Over the years, Marvel Studios has amassed a considerable filmography. From the initial trial-and-error period of Phase 1, through the precarious highs and lows of Phase 2, to the record-shattering renaissance of Phase 3, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has run the gamut of quality.
Some are hits and some are misses, but these are the best Marvel movies ranked. Now that the Infinity Saga Fantastic has come to a close, we have a few months to reflect before Marvel Machines is out of Phase 4.
So, which is the best Marvel movie of all time? There are no wrong answers (unless you say The Incredible Hulk or Thor: The Dark World), but you can check out our thoughts on all the Marvel movies below.
1. Thor: Ragnarok
Until Ragnarok, Thor’s cinematic journey was somewhat of a crapshoot. While the first Thor movie isn’t terrifying, it certainly isn’t great, and need we mention Thor: The Dark World too? There’s just something about the dramatic superhero that seems more at home in Shakespeare’s play than in the modern world that Marvel has previously struggled with.
But the charm of the third time, as they say. With Ragnarok, director Taika Waititi made the genius move to lean into the character’s comedy rather than try and ignore it, which allowed for one of the funniest movies in the MCU.
Also, Hulk came along for the ride, as he wasn’t allowed to film another solo, as well as Loki and a whole host of fantastic new characters (Valkyrie, Grandmaster, Korg, etc.) in the MCU. And who can forget one of the best villains in the MCU? Wicked and wonderful hella.
2. Ant-Man
This is Marvel’s take on the Ant-Man crime caper. Everything about the story is classic heist; slow-burn, team-meets-characterization; single, focused goal; Plan and practice montage. Ant-Man knows all the clichés of the genre, and it sings every single one of them perfectly.
Fundamental to that success is its very small scale – literally and figuratively. There is no impending apocalypse here. As we know, there is no grand, villainous plan to change lives.
Just an old animosity, a corporate asshole, and a strong focus on the character comedy that drives the whole story. And so it works! Paul Rudd – an actor previously known for his comedy chops more than his action features – is perfect in the title role. Ant-Man is a breath of fresh air among other Marvel movies.
3. Avengers: Age of Ultron
The Avengers’ second group outing is a delightful jumble of a movie in which the superheroes really start to click as a team. Stark’s mad-scientist-game-god routine spirals out of control (in a good way) when he mixes Asgardian heritage with AI and advanced robotics.
The Avengers get to fight Ultron, a Terminator-esque abhorrence with some surprising designs on the future of mankind (read: Extinction). That Ultron has some evil superheroes doing its bidding that provides extra fun.
After the monster bot is wiped out and the rogues are conquered on the other side, a glimpse of Thanos’ purple mug reminds us that it was part of a wider conspiracy. Then again, isn’t everything in the MCU part of a wider plot?
4. Iron Man 3
After the garbage fire that turned out to be Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3 felt superfluous from the start. Stark had already gotten the girl (Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts)
and his Avengers team-up showed us that he works best as part of a crew (his shtick for two hours straight a bit. could be higher). Downey Jr.
and director Shane Black clearly had a lot of fun creating it, but the pinch isn’t much—and the ill-considered terrorism plot—Stark turns into Jack Bauer when the villain carries out a series of bombings carried out by the Mandarins. Is the place all over the world – extremely monotonous.
5. The Incredible Hulk
One of the weakest MCU movies—which is so boring that it’s a surprise it didn’t derail the entire enterprise at the starting line—features Edward Norton as Bruce Banner in a nerdy film that strangely Seems like a sequel to 2003’s Hulk.
Despite several important connections to future MCU movies, including a Tony Stark cameo, not to mention a decent set piece where Green is fighting the giant army, it’s just a speed bump on a rewatch. Thankfully, the MCU will rarely be sluggish again.
also read : What is the best Marvel legacy animation?
