The Marvel Cinematic Universe pulled off an incredible feat in 2012. They had built five separate films up towards a major team up the likes of which had never been seen on the big screen before. The Avengers brought together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye to become a huge box office hit by making over $1.5 billion.
Since then, Marvel's greatest heroes have come together for three more Avengers films. They've broken box office records (especially Avengers: Endgame) and become a staple of pop culture. The team has grown to include the likes of Spider-Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, and more. Through the four movies, which performances stood out above the rest?
Tom Hiddleston
It is a daunting task to play the villain in a movie where you have to match up against some of the best superhero actors in history. In 2012's The Avengers, the team all played so well off of each other, yet they were nearly overshadowed by Tom Hiddleston's turn as Loki.
Loki was good in 2011's Thor but it was here that he truly became the beloved character that he is today. He held the screen with a charismatic performance that could hang with what the impressive group of heroes was doing. He also had some fun small roles in Infinity War and Endgame.
Karen Gillan
When she first appeared in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, almost nobody could've predicted how popular Nebula would become. A lot of it is down to the performance of Karen Gillan. Each turn by her has seemingly improved and her shining moments came in Endgame.
It was then that Gillan got the most to work with. She formed a believable bond with Tony Stark early on, then played up the sadness of losing her sister, showcased the thirst for revenge on her adoptive father, and nailed the emotional beats in scenes with Zoe Saldana's Gamora. Plus, she also had to play a Nebula from a different timeline.
Tom Holland
Similar to Gillan and Hiddleston, Tom Holland has only appeared in two of the four Avengers films. However, he made an absolute impression. After shining in Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming, Holland nabbed a huge role in Infinity War.
He continued to play up his incredible chemistry with Robert Downey Jr., while also getting to interact with folks like Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Holland cemented his spot on this list thanks to his memorable scene at the end of Infinity War as he died in Mr. Stark's arms. It brings a tear to everyone's eyes. He was also great in his few moments in Endgame.
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo is the most important member of the Avengers to never get his own solo film since Edward Norton had the role for 2008's The Incredible Hulk. It might be for the best, though, as Ruffalo is at his best when he gets to play off of the rest of the cast. It's why he's so valuable to these movies.
As soon as Ruffalo hit the scene in The Avengers, you believed that he was a mild-mannered scientist who was scared to be set off by something that would make him angry at any moment. While he was also good in Age of Ultron, it was the arc in Infinity War and Endgame that was truly great. Going from being scared after losing to the new air of confidence he showed in Endgame was stellar.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson was right there with Ruffalo in terms of not getting a solo film, though that is set to change. That means she had to make an impact alongside others and she did just that. Johansson has fantastic chemistry with the entire cast, most notably Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner.
Honestly, she didn't get a ton in terms of arcs over these films. She was the perfect complementary player for the most part. That changed in Endgame, where Johansson was part of some tremendous scenes. From her conversation with Steve Rogers to her sacrifice, it was Johansson's brightest time.
Jeremy Renner
Of the original members of the team, Hawkeye was the only one to not appear in every installment. He missed Infinity War. However, he was given more than enough to work with before that. In fact, one could argue that Age of Ultron is totally his movie.
Renner had the film's most emotional scenes and always nailed them. He was also an unheralded star in the first film and came back with a vengeance, again delivering some of the most gripping moments through Endgame. Jeremy Renner is the franchise's unsung hero.
Chris Hemsworth
Most readers probably expected the Avengers' "big three" to hold down the top three spots. However, there's one thing that keeps Chris Hemsworth's Thor from ranking higher. He was given next to nothing to do during Age of Ultron other than have a vision that previewed the next two films.
Besides that, he played off of the rest of the cast very well in The Avengers to break out. Then, he was arguably the best part of Infinity War as he struggled to power through the loss of his friends and family. He took it to the next level with a turn in Endgame that was both hilarious and heartfelt.
Josh Brolin
There are plenty of stars in Infinity War but there's no doubt that it is Thanos's movie and Josh Brolin was as good as they come in it. He was given plenty of screentime and made the most of it. Each time he was in a scene, you could believe every bit of Thanos's grand plan.
You also totally bought into the fact that he truly viewed Gamora as a daughter that he cared about. The scene where he sacrificed her meant so much because of that. Brolin was also incredibly intimidating in the role, especially when it came time for Endgame.
Chris Evans
He plays the leader of the Avengers for a reason. Chris Evans was always tremendous as Captain America and he really hammered that home during these films. Fans got to watch him develop a relationship with Tony Stark and become the leader in the first Avengers movie.
Evans had less to do in Age of Ultron and Infinity War but came back to the spotlight in Endgame. He delivered what might've been his finest performance. From the physical action scenes to wielding Mjolnir to shouting "Avengers Assemble" to the reunion with Peggy and him at an old age, Evans was perfect.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. is the man who started the MCU and he's also the man who finished the Infinity Saga. He showed up a bit later than most in The Avengers but immediately found chemistry with the entire rest of the cast. His fear and paranoia shined in Age of Ultron when he built a deadly AI.
Downey Jr. really got to sink his teeth into Infinity War and Endgame. Audiences watched him deliver great scenes with Holland, Pratt, Cumberbatch, and Brolin. The scene where he silently sits down in anguish after Peter Parker dusts away is haunting. For Endgame, people have suggested he get an Oscar nom, which is understandable. He's spectacular at every turn.