My UPDATED MCU Ranking

When Phase 3 of the MCU concluded, I did a ranking of all the movies. Now that Phase 5 is finished, and Phase 6 kicks off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I figured it would be a good time to update my list. I was going to include the shows, but I have decided to wait and do a show ranking after Ironheart (which also falls under Phase 5…I know, this is all confusing at times). 

Some movies have moved up, and others have dropped. As I watch them over and over again, I find new things to love, or I find things that I dislike. I will explain my decisions. Also, a movie ranked toward the bottom does not mean I dislike it. I have liked all of these movies, but some are better than others.

Okay, here we go!!! In parenthesis will be the change from my previous ranking. 

36. The Marvels (Not Ranked)
Meh. It has some good moments, but I have never felt the need to sit down and watch it again. Something has to be last. Also, I feel like so much of the hate this movie gets comes from weirdo fanboys who want to crap on any female-driven movie. I also think so much of the praise it gets, come from people trying to fight that. 

35. The Incredible Hulk (⇓13)
Still a bottom feeder. Basically every movie that comes out is better than this one. The new Captain America movie did a nice job of tying some of this movie to it. Also, way to go shows for incorporating the Abomination. 

34. Thor: The Dark World (⇓13)
From my last ranking: “I remember really liking this movie when I saw it in the theater. Then I watched it when it came out on DVD and was like “meh, this was not very good.” Honestly, I can barely tell you what was happening, I think Thor’s recap in Endgame was probably better than the actual movie.” Still apt. 

33. Captain America: The First Avenger (⇓13)
I watched this with Payton and Logan recently. It is entertaining, but still deserves this spot. 

32. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (NR)
I was excited about the Kang story. I think if they continued down that road, this movie could have been a fun one to watch in connection with an Avengers vs Kang film. But now? It just seems silly.

31. Black Widow (NR)
I feel like this is a not fair spot, but honestly, I cannot imagine where else I would put it. I liked this movie. It has some very funny moments. Unfortunately, the villain was weak, and it was another movie with crap falling out of the sky. 

30. Thor: Love and Thunder (NR)
If I did this ranking after seeing it in the theater, this one would have ended up higher, but after a few rewatches…it is kind of bad at times. I hate how silly they made Thor. But there were some great moments, and I still think Christian Bale was great. 

29. Iron Man 3 (⇓10)
I stand by what I said in the last ranking:
“I like this movie as a Shane Black film. However, it does not really fit with the rest of the MCU. I never had a problem with the Mandarin changes. Watching it a few more times though and I really dislike the final battle. It is pretty bad. Especially when you keep thinking about the fact that the President has been kidnapped and no other heroes join in to stop this guy.”

28. Iron Man 2 (⇓10)
Will Justin Hammer finally return in Armor Wars? I hope so. Sam Rockwell needs a bigger role in the MCU!

27. Ant-Man and the Wasp (⇓13)
I debated where to put this one. The family aspect of this movie is great. Plus there are some excellent jokes. I loved Walton Goggins as a villain (will he be coming back in Armor Wars? Could we get a possible White Lotus team-up???).

26. Captain America: Brave New World (NR)
A perfectly fine movie. Sam as the new Captain America works well, but it has to be a different kind of movie, and I thought they did a good job keeping it somewhat grounded. No giant spaceships falling out of the sky (yes, Sam has to stop WW3 from happening, and fight the Red Hulk–but it was definitely more of a personal journey).

25. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (NR)
I liked the way they handled Chadwick’s passing, and I thought the Atlanteans were a cool foil for the Wakandans (although, I still think introducing Doom and Latveria would have been better). 

24. Thunderbolts* (NR)
I am kind of a sucker for movies about personal growth, especially if mental health is involved. 

23. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (NR)
I like this movie. I love turning Wanda into a villain. Cracks me up that people want these movies to be more like the comics, well what is more comic bookish than having a hero turn evil? Every superhero has a villain phase. 

22. Eternals (NR)
The most un-MCU movie. It feels so out of place with the rest of the movies, and yet that is what I love about it. 

21. Doctor Strange (⇓6)
It drops because other movies came in that were just a bit better.

20. Spider-Man: Far From Home (NR)
The Spider-Man movies have some fantastic themes running through them. Just a well thought out trilogy. My only complaint? Beck dying at the end. I would love for Mysterio to pop back up at some point. 

19. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (⇓6)
Such a fantastic movie, but honestly, how good are the rest of these if it slid down six spots? “I’m Mary Poppins ya’ll” is still one of my favorite lines.

18. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (NR)
It was the perfect ending to the trilogy. The characters completed their arcs, and became better versions of themselves.

17. Deadpool & Wolverine (NR)
I know this one will probably surprise some people. I have nothing against the movie. In fact, I really really like it. I just do not have it as high as other folks do. 

16. Captain Marvel (⇓5)
Yeah, this movie still holds up. I think this one being so good is why The Marvels was such a letdown. 

15. Thor (⇓5)
This movie was so much better than it had any right to be. There are so many funny parts and the whole Thor/Loki relationship was something that was sustainable throughout the entire MCU. 

14. Ant-Man (⇓6)
Just such a fun movie. The other two try so hard to recapture what was great about this movie, and they just do not quite do it.

13. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (NR)
Such a great movie. I love the fight scenes. I love the comedy. I love that they brought back Trevor! The villain was fantastic. I hate that it came out when it did, if it comes out pre-pandemic, it probably ends up being one of the bigger MCU solo films (I am just totally speculating here, haha).

12. Black Panther (No Change)
Amazing production design. It truly feels like Wakanda is a real place, with a real history. Also, Killmonger is such a great villain. The only reason this one did not move up over time is because the story itself is a little boring in the middle. I know, hot take.

11. Spider-Man: Homecoming (⇓2)
Michael Keaton was a fantastic villain. Tom Holland is perfect as Spider-Man. This movie was able to ditch an origin and it really worked. When you watch this movie a few times, you realize just how well this movie fits into the MCU and makes everything feel connected. 

10. Iron Man (⇓3)
I watched this with the kids recently, and they really could not understand why Obadiah Stane wanted to kill Tony. And honestly, it felt a little silly that his entire motivation was to takeover a company that he was basically in charge of anyways. He was already incredibly rich. I am glad the MCU has worked on giving the villains a little more depth nowadays.

9. The Avengers (⇓3)
There are still so many great parts to this movie, but it is easy to watch it and see all of the Joss Whedon problematic bits.

8. Avengers: Age of Ultron (⇑9)
Okay, after repeated viewings, this movie has grown on me. Ultron is a cool villain. I love the relationship between Hawkeye and Wanda/Pietro. There are great moments happening in this movie, and they eventually end up being used to further more stories. Like the opposite of the second Iron Man movie, where they kept trying to force ideas for down the road. 

7. Spider-Man: No Way Home (NR)
It ends up this high because of the Andrew Garfield scene when he rescues MJ. That scene gets me every time I watch it. But this movie was the reason why the multiverse should exist.

6. Captain America: Winter Soldier (⇑10)
I finally came around on this movie. It was my biggest change since the last list. I watched it a few more times, and even the things that I disliked have grown on me. 

5. Guardians of the Galaxy (⇓2)
It is still crazy to think that Marvel Studios decided to take some of their least known characters, and give them a huge blockbuster film. The movie is so good that it did not matter. If it were a bad movie, it would have flopped and we never would have heard about it again. 

4. Captain America: Civil War (⇑1)
There are so many incredible scenes. I mean, the Spider-Man reveal, Cap meeting Ant-Man, Black Panther fighting Cap and Bucky…all just great. But you know, one of my favorite scenes? Zemo and the B&B lady. And then when she discovers the body. Everything clicks into place, but you still do not know who he is, or what he wants. 

3. Thor: Ragnarok (⇓2)
I think the 4th Thor movie is what caused this one to drop. I still love it, but I can see how the comedy ended up causing Taika Waititi to think that silliness is what the fans loved most. But this movie has funny parts, but they work so well with the rest of the movie. The perfect blend.

2. Avengers: Endgame (⇑2)
I find something new to love each time I watch it. I love the beginning, particularly when Scott Lang comes back and goes to the memorial to see his daughter’s name, but instead sees his (the look of realization that she is alive is great). Also, the emotional Natasha, upbeat Steve. I just love it. Then we have the fun time-travel adventure, and then the incredible battle. I love all of it.

1. Avengers: Infinity War (⇑1)
The best of the Avengers movies. It focuses so much of it’s time on Thanos and  develops him as a character. Josh Brolin pulls off the role so well, you can feel it when he has to make the sacrifice for the Soul Stone. Plus, the end fight and the return of Thor…ahhhh, so amazing. Or the dusting…”Mr.Stark, I don’t feel so good.” My favorite scene? When Wanda is protecting Vision, and the train comes, you see a figure standing there. Proxima Midnight throws her spear at the person, and he catches it. We see that it is Steve Rogers!

 

 So there you go, my list! Do you agree with most of my choices? Or am I totally off??