For this list, we’re only ranking films in the MCU, so we won’t include adjacent Marvel films like X-Men or Deadpool, the original Spider-Man trilogy, or Sony Marvel films like Venom and Morbius. Where does the latest, Thor: Love and Thunder, rank in the long-running MCU canon? Keep reading to find out our picks for the best Marvel movies—and the, uh, not-so-best.
Best Marvel Movies Ranked
29. Eternals (2021)
Mere months after ChloéZhao became the second woman in history to win a Best Director Oscar, well-intentioned but cosmically dull Eternals was all but a total disaster. The contemplative sci-fi film boasts an impressive cast and diversity wins, but it’s nearly three hours long, it’s heavy-handed, and most woefully, there’s no sense of fun. Rarely if ever has a movie this expensive felt this much like a screensaver.
28. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Only a marginal upgrade from Ang Lee’s infamous Hulk—which, flawed as it was, was arguably more entertaining than this—Louis Leterrier directed Edward Norton in the actor’s first and only appearance as Bruce Banner. The Incredible Hulk lacked the million-watt sly charm of Iron Man, and the relationships that made it so surprisingly resonant and delicious. Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross is one of the most thankless, underwritten roles in MCU history; the actress has virtually nothing to work with. Tim Roth can play a baddie as memorably as anyone, but here it all amounts to the hero and villain hitting each other a lot. One of the great joys of 2012’s The Avengers was seeing producers finally get this character totally right.
27. Black Widow (2021)
Like No Time to Die, Black Widow was a Hollywood tentpole at the center of the pandemic. Unlike the flawed but spectacular Bond film, Black Widow was hardly worth a long wait. Helmed by Cate Shortland, who made brilliant indies Berlin Syndrome and Somersault, Black Widow kind of works in intimate character scenes (Scarlett Johansson stars alongside Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz). The enterprise practically falls apart in unimaginative action scenes composed of unconvincing, eyesore VFX. Still, perhaps the most critical flaw of Black Widow was expecting the audience to get invested in a movie about a character who’s dead.
26. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Fans have been excited for Love and Thunder, frankly, since Ragnarok. Adding to the hype, no doubt, was the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, and Taika Waititi in the director’s chair. But what a thundering anticlimax. Love and Thunder adds to the perplexing state of Marvel’s Phase Four. There’s some enjoyment to be had in the candy-colored visuals, and more in the performances. But this is a far cry from the groundbreaking franchise’s glory days. Tonally, Love and Thunder is disastrous; there’s a woefully misjudged cancer storyline, hit-and-miss, pervasive snark, Christian Bale’s expertly menacing but mishandled Gorr the God Butcher, and a kiddie action climax that evokes Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. It just doesn’t work.
25. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Any rumors that Multiverse of Madness would be the franchise’s first flat-out horror movie were just that. Multiverse has some mildly freaky moments, even some inspired ones, but all elements take a backseat to exposition. Appealing, vibrant performances (and some admittedly tantalizing cameos) are the big draw in a franchise film so humdrum and safe it’s now easier than ever to appreciate the risky weirdness of “Emo Peter” in Spider-Man 3. The wall-to-wall digital effects lack the crisp perspective that made the 2016 picture’s visuals stand out. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a great title, but the movie is more vanilla and monotonous than it has any right to be with Raimi at the helm. Even Oz the Great and Powerful had more personality.
24. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
One Thor film after the original felt unsure of itself (Dutch angles!), one Thor film before the course-correcting decision to make Thor the funny one took the MCU to giddy new highs, The Dark World treaded water. Handsomely designed but low on verve, Thor: The Dark World is extremely silly, without the inspired self-awareness that made Ragnarok a treat. What does work, what has always worked in the MCU, is the chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki.
23. Captain Marvel (2019)
Sandwiched between two of the biggest blockbusters in film history—and in the wake of the zeitgeist-ruling near-perfection of Wonder Woman, this should have been a knockout. Instead, the introduction of Marvel’s “most powerful” is alternately cheesy fun, then surprisingly solemn and wan. It feels like a film from the 90s, and not just because it’s set then. Some strong performances go a long way to elevate a movie that should have committed to being cornier or edgier.
22. Ant-Man (2015)
The behind-the-scenes story of Ant-Man is at least a little more exciting than the film itself. After Edgar Wrightexited the project due to creative differences, Peyton Reed took the reins of a superhero caper that concluded Phase Two. Ant-Man fails to form much of an identity visually or thematically, and the constant jokes are more miss than hit. There’s enjoyment to be had here, though: Paul Rudd is aces as a lovable underdog, and the action scenes, like a more polished Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, are more inventive than expected.
21. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Phase Two’s Age of Ultron is serviceable and fun, though it’s overstuffed and crucially lacks the focus and simple through-line that made 2012’s landmark The Avengers such a monumental win. The talented, endlessly photogenic actors and their funny, warm performances linger in the memory even more than the outlandish set pieces. Standout additions here include Paul Bettany’s Vision, and James Spader in full Blacklist mode as Ultron.
20. Iron Man 2 (2010)
Phase One continued under Jon Favreau’s assured direction in a follow-up that’s definitely a step down in quality—if not as bad as some say. Like Age of Ultron and other pictures on the lower end of this ranking, Iron Man 2 suffers from being more connective tissue than film proper. Fresh off an Oscar nod for The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke is equal parts method and camp as villain Ivan “Whiplash” Vanko; Sam Rockwell chews scenery as scheming entrepreneur Justin Hammer.
19. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Paul Rudd returns as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, and Evangeline Lilly is back as Hope van Dyne/The Wasp. Ant-Man and The Wasp also stars Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Peña. Chronologically, the film is set between Captain America: Civil War and the game-changing events of Avengers: Infinity War. Pleasurable for sure, if fluffy by design.
18. Thor (2011)
A full decade before the esteemed filmmaker finally won an Oscar (for writing Belfast), Kenneth Branagh directed Hemsworth in his inaugural outing as Marvel was still finding its footing as an interconnected universe unlike anything in film history. More self-conscious (Dutch angles! So many Dutch angles!) than self-aware like the more pleasurable Ragnarok, the relatively modest success of Thor largely rests on the sculpted shoulders of star-on-the-rise Hemsworth, as well as the bright supporting turns from Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins.
17. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Much credit to No Way Home for the shot in the arm to movie theaters; it’s easy to see why the megahit is such a crowd-pleaser. No Way Home is an event film in the purest sense: big happenings and appearances rumored for months, even years, transpire. It’s the kind of thing designed above all else to make an audience cheer with excitement. But is there much more than that? If there’s one film that aligns with the controversial auteur assessment that superhero films are more amusement park ride than cinema; it’s this one. Flawlessly produced and well-acted, No Way Home is so meta it’s hard to feel much raw emotion. Say what you will about “Emo Peter” and past stuff like that in the franchise regarded as misfires; at least there was tons of personality in it. The best part of No Way Home is some shining performances. Foremost, there’s Holland, who delivers his strongest turn yet as Peter. Also outstanding are Willem Dafoe‘s deliciously demonic Green Goblin—and a warm, funny Zendaya.
16. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
In an age where fourth-wall breaking and snarkiness are en vogue there’s something refreshing about a yarn that’s this old-fashioned, crafted this handsomely. The First Avenger saw square-jawed Chris Evans—on the brink of superstardom—cast to perfection, bringing just the right amount of earnestness to a role that had come off as campy in films from decades past.
15. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Holland is always aces as the web-slinger–the best Peter Parker ever, in fact, but Far From Home falls short of a home run. It isn’t really a spoiler to say a plot twist around the halfway mark provides an opportunity for some genuine surrealism and inventive, fresh action sequences. And Jake Gyllenhaal is characteristically tremendous and malleable as Mysterio. This is the stuff that really works. However, the supporting characters we loved in Homecoming are sidelined with uninteresting, halfhearted subplots. The script leans heavily on a romance that doesn’t work like the Raimi trilogy, and the most exciting plot element is introduced after the end credits. Far From Home is good summer fun, but it doesn’t match the soaring heights of Spidey at his best.
14. Iron Man 3 (2013)
The Marvel movies, largely, follow a formula. Shane Black‘s sequel to Iron Man 2 caught some flack from fans for going too far into left field. Critics mostly liked the wit, and a major plot twist. Terrific action set pieces also help to compensate for scenes set in “Tennessee” that are wildly inaccurate to actual Tennessee.
13. Doctor Strange (2016)
Awe-inspiring, idiosyncratic visual effects and a compelling lead enhance an origin story that’s otherwise pretty paint-by-numbers. An impressive, offbeat performance from BenedictCumberbatch—as a cynical surgeon who becomes a mighty sorcerer—explores the dark side of intelligence in a way that’s not too heavy or uncomfortable for the multiplex crowd.
12. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Thematically mature with kid-like enthusiasm where it counts, as much a third Avengers film as it is a third Captain America film, Anthony and Joe Russo‘s summer blockbuster saw the Avengers team separated into two opposing sides. Highlights include the (universally-hailed) first appearance of Holland as Spider-Man, and a prolonged tarmac action sequence that had audiences laughing and cheering all over the world. This is the highest-grossing film of 2016.
11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. II (2017)
Lightning struck twice for the rag-tag Guardians, and writer/director James Gunn. The massively successful, visually arresting sequel introduces one of the MCU’s best villains, a planet played to perfection, with icy wit, by Kurt Russell. As was the case with the first film, Vol. II is best when it joyfully, respectfully subverts convention. The soundtrack is one long banger.
Top 10 Best MCU Movies
10. Shang-Chi and the Legend of theTen Rings (2021)
After long-delayed Black Widow underwhelmed with an uneasy blend of strong performances and character work—and loud, bland, weightlessly bombastic action sequences—Shang-Chi brought the MCU back full blast. Director Destin Daniel Cretton seamlessly leaps from small-scale dramatic work (Short Term 12 and Just Mercy) to a heartfelt martial-arts epic.
9. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
As entertainment, Spider-Man: Homecoming is a blast. As a love letter to this character and his fans, it’s even better. Nimble and vivacious Holland is perfect, and he’s backed by a uniformly excellent and high-energy supporting cast. The funniest film in this series, Homecoming throws jokes at you nonstop and dares you to keep up.. Co-writer and director Jon Watts—who had previously only directed low-budget thrillersClown (2014) and Cop Car (2015), as well as episodes of the satiric Onion News Network—made a remarkably successful transition into mega-budgeted blockbuster entertainment.
8. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Kevin Feige and the MCU filmmakers were so organized and focused that the series arguably works even better as a whole than as the sum of its parts. There are uniformly excellent performances here—the best are from Zoe Saldana and Josh Brolin, who give the MCU’s richest plot thread a weight that at times feels downright Shakespearian. The battle of Wakanda near the end is a lot of fun, too.
7. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
Joss Whedon‘s snappy, innovative and grand mega-team-up shattered international opening weekend box-office records, cementing superhero films as the most fashionable genre on Earth. A few years later, DCEU brazenly tried to replicate Avengers‘ success, without putting in the work. The movie went splat.
6. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
After two Thor entries that had their moments but were far from fan-favorites, Ragnarok was critical for Marvel, proving the franchise could pull off what is practically a pure comedy. This was also a critical moment for Chris Hemsworth, whose comic chops were struck like gold. It’s hard to believe that he was something of an unknown as recently as the first picture’s 2011 release.
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
A sophisticated leap for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier tells the story of a superhuman World War II veteran who is thawed from suspended animation into the modern world. Evans is so good in these movies, and Steve Rogers’ struggle to make sense of how his country and society at large have evolved, for better or worse, makes for enthralling drama. It’s like a spy thriller of a bygone era, only with superheroes.
4. Black Panther (2018)
The memory of late Chadwick Bosemanlives on in one of the most popular action blockbusters of all time. Black Panther transcended its genre at a moment when it was most needed. It is a cultural landmark, and it’s hard to remember the last time a blockbuster of this scale had such a striking, singular sense of visual identity. This is the one that broke the ceiling; Black Panther is the first superhero film nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. It’s also the first comic-book film to win Best Ensemble at the SAG Awards.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
James Gunn brought an irresistible blend of pathos and merciless irreverence to the sci-fi action/comedy that made Chris Pratt a household name. A lesser-known Marvel strip became one of the must-see movies of 2014. The 2017 sequel recaptured the magic, even if the relentless snark threatened to become too much of a good thing.
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Following the relative meh of Captain Marvel, the final installment of Marvel’s “Infinity Saga” is so good, so complete and satisfying, it makes Infinity War retroactively even better. Combined, they’re a landmark moment for not just the superhero genre, but popcorn entertainment at large. It’s not a spoiler to say that the final shot of Endgame was a big creative risk. It paid off, big time. Who knew a movie this huge could feel so intimate?
1. Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man is enthralling popcorn entertainment with something to offer just about everyone in the audience. Robert Downey Jr.‘s unexpected performance, more of assimilation with, Tony Stark—brilliant, self-deprecating, melancholic, witty and lonely—propelled one of Marvel’s second-tier heroes to the top. Iron Man was the center of the MCU’s decade-spanning original saga. Released the same summer as The Dark Knight, this is the other picture that cemented superhero movies as the most fashionable genre on the planet. Iron Man still stands out for uncommonly rich, sympathetically flawed characters, their relationships, and the full-throttle, giddy excitement of a great action picture where we care about what’s at stake. Next, check out the best psychological thrillers of all time.
