awesome as one would hope for.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

11) ‘Ant-Man‘

Directed By: Peyton Reed

Release Date: July 17, 2015

Budget: $130 million

Domestic Box Office: $180.2 million/ Worldwide: $519.3 million

RT Score: 83%

It still would’ve been nice to see what genius Edgar Wright was formerly going to do with Ant-Man before he left because of creative differences. That said, this is another origin story film that should get a lot more credit because it is a great superhero and an exciting spin on a heist film. The film itself was a surprise on a massive and small scale, following a ridiculous hero who shrinks down, and it turned out to surpass low expectations. With some outstanding performances from Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, and Evangeline Lilly as Hope Pym, creative action sequences and well-timed humor thrown in here, Ant-Man is a win. Yes, it’s another one with an underdeveloped villain with Yellowjacket, but it still ended up being one of the best comic book movies of 2015 most MCU fans shouldn’t scoff at.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

10) ‘Black Panther‘

Directed By: Ryan Coogler

Release Date: February 16, 2018

Budget: $200 million

Domestic Box Office: $700 million/ Worldwide: $1.349 billion

RT Score: 96%

Let’s all agree that Black Panther is one of the coolest characters created for Marvel. But who didn’t see this as the studio’s first film to get a Best Picture nomination and win three Academy Awards (Costume Design, Production Design, Original Score)? Is Black Panther flawless? No, but it’s a great movie that created a new cultural impact in Hollywood. Seeing this character and the world of Wakanda was a big deal for us, especially for a big-budget superhero movie with a primarily black cast to be taken seriously. Ryan Coogler directed something that felt unique that stood out from the rest of the entries. Mainly, it’s because of the fantastic world-building of the fictional Wakanda. Chadwick Boseman’s role as T’Challa/ Black Panther is not just one of the best portrayals of a superhero in ages, but a performance that truly embodies the power and grace of the character. Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger’s motivation in the film is honestly relevant to today’s time, making him one of the universe’s best villains. Providing strong, exciting action (excluding the bad CGI in the climatic fight), as well as a vibe that stays consistent with what the tone was going for, Black Panther is fascinating, and losing Boseman at a young age still breaks my heart.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

9) ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

Directed By: Jon Watts

Release Date: July 7, 2017

Budget: $175 million

Domestic Box Office: $334.2 million/ Worldwide: $880.2 million

RT Score: 92%

Out of all the Spi­der-Man movies that have come out before Spider-Man: Homecoming, there have only been two great films and three disappointing films that many, including myself, want to forget. Finally, we got an amazing film that brought one of my favorite characters to the MCU was a breath of fresh air. This didn’t follow the steps of the other films in having this be another origin story; it felt like a superhero movie in the style of one of John Hughes’ coming-of-age films of the ’80s. Tom Holland captures the spirit of the title hero as the best Spider-Man we’ve ever had, which is nothing against Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, but this was the vision of the character I’ve waited a long time to see. And Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes/ The Vulture was an intimidating villain that actually had a purpose, with one of the most unexpected twists in any Marvel movie I’ll never forget. There could’ve been more action in this, but I love Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

8) ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘

Directed By: Anthony and Joe Russo

Release Date: April 27, 2018

Budget: $400 million

Domestic Box Office: $678.8 million/ Worldwide: $2.048 billion

RT Score: 85%

Everyone didn’t know what to expect from Avengers: Infinity War when it was announced since it sounded too good to be true for the most ambitious crossover to grace the silver screen. It would’ve been challenging to make this epic and pass it off, especially when adapting one of the most popular comics and handling dozens of heroes from the past ten years in over two hours. Luckily, the third installment in the Avengers series is everything fans have been waiting for, and we weren’t disappointed. Infinity War, with its culmination of a decade of Marvel Cinematic Universe storytelling, has a significant impact on the franchise. We finally have a film in which Tony Stark and Doctor Strange interact, Thor meets the Guardians of the Galaxy, and there is a battle in Wakanda. When it shifts from familiar to new places, there is rarely a dull moment in this; the Russo Brothers ensured that each character had time to shine, battling alongside one another to foil Thanos’ quest to acquire the Infinity Stones. We finally see what Thanos can do in part one, which felt like his film, culminating in one of the most unforgettable cliffhangers of the decade with The Snap.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

7) ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘

Directed By: Jon Watts

Release Date: December 17, 2021

Budget: $200 Million

Domestic Box Office: $804.8 Million/ Worldwide: $1.912 Billion

RT Score: 93%

One of the best comic book movies of 2021 that didn’t have to go this hard was Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it deserved to be the highest-grossing film of the year. The third installment in the Jon Watts/ Tom Holland trilogy sees Peter Parker dealing with the duality of himself and his web-slinging persona, all while trying to help the other villains from across the multiverse who’ve fought other different Spider-Men, including Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and more. This could’ve been a disaster if executed poorly. No Way Home, however, was the exact opposite. It skillfully handled multiple characters, making us care for the least popular on-screen villains and giving them second chances. More than that, it felt like a heartfelt celebration of the Spider-Man franchise’s rich history, a nostalgic journey for those who have been here since the beginning. That not only made a promise of its best action sequences in the trilogy but can have the emotional beats that’ll get anybody in following Peter’s journey, which is a significant credit to Holland’s best performance in the MCU. But for longtime fans, it was a dream come true seeing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their roles of Peter Parker/ Spider-Man from their respective universes together, interacting in the same scenes with Holland. Phase 4 wasn’t everybody’s favorite, but there’s truth in believing Spider-Man: No Way Home is the best out of all of them post-Endgame.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

6) ‘Iron Man‘

Directed By: Jon Favreau

Release Date: May 2, 2008

Budget: $140 million

Domestic Box Office: $318.6 million/ Worldwide: $585.3 million

RT Score: 94%

We’ve come to the one that started it all. It was a strange idea to have a superhero movie based on Iron Man be the launching pad to the shared cinematic universe we all know and love. Few non-comic book readers were familiar with the titular character. But the film’s impact on the superhero genre was profound, blowing audiences away and becoming a groundbreaking origin story. My dad took me to Iron Man on opening day after school, and the more I thought about it, the more amusing it was. Besides simply being phenomenal, this film also launched Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback career with his iconic role as Tony Stark/​Iron Man, a man who had gone from a self-centered millionaire to a hero. The parallels between the actor and Stark are hard to ignore, and casting him for this part was risky. After all these years later, you can’t envision anyone else. I loved the slick ac­tion; it was smart, and Jeff Bridges’ Oba­diah Stane is an overlooked villain. If Iron Man had failed at the box office and didn’t receive positive reviews when it was released, I don’t think we’d have all the other movies we cherish today.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

5) ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘

Directed By: Anthony and Joe Russo

Release Date: April 4, 2014

Budget: $177 million

Domestic Box Office: $259.8 million/ Worldwide: $714.4 million

RT Score: 90%

This is one of the few oc­ca­sions in which I can say that the second film is ten times better than the original. Not only that, but this was the movie that successfully transformed Captain America from a mere superhero to a truly cool hero. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a political thriller/​spy espionage film (kin to Three Days in the Congo or even the first three Bourne movies) set inside a comic book movie, and it succeeded in setting that tone in ways that are almost im­pos­si­ble to imagine. Steve Rogers is now living in today’s world and has discovered more about where he belongs, working with SHIELD. The Russo Brothers’ first outing in the franchise is beyond exceptional, with some of the best action scenes so far (The elevator sequence, especially), a fearsome villain in Bucky Barnes/ The Winter Soldier, and a story that basically changed the rest of the world in the MCU. This isn’t mentioned a lot, but I think Captain America: The Winter Soldier is on top as one of the best action and superhero sequels that will never get old.

4) ‘Captain America: Civil War‘

Directed By: Anthony and Joe Russo

Release Date: May 6, 2016

Budget: $250 million

Domestic Box Office: $408.1 million/ Worldwide: $1.153 billion

RT Score: 90%

Captain Amer­ica: Civil War might be the MCU’s most ambitious and personal film. The story hinges on a real conflict that has grown between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark in a way that will impact the later films: Does the help of our heroes cause a lot of collateral damage in our world, and is signing the Sokovia Accords the smartest thing to do? It does a great job of showing two sides of the argument, and you’re not quite sure who to choose: Team Cap or Team Iron Man. That’s the dilemma that’s growing upon everyone. Civil War’s ensemble is huge, but Captain America is still the primary focus among them all. This also introduced us to both Black Panther and Spider-Man, and they steal every scene they’re in. The airport battle sequence alone never fails to blow me away. The Russo Brothers made another memorable sequel after The Winter Soldier that balances out the tense and near-heartbroken moments, especially the fight between Steve, Bucky, and Tony.

3) ‘The Avengers‘

Directed By: Joss Whedon

Release Date: May 4, 2012

Budget: $220 million

Domestic Box Office: $623.4 million/ Worldwide: $1.520 billion

RT Score: 91%

The ultimate crossover we never thought would come true did just that on the big screen. After setting up these characters in their movies from Phase 1, it would be insulting if The Avengers didn’t end up being a guaranteed hit. See­ing Iron Man, Captain Amer­ica, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye uniting together to stop Loki from wreaking upon the world had no right to be this spectacular. While Joss Whe­don lost a lot of respect in the geek community, he did an incredible job directing and writing this and seeing his vision capture everything to near perfection. I remember that outstanding scene with the camera panning around our heroes while Alan Sil­vestri’s theme kicks in and the tears of happiness that flowed before earth’s mightiest heroes take down Lok­i’s army in New York. This was one of the best theater experiences I’ve ever had as a teenager. I was even kind of sick that morning, and I fully believed it cured me for those two hours.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

2) ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘

Directed By: James Gunn

Release Date: August 1, 2014

Budget: $232.3 million

Domestic Box Office: $333.2 million/ Worldwide: $773.3 million

RT Score: 92%

At the time, Guardians of the Galaxy was perhaps the riskiest entry Marvel could’ve released since nobody outside the hardcore comic experts knew about this group of misfits. Everybody probably thought the same thing. “Who wants a movie with a talking tree and a raccoon?” Just when we thought it would be the franchise’s first bomb, we instead got a standout hit during the summer of 2014, as well as one of the most fantastic sci-fi movies of the century. Taking a trip to outer space rather than an Earthbound setting, James Gunn’s take on the then-unknown property works on many levels. They were outstanding for a group of intergalactic criminals with distinct personalities to save the universe. There’s so much love to find for this team between Peter Quill/ Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Groot, and Rocket. The action was excellent; the humor was top-notch (the funniest movie thus far) matched with some of the best emotional moments of any film at this point, and its soundtrack, which had gone platinum, brought some nostalgia with the Awesome Mix. Out of Phase 2, Guardians of the Galaxy is the most fun.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE

1) ‘Avengers: Endgame‘

Directed By: Anthony and Joe Russo

Release Date: April 26, 2019

Budget: $356 million

Domestic Box Office: $858.4 million/ Worldwide: $2.799 billion

RT Score: 94%

How does one hate Avengers: Endgame when it’s the Return of the King of Marvel movies? I knew it would be one to remember when I thought about every detail the following day. We wondered what could occur here in what I believe is a perfect culmination of the past 11 years, set through the first three phases. Just as Infinity War is Thaons’ film, this belongs to the remanding Avengers in a risky mission of undoing his goal. For a three-hour runtime, it’s still impossible how the Russos and the writers delivered some iconic moments of humor, making us care for all these characters for their lives, and jaw-dropping/ unpredictable moments in the third act that will never leave my memory because they’re absolutely satisfying. Also, there’s no other superhero movie that’s able to make a man cry more than twice while geeking out hard. Since this was made for fans with inventive knowledge of the previous films, Avengers: Endgame is what you would call an “event” that captivates its viewers with its action, tie-ins, and the best performances from its ensemble, especially Robert Downey Jr.’s show-stopping role as Tony Stark/ Iron Man. You couldn’t ask for a better conclusion than this for the Infinity Saga.

Full Review—> RIGHT HERE