Brief Thoughts on Every MCU Film
“There was an idea to bring together a group of remarkable people…”
After a year long hiatus caused by the global pandemic, the MCU is finally back. WandaVision is currently intriguing audiences with weekly episodes, and we’re all feeling more comfortable knowing the release schedule is going to continue in some way. And while it looks as though projects such as Black Widow are going to remain in cinematic purgatory for a while, we remain hopeful and look forward to the day our Disney overlords can continue to nourish us with their conveyor belt of projects.
WandaVision has been absolutely terrific thus far. It’s weirder than the MCU has been up to this point, but it’s so refreshing to see them take a risk like this. Most importantly this is Wanda’s time! We’re seeing some long overdue character development and Elizabeth Olsen is absolutely killing it. As we all expected the show has created an atmosphere of nostalgia. It’s littered with subtle references, Easter eggs and call-backs which cement its place in the wider universe. It’s made people want to go back and re-watch their favourite Marvel movies, whether it be to refresh our memories or just because the weekly release schedule is making us hungry for more. With this in mind and having conducted my own re-watching spree recently, I thought I would share my thoughts by going through a quick rundown of every MCU film to date.
It’s interesting to think the MCU has a status among fans for being a consistent source of great films for over ten years, because it hasn’t always been the case. The MCU is more of a minefield than people care to mention, and it’s certainly not without fault. There’s some films that aren’t quite as great as people remember or are deliberately kept out of the discourse, but equally there are some which fans have clearly slept on and deserve move praise. And while the main purpose of writing this was to provide thoughts on each film, I did want some way of putting them into perspective. Rather than try to rank them or provide a “top 10” list, I have included every instalment in order of release along with the following broad classifications:
Top tier = The best of the best. Captures the right blend of style and substance. Films which would absolutely be included on a top 10 or even top 5 list.
High tier = Pretty darn good, but not quite enough to make the top list. A solid honourable mention.
Mid tier = It’s fine. Not aggressively bad, but also nothing to rave about. The type of film to stick on if you’re in the mood to switch off and enjoy.
Low tier = Really not the same standard as the others. You may have even forgotten these films exist based on how little we talk about them, or you may have actively buried them in your memories where they can’t harm you.
It’s worth noting, this list is by no means definitive. What you’re about to read are merely my own thoughts at this point in time. Please don’t come for me, this really isn’t a hill I’m going to plant a flag on. Let’s just play nicely and have some fun.
Phase One
Iron Man (2008) - This is still a great film. It opens the universe with a bang, sets the tone perfectly, and gives us our first dose of Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark. Even now when I watch it, this still feels like the future of comic book movies. [top tier]
The Incredible Hulk (2008) - It’s okay, it’s just inconsequential. More than anything this film is confused. It doesn’t know who the characters are, what to do with said characters, what story it’s telling or what story it could set up. It’s definitely not essential reading. Do the smart thing and wait for Ruffalo, you deserve it. [low tier]
Iron Man 2 (2010) - Sadly, not great. This feels like a typical sequel, which re-uses the same tricks from the original yet ends up being half as good. The only achievement to boast is setting up Black Widow and actually allowing War Machine to happen. [low tier]
Thor (2011) - Admittedly this film has a tough section of comic book lore to introduce, but it feels like there’s no spark. The props, set design, costumes and actors are all ready to put on a show, but the story and dialogue absolutely flatline. All of the right ingredients are in the oven, but it was never switched on. [low tier]
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - This is something of a guilty pleasure. It’s a little goofy, but I still have a soft spot for it. The tone and style are pretty good, and their intentions were clearly in the right place. More than anything this film lays solid foundations for the Cap we all know and love, as well as Peggy Carter and Bucky Barnes. It’s silly, but it’s charming and harmless. [mid tier]
Avengers Assemble (2012) - This is the type of film that is enjoyable, so long as you don’t think about it. It hasn’t aged too well and it comes across a bit cartoonish, with some odd narrative choices and structural issues. That being said, I’ll always remember the novelty of seeing this in the cinema and being blown way, so I can’t be too harsh. As a first big ensemble film, it’s not bad. [mid tier]
Phase Two
Iron Man 3 (2013) - It feels like a lot of people let this film slip under the radar, which is a shame because it has a lot to offer. The way writer/ director Shane Black explores the character of Tony Stark is really sincere and insightful. It has an equal blend of spectacle, humour and emotional complexity. It’s also a terrific Christmas film, just saying. [high tier]
Thor: The Dark World (2013) - I love these films, but even I find it hard to say something positive about this one. While a number of words could be used to describe this film, like “tedious” and “inconsistent”, the real crime is that it’s actually difficult to remember. It was so boring I haven’t been able to commit much of it to memory. If the first Thor movie was an unbaked cake, this is a series of ingredients crammed inside a flaccid, deflated balloon. [low tier]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - The Russo Brothers gave us a modern spy thriller which just so happens to be set in the MCU. The action and pacing are top notch, and are counterbalanced by a deeply personal story and old school espionage atmosphere. No matter how many times I watch this, it still feels fresh. [top tier]
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) - I love this film. The reluctant team up in space with a great soundtrack is exactly the type of risk they needed to take, and it is genius. It’s some of the most fun you’ll have in the MCU, it looks fantastic, and the casting is on top form. Before this film we’d been seeing the cosmic side of the MCU through a keyhole, but James Gunn kicked the door down and said “trust me, I know what I’m doing.” And he was right. [top tier]
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - This is again another film where there’s some novelty to seeing the Avengers together on screen, but it’s just so bland. There’s some important details, but they’re hidden away among generic fight scenes and dialogue, which makes it feel more like a showreel for upcoming films. In particular the third act is mind-numbing, complete with a faceless army of robots, and an evil plan even too ludicrous for a comic book movie. It’s worth it to see Scarlet Witch and Vision’s respective introductions, but there’s not much else to praise. It promises the “Age of Ultron" but ultimately delivers another disposable villain. [low tier]
Ant-Man (2015) - I’ve got a lot of time for this film. They made an effort to make this more like a heist film than a superhero film and it really pays off. Paul Rudd is excellent as Scott Lang, and I really appreciate Peyton Reed’s talent for balancing emotional beats and inventive action sequences. This stands out for me because it showcases a unique type of superhero, and echoes the weird sci-fi atmosphere of the ‘Tales to Astonish’ comic books. [high tier]
Phase Three
Captain America: Civil War (2016) - The Russo Brothers return for their second MCU outing as directors, and show how an ensemble film should be made. This is essentially Avengers 2.5 but that’s by no means a criticism. There’s a great story, solid emotional arcs and depth, and every character gets their fair share of the spotlight. Crucially, the action sequences are polished to perfection, all leading to the famous airport scene which is still a masterpiece. Plus we get first appearances of Spider-Man and Black Panther which is an absolute win on both accounts. [top tier]
Doctor Strange (2016) - This could so easily have been another bog standard origin story, but it feels different. The visuals are incredible, and the film successfully introduces magic to the universe in a satisfying way, which is no easy task. It’s a valuable addition because it offers such a distinct flavour to an increasingly homogeneous palette. Also the third act resolution is unlike anything you’ll see in any other superhero film. It’s inventive, it’s entertaining, and it conveys so much about the titular hero. [high tier]
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (2017) - This is another energetic outer space romp, with a killer soundtrack and an expanded roster to keep the audience hooked. Unfortunately, it’s less watertight than fans expected. The main villain is one of the weakest and least interesting the MCU has to offer, and overall the film struggled to elevate itself from the first film, or even reach the same heights. However, despite being in the original’s shadow, Vol 2 is still largely enjoyable. [mid tier]
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) - I really like this film. The high school angst mixed with superhero spectacle feels like Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s work brought to life. Tom Holland is the best live action Spider-Man we’ve seen, but Michael Keaton as The Vulture absolutely steals the show. This offers some truly fantastic writing and acting. I honestly forget about some of the action sequences from this film, not because they’re bad, but because of just how good the character interaction is. [high tier]
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - This film showcases the absolute best the MCU can be. Weird science fiction spectacle, innovative action sequences, consistent themes of family and identity, complex characters that are given room to grow, and a genuine sense of fun and excitement. Taika Waititi absolutely knocked it out of the park, providing a sense of humour and a beating heart to really punctuate the film’s personality. Nothing short of perfection. [top tier — personal favourite]
Black Panther (2018) - There is so much this film has to offer, it is just too good. It has one of the most captivating stories, an incredible score by Ludwig Göransson, the best villain in the form of Michael Jordan’s Killmonger, it’s stylish as hell, and above all has a towering performance from the late Chadwick Boseman. Ryan Coogler did a superb job with this film, and there’s an undeniable sense this is a pop culture landmark. [top tier]
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - Definitely one of the most intense films on the list, thematically and emotionally, and it’s great. The scale of previous ensemble films was somehow increased, and we get to see what happens when every character is pulled together. Everyone is on top form, but the real star here is Josh Brolin as Thanos, who has cemented himself as villain royalty in the history of cinema. It’s big and bold, but has the structure and style to support their ambitions, it’s really impressive. [top tier]
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) - This is a fun movie, but nothing too groundbreaking. It’s great to see them utilise The Wasp finally, but largely it just feels like more of the same. I don’t feel like there’s much advancement, because the main things this film has to offer can be found in the first film. It’s still enjoyable but it definitely feels like filler between other movies. [mid tier]
Captain Marvel (2019) - I definitely enjoyed this film and I appreciate what they were trying to do, I just wish they went further. It’s their first solo film lead by a female character, which is a huge deal, but it felt restrained. I wanted this film to kick down the door, but it didn’t quite do that. It got stuck in a film that I felt like I’d already seen before elsewhere. I think Brie Larson is great, and introducing the Skrulls sets up so much interesting territory to explore, I just wanted more than what they gave us. Love the character, love the cast, I love the time period and nostalgic atmosphere, it just didn’t quite make the noise it should have. [mid tier]
Avengers: Endgame (2019) - From the emotional impact alone, this film is excellent. The time travelling shenanigans, comic book references and insane action sequences are all an added bonus, because the real reason we saw this film is to get a satisfying conclusion. And they delivered in overwhelming supply. I still think Infinity War is the better of the two because it’s slightly more disciplined and less reliant on fan service, but they’re both excellent. Not every superhero gets a third act, so this is all the more valuable for having the courage to draw some characters to a close. [top tier]
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) - This film manages to have a lot of web-slinging fun, whilst setting up how the world is looking following from Endgame, which is handled in a largely sincere way. Tom Holland is once again excellent, and it’s great to see some of the supporting characters becoming more three-dimensional, but the film just feels a bit lost at times. It’s certainly less coherent than Homecoming. However, this film is worth the price of admission solely on the basis that they gave us a live action Mysterio. Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the best actors working today, and he was playing one of my favourite comic book villains. Life doesn’t get much better than that. [mid tier]
Totals
Top tier — 8/23
High tier — 4/23
Mid tier — 6/23
Low tier — 5/23
When over a decade’s worth of films are laid out like that it does feel weird. It makes me feel old, but also incredibly grateful that I’ve been along for the ride. I’ve got some great memories of seeing these films in the cinema, at midnight screenings, or even just at home on a lazy afternoon. The MCU has given us films to cherish and carry forwards with us. And even if the films inevitably end up in the mid or low tier, a lot can be forgiven because they’re enjoyable in some way. Every single film on this list is worth the price of admission and is worth your time at least once. Plus it’d be a boring world if they were all the same quality anyway. At the very least, films like Thor: The Dark World give us talking points. And weird space blood stuff that does something I’m sure is important in some way. Maybe.
Seeing how far the MCU has come makes things all the more exciting when we look towards the Phase Four slate, regardless of any delays. Which is definitely important to remember. There seems to be some negativity towards the delays, even to the point of resentment from the fans, but that’s complete bullshit. The reasons why the slate has been placed on hold are understandable because they’re quite literally a matter of life and death. I’m sure we’re all happier in the knowledge that the cast and crew are safe, as well the audiences who we share these experiences with. The way I see it, if we do our best to keep ourselves and others safe now then we’ll have plenty of time to watch films in the future, which may not be an option if we don’t stay safe. We spend so long watching heroes in masks make decisions for the greater good of others, now it’s our chance to do the same. If we can all do that, Phase Four will be able to continue and we’ll back to the cinemas in good time.
As always I hope everyone is staying safe and looking out for their loved ones and friends. And I hope you’re all being nice to yourselves by watching WandaVision every Friday.
