# 1 – Avengers: Endgame
This is the pinnacle. The culmination of The Infinity Saga. 21-films leading up to this, as what is left of The Avengers unite in an effort to undo what Thanos did. The conclusion of Tony Stark’s story, which started 11-years earlier in Iron Man and the culmination of three MCU Phases. Temporarily, the highest-grossing motion picture of all-time and the # 1 film of 2019. It doesn’t get better than this!
# 2 – Avengers: Infinity War
10-years of Marvel Cinematic Universe films led to this! The Avengers meet The Guardians of the Galaxy! Spider-Man meets Doctor Strange! Thanos at long last embarks upon his Infinity Quest! The highest-grossing film of 2018, Marvel Studios’ first $2 billion film, the biggest cliffhanger in Cinema History, and a story that in the end, belonged to Thanos; the greatest villain in comic book movie history.
# 3 – Loki: Season Two
A true MCU highlight in what has arguably been Marvel Studios’ most challenging year to date. Tom Hiddleston shines in new and exciting ways as Loki defies his destiny and transforms from the God of Mischief to the God of Stories, achieving true Godhood! Mobius, Sylvie, B-15, Ravonna Renslayer, He Who Remains, and the delightfully wicked Miss Minutes all return to support a cast of new characters that include the quirky yet brilliant OB and the socially awkward yet brilliant Victor Timely! Perfectly links to Loki: Season One, picking up right where it left off, and with the two Seasons merging to tell one cohesive story that stands on its own while driving the narrative of Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga.
# 4 – Loki: Season One
One of the early Disney+ projects and a series that let us know (before it was named) that we were in The Multiverse Saga! Incredible performances by Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson! Thought-provoking dialogue! Loki Variants galore (including an unforgettable Alligator)! Miss Minutes! And … He Who Remains! Episodes 1, 2, and 6, are amongst the best single episodes of Marvel Studios’ foray into television (in my humble opinion of course).
# 5 – WandaVision
Due to COVID-19, the first new project of MCU Phase 4. 18-months in the waiting! Career-defining performance by Elizabeth Olsen! Wonderful exploration of grief and loss and emotional instability! Well-written dialogue and a beautiful tribute to the History of television! It was Agatha All Along … or was it!?! Paul Bettany battles himself, Quicksilver returns (sort of), Halloween is celebrated, and Wanda and Vision establish themselves as the MCU’s best couple (in my humble opinion of course).
# 6 – Spider-Man: No Way Home
The first MCU film that I saw in theaters after the COVID-19 Pandemic. 20-years of Spider-Man films culminate in a movie that brings the rich history of Sony comic book movies together with Marvel Studios’ MCU! Tobey Maguire! Andrew Garfield! Tom Holland! Three Peter Parker’s! Three Spider-Men! Plus, an incredible performance by Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn / The Green Goblin, the return of Alfred Molina as Otto Octavius / Doc Ock, and the death of Aunt May! Tom Holland establishes himself as the Spider-Man with a story that embodies the spirit of “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.” Oh, and Charlie Cox is Matt Murdock!
# 7 – Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Three
James Gunn’s farewell to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the characters he helped establish as household names. It’s Rocket’s story and it’s as beautiful as it heart-breaking. It’s colorful, funny, emotional, disturbing, and outlandish in all the right ways and each character gets their moment to shine! Music is great. The Hight Evolutionary is detestable. And The Guardians remain ever flawed as they continue to grow into the heroes they seek to be. A perfect Volume Three in a fantastic MCU trilogy!
# 8 – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The last theatrical release of MCU Phase Four and a truly moving tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman! An Academy Award-nominated performance by Angela Bassett (and deservedly so)! A stellar performance by Letitia Wright as Shuri! Namor (Tenoch Huerta) finally arrives in the MCU! The introduction of Talokan! Wakanda goes to war! A new Black Panther emerges! … And a killer soundtrack! What’s not to like!?!
# 9 – Thor: Love and Thunder
Jonathan Hickman’s Thor comic book run comes to life in live action! Director Taika Waititi tries to make us laugh and cry … and maybe even cringe, but I never quite got to that last one! Jane Foster as Mighty Thor! Gorr the God-Butcher! Thor’s goats! And an underappreciated performance by Chris Hemsworth! Plus, The Guardians of the Galaxy! Korg! Omnipotence City! Guns n Roses! And, Thor and Jane are established as an MCU couple worth cheering for while Gorr finds faith in the unlikeliest of places.
# 10 – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
The Scarlet Witch goes BAD as Director Sam Raimi returns to Marvel movies for the first time in 15-years! A wickedly delightful villainous turn by Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff! Doctor Strange Variants galore! Sam Raimi brings true horror to the MCU viewing experience! Plus, The X-Men and The Fantastic four at long last join the MCU through Patrick Stewart’s performance as Professor X and John Krasinksi’s performance as Reed Richards! Earth-838! Wanda obliterates The Illuminati! And America Chavez debuts! Good, scary, Universe-altering fun!
# 11 – Thor: Ragnaork
Director Taika Waititi takes the reigns of the Thor franchise and injects humor and wit into the Thor Universe! Thor in Muspelheim against Surtur! Cate Blanchett is delightfully wicked as Hela! Tom Hiddleston is in top form as Loki! And Chris Hemsworth redefines Thor for a movie-watching generation! Plus, Gladiator Hulk, Jeff Goldblum as The Grandmaster, Valkyrie, and Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song! Captures the spirit of the Walter Simonson comics perfectly!
# 12 – Captain America: Civil War
Phase Three instant classic that divides The Avengers! It’s Iron Man vs Captain America in a war over the Sokovia Accords! The MCU introductions of Spider-Man and The Black Panther! Hawkeye vs Black Widow! The VISION vs Wanda Maximoff! The Falcon vs War Machine! Ant-Man! Giant-Man! The Airport Fight! The Winter Soldier caught in the middle of it all and the introduction of one of the most unique comic book movie villains of all-time in Baron Zemo! Well-written, well-directed motion picture with loads of suspense and extremely high stakes that perfectly captured the spirit of the legendary Marvel Comics event and that was the highest-grossing motion picture of 2016!
# 13 – Avengers: Age of Ultron
Director Joss Whedon’s ambitious tribute to Marvel Comics! The introduction of ULTRONI The introduction of The VISION! The introduction of Hawkeye’s family! Tension between Iron Man and Captain America! The heroic turn of Wanda and Pietro Maximoff! Brice Banner and Natasha Romanoff’s romance! Thor’s Infinity Quest! SO much of the future of the MCU is set up that the film was poorly received for failing to tell a cohesive story, but in retrospect, an absolute hidden gem that has aged extremely well!
# 14 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier
A live-action tribute to Ed Brubaker’s extraordinary comic book run! Steve Rogers fights against a modern-day Hydra Uprising, discovering who he is while opposing his brainwashed childhood best friend in the process! An outstanding commentary on one’s choice of who they are vs what one is supposed to be and a deep exploration of one’s obligation to one’s government and the difference between freedom and fear! Plus, the introduction of The Falcon, an outstanding performance by Scarlett Johansson as The Black Widow, and a villainous turn by the legendary Robert Redford! A political thriller that redefined what superhero movies could be.
# 15 – The Avengers
The culmination of MCU Phase One! A daring project that doubters said could never be pulled off! Four lead characters established in five previous films, brought together in one massive team-up motion picture that saw Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, and Captain America join forces with The Black Widow and Hawkeye under the leadership of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. against the Asgardian God of Mischief Loki, who led an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth! Black Widow kicks ass, Loki shines, and the Marvel Studios team finally get The Hulk right! The highest-grossing comic book movie of 2012, and at the time, the highest-grossing comic book movie of all-time!
# 16 – Captain America: The First Avenger
The origin story of Steve Rogers / Captain America! Incredible technology utilized to create “Skinny Steve”, an inspiring performance by Chris Evans, Bucky Barnes brilliantly re-imagined, a career-making performance by Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter, and a well-directed period piece and origin story for the modern era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
# 17 – Thor
A majestic Shakespearean space saga about extraterrestrial Viking gods from Director Kenneth Branagh! A star-making performance from Tom Hiddleston as Loki while Chris Hemsworth embodies Thor! A film that any Thor comic book fan can appreciate! The God of Thunder vs the God of Mischief, plus Odin! Frigga! The Lady Sif! The Warriors Three! Frost Giants! Asgard! … And King Loki!
# 18 – Iron Man
The movie that started it all! One of the most riveting and entertaining origin stories in the history of superhero and comic book movies is told! Director Jon Favreau perfectly captures the spirit of Iron Man as a character while Robert Downey Jr proves to be the living embodiment of Tony Stark! A well-paced, sometimes funny, oftentimes suspenseful, and always compelling motion picture with witty dialogue and groundbreaking special effects that bring Iron Man to life in spectacular fashion! It’s hard to imagine that anyone could have done it better and this was the foundation that the Marvel Cinematic Universe was built upon! Oh! … And Nick Fury!
# 19 – Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Two
A film all about family and how it can be found in the unlikeliest of places! Fathers and sons. Sisters. Friends. As emotionally deep as it is funny! Rocket shines! Baby Groot! Yondu’s funeral! A great soundtrack! Tons of heart! And … Ego the Living Planet! For me, this is a masterpiece from Director James Gunn!
# 20 – Guardians of the Galaxy
The introduction to the Galaxy’s most heroic band of assholes! Star-Lord! Rocket! Groot! Drax! Gamora! The expansion of the MCU’s cosmic side! Our first glimpse at a Celestial! The tale of the Infinity Stones! Plus, Thanos! An entirely new brand of humor and (at the time at least) the most unique superhero movie ever made! Hilarious in so many ways, beautiful to look at, and backed by a wonderful soundtrack! Innovative, groundbreaking, and fun! An instant classic!
# 21 – The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Christmas music, Christmas decorations, Christmas presents … What is Christmastime? What does it really mean? That’s what this Marvel Studios Special Presentation that was produced on Disney+ explores. This was James Gunn having perhaps more fun than he’d ever had with these characters and if you enjoy these characters, what’s not to love!?! Drax and Mantis shine as they venture to Earth to get Star-Lord the perfect gift; his childhood hero Kevin Bacon … portrayed by Kevin Bacon! Fun and warmhearted chaos ensues!
# 22 – Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
Jonathan Majors steals the show as Kang the Conqueror. We explore the visually stunning Quantum Realm and those who inhabit it. Living buildings! Creatures that look like Broccoli! An obsession with holes and a liquid that magically works as a translator stand out in this colorful world of characters and structures. Paul Rudd shines as Scott Lang as usual! Michelle Pfeiffer gets a lot to chew on as Janet Van Dyne! And even Hank Pym is likeable!
# 23 – Black Panther
The mythology and the splendor of Wakanda is explored in the MCU’s first Academy Award nominated film for Best Picture! A billion-dollar masterpiece with two performances worthy of awards themselves from Michael B. Jordan and Chadwick Boseman! Shuri shines and Director Ryan Coogler creates a world of majestic splendor that is raw and gritty at the same time! Immaculate costumes! An amazing soundtrack! A cultural phenomenon!
# 24 – Thor: The Dark World
The third film in what I consider the “Loki Trilogy” (Thor, The Avengers, and then this). Tom Hiddleston steals the show as the God of Mischief and almost single-handily make this worth watching! The death of Frigga is moving and beautiful too though, and a credits scene introduces The Collector and name-drops The Infinity Stones!
# 25 – Moon Knight
Oscar Isaac delivers a career-defining performance in this Disney+ series that takes the MCU to Egypt and expands the roles of gods and goddesses within the Shared Universe! Furthermore, psychological trauma and emotional and physical abuse are explored in presenting the story of one of Marvel’s most damaged and interesting heroes. Khonshu! Ammit! Archeology! Muder! Mystery! A complex love triangle! It’s all here serving as the backdrop for a thrilling action / adventure series.
# 26 – Doctor Strange
Benedict Cumberbatch brings Doctor Stephen Strange to life as a somewhat likable asshole in a thrilling motion picture that introduces sorcery and the Mystic Arts into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a spectacular way! Tilda Swinton steals the show as The Ancient One and Marvel Studios delivers a visually stunning and philosophical story that enriches the MCU’s past, present, and future!
# 27 – Spider-Man: Homecoming
Just as the name suggests, this is a celebration of Spider-Man returning home to his rightful cinematic place under the helm of Marvel Studios! Director Jon Watts perfectly captures the high school spirit and Tom Holland establishes himself as the best Peter Parker / Spider-Man ever put on film! Funny, charming, packed with adventure, and a wonderful performance by Michael Keaton as the villainous Vulture! Plus … Iron Man!
# 28 – Ms. Marvel
As informative as it is entertaining, this is a warm and fun series that explores one young girl’s fandom and her struggles to be what she is expected to be while growing up as a Muslim in the United States of America. Iman Vellaini is irresistible as young Kamala Khan, and this series perfectly captures the spirit of the comics on which it is based. Easily one of the most flawless from page-to-screen adaptations in genre history and a testament to the ambition of Marvel Studios! Also, the highest-rated MCU project on Rotten Tomatoes!
# 29 – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Perhaps the most surprising MCU film that I’ve ever watched! I don’t know exactly what I was expecting going in … but it wasn’t this! A tribute to the King Fu films of yesteryear while also emerging as the MCU’s first full-on fantasy film! Dragons! Beasts! Mythological Creatures! Ninjas! Fight clubs! It has it all, and it is fueled by a stellar performance by Simu Liu and his remarkable chemistry with Awakwafina. Some of the best fight sequences in MCU History and a surprisingly warm story about family and unrealistic expectations … Oh! And we finally get The Mandarin!
# 30 – Hawkeye
Haillee Steinfeld joins the MCU as Kate Bishop as Clint Barton struggles to move forward in a post-Blip world. Florence Pugh shines as Yelena Belova! Alaqua Cox shines as Maya Lopez! Vincent D’Onofrio suits up as Wilson Fisk / The Kingpin within the MCU! The spirit of the Matt Fraction Hawkeye comics is captured perfectly, and it’s all done within a Christmastime setting. A wonderful MCU entry courtesy of Disney+!
# 31 – Iron Man 3
The beginning of MCU Phase Two and the conclusion of the Iron Man trilogy. A movie that takes Tony Stark out of his armor and allows Robert Downey Jr to take the character to some new and exciting places! A great character study of Tony Stark and a film that is full of wit and action. We get Iron Patriot! We get Extremis! And we get Trevor Slattery in a Mandarin twist that has actually aged quite well! A billion-dollar hit for Marvel Studios.
# 32 – Captain Marvel
Brie Larsen teams up with Samuel L. Jackson for a flashback to 1995 that features grunge, Blockbuster video, and shape-shifting aliens … lots of shape-shifting aliens! We get Goose the Cat, meet Monica and Maria Rambeau, we get a fun performance from Ben Mendelsohn, and we see the origins of Project: P.E.G.A.S.U.S. with a fun throwback soundtrack that yours truly appreciated. Another billion-dollar hit for Marvel Studios.
# 33 – Iron Man 2
A criminally underrated film that furthers the character arc of Tony Stark / Iron Man in plenty of fun and entertaining ways! Sam Rockwell is priceless as Justin Hammer! Scarlett Johansson kicks ass as Black Widow! Robert Downey Jr, once again, is Iron Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe is significantly expanded with the returns of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. Oh! And the late Gary Shandling is pure gold as Senator Stern!
# 34 – The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
An action-packed Disney+ series that explores Sam Wilson’s struggles with accepting the destiny that Steve Rogers deemed him worthy of while furthering the narrative of Bucky Barnes in a post-Blip world. Wyatt Russell is appropriately unlikable as John Walker / Captain America, and Daniel Bruhl is delightful as Baron Zemo! Also, a standout performance by Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley and a great commentary on history, racism, and the complexities of modern-day patriotism.
# 35 – Black Widow
A movie that we waited impatiently for over a year for! A film that should have come sooner than it did even before COVID but was nonetheless a great character study on Natasha Romanoff and the things that defined her as a hero. Scarlett Johansson is as great as ever as The Black Widow, and David Harbour does some great things with the Red Guardian character, but it’s Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova that steals the show.
# 36 – Ant-Man
The final film of MCU Phase Two! Paul Rudd knocks it out of the park as Scott Lang / Ant-Man in a movie that is high on both humor and family values! Abby Ryder Fortson will melt your heart as Cassie Lang and Michael Pena is hilarious as Luis! These performances combine with phenomenal special effects and a series of thrilling sequences to produce quite the remarkable tall tale about a tiny man! … Plus, The Falcon!
# 37 – Eternals
Jack Kirby lives through this epic MCU tale that spans Centuries! Celestials! Deviants! And of course, Eternals! Religious overtones fuel a complex plot that juggles the scales of morality and destiny as it applies to the supposed greater good and how all of that ties into higher powers and what free will really means. Memorable performances from Angelina Jolie, Don Lee, and Lia McHugh fuel the MCU’s most dramatic and ambitious film yet while the cinematography will leave at times leave you breathless!
# 38 – The Incredible Hulk
An often-overlooked MCU entry due to the recasting of Edward Norton on the Road to The Avengers, but an outstanding Hulk story nonetheless! Edward Norton perfectly embodies the spirit of Bruce Banner in the comics at that time, delivering an inspired performance that sees him trying to cope with the curse that is being The Hulk. Though it would be greatly improved upon, The Hulk looked better than he ever had in live action previously and the late William Hurt kills it as the overly obsessed General Thaddeus Ross! The bottling factory Hulk-out and the transformation scene at Culver University are must-watches, and Tim Roth makes a great Abomination! Also, Robert Downey Jr ever so briefly reprises his role as Tony Stark for the MCU’s first crossover!
# 39 – Werewolf by Night
An MCU project unlike anything before it! Monsters at long last truly enter the MCU! Werewolves, vampires, animated corpses! Things get weird and scary, and it’s all in good fun! This is a wonderful Marvel Studios Disney+ Special Presentation that is fueled by a solid performance by Gael Garcia Bernal, a memorable performance by Laura Donnelly, and a fun character introduction in the lovable Man-Thing! Surprisingly gory with a few nice twists along the way! Easy to enjoy in either black and white, or color!
# 40 – Spider-Man: Far From Home
The Infinity Saga concludes as Peter Parker tries to move on past the loss of Iron Man and five years of time, and towards a relationship with his beloved MJ! A trip to Europe brings a union and confrontation with Mysterio and Jake Gyllenhaal is annoyingly sleazy as the Big Bad of the second MCU Spider-Man film. Skrulls, Elementals, and a haunting nightmare sequence standout in this Saga-ending epic that features Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, and of course, Tom Holland.
# 41 – Ant-Man and The Wasp
Paul Rudd is as great as always as Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Abby Ryder Fortson is back as Cassie Lang. They’re wonderful and Hanna John-Kamen makes for a very intriguing antagonist as Ava Starr / The Ghost. Otherwise, the post-credits scene with Hank Pym, Hoe Van Dyne, and Janet Van Dyne getting “dusted” and Scott Lang getting stranded in the Quantum Realm are the best parts of this movie. Not the worst film ever by any means, but certainly not great either.
# 42 – She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
A funny and witty “legal comedy” whose primarily highlights take place outside the courtroom. Tatiana Maslany makes a great Jennifer Walters and a great She-Hulk. The MCU Hulk mythology is expanded upon significantly with Mark Ruffalo returning as Bruce Banner and Tim Roth as The Abomination. Wong shows up and Patty Guggenheim makes a splash as Madisynn! The 7th episode of this Disney+ series is its best as Charlie Cox returns as Matt Murdock and suits up as Daredevil within the MCU! Then, the 8th episode shatters the fourth wall and introduces K.E.V.I.N. … whether that’s a good or bad thing is up to you.
# 43 – Secret Invasion
Humanity enters into a covert war aganst The Skrulls when a militant Skrull named Gravik goes to great lengths to instigate World War III. It’s up to an older and disenchanted Nick Fury to find a way to stop him. Great tone and dialogue, particularly in early episodes and when involving Samuel L. Jackson, give way to a rushed finale, some very underwhelming reveals, and some ridiculous plot points, leaving viewers with more questions than answers when it ends.
# 44 – What If …?
Marvel Studios’ first animated series and while this series had things that I appreciated for sure (the episodes revolving around Peggy Carter, Doctor Strange, and Thor were my favorites), at the end of the day, this was animation and for me personally, animation just doesn’t compare to live-action. I’m a comic book reader, and I get art aplenty in that format. The thrill for me as an MCU and comic book movie fan is seeing these characters and stories brought to life in a real way. To each their own, of course, it’s just not my format of choice.
# 45 – I Am Groot: Season One
Another animated series, hence, the low ranking, but certainly inferior to What If …? due to its short run-time. Worth a watch nonetheless for any Baby Groot fans as the mischievous little sentient tree gets himself into all kinds of trouble and tumultuous situations.
# 46 – I Am Groot: Season Two
Second verse, same as the first. Worth a watch for Baby Groot fans as the mischievous little sentient tree gets himself into all kinds of trouble and tumultuous situations, but far too short in length.
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