There's no question that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is among the most iconic film franchises in history. Even if you're not a fan of the series, it has been an undeniable box office success and more often than not, the movies (and now Disney+ shows) have been met with acclaim from critics and audiences.
Screen Rant has been part of that group, offering up reviews of every film entry into the franchise since its inception back in 2008. On a five-star scale, every movie has scored at least three stars, showcasing just how consistent the MCU is. The question now remains of which ones scored the highest.
Updated on October 4th, 2021 by Kevin Pantoja: The aforementioned high quality and impressive level of consistency within the MCU is unmatched. Other film franchises that surpassed 10 entries have had installments that were mixed like Star Wars or James Bond but the MCU has reached new levels of success. That's why it's difficult to just keep it narrowed down to the 10 best, so it's worth diving a little bit deeper into the history of this franchise that has now nearly reached a decade and a half.
Updated on April 5th, 2022 by Kevin Pantoja: The MCU just keeps growing and growing with every new release. The world has now expanded to include big-budget TV shows on Disney+ but the main focus continues to be the blockbuster films that hit theaters. In 2021, the MCU put out four new movies, with three more lined up for 2022, several others for 2023, and multiple Disney+ series. Screen Rant continues to cover each of these movies, so the list of which ones are the best is ever-changing.
Ant-Man (2015) - 3.5 Stars
When Ant-Man first arrived, it was difficult to tell if he'd be important to the greater MCU. Some casual viewers could've seen him as a bit of a joke but 2015's Ant-Man made sure that wasn't the case. Sure, there was a funny comedy in there but this made the character into a major big screen hero.
The review at Screen Rant made sure to applaud this film for the entertaining ensemble cast and the directorial style of Peyton Reed. In fact, the comedic aspects were said to be the highlight as watching the likes of Paul Rudd and Michael Peña riff never gets old.
Iron Man 3 (2013) - 3.5 Stars
There are a lot of people out there who don't like Iron Man 3. It grossed over $1 billion and wrapped up Tony Stark's trilogy but did things that longtime fans didn't appreciate like completely changing the story of one of Iron Man's greatest foes, The Mandarin.
However, when it came out, the Screen Rant review was positive about the whole thing. It was accepted that longtime fans might not like The Mandarin twist but Sir Ben Kingsley was well-received and this was found to be a fun ride overall. The bigger storyline for War Machine was also appreciated.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) - 3.5 Stars
The massive success that was the first Guardians of the Galaxy installment led to a highly-anticipated sequel. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 more than lived up to the expectations by doubling down on what already worked but also expanding upon the existing lore.
Ultimately, the Screen Rant review suggested that this film offered up some diminishing returns on James Gunn's formula but was still a blast. The chemistry between the existing cast only got better, while the new additions like Pom Klementieff and Kurt Russell were welcome.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) - 3.5 Stars
One of the most recent films among the ones to score a 3.5 as Spider-Man: Far From Home continued the story of young Peter Parker as he attempted to juggle his personal life with his superhero world while also dealing with the death of his mentor Tony Stark.
While seen as a slight step down from its predecessor, it worked in a lot of the same ways. The Screen Rant review praised the high school comedy aspects like MJ and Peter's romance as well as the performances of both Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal to lead the way.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - 3.5 Stars
The Thor franchise was often seen as the weakest point of the MCU, with the first two entries getting slightly above average ratings across several websites and among critics. Needless to say, the third entry wasn't one that had a ton of hype behind it but then Thor: Ragnarok arrived and became a beloved hit.
Putting the creative Taika Waititi in the director's chair was a breath of fresh air, especially since he injected humor into the story and let Chris Hemsworth showcase his comedic chops. The Screen Rant review appreciated these things, as well as the inclusion of the Hulk and debut of Valkyrie, though did see some of the MCU formula rearing its head.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) - 3.5 Stars
While the team-up films starring the Avengers are typically the most anticipated in the MCU, it was difficult to top Spider-Man: No Way Home in terms of excitement. It made sense since the movie brought together every live-action incarnation of Spidey for one multiverse-centric story.
This ended up being the highest-grossing solo MCU film and was met with widespread acclaim. Surprisingly though, Screen Rant's review wasn't as high as most others. Still, the review was indeed positive, praising the way the plot was balanced, the action, and the heart between Tom Holland's Peter and Znedaya's MJ.
Eternals (2021) - 4 Stars
Unfortunately, Eternals holds a dubious distinction. It became the first (and still only) MCU film to be labeled as "rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes thanks to lackluster reviews that hold it at 47% on the site. The most common feeling is that the story is too bloated, with many thinking this would've been much better as a Disney+ series spanning several episodes.
That being said, one strong review Eternals received was from Screen Rant. This one appreciated the way that director Chloe Zhao was able to weave the many stories together and make sure it was gorgeous from start to finish. It was said to be unique in the best possible way.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) - 4 Stars
It might come as a surprise to many but The Incredible Hulk movie actually received one of the highest scores on Screen Rant of any MCU film. What makes that so shocking is that a lot of people barely even consider this film part of the series since it's from a different distributor and features Edward Norton as Bruce Banner and not Mark Ruffalo.
Despite those differences, Screen Rant found this to be an engaging superhero flick. This iteration was praised for breezing past the origin story seen in Ang Lee's version and getting right into a place where Banner was already the Hulk. It was said to not be as fun as Iron Man but still a good film for fans of the hero.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - 4 Stars
A lot of fans have come to claim that Captain America got the best trilogy in the MCU and indeed, it is the only one to have all three installments land among the 15 best. It all started with Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011, which went back to tell the origin story of Steve Rogers in the 1940s.
Although that took audiences out of the present, the film told an engaging story with likable characters. It's a timeless underdog story about someone pure of heart, which was nailed by Chris Evans and those around him. However, the Screen Rant review does say the film is at its best before Rogers ever dons his iconic suit.
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021) - 4 Stars
The latest entry into the MCU is also already considered one of the best to date. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings marked the franchise's first attempt at a martial arts film and they hit the nail on the head. Combine the great action scenes with the drama handled by director Destin Daniel Cretton and this exceeded expectations.
Overall, the film was lauded for the star-making performance of Simu Liu as the titular Shang-Chi as well as the way that Wenwu was fleshed out enough to be one of Marvel's better on-screen villains. The one major gripe was that the big CGI fight near the end lost some of the emotional weight from the more grounded moments earlier on.
Doctor Strange (2016) - 4 Stars
Released in 2016, Doctor Strange managed to take the franchise into the realm of magic as it focused on Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) becoming the Sorcerer Supreme. This was an area that hadn't been explored yet, making this one of the most unique entries of them all.
The Screen Rant review praised the film for how it could stand on its own but also had MCU connections. Scott Derrickson's visual style was also seen as a highlight, especially given his horror background. Though Mads Mikkelsen was praised, it was said that the actor was underutilized.
Captain Marvel (2019) - 4 Stars
Getting Captain Marvel right was hugely important for the MCU. It had the tall task of introducing Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) late into the Infinity Saga as she would play a big part in the upcoming Avengers: Endgame. Thankfully, they mostly got it right.
For starters, Oscar winner Larson was lauded for her efforts in leading this story. The work of the directors was criticized for how the action scenes were handled but they got praise for the dramatic moments, which are often more important. Captain Marvel was said to feel like something truly special within the MCU.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) - 4 Stars
This was the Marvel movie that really proved they could hit a home run with any concept. This was a film based on a team that was considered "D-level" comic characters at best. Despite that, 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy proved to be a monumental success.
The combination of the mind of writer/director James Gunn and the talented ensemble cast helped make this movie work so well. The SR review praised it for being so different from the rest of the MCU but criticized some of the visuals whenever out in space.
Black Panther (2018) - 4 Stars
There's no denying that Black Panther was a cultural phenomenon. Grossing over $1 billion in early 2018, it was a great showcase of a Black superhero in a positive light. The way that it depicted African culture while telling a big-budget superhero story was excellent.
When Screen Rant covered the film upon release, it was considered great. Michael B. Jordan was hailed as the show stealer, while the way the film built the world of Wakanda was also a highlight. It did have some third act issues, including disappointing CGI but was mostly a rousing success.
Captain America: Civil War (2016) - 4 Stars
As noted, most audience members agree that the Captain America trilogy is the best within the MCU. The third installment, 2016's Captain America: Civil War, was basically another Avengers movie considering how many heroes were involved.
Screen Rant said it was arguably better than the first two Avengers movies for how well it balanced so many characters. It tells an emotional Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes story while giving Tony Stark ample screen time and introducing Black Panther and Spider-Man into the mix, among other things, and made it all work smoothly.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) - 4 Stars
Following his debut in Civil War, Peter Parker was given his first solo entry into the MCU with 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming. Since fans had already seen his origins on screen enough, this film picked up with Peter already as a hero under the watchful eye of Tony Stark.
This instantly stood out for being both a great superhero blockbuster and a hilarious high school comedy. Tom Holland is incredibly likable, while Michael Keaton's Adrian Toomes/Vulture was said to be one of the most fleshed-out antagonists in the MCU ever.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - 4 Stars
Many fans still consider 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier to be the best standalone movie in the MCU. While Screen Rant didn't quite rank it that high, it's still a tremendous film that worked as a superhero story and as a political thriller.
This marked the MCU directorial debut of the Russo Brothers, who would helm three more movies for them. The SR review called this a high-quality Marvel film and found that it expertly tied into the greater MCU. It was also praised for how Chris Evans grew into the role and the way that Cap proved to be as smart as he is powerful.
Iron Man (2008) - 4.5 Stars
It's the one that started it all. Released in 2008, most didn't expect that Iron Man would be the first entry into an incredibly profitable movie franchise. However, the Screen Rant review actually correctly called it the launch of the next big superhero franchise.
This still remains the best solo film in the entire MCU based on SR ratings, scoring a 4.5 out of 5. The action sequences were praised, as were the comedic elements. Of course, the true thing that brought this all together was the rockstar performance of Robert Downey Jr.
The Avengers (2012) - 4.5 Stars
This is the one that really changed the game. Never before had so many superheroes shared the big screen in a movie of this magnitude. 2012's The Avengers really established a style for Marvel that would continue on. The interplay between the characters was magnificent.
For as good as the action was, the Screen Rant review notes that the slower, character-driven scenes are the best parts. The balancing act among the heroes, the way the villain was highlighted, and the humor were all also praised, though the story was said to be a bit predictable.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) - 4.5 Stars
It's fitting that the highest-rated MCU film in Screen Rant history is also the one that ended the Infinity Saga, which spanned just over a decade. 2019's Avengers: Endgame had to wrap things up in a satisfying conclusion while delivering on both action and emotional moments.
The review suggests that it's as if each character gets their own solo film arc within this well-balanced tale. The slew of unimportant henchmen villains and some questionable CGI were the only things that didn't get met with praise. Everything else was said to be epic.