Top 10 MCU Movies
Black Widow is the first MCU release in 2 years, now that this franchise is coming out of pause mode, what better time to reflect on the franchise so far, and give you my personal top 10 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Whilst this doesn’t have the political intrigue many think it does, this film contains some classic MCU set pieces. The Winter Soldier succeeds as a sequel as it is a true test of who we know our hero to be.
9. Spider-Man: Far From Home
Far From Home can be described as an action rom-com and it suits that description well. You get invested in the endearing romance of the film whilst also feeling the stakes of the central conflict. Those trippy sequences with Mysterio are really something to behold.
8. Thor: Ragnarok
Taika Waititi takes the most forgettable series of the franchise and turns out one of the MCU’s most distinctive movies. The character dynamics are really what makes Ragnarok, Thor and Loki have never been better, Thor and Hulk make an odd duo, and Valkyrie adds that little bit extra, and of course Korg.
7. Iron Man
Of course you have to pay your respects to the film that started it all. Robert Downey Junior’s performance is so good that it spoke a whole universe into existence.This is how you do an origin story.
6. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Here Tom Holland really gets to prove himself as Spider-Man. This film really brings across the youth and innocence of Peter Parker, making you feel the hugeness of his journey here.
5. Captain America: Civil War
In Civil War, Cap faces his greatest test yet, and despite this being such an ensemble piece, I think it still feels like it’s his film. Despite the often light-hearted feeling in the fights between some of the heroes, you can still feel the real tension in the Iron Man - Cap rivalry, and it makes for a heartbreaking finale which gives this film a sense of genuine stakes not felt in an MCU up to that point.
4. Black Panther
This is the best solo MCU movie, and not just because of T’Challa. He is surrounded by a ton of fantastic supporting characters, all of whom are distinctive and well characterised. This leads to a finale where there are many different moving parts and yet you follow it with complete ease, this is an element where many other MCU movies drop the ball. Alongside all of this, Black Panther is able to have a mature conversation about some complex issues, giving the film genuine substance.
3. Avengers: Infinity War
Infinity War is a ture action film, people don’t stop to talk about their feelings, because the universe is in immediate peril, they don’t have time! Right from the outset we are made to feel the threat of Thanos, and this gives the film such a sense of peril and danger. We see the mortality of these characters more than in any other film. The action in Infinity War is the best action of the franchise, what they manage to do with the powers of these characters, particularly in the Titan fight, is simply incredible.
2. Avengers Assemble
This is the film that turned the MCU into a cultural phenomenon. The main heroes have already had their origin stories but this is the origin story for the team, and in telling that story it establishes the identity and character of the whole franchise. It’s the perfect crossover film in that you can’t really pin down who the main character is, they are so well balanced. The interactions between these huge characters are just so well written and performed and the big spectacular moments have pretty much all become iconic.
1. Avengers: Endgame
There was never a doubt in my mind that my number 1 would be Endgame. This has stayed with me far more than any other Marvel film has ever done. The character arcs in this film are simply perfect, the way the filmmakers manage to integrate these character arcs seamlessly into a story which celebrates the whole MCU is a real achievement, the most impressive thing is how effortless it seems. When you think about it there are no major action setpieces in this film up until the final act, they took a real risk with that but it works because we have become so invested in these characters. But of course when the action does come it delivers some of the most epic moments, not just in the MCU but in all of cinema in my opinion. It’s perhaps not the film I was expecting, but in hindsight it gave me everything I wanted perfectly. As we have seen recently with other big franchises, having a satisfactory ending to a long running story is hard, but Endgame gives several beloved characters note-perfect sendoffs. Endgame was the film all of the MCU was building-up too, and it more than delivered on its promise, for that reason it is the best film in the MCU.
