Since Jon Favreau’sIron Manarrived in multiplexes in 2008, Kevin Feige has turnedthe Marvel Cinematic Universeinto a hit factory pumping out three $1 billion-grossing blockbusters a year. The franchise’s entries are all agreeable comic book adventures with plenty of action and spectacle, but some stand head and shoulders above the others.
The worst movies in the MCU feel like they came straight from the cookie-cutter, following the same well-worn formula. On the other hand, thebest MCU filmshave an authorial stamp from their director and a couple of exciting subversions of the usual recipe while still satisfying as large-scale action romps.
Updated June 28, 2025 by Mark Sammut:The MCU is back in full swing after a period of inactivity, and the 2022 releases are not done yet. Phase Four has produced five movies so far, but do any of them rank among thebest MCU movies?
Phase
Three
2022’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessdoes not quite crack IMDb’shighest-rated MCU movies, but its predecessor just about succeeds in making the cut. Benedict Cumberbatch stars asStephen Strange, an egotistical neurosurgeon who gets in an accident that leaves him unable to operate. Desperate to regain his old life, Strange winds up exploring the mystic arts, a journey that opens the doctor up to a wide universe of possibilities, along with new responsibilities that challenge his personality.
RELATED:Every MCU Movie From Worst To Best, Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes
Doctor Strangeis an enjoyable origin story that sets itself apart through flashes of surreal imagery and special effects. Cumberbatch turns in a brilliant performance as the titular figure, managing to endear audiences to a character who could have been insufferable in lesser hands.
As the follow-up to perhaps the most unexpected smash hit in the MCU, James Gunn’s sequel could have easily buckled under the weight of expectations. Going byGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s IMDb score, that clearly did not happen. Revolving around parental relationships, this movie finds the guardians crossing paths with Ego, a powerful galactic force who also happens to be Star-Lord’s father.
Expertly blending action, comedy, character growth, and pathos,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2is a carefully written blockbuster that oozes style and heart. Hopefully,Vol. 3maintains this subseries' momentum.
Two
Phase Two of the MCU is a bit all over the place in terms of quality, but this period does hit a spike right in the middle of its run.Captain America: The Winter SoldierfindsSteve Rogersdealing with a figure from his past while S.H.I.E.L.D crumbles from within due to the presence of Hydra.
Echoing cold war thrillers of yesteryear, this film opts for a more grounded tone, at least in relation to the presentation of its action sequences. Narratively,The Winter Soldiermoves along at a blistering pace as Rogers and Natasha wind up on the run and off the grid.
Adapting one of the more iconic Marvel Comic storylines,Captain America: Civil Wardraws the battle lines as Steve Rogers and Tony Stark reach an impasse on how The Avengers should respond to the world governments' installation of a system that registers all metahumans. While Tony believes they should comply, Rogers is completely against it; to make matters worse, the heroes are also manipulated by a third party.
RELATED:Movie Trilogies Where The Third Movie Is The Best
Civil Wardoes a good job of representing the pros and cons of both sides of the argument, even if Rogers is clearly depicted as being in the right. This film also introduces Spider-Man and Black Panther, two characters who would go on to assume prominent roles in the MCU.
One
Except forThe Avengers,Iron Manis probably the most important film in the MCU. While not the first superhero flick or even the best one released in 2008, Tony Stark’s debut needed to show that projects featuring less mainstream heroes could still attract an audience; even as one ofthe MCU’s lowest-grossing releases,Iron Mandid well enough financially and was also pretty great at the same time.
Rather than setting up the franchise’s future,Iron Mansimply focuses on telling a captivating story featuring a charming protagonist and splendid action that is considerably more violent than subsequent MCU releases.
Chris Hemsworth had become disillusioned with the role of Thor – and understandably so – after his first two solo movies were generic blockbusters and all he had to do inAvengers: Age of Ultronwas have a bad dream and then take a bath. But his interest in the character was reinvigorated bythe arrival of Taika Waititi, who injected a healthy dose of dry humor and colorfulFlash Gordon-inspired action into the God of Thunder’s third solo outing,Thor: Ragnarok.
This is the definitiveThormovie; an epic space opera filled with larger-than-life personalities, creative action, and massive stakes.
After Phase One detailed the origin stories of Earth’s mightiest heroes, the true test of the MCU’s chances of success came inThe Avengers, Joss Whedon’s ambitious crossover that assembled those heroes on-screen for the first time. If Whedon could make a metal-clad billionaire, a super-soldier, a green monster, and a god all work in the same movie, then Marvel had a shot.
Of course, the movie nailed it. One of the most spectacular, vibrant summer blockbusters of the decade,The Avengersturned Marvel Studios intothe hit factory it is today. The Battle of New York set a high bar for the MCU’s third-act battle sequences.
WhileThe Avengersset the stage for Marvel Studios to dominate the movie-going landscape,Guardians of the Galaxywas the movie that proved it could turn anything into a hit. If Marvel could make a blockbuster franchise out of a talking space tree, it could make a blockbuster franchise out of anything.
RELATED:MCU: Best Characters In Phase 4 (So Far)
Every character, from Chris Pratt as Star-Lord to Zoe Saldana as Gamora and Vin Diesel as the aforementioned tree, was perfectly cast in this movie. Director James Gunn’s personality can be seen all over this space adventure.
Four
A celebration of Spidey’s two decades on the big screen,Spider-Man: No Way Homeis the type of movie that would have seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream a few years ago. When Peter Parker convinces Dr. Strange to perform a spell that, unsurprisingly, backfires, figures from other universes begin to show up in and around Manhattan, and they happen to be familiar faces.
No Way Homeworks because it does not over-rely on nostalgia; the film continues and prioritizes the stories of the MCU’s Parker and his friends.
While the originalAvengersmovie seemed like an ambitious crossover when it hit theaters in the summer of 2012, it was nothing compared toAvengers: Infinity War, which brought Doctor Strange and the Guardians of the Galaxy onto Earth’s mightiest heroes’ radar.
By focusing on Thanos,the MCU’s best villain to date by far,Infinity Warmanaged to feel brisk and streamlined despite featuring dozens of major characters. It culminated in the best downer ending sinceThe Empire Strikes Back.
