The Marvel Cinematic Universe is undoubtedly one of the biggest movie franchises to ever exist. As it hurtles toward the end of Phase 4 with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hitting theaters next month, fans are looking back at the first fourteen years of the hit superhero series.
The MCU has had plenty of films over the years, each achieving different levels of success. Many of the films that were particularly beloved to fans were the ones that delved deeper, striking viewers' hearts with important lessons that they could apply to their own lives.
Iron Man
No One Is Beyond Redemption
Iron Man introduces fans to Tony Stark, a billionaire weapons manufacturer with a nasty record and an overinflated ego. Despite his very few redeeming qualities, both Tony and the audience comes to understand during the events of the film that no one is beyond redeeming.
Though Tony was inadvertently responsible for so much pain in the world, the moment he saw how his actions affected others, he changed his ways and devoted himself to righting his many wrongs. Tony would eventually grow into one of the greatest heroes in the entirety of the MCU, with his journey beginning in earnest during this first solo adventure and redemption arc.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Heroism Is On The Inside
Captain America: The First Avenger introduces Steve Rogers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a skinny boy from Brooklyn who is given a dose of super-soldier serum to become one of the world's greatest superheroes. During the course of his battle with the Red Skull and Hydra, Steve comes to learn that heroism may seem obvious on the outside but truly comes from the heart.
Dr. Abraham Erskine teaches Steve this lesson shortly before his death, revealing that Johann Schmidt had been the first candidate for the super-soldier serum, but his wicked intentions had corrupted the process. It is Steve's good heart that makes the experiment a success, as a good man became great.
Guardians Of The Galaxy
Family Can Be Found In Unusual Places
The first Guardians of the Galaxy film was a surprise hit for Marvel, making fan favorite characters out of little-known comic characters. Introducing Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot to the MCU, the team-up film saw the ground finding a family with stronger ties than their own biological relatives.
Each member of the Guardians of the Galaxy was virtually alone in the world, some having lost family and others suffering abuse from the family they did have. Nevertheless, despite their broken parts, each member became whole as a Guardian, uniting as a true family with the power to alter the very fate of the galaxy.
Captain America: Civil War
Be Willing To Sacrifice For Your Convictions
Captain America: Civil War saw the Avengers fractured as they disagreed over the notion of superhero registration. With Captain America and Iron Man spearheading opposing sides, each Avenger learned the price of their own convictions during the course of the film.
Tony and Steve are each particularly changed by the end of Civil War, though not in the way that the other would like. Both Avengers did what they believed was right and paid the price for their beliefs. Neither was convinced that they were wrong by the end but was rather bolstered in their convictions by the other's opposition.
Doctor Strange
Don't Be Afraid Of Failure
In the 2016 Doctor Strange film, the eponymous cocky brain surgeon loses his livelihood after his hands are injured in a car accident. He travels to the distant Khamer-Taj to learn the mystic arts but instead learns that true greatness doesn't come from a perfect record but from learning from one's failures.
Doctor Strange begins the film as a notable brain surgeon who is obsessed with maintaining his perfect medical record. However, after learning from the Ancient One, he comes to understand that failure is nothing to be ashamed of. As such, he commits himself to lose over and over again to Dormammu when he attacks the Earth, overcoming his fear of failure and simultaneously protecting humanity from utter destruction.
Guardians Of The Galaxy, Volume 2
Being Special Isn't So Special
Guardians of the Galaxy, volume 2 sees Peter Quill finally reunite with his long-lost father, Ego the Living Planet. While Peter is initially ecstatic to find out that he has celestial blood, he comes to learn that being special isn't all it's made out to be.
At first, the revelation of Peter Quill's true nature nearly causes him to abandon the other Guardians in search of his true destiny. However, after learning the cost of his father's plan, Peter rejects Ego. When Ego warns that foiling his plans will make him "like everybody else," Peter simply responds by asking, "What's so wrong with that?"
Black Panther
Some Traditions Must Be Maintained, Others Must Be Transformed
Black Panther introduces audiences to the fictional African nation of Wakanda, which has remained untouched by the outside world thanks to its vibranium-powered force field. When T'Challa becomes the king of his country, he is forced with a difficult decision that causes him to question the merit of Wakanda's tradition of isolationism.
During the film, T'Challa must combat his long-lost cousin, whose life was destroyed by Wakanda's desperate need to remain separate from the rest of the world. Though he resists Killmonger's extremist solutions, T'Challa comes to understand that his ancestors were wrong in their isolationist policies and vows to change Wakanda's future, but not without completely abandoning all of its ancient traditions.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Heroism Is Sacrifice
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the culmination of Spider-Man's first trilogy set within the MCU and a love letter to the fans of the web-slinging superhero. Uniting all three live-action versions of the character onscreen for the very first time, the groundbreaking film taught a very important lesson: heroism is sacrifice.
Picking up after the cliffhanger ending of Far From Home, this sequel sees Peter Parker attempt to put his world back together by cheating his way back to the way things used to be. Ultimately, he only ends up causing more pain through his actions. In order to finally save the world, he must make a terrible sacrifice, but in so doing, he releases himself from the pain he's felt in hurting those around him with his secret identity.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Rely On Others In Times Of Need
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sees the titular Master of the Mystic Arts face off against the villainous Scarlet Witch in a battle spanning the length of the multiverse. Aiming to protect the young America Chavez, Doctor Strange comes to learn to trust in others in his most desperate hour.
The film opens with a distraught Stephen attending the wedding of his former lover, Dr. Christine Palmer, who reveals to him that she could never love him because he "always had to be holding the knife." Strange fails to understand this metaphor until later in the film when he puts his faith in America Chavez to defeat the Scarlet Witch rather than taking things into his own hands yet again. His gamble pays off with minimal collateral damage, as Stephen learns that he can't always be the one in charge, even accepting Wong's role as his superior at Kahmer-Taj.
Thor: Love And Thunder
Love Is Greater Than Vengeance
Thor: Love and Thunder is the latest cinematic installment of the MCU and the fourth entry in the Thor franchise, leading its titular hero in a conquest against Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher. Throughout the film, both Thor and Gorr learn that love is more powerful than vengeance.
While Thor slowly begins to rekindle the flames of his broken heart, Gorr attempts to heal his own internal wounds caused by the death of his daughter by killings all gods. However, Thor and Jane Foster's love is able to convince Gorr to pick a better way, choosing to use his Eternity Wish to resurrect his daughter rather than slaughter his quarry.