In 2008, Marvel Studios released Iron Man to both critical and financial success. Now, a full eleven years later, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU for short, has become the highest grossing film series of all time box office wise, and has one of the largest fanbases in the world. The films have ranged in quality from amazing, to just simply ok. It’s time to rank the entire Infinity Saga from worst to best, using everyone here at Discussing Film. Let’s get started.
23. Thor: The Dark World
Yeah. Most of you probably saw this coming. While Thor: The Dark World does provide some fun and entertaining moments, it is bogged down by an awful villain, a boring story, and little to remember. It is the closest thing to a bad or mediocre entry in the MCU as it gets.
Final Score – 4.3/10
22. The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk is unfortunately considered by many as the “black sheep” of the MCU, due to the film never receiving a sequel, Edward Norton being recast by Mark Ruffalo, and the film’s only returning actor in future films being William Hurt as General Ross. However, the film does include some good action and acting, giving it an edge over Thor: The Dark World.
Final Score: 4.9/10
21. Iron Man 2
The first sequel of the MCU, Iron Man 2 unfortunately fails to capture the magic of the original, due to being bogged down by too many storylines to count, like Avengers set-up, Tony being poisoned, Whiplash and Justin Hammer, and so on. However, the cast all give great performances, namely Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Sam Rockwell, which gives the film a nice fun rewatchability.
Final Score: 5.1/10
20. Thor
The first Thor film serves as a good entry into Asgard, with a more medieval tone. However, the film is unfortunately quite bland, besides some funny moments and great performances from Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. Other than that, there is simply not much else to say about Thor.
Final Score: 5.9/10
19. Ant-Man
One of the smallest-scale adventures in the MCU, Ant-Man provides a nice, comedic heist film in the MCU, with a great leading performance by Paul Rudd. However, the film suffers from some retreads of Iron Man and little threat to the greater world being shown in the story.
Final Score: 6.7/10
18. Avengers: Age of Ultron
The second entry in the Avengers proved to be very mixed when it first came out, although it’s improved over the years since it released. The film boasts a large cast, and an enjoyable villain in the form of Ultron. However, the film failed to capture the magic of the original Avengers for many.
Final Score: 7.0/10
17. Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger serves as a great love letter to the 40s, and gave us the perfect Captain America in the form of Chris Evans. Although the film is very enjoyable, it does unfortunately skip over the majority of World War II, which is sort of disappointing. However, the film is still a good entry into the MCU.
Final Score: 7.0/10
16. Black Panther
Black Panther is a great entry into the MCU, with a great leading man with Chadwick Boseman, and one of the best villains with Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger. However, the film gives a disappointing conclusion to Ulysses Klaue, and has a third act that goes a bit off the rails, with some questionable CGI that just simply doesn’t look too great.
Final Score: 7.2/10
15. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Ant-Man and the Wasp provides more of the same fun adventure given by the first film, with an extra bit of added flavor in the form of an improved villain with Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost and more focus on Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne. The film serves as a nice breather, although it is very much more of the same.
Final Score: 7.2/10
14. Thor: Ragnarok
Thor: Ragnarok serves as a breath of fresh air for the Thor franchise, with great visuals, great acting, great writing and directing, and some great comedy. The comedy can become a little TOO much at some points, but it’s overall a solid entry in the MCU.
Final Score: 7.4/10
13. Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War gives a great adaptation of the comic, with some of the MCU’s best action, great conflict, and a large balanced cast of heroes. The film introduces two great heroes as well, that have proven to be bright spots in the MCU. It has been criticized for feeling more like an Avengers film and for a lack of stakes, however.
Final Score: 7.5/10
12. Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange provides the MCU with some of its greatest and most interesting visuals and direction, despite a formulaic plot and disappointing villain. Benedict Cumberbatch does amazing in the title role, and the film serves as a nice entry point into more supernatural aspects of the MCU.
Final Score: 7.6/10
11. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man: Homecoming gives a nice fun entry in the MCU, boasted by the best live-action Spider-Man ever in tje form of Tom Holland, and one of the MCU’s best villains with Michael Keaton as Vulture. The film is a very small-scale adventure, but is still a fun watch.
Final Score: 7.6/10
10. The Avengers
The Avengers serves as the epic crossover that brings together all of the MCU’s then introduced heroes into an epic battle against Loki. It was the first of its kind, with a great cast to boast. Over time, the film’s quality has decreased a bit, but overall it is still a really fun movie.
Final Score: 7.6/10
9. Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel provides a nice enjoyable ride through the 1990s, with Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ben Mendolsohn all doing great jobs and bouncing off each other great. Although the film is a little slow and has some pretty basic directing, it is still a great entry into the MCU.
Final Score: 7.8/10
8. Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy was one of Marvel’s biggest risks, but it definitely delivered. With great direction, a great cast, and a first look at the more cosmic aspects of the MCU, Guardians, despite its weak villain, is a great entry in the MCU.
Final Score: 7.9/10
7. Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3 gives a much darker look into the world of Tony Stark, focusing on his PTSD following The Avengers as he works to take down a terrorist known as the Mandarin. The film gives an amazing view on superhero PTSD, with Robert Downey Jr. doing great, and Ben Kingsley is great as the Mandarin, up until the very disappointing twist. Other than that, though, the film is superb.
Final Score: 8.0/10
6. Iron Man
Iron Man is the movie that started it all. Robert Downey Jr. is the perfect Tony Stark, and the film has aged very well in the past eleven years. However, some of the films after it have managed to overtake it. Nonetheless, it is still a very solid film.
Final Score: 8.0/10
5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 improves on the original in almost every single way, with the cast once again all doing great jobs along with a couple new additions, a great villain, and an emotional conclusion. The film is another very solid entry in the MCU.
Final Score: 8.1/10
4. Spider-Man: Far From Home
Spider-Man: Far From Home serves as a great conclusion to the Infinity Saga, showing the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame. The film has a great villain, great cast, awesome third act, and great twist in the end. The film is a very good entry in the MCU, improving on the original in almost every way.
Final Score: 8.5/10
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is without a doubt the best representation of Captain America. The film throws Cap into a serious political spy thriller with amazing action, amazing villains, and an amazing story. The film is a great movie, period. Not just a great superhero movie. A great movie.
Final Score: 9.0/10
2. Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War is an amazing entry in the MCU, serving as an epic culmination of a ten year journey. The film balances a huge cast of characters, with the MCU’s greatest villain yet at the forefront. The film goes through at a breakneck speed, with amazing action and the best ending in superhero movie history.
Final Score: 9.3/10
1. Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame is the emotional conclusion to the first part of the MCU that we’ve been following for the past eleven years. With one of the most epic third acts in movie history, emotional and satisfying conclusions to multiple story arcs, and an exhilarating resolution to one of the biggest cliffhangers in history, the film is the perfect way to bring the Avengers story to a close.
Final Score: 9.4/10
There you have it! The official Discussing Film ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thanks to the Discussing Film team for providing your rankings and scores of the MCU. Let’s hope that the MCU continues to provide solid superhero movies every year. Remember Captain America’s call to action.
Avengers Assemble.
1 comment
Avengers behind captain marvel what? This film really hasn’t decreased at all. I Know all film is subjective but that is dare I say it crazy.