Since 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has given fans of the superhero genre a multitude of exciting films, and this year is poised to offer even more with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on the way.
Watching the finest Marvel movies is a great way to prepare for the next chapter in the franchise, and voters at Ranker have had their say on the very best so far, giving those wishing to revisit older stories a fantastic place to start.
Updated on May 2nd, 2022 by Stacie Rook: The stories which most consistently rank as the best MCU movies are those which successfully convey their big ideas with clarity, while also upholding the unique comic book flavor of their source material. In essence, these Marvel films achieve harmony between heartfelt character moments and exciting action sequences, all while celebrating the persistence of their heroes.
Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther got his own unmissable solo film after he made his first MCU appearance in Captain America: Civil War, and the story showcased the incredible society of his homeland, Wakanda.
Dealing with themes of isolationism, colonization, and African identity to name but a few, the movie strikes a perfect balance between this exploration and its action-packed story, which sees T'Challa in his new role as king grappling with how he should best rule, as his cousin Killmonger travels to Wakanda to seize the throne for himself.
Ant-Man (2015)
Given that most of the films released in Phase Two of the MCU were sequels, Ant-Man served as a lighthearted and refreshing change of pace. Focused on thief Scott Lang after he is released from prison, the movie sees him caught up in a world of spies and heroes after he unknowingly steals a super suit capable of altering his size.
The success of Ant-Man is rooted in its highly likeable cast, both main and supporting, and its approach to the genre, as it maintains an emotional weight while also not taking itself too seriously, and since the movie's release, Scott has shown himself to be an invaluable (if unexpected) asset to other heroes like the Avengers.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Marking the MCU debut of its protagonist, Captain America: The First Avenger follows Steve Rogers' journey from sickly young man to icon and hero of the US Army in World War II and beyond, as his heroic sacrifice brings him to the 21st century at the movie's conclusion.
The film is highly successful in showing the kind of person that Steve is, even before he gains his powers, and it also sets up two key relationships that only gain significance as his MCU story progresses; his friendship with Bucky, and his romance with Peggy Carter.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
The first MCU movie to be released after the franchise-altering events of Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home follows a grieving Peter Parker on a school trip in Europe. While there, he meets Mysterio, an apparent ally who soon reveals his evil intentions.
Far From Home continues to show the struggle Peter faces in attempting to keep on top of the contrasting aspects of his life, and how small slip ups can have dire consequences in the world of superheroes. At the same time, though, it retains its comedic coming-of-age tone, and Mysterio's tactics lead to some stunning visual sequences.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
After the character's introduction in Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man received his own MCU movie in 2017. The film is about the superhero trying to balance saving people with navigating everyday life as a teenager.
The character's long-anticipated arrival did not disappoint, and Spider-Man: Homecoming gave fans a heartfelt storyline about Peter Parker's struggles with responsibility after his recent brush with the Avengers. Compared to many other Marvel movies that feature cosmic threats, this film feels much more grounded, even if it still involves big action scenes.
Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange is about a neurosurgeon who is willing to try anything to heal his hands after a terrible car accident, which leads him to study magic with the Masters of the Mystic Arts.
The film has received extensive attention for its implementation of visual effects, which served a major purpose in the plot and world building of the story. It also played a big part in establishing the rules of magic in the MCU, which only grow more relevant as additional characters with mystic powers are brought to the screen.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Despite being such a recent release, Spider-Man: No Way Home has quickly come to be regarded as one of the MCU's finest movies, owing to its ambition, emotion, humor, and multiverse-wide story.
Kicking off in the aftermath of the previous Spider-Man solo film, No Way Home starts with Peter's secret identity being revealed. Not long after, a spell-gone-wrong sees him confronted by villains from other universes, which excitingly brings back iconic characters from past iterations of Spider-Man's movies.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Captain America: Civil War features a plot that had been building for some time in the franchise. Following proposed government regulations on superhero activities, Captain America and Iron Man have fundamental disagreements on if they should answer to anyone. This, combined with the potential of the Winter Soldier having committed heinous crimes, leads to conflict within the Avengers.
This film is fascinating because it leads fans to take sides on who they believe is correct in their reasoning, and it creates some emotional moments. Along with these, Captain America: Civil War features the incredible action sequences that fans have come to expect from a Marvel movie.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Featuring a wholly new cast of characters, Guardians of the Galaxy's success was uncertain prior to its release, but its unique group of outlaws who come together to stop a villain from enacting an evil plan was a massive hit.
This success was largely due to the lovable characters James Gunn brought to the MCU, and the comedic tone of the movie, helped along by the cast's on-screen chemistry. The Guardians of the Galaxy have been and will continue to be an important part of the MCU, and it is largely thanks to their incredible first appearance in the franchise.
The Avengers (2012)
Before The Avengers, most members of the titular team had only been in their own solo movies. With the release of this film, though, audiences finally got the chance to see some of their favorite characters meet on-screen as they team up to stop Loki from taking over the Earth.
The Avengers features much of the fun banter fans are familiar with, and it sets up the tension between Captain America and Iron Man wonderfully. The characters would go on to have solo films again, but the end of this movie is by no means the end of the team's story.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is part superhero movie and part political thriller. Featuring some of the best MCU partnerships in the first three phases, this film is about Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, and several other figures realizing that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated by members of HYDRA, and it follows their quest to put a stop to their devastating plans.
In contrast to the typical formula of some Marvel movies, The Winter Soldier uses elements of mystery and betrayal to constantly keep audiences on their toes, as well as providing fantastic moments of character growth for its core cast.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The culmination of the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame is about the remaining heroes attempting to undo Thanos's erasure of half of all life from the universe. The plot involves time travel to previous locations featured in the MCU and interactions with characters that fans had not seen for some time.
An epic story featuring the characters audiences had grown to love over the course of the franchise, Endgame is an emotional ride filled with action and heartbreaking moments. It offers a satisfying conclusion to some character arcs and gives hope for the future of others.
Iron Man (2008)
The movie that started it all, Iron Man, is still a favorite of many fans. It features Tony Stark, who, after his capture and subsequent escape from the Ten Rings, decides to don an improved version of the armor he made and used to get free in order to help people.
This film brilliantly sets up its characters' journeys, showing what would become the unmistakable traits of Tony Stark in the MCU. The movie is also well known for its exceptional casting, with Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor: Ragnarok is known for its tonal shift for the character of Thor, which was very well received by most audiences. Considered one of the most comedic movies in the MCU, it also sees the introduction of one of Thor's most powerful villains, Hela.
Featuring some of the funniest moments in the franchise, Thor: Ragnarok was a great change of pace, though it set up some of the serious events of Infinity War in a post-credit scene.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Infinity War did what many viewers thought was impossible; it brought together almost every MCU hero introduced so far and gave them a satisfying portion of the epic film. The movie follows Thanos's attempt to gather the remaining Infinity Stones, as well as the heroes' attempt to stop him.
Parts of Infinity War are comedic while others are terrifyingly serious, giving audiences the first portion of the thrilling two-part ride they had been anticipating for years. The long-form plan the creators had made truly paid off.