Ranking the MCU: Marvel’s Best and Worst Movies
15. Doctor Strange
If Robert Downey Jr. was born to play Iron Man, then Benedict Cumberbatch was born to play Dr. Stephen Strange. Despite the controversy over Tilda Swinton cast as the Ancient One, I thought she did a pretty spectacular job in the role. Then there were the insane visual Scott Derrickson brought to the table (with a little help from Rick and Morty’s Dan Harmon). Magic was going to be a difficult concept to introduce to the MCU, but Doctor Strange really pulled it off.
14. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
Here’s where the list starts to get tough. The debate will rage on forever whether Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 is better than Vol 2, to which I say they were both better than each other in different ways. The second was way better at cementing the team dynamic and giving the characters real room to grow. The overall plot though was a bit lackluster. Still, that after the credits sequence really set up some big things for the future of the MCU(not talking about teen Groot).
13. Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel doubled down on Marvel’s commitment to diversity on the big screen. The film introduces the MCU’s new powerhouse, Carol Danvers who is rumored to be a major player in the next phase of Marvel films. Captain Marvel plays like a buddy cop film showcasing the on screen chemistry between Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson and played up the nostalgia factor for 90s kids. The movie is filled with plenty of Easter eggs for MCU fans as well. Best of all it manages to avoid Marvel’s villain problem by focusing on the complicated war between Kree and the Skrulls.
12. Ant-Man and The Wasp
Ant-Man and The Wasp manages to not only be a great superhero movie from Marvel, but also an incredible action adventure film. Director Peyton Reed starts to explore the real possibilities that come with the heroes shrinking and growing technology and it pays off in spades. Not only that, but Evangeline Lilly’s Wasp joins the MCU as one of the biggest badasses in its wheelhouse. It looks like the guys are going to have to watch out because the ladies keep getting better and better. In fact, it’s hard to tell who’s the hero and who’s the sidekick in this great movie.
11. Spider-Man: Far From Home
If Avengers: Endgame was the final chapter in phase three of the MCU, then Spider-Man: Far From Home is the heartwarming epilogue. The film follows the young web-slinger as he tries to determine what his role as a superhero will be in a post “snap” universe. Overwhelmed, he decides to go on a school trip to Europe and finds himself facing another planetary threat. The film kicks everything we loved about Homecoming up a notch, including the epic action sequences. More importantly, it proves Tom Holland was born to play Spider-Man.