Marvel Cinematic Universe Ranked
This is how I rank the Marvel Cinematic Universe (movies and series) from best (#1) to worst.
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- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.This film is pure entertainment, fun from start to finish. The characters are deep and expertly written and the feature has a lot of humour that doesn't feel forced. It’s incredibly enjoyable and will tug on your heartstrings as often as it tickles your ribs.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattChukwudi IwujiBradley CooperStill reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.Puts the other post-‘Endgame’ movies to shame, even the good ones (with the possible exception of ‘No Way Home’). Be sure to bring the tissues for this one, and watch out for what’s perhaps the MCU’s best action sequence.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonPolitical involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.Our heroes aren't fighting nameless thugs, they're fighting their friends and it hurts. It's really remarkable. It's also really emotionally affecting, especially when the subversive climax rolls around.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloAfter the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.The visuals are stunning, the CG is seamless, the action is spectacular, the characters are superb, the scale is staggering, the scope is substantial, the stakes are serious and the story is simply splendid.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris HemsworthMark RuffaloThe Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.Bold, brazen and ballsy stuff that isn't afraid to go dark; incredibly thrilling, nail-bitingly tense and satisfyingly unconventional.
- DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandMichael KeatonRobert Downey Jr.Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.It's the best Spider-Man film since Raimi's second instalment and is also one of the better MCU titles, presenting a smaller scale story for a less experienced hero to deal with while balancing it with his school life. It's really fun when it gets going and the believable villain is one of the very best that this cinematic universe has to offer.
- DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandZendayaBenedict CumberbatchWith Spider-Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.It may be fan service, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't fun. Besides, there's a lot to like about this beyond its nostalgia. It has some straight-up spectacular action sequences and is more emotionally resonant than you'd expect. It's a blast.
- CreatorMichael WaldronStarsTom HiddlestonOwen WilsonSophia Di MartinoThe mercurial villain Loki resumes his role as the God of Mischief in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.”Phenomenal character work and a genuinely impactful ending set this apart from its Disney+ peers.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsChadwick BosemanMichael B. JordanLupita Nyong'oT'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.Refreshingly portrays a perspective so often missing from mainstream media; a vivid, accomplished piece of work.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.This is the film where the titular heroes first came together. It's driven by the characters, whom all feature in a fantastic script, and has some fantastic action set-pieces that really pay off.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowTerrence HowardAfter being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.The film that kicked off the cinematic universe is still one of the best, featuring a keen focus on character that trumps almost all others in the franchise. This focus on character combined with excellent writing, directing, acting and visual effects is what elevates this movie beyond 'just another origin story.'
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattZoe SaldanaDave BautistaThe Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord's encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.It isn't as good as the first and the finale gets too big for its own good, but this is still a fun film with a keen focus on character that stands mostly alone from the wider universe and as such provides an entertaining sequel experience that maintains the enjoyable rag-tag spirit of its predecessor (even though it never surpasses it in terms of quality.)
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael PeñaAs Scott Lang balances being both a superhero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.It's dedicated to being the best version of itself it can possibly be: a fantastically fun time.
- DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandSamuel L. JacksonJake GyllenhaalFollowing the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.Gets a bit confused when it comes to character arcs and its mid-credits really should have been part of the actual film, but it's still a really fun Spidey adventure throughout.
- DirectorShane BlackStarsRobert Downey Jr.Guy PearceGwyneth PaltrowWhen Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.Yeah, the Mandarin is kind of ruined and there's not as much Iron Man as you'd like but overall I think this is a pretty well rounded film that's fun from start to finish.
- CreatorMalcolm SpellmanStarsAnthony MackieSebastian StanWyatt RussellFollowing the events of 'Avengers: Endgame,' Sam Wilson/Falcon and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities -- and their patience.Its focus on character is refreshing, with its quieter moments often being more successful than its action.
- DirectorAnna BodenRyan FleckStarsBrie LarsonSamuel L. JacksonBen MendelsohnCarol Danvers becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.It's not perfect but it's still a real marvel.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddMichael DouglasCorey StollArmed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.It's less conventional than the others in the cinematic universe, with a smaller scale story and a refreshing focus on personal character moments rather than over-the-top CGI set-pieces. It's also very well written, funny and introduces a less known character whilst making him one of the best in the cinematic universe too.
- DirectorScott DerricksonStarsBenedict CumberbatchChiwetel EjioforRachel McAdamsWhile on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.Some forced humour and a generally generic feel can't stop this from being an entertaining and engaging experience.
- StarsJeremy RennerHailee SteinfeldFlorence PughSeries based on the Marvel Comics superhero Hawkeye, centering on the adventures of Young Avenger, Kate Bishop, who took on the role after the original Avenger, Clint Barton.It's a solid experience from start to finish, with a strong focus on character and some enjoyable set-pieces.
- DirectorMichael GiacchinoStarsGael García BernalLaura DonnellyHarriet Sansom HarrisFollows a lycanthrope superhero who fights evil using the abilities given to him by a curse brought on by his bloodline.The most stylistically interesting Marvel movie in quite some time, this fun throwback doesn’t have an ounce of fat on it and remains enjoyable for its entire duration.
- DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsChris EvansHugo WeavingSamuel L. JacksonSteve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum". But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization.I think this is actually pretty under-rated, featuring a compelling story and more unique setting. It also features some pretty good action and delivers an origin story that's a little less conventional than usual. The red skull is pretty weak as a villain in the film iteration though.
- DirectorDestin Daniel CrettonStarsSimu LiuAwkwafinaTony Leung Chiu-waiShang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.Sadly, its initially fantastic action gets less grounded as the film progresses. Still, this is an enjoyable effort right the way through.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Mickey RourkeGwyneth PaltrowWith the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.Again, I actually think this is under-rated and an overall enjoyable film. Some elements are contrived and make a little less sense than you'd like but the majority of the film is entertaining and fun. The characters are still great and there's some decent action too.
- CreatorBisha K. AliStarsIman VellaniMatt LintzZenobia ShroffKamala, a superhero fan with an imagination--particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel--feels like she doesn't fit in at school and sometimes even at home, that is until she gets superpowers like the heroes she admires.Tries to do too much and never quite feels cohesive, but also has a lot of charm and energy to it and introduces a delightful new hero.
- CreatorJac SchaefferStarsElizabeth OlsenPaul BettanyKathryn HahnBlends the style of classic sitcoms with the MCU, in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision - two super-powered beings living their ideal suburban lives - begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.It stumbles quite significantly towards its end, but its strong character work and aesthetics make it a generally compelling watch.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.Highly over-rated in my opinion, this attempt to 'Bourne' Captain America is still enjoyable overall but I feel it isn't as engaging as the other films featuring the titular hero and the action is too shaky for it's own good.
- DirectorNia DaCostaStarsBrie LarsonTeyonah ParrisIman VellaniCarol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.Feels very minor and the story is generally pretty weak, but it has some really fun action and a strong central dynamic; Iman Vellani continues to be the best part of everything she’s in.
- DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsEdward NortonLiv TylerTim RothBruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.Certainly better than Ang Lee's 2003 attempt at a 'Hulk' movie, this film is still not without flaws. I like it for what it is but it doesn't have as tight of a grasp on the source material as other films in the cinematic universe.
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthTom HiddlestonCate BlanchettImprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.It's the best solo 'Thor' movie for sure, but this often entertaining and genuinely fun film is takes way too long to settle into itself. Still, it’s a fair bit of fun overall.
- DirectorCate ShortlandStarsScarlett JohanssonFlorence PughDavid HarbourNatasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.It's just a bit basic, to be honest. It's entertaining enough for what it is, but feels like it lacks its own identity and never rises above being solid.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloWhen Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it's up to Earth's mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.The second Avengers outing certainly has it's flaws and is a bit dull overall, the characters play off each other well and Ultron is a decent villain. There are some solid action sequences, too.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsLuke KleinSean GunnMichael RookerStar-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans in an all-new original special created for Disney+.Not that much to it, but it’s fun enough for what it is.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsChris HemsworthAnthony HopkinsNatalie PortmanThe powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.I think Thor's first outing is a more mature affair than his second, with a relatively interesting and complete central character arc, but it is generally tedious and nothing more than a passive viewing experience - even though it did introduce the cinematic universe's best and most over-used villain, Loki.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsLetitia WrightLupita Nyong'oDanai GuriraThe people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T'Challa.Overlong and generally uninteresting with a laborious pace and a flat aesthetic. Some moments are rather moving, but even a mournful tone can’t account for how underwhelming this is.
- DirectorChloé ZhaoStarsGemma ChanRichard MaddenAngelina JolieThe saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.It's long, largely uninteresting and visually uninspired. There are a couple of enjoyable sequences, but mostly this is just bland.
- DirectorAlan TaylorStarsChris HemsworthNatalie PortmanTom HiddlestonWhen the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster.It seems as though the filmmakers were trying their very best to focus on everything other than the flick's eponymous hero, with large portions of the piece dedicated solely to it's incredibly annoying side-characters, and the villain is so bland, so unthreatening and so sincerely boring that you simply don't care about anything that happens - even the admittedly well-rendered CGI spectacle which the entire thing quickly devolves into.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsBenedict CumberbatchElizabeth OlsenChiwetel EjioforDoctor Strange teams up with a mysterious teenage girl who can travel across multiverses, to battle other-universe versions of himself which threaten to wipe out the multiverse. They seek help from the Scarlet Witch, Wong and others.It doesn’t even feel like a real film.
- StarsVin DieselFred TatascioreBradley CooperA series of shorts featuring the seedling Groot along with several new and unusual characters.It’s decent enough for what it is, I suppose. Generally, it’s just fine.
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthNatalie PortmanChristian BaleThor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.Honestly, this is almost embarrassing.
- StarsJeffrey WrightTerri DouglasMatthew WoodExploring pivotal moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and turning them on their head, leading the audience into uncharted territory.
- CreatorJessica GaoStarsTatiana MaslanyGinger GonzagaMalia ArrayahJennifer Walters navigates the complicated life of a single, 30-something attorney who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered Hulk.
- CreatorDoug MoenchStarsOscar IsaacEthan HawkeMay CalamawySteven Grant discovers he's been granted the powers of an Egyptian moon god. But he soon finds out that these newfound powers can be both a blessing and a curse to his troubled life.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael DouglasScott Lang and Hope Van Dyne are dragged into the Quantum Realm, along with Hope's parents and Scott's daughter Cassie. Together they must find a way to escape, but what secrets is Hope's mother hiding? And who is the mysterious Kang?
- StarsAlaqua CoxChaske SpencerTantoo CardinalMaya Lopez must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots, and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward.
- CreatorKyle BradstreetStarsSamuel L. JacksonEmilia ClarkeDon CheadleFury and Talos try to stop the Skrulls who have infiltrated the highest spheres of the Marvel Universe.
- DirectorShawn LevyStarsRyan ReynoldsHugh JackmanEmma CorrinWolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.
- CreatorBeau DeMayoStan LeeJack KirbyStarsGeorge BuzaCal DoddHolly ChouA band of mutants use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them; they're challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future.
- DirectorYann DemangeStarsMia GothMahershala AliDelroy LindoPlot under wraps.
- DirectorMatt ShakmanStarsVanessa KirbyPedro PascalJulia GarnerOne of Marvel's most iconic families makes it back to the big screen, the Fantastic Four.
- DirectorJulius OnahStarsHarrison FordLiv TylerTim Blake NelsonPlot kept under wraps. Fourth movie in the Captain America franchise.
- StarsCharlie CoxMargarita LevievaWilson BethelPlot kept under wraps.
- StarsDominique ThorneAlden EhrenreichManny MontanaGenius teenage inventor Riri Williams creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man.
- StarsDon CheadleFind out in this movie what would happen if Tony Stark's tech fell into the wrong hands.
- StarsDanai GuriraWakandan warriors who, throughout history, have traveled the world to retrieve dangerous vibranium artifacts.
- StarsRandall ParkAndy LeRe-imagines the marvel universe as a new generation of heroes battle against an ever-spreading zombie scourge.
- StarsCharlie CoxPaul F. TompkinsVincent D'OnofrioThe animated series follows Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man in the MCU, with a journey unlike we've ever seen and a style that celebrates the character's early comic book roots.
- StarsKathryn HahnJoe LockePatti LuPoneSet after the events of "WandaVision," Agatha Harkness recruits some unlikely allies on her quest to regain her former powers.