"We're in the Endgame now."
The end of an era. Marvel Studios finished the race they set out to accomplish in 2008. And they've done so with flair, style, and grandeur - albeit with some bumps along the way. A billionaire playboy, a war hero out of time, a space god, and a scientist with a dark side, Marvel has meshed a wide variety of genres, characters, stories, and talent to build something the likes film has never seen, culminating in a finale fit for the Mad Titan.
As many begin to look ahead to the next saga, it's time to give my definitive ranking and quick critical analysis.
*LEGEND*
- Watchability = how re-watchable is it + entertainment value
- Artistic = based on originality + overall quality of direction, production, design, acting, and writing
Be sure to let me know your thoughts and rankings of the MCU in the comments!
23. Thor: The Dark World
Previous Rank: 18th (last)
The Dark World is bland, bleak, and boring. It also has no idea what it wants to be. Sure the 20th ranked film has worse moments, acting, and writing, but it also has some really good aspects. Alan Taylor's entry, on the other hand, has little to offer other than an Infinity Stone as once again, we follow our hero on a journey that mostly plays out on earth.
Boring, boring, boring.
The color pallet of the film is grays and browns which is just depressing. Thor's Chris Hemsworth doesn't have anything to work with here (other than a stellar Tom Hiddleston which saves this film from complete disaster) and thus falls down a couple rungs on the Avengers hierarchy. Thor had begun to feel static in The Avengers, and this next chapter didn't help (he only got worse in Age of Ultron). Thor's character has very little variance and his Shakespearian seriousness isn't funny anymore. At the time, I wondered if Chris wasn't a great actor, but since then he has gone on to showcase his acting chops, proving he wasn't the problem. The worst part of the film is the villain, which had been a recurring issue in Marvel films. Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves, has no personality, motivation, or charisma. I could care less about his problems, and it is really a shame since they cast such a classy actor for the role.
One little nugget: Endgame brought my final score for the film up a couple points thanks to the time travel that gave The Dark World relevance and slightly more watchability.
Watchability Rating: 5/10
Artistic Rating: 5/10
Final Score: 5/10
22. The Incredible Hulk
Previous Rank: 17th
This is the black sheep of the MCU most definitely. Using a different film distributor, released during the early days when Marvel was still figuring things out, and a different actor played the lead: Edward Norton. Hulk adds nothing to the overall depth of the MCU, acting as a film you can skip if need be. I never do personally. Like it or not, Hulk is still part of the MCU. And unpopular opinion: I loved Edward Norton as Bruce Banner who gives a subtle performance as the tormented doctor. It's mostly a forgettable (though not bad) film that has solid acting, okay villains, and so-so CGI but boasts an epic showdown between monsters that did deliver, helping elevate the film's quality and entertainment value.
Watchability Rating: 6/10
Artistic Rating: 4.5/10
Final Score: 5.5/10
21. Captain Marvel
Previous Rank: N/A
Just forget about your opinions regarding Larson for a hot minute. I watched her in films like Room. She is quite the good actress. But she is terribly, TERRIBLY miscast as Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel. Even worse, this is the most God awful script and overall screenplay in any Marvel film. With five writers (yes, five) and two directors, you can tell pretty quickly there wasn't one mind in the making of the film while Marvel's set design, graphics, and humor are on par with the other entries. Talk about a perfect Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde analogy, the first half of Marvel is a top 15 MCU film, but the second half is worse than The Dark World. First off, they pull a fast one on us with the swapping of Jude Law's character while giving Annette Bening an awful role. Second, Marvel's backstory has intrigue but when we get the answers, it's a let down of let downs. Third, many thought there'd be a lot of feminist agenda in the movie. It isn't that bad. What is bad is the Skrulls aren't evil, but instead are a blatant metaphor for immigration politics being shoved down our throats. Fourth, Larson has the charisma of a cardboard box. But don't blame it on her. The makers clearly thought that "woman in lead role = good movie." Watch and see what she's been given, and you'll get how no one could have pulled those lines off.
Watchability Rating: 6/10
Artistic Rating: 3.5/10
Final Score: 5.5/10
20. Iron Man 2
Previous Rank: 16th
And now the best of the four "not-so-good" Marvel movies. Fun, poppy, and action-filled, Iron Man 2's true success lies with Robert Downey Jr's performance as Stark who once again shows he is the heart of this film franchise - without him, every other film completely falls apart. Even when he isn't appearing in one, his presence is felt.
Iron Man 2 has plenty of issues (what film doesn't): overstuffed with too many characters and plot threads leading to future Marvel films, creating a film that acts as more of a setup and less a true stand-alone. Director Jon Favreau had asked for three years to work on this sequel, but Marvel said no, telling him to get it done in two. It shows, and you can't help but feel bad for him. With lots of hype beginning to brew, the Marvel peeps were, for just a short while, a little too eager in trying to push things faster to The Avengers. In reality, they would've been just fine letting Favreau tell a story of Tony and his dark past, which on its own, was actually a good one, but got bogged down by all the noise and messiness that is Iron Man 2.
Watchability Rating: 7.5/10
Artistic Rating: 4.5/10
Final Score: 6/10
19. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Previous Rank: 15
Ah. The disappointment. Ultron had so much going for it, instead delivering a "normal" superhero flick with not much new given to the genre. If we hadn't been so hyped for it then the disappointment levels would've been much lower. But hey, not Marvel's fault the first Avenger's flick was so awesome.
I mean, Ultron wasn't bad. Wasn't like great either. But it was good. It was. It was good. Fun, humorous, exciting action, and one of the MCU's better villains in James Spader's eerily voiced Ultron. But even he got ripped off. Marvel continued their villain woes with this flick, but not because the antagonist was boring or lacked interest. Ultron is easily one of the best MCU villains, so good in fact, that the only problem was lack of screen time. The character is incredibly vital to the comics and how much time did he get? 10.3 minutes. Must be a joke. Marvel took a villain who stands on the same level as Thanos and turned him into a petty robot with jokes and serious daddy issues.
Trailers gave us a dark and twisted looking film that was set to break boundaries in the genre. What we got instead was a pun-filled, eye-popping, and ear piercing film with too many subplots which has become the same old same old in action flicks nowadays. That said, it does do it better than your typical action flick, making it a still fun watch that can be done in multiple viewings - but we as Marvel fans expected MUCH, much more.
Watchability Rating: 8/10
Artistic Rating: 5/10
Final Score: 6.5/10
18. Thor
Previous Rank: 14
As you can see, Thor hasn't had the best luck, with two of his three solo outings hitting the bottom six of the series. But unlike The Dark World, take Thor's 14th placement is a testament as to how good the rest of the movies in front of it are.
Thor's positives far outweigh the negatives in this small scale yet universe-expanding flick. Firstly, respected director Kenneth Branagh (Much ado about Nothing, Murder on the Orient Express) brings the gravitas needed to bring one of Marvel's larger than life characters to the big screen in this Shakespearean, fish-out-of-water story about the God of Thunder.
What's so nice about this flick is how small scale it is, acting as more of a royal family drama, contrasting to many of the future MCU films that are loud and reckless at times. Despite its small scale, Thor ends up as an integral film in the MCU, adding just the right amount of momentum and importance to make this a good stand-alone origin but also adding to the universe as a whole, proving overstuffed characters, too many plot threads and loud, over the top set pieces aren't the answer. *cough* DC *cough*
Watchability Rating: 7/10
Artistic Rating: 7.5/10
Final Score: 7.5/10
17. Spider-Man: Far From Home
Previous Rank: N/R
The more I think about it, the less I love it. "It" being Far From Home. For me, this Spidey sequel brought with it lots of good and bad. Let’s start with the good. Jake Gyllenhaal is fantastic as Mysterio. Easily one of the better MCU villains to date. He went so over the top yet it worked so well. His character (though his plan is not without a few plot holes) is fun, campy, and exciting while bringing a unique skill set and freshness not seen in comic book films. The bouts between Spidey and Fish Bowl Head were colorful and video-game-esque. And of course, let's not forget Tom Holland who does the best with what he is given as our titular hero.
My issues with Far From Home have become more of an overarching critique of mine regarding both this film and how Spider-Man has been treated as a whole in the MCU. First off, the humor is jacked up to 11. And yes, I laughed hysterically at every joke both low and high. That said, the humor killed the serious moments and pretty much ruined any credibility the characters had. I won't get into details, but certain writing choices had me scratching my head and thinking that the film was off in comparison to past Spidey films.
I'll say this: Far From Home is a funny, well made, and even re-watchable Marvel comedy - but a bad Spider-Man movie.
Watchability Rating: 8/10
Artistic Rating: 7/10
Final Score: 7.5/10
16. Captain America: The First Avenger
Previous Rank: 13
A wonderfully made period piece that is awesome to watch from start to finish. The First Avenger introduced us to more of the Marvel science and the beginnings of two very important organizations: SHIELD and Hydra.
With a great hero and villain, and a fun plot within the plight of WWII, Marvel was just beginning to unravel their brilliance, and this story did everything right with nothing negative other than the third act which slowed down the film following the first two stellar acts.
Despite an all-star cast carrying as much as three A-listers, our very own Captain America didn't get lost in the shuffle, becoming a hero that beat all our expectations thanks to Evan's charming and patriotic take on the character. The First Avenger would be the first in what is one of the greatest trilogies of all time.
Watchability Rating: 7/10
Artistic Rating: 8/10
Final Score: 7.5/10
15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Previous Rank: 12
Like Age of Ultron, we had super-duper high hopes for Vol. 2 after the smashing success of the first. And like Ultron, we were super- duper disappointed. This didn't disappoint nearly as much as Ultron did though, hence it's higher placement. More than anything, I loved the atmosphere of Vol. 2; the coloring, CGI, production design, world-building, and soundtrack all made this one of the most watchable MCU films. It isn't the greatest, but there is something fun and attractive about it. And after initially having it much lower on my list when it came out, I've found with each viewing I like it more and more. While not without its major flaws, Vol. 2 deserved the overall positive reception and box office success it enjoyed, making me laugh on multiple occasions.
Watchability Rating: 8.5/10
Artistic Rating: 6.5/10
Final Score: 7.5/10
14. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Previous Rank: N/R
Ant-Man and the Wasp is proof that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The sequel to the surprise 2015 hit film is in essence a more fit, in shape, and put together film, as if the franchise decided to gain more muscle while getting leaner and sleeker in every way it could. No longer the new, adorable, and funny guy in the room, he's gone out and gotten ripped while maintaining the harmless flirtation he had before, albeit, the humor and charm sounding a little to similar to the jokes he made last time.
Metaphors of working out aside, the Ant-Man franchise does something incredibly unique: create genre films. While the MCU as a whole has been doing this more and more, Ant-Man thrives on this approach to storytelling. The first was a crime-comedy heist film, something no super flick had seen. This movie here? A MacGuffin film. Every character is in a race to obtain an item, and the winner holds a technology the likes the MCU has ever seen before. Light, fun, and harmless, Ant-Man and the Wasp may be the most family- friendly film in the saga, and that's exactly what they aimed for. Not a home run, but a double.
Watchability Rating: 9/10
Artistic Rating: 7/10
Final Score: 8/10
13. Iron Man 3
Previous Rank: 11
Iron Man 3. This film has received way more critical negativity then it deserved. And not from critics mind you. Most film gurus understand this is a wonderful film from start to finish. The fans hate this movie. And it's all for one reason alone: the twist, aka The Mandarin. The ultimate villain, portrayed by none other than the great Ben Kingsley. And they pulled one over on us. At the time I hated it just as every other fan, but unlike every other fan, I tried to widen my gaze. Most superhero flicks aren't that gutsy or willing to do things like this. From a filmmaker's perspective, it was pretty well executed and Marvel should be applauding themselves for generating so much buzz from this release over their use of creative license. And when your movie brings in a whopping 1.2 billion in revenue, you're doing something right.
IM3 learned from its predecessor IM2: a laser-focused plot that places RDJ and his supporting cast in the spotlight. Director Shane Black stated he didn't want to make a superhero flick but a "Tom Clancy thriller". All the loose weight that had held the second installment down is cut. Just Stark and his story of discovery. For those of you who still haven't forgiven Marvel, get over yourself and see in new eyes how brilliant Shane Black's twisted take on Iron Man really is.
Watchability: 8/10
Artistry: 8/10
Final Score: 8/10
12. Spider-man: Homecoming
Previous Rank: 9
Everybody knew that when the day arrived, Marvel's Spider-Man would blow out every other adaption to date.
We were right (well sorta if you read the Far From Home bit.)
Marvel finally got the rights to the most popular superhero of all time, and in just ten minutes of screen time in 2016's Civil War we knew they'd done it: they'd found the perfect Spider-Man. Ten minutes. That's all it took.
Well Spidey's full-length solo feature in the MCU did not disappoint. It was one of the first films in the 16 film long series (at the time) that had a really good villain sans Loki. Micael Keaton's Adrien Toomes was emotionally sound and sympathetic, but still scary and intimidating. Like Thor, the film was small scale and had little to no impact on the MCU as a whole. That's GOOD. I heard so many people complain about the film because of its lack of "oomph". But c'mon. If we want an accurate Peter Parker story, we want a superhero stuck inside a made-for-tv high school movie. Just a 15-year-old living the high school life while taking out a couple bank robbers on the side. Peter Parker is just a kid wanting to fit in and have a successful life, and Tom Holland's charisma and heart help him keep up with the heavyweights in the MCU. This film is practically perfect, complete with powers and a pre-murdered Uncle Ben.
Watchability: 8.5/10
Artistry: 8/10
Final Score: 8.5/10
11. The Avengers
Previous Rank: 10
They said it couldn't be done. It was too ambitious. Too much hype. Too much this and too much that.
Guess who's laughing now?
In one movie, Marvel went from underdog studio to triumphant conqueror, winning numerous box office records and awards, whilst delivering upon the most anticipated film ever at that point.
As a Marvel nerd, watching that one-shot of each hero fighting side by side throughout NYC still gives me chills. While we still don't give much credit to superhero films, even the critics and film moguls of today have admitted The Avengers cultural impact, with many citing it as one of the best films of the 2010's to date, changing the genre and how to do a shared film universe right. While Iron Man kicked everything off, The Avengers tore through all expectations, opening up what would be an overabundance of Marvel films - with many of them improving upon this great flick.
Watchability: 10/10
Artistry: 8/10
Final Score: 9/10
10. Ant-Man
Previous Rank: 5
Like Ragnarok and Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man is hilarious beyond all reason. Never missing a beat to crack a joke or go over-the-top with a plot revolving around a guy who can shrink and talk to ants. Paul Rudd's chill, endearing, and family-man performance took his status as a comedic only talent to superstar leading immediately. Even more so, this film is actually slick, stylish, and fresh, acting more like a slapstick yet a cool heist film. This was a pretty big but awesome risk Marvel took, which helped jumpstart a creative renaissance from 2015-18. Despite the many setbacks this film dealt with going into release, this little guy stood above the obstacles set before him, thus, emerging as a fan favorite.
Watchability: 10/10
Artistry: 8/10
Final Score: 9/10
9. Doctor Strange
Previous Rank: 6
Doctor Strange is one of the more refreshing films in the MCU with its magic and mind-bending action scenes, truly adding a whole new dimension of weird voodoo stuff that hadn't been present within the MCU. And the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch is so perfect that I suddenly realized when watching this film it didn't feel like an actor playing a role, but that Stephen Strange was THERE before me. Magic in and of itself right there.
Speaking of magic right before my eyes, I took my oldest nephew to see this opening weekend in 2016. I'll be honest: never done acid. Never will. But I thought if I were to ever go tripping, Doctor Strange is exactly what it would be like. The utter insanity and creative designs of the multiverse blew my freaking mind. (I'm still coping tbh.)
Finally, we have to talk about the villains and the finale. The villains are most certainly in the upper echelons the MCU has to offer. But more than Kaecilius and Dormammu are the philosophical ideas they bring to question. When watching the discussions between the wizards, lords, gods, and doctors, I realized how seriously deep the movie gets. Then there is the finale. The third act completely bucks the trend of action flicks and flips the conventions of the genre on its head, sideways, and any other direction one could go.
Let's just say my expectations for In the Multiverse of Madness (May 7th, 2021) are sky-high. If you're reading this Jack, mark your calendar, because we are definitely seeing that opening night.
Watchability: 9/10
Artistry: 9.5/10
Final Score: 9.5/10
8. Black Panther
Previous Rank: 8
Black Panther is world-building at its finest. The execution of the setting, characters, motivations, and story was so above and beyond what is expected of the genre that by the end of it, I was satisfied and full. There was so much to take in that after one viewing, I didn't know what to think. My second go gave me clarity though, and I love all the intricate plot points within this powerful story of a warrior learning how to balance his new life as king of Wakanda. Black Panther has seemingly everything: beautiful cinematography, top notch-action sequences, a story that will resonate, and a sweet soundtrack. Not hard to see why this is the most successful Marvel film within the US.
I haven't even gotten to the best part: Kilmonger. Played exquisitely by Michael B. Jordan, this film includes Marvel's best villain since Loki. Compelling and a true threat to both the throne and kingdom, Kilmonger's goal, along with the film, is smaller in scale, which is what makes it so great.
So why is it eighth? The special effects are complete garbage and some of the fight sequences lack the excitement that the story promises, mainly in the third act. But there are worse problems to have in a movie.
Watchability: 8.5/10
Artistry: 10/10
Final Score: 9.5/10
7. Thor: Ragnarok
Previous Rank: 7
Marvel realized how much they messed up with The Dark World. And they righted the ship in every way with Thor's conclusion. Talk about winning the award for most improved film series and character, director Taika Waititi stated Ragnarok would deliver in every way fans hoped for...and that it did.
One word: gut-busting. Okay maybe it's not one word. But I was thisclose to falling on the floor. Hilarious beyond all reason, you just can't take a character like Thor seriously, so what do you do? Go to the other end of the spectrum is what. Ramp up the action, jokes, soundtrack, and set pieces to maximum overdrive and then let it all rip till Asgard is just a pile of rocks floating in space. Literally.
Yeah. I may have been convinced I was on drugs watching the colors and madness of the film, though our number seven film prepared me for such breathtaking effects.
Despite its menacing title (which means apocalypse of the gods), Ragnarok is anything but. Some could say the lack of plot and character development makes this a not-so-great film. I would say it is great because every filmmaker has a goal/vision for their art. Waititi wanted a funny space buddy-buddy adventure. Nothing more, nothing less. And he executed his goals flawlessly.
Watchability: 10/10
Artistry: 9/10
Final Score: 9.5/10
6. Iron Man
Previous Rank: 3
Marvel took all their eggs and put em' into one basket: Robert Downey Jr. A B-list actor who had seemingly worn out his welcome in Hollywood. Marvel gave RDJ the chance to be apart of something greater than himself... wait, that's Nick Fury's line. Needless to say, everything worked out, and Iron Man's mix of action, script, story, scale, and acting brought about a new age of superhero movies. Along with The Dark Knight, Iron Man changed the way we think about superhero films: less as "superhero films" and more as great quality story-telling with action heroes no different than any other movie.
Iron Man is the very definition of fun and great action, as Tony Stark sets out on his journey of discovery, realizing what it truly means to be a hero and not live for himself, kicking off the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it.
The lack of expectation may have helped Iron Man fly high, but in hindsight, it is now considered the best superhero film of all time by some and for good reason.
Watchability: 10/10
Artistry: 10/10
Final Score: 10/10
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Previous Rank: 4
The amount of critical acclaim this film received is more than well deserved. From the CGI-less action sequences to the political themes and the heart-driven tension between Steve Rogers and his mysterious foe, The Winter Soldier is arguably perfect. It creates a tense tone that harkens back to the 70s espionage films as Cap uncovers a conspiracy in SHIELD, setting the stage for one of the elite Marvel pieces. Winter Soldier will become a classic action staple for decades to come, thrilling you from start to finish.
Watchability: 10/10
Artistry: 10/10
Final Score: 10/10
4. Captain America: Civil War
Previous Rank: 2
12 supers, battling it out. With both substance and style to boot, this film should have been nominated for many Oscars including Best Picture. But once again, like most others and despite how good it is, the Academy would never recognize a "superhero" film as truly great.
Well screw the Oscars. They can't even run their own show.
*cough*Moonlight*cough*
The acting and writing within this film are out of this world, with Chris Evans and RDJ giving magnificent performances in their now iconic roles as Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. Dealing with the morals of right and wrong, Civil War was not afraid to pull punches (well except kill someone off which is my one bugaboo with this film), and I *may* have been teary by the time Rogers and Stark are trying to tear each other apart in the finale. Civil War did have an impact on the MCU, which was felt in the Avengers defeat in Infinity War.
This film also introduced the MCU versions of Spider-Man and Black Panther. I mean Civil War has everything. It's so almost perfect. Had they killed off say a War Machine, Winter Soldier, or better yet BOTH, then this would be my favorite film ever made, but it ends with us feeling like everything is, to some degree, all good in the hood, instead of feeling like everything has been shattered to pieces - as it should have.
Watchability: 10/10
Artistry: 10/10
Final Score: 10/10
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
Previous Rank: 1
Funny, eye-popping, and adventurous. Marvel hit a grand slam with the one film most people thought would be their worst. I mean, it starred a group of characters no one had ever heard of including a walking tree and talking raccoon. But shouldn't we have figured out by then that Marvel was always good on their word? I'll say this: *I* had faith in Marvel to pull this one out of the bag. And boy was I right. I've seen this film what... 25+ times since it's release in August 2014? Yeah, something like that. Hasn't gotten old. Not one bit. And guess what: no shame.
Watchability: 10/10
Artistry: 10/10
Final Score: 10/10
2. Endgame
Previous Rank: N/A
It is easy to assume that Endgame has better artistry and re-watchability than Infinity War. You'd be wrong. The acting and directing are better, while the writing is on par, and the story is less than due to one major bad decision and some plot elements that get slightly muddled.
That said, my initial reaction to Endgame was the greatest movie ever made. But there is one thing that drops it to second: Thorbowski.
They did not handle Thor well at all after the perfect use of his character in Infinity War. Being one of the original six Avengers, I was supremely disappointed by the one dimensional, comedic butt-of-jokes role he was given. Yes, I understand they were trying to show that even when depressed and not physically fit, he could still be worthy. It just didn't work here.
Other than that, the action, dialogue, development, and time heist were all refreshing and Oscar-caliber.
Watchability: 11/10
Artistry: 11/10
Final Score: 11/10
1. Infinity War
Previous Rank: N/A
I really believed Endgame would overtake Infinity War as #1. And like with all movies, my initial "OMG" reaction had me thinking that. But after time to marinate and re-watch, Infinity War is superior for three reasons:
1. Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely designed a plot with and took risks I didn't think they had the guts to take. Infinity War had huge hype, and smashed it to pieces while Endgame only met expectations.
2. For having nearly 30 main cast members, the film performed a juggling act so insane Houdini would have been proud. Better yet, you don't notice the cluster of threads and people being weaved together before your eyes after ten years of build-up.
3. Thanos was everything I hoped he'd be. Josh Brolin breathed genuine life into a purple CGI giant chasing jewelry. Menacing yet sympathetic, insane yet reasonable. He's the star of the show while the Avengers sit on the sideline waiting their turn in Endgame.
For some reason, Infinity War holds a special place in my heart. The second the logo appeared with that ominous orchestra playing in that theater, I had chills and was literally nervous. The twists and turns were awesome, and unlike most people, I still feel the weight of the snap despite knowing how it ends. Duh the Avengers were gonna win long term, but the shock of how they went about it still resonates. More so, Endgame actually made Infinity War a better film as we all knew Infinity War couldn't truly be judged until its sequel came out. Endgame was awe-inspiring, but it's very existence helped boost Infinity War over the edge.
Watchability: 12/10
Artistry: 12/10
Final Score: 12/10
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