Dare I try to do the nearly damn impossible and rank the film entries in the MCU?
It’s a very daunting task, because how do you choose between some of these? How can I justify not putting Thor: Ragnarok or Black Panther in the top 10? Is recency bias really a thing? How can I have Endgame so low, or Fantastic Four so high? What the f*** am I even doing?

The important thing to remember with the below list is that these are ranked not by cinematic achievement or a carefully plotted out chart or an algorithm to determine what are truly the best MCU entries. These are based solely on how much enjoyment I derive from them. You might think I’m a madman, or that finally (FINALLY!) somebody truly gets you, but regardless of whether or not you disagree with my choices (I’m sure Erik will have a completely different breakdown) I hope you enjoy reading!

10. Spider-Man: Homecoming 

Directed by: Jon Watts

While he may have first appeared in Captain America: Civil War, Homecoming really introduces us to the MCU version of Spider-Man and his friendly neighborhood. While it’s different to not have Uncle Ben ever mentioned, and to have an Uncle Ben-like relationship between Peter and Tony Stark, it works for me. This Spider-Man feels like a real high school student, and his high school isn’t full of 25+ year old all white kids; it looks and feels like a real school in New York.

Giving Peter a best friend in Ned that isn’t Harry Osborn was smart, even if Ned is far more Ganke Lee from the Miles Morales Ultimate Spider-Man comics than he is the comics version of Ned Leeds. Peter and Ned’s relationship is great; their bond and chemistry is one of the things that works so well about the film and really the entire MCU Spider-Man series (same with MJ, but she’s not in this one much).

We get a lot of really cool Spider-Man action in this one, as we pretty much always do, but the scene of him chasing the Shocker and goons through the suburbs is brilliant. They found some new situations and scenarios to put him in that work really well. Plus, for a character whose previous movies have seen the likes of Dafoe’s Norman Osborn and Molina’s Dr. Octopus, Spider-Man: Homecoming equals or tops them all with the great Michael Keaton’s Vulture. He is just fantastic, and when appropriate just oozes menace. The scene in the car- you know the one- is so, so good. Keaton rules.

* * * * * * *
9. Avengers: Endgame

Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo

I need to make it very clear that these top 10 are all very, very close together as far as I’m concerned. I love Endgame, it’s really great. There are a few things that I really don’t like about it, which hurts the ranking a little for me. What are those things, you may ask?

Well, the big ones are the portrayal of the ‘professor’ Hulk, which I’m convinced was just done to make me sad, and Fat Thor, which is just… no. It’s also kind of annoying that they make a big deal of Captain Marvel showing up, she helps take out Thanos and rescues Iron Man and Nebula from certain death, then just kind of fucks off for the next two hours before she shows up with a bad haircut. Also don’t love that you killed off Gamora outside of a Guardians movie and then brought her back in another non-Guardians movie. That last one isn’t a big deal, but while I’m thinking of nitpicks I had to throw it out there.

There are a ton of things this film does very, very, well, however. It was smart to focus on (mostly) the original team, and the time travel stuff is well executed and leads to some really fun stuff. The big three of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor fighting Thanos is awesome, Cap wielding Mjolnir is great, and the portal scene is legendary at this point. The fact that they are clearly on a giant green screen stage doesn’t always bother me, except when characters stop to take their digital masks off and have conversations when the battle goes off out of sight (it’s like the fight keeps stopping in certain areas so characters can have conversations). Tony’s death is incredibly sad and still bums me out when I watch it even though it’s been years and I know every line of the scene. Cap vs Cap is awesome, lame Professor Hulk being embarrassed by the 2012 Hulk is great… I can keep going.

Endgame is as good a finale as you can make when you’re trying to wrap up 10+ years of stories in one go. The Russos will make a couple more appearances as directors as we go on with our list. Those guys might be pretty good at this whole MCU thing.

* * * * * *
8. Guardians of the Galaxy

Directed by: James Gunn

If there is a Little Engine That Could in the MCU, it’s the Guardians of the Galaxy.

While those of us who had been reading the outstanding Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning- written Guardians comic series the few years leading up to this had a good idea of what this could be, to the ‘non-initiated’ it sure seemed like an odd choice. The MCU had been the phase 1 movies and some sequels to those movies; this was the first new property introduced in phase 2 (joined by Ant-Man later), and it was a risk. James Gunn might be the king of the nerds nowadays, but back then he was just the king of the niche-horror nerds (Slither rules!) and the writer of the Scooby-Doo live action movie and the Zack Snyder Dawn of the Dead remake.

Chris Pratt was an ensemble player on Parks & Rec- certainly not looked at as leading man material. In fact, the biggest names on the cast going into the film were playing a CGI Racoon and tree, the latter of which only had one line, in Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.

But man, oh man, does it work. The story is a solid adventure, albeit a little by the numbers at times, but the characters and humor elevate it to another level, and the outstanding special effects and soundtrack (man, that soundtrack!) elevate it even further. By the end you get one of the best films in the MCU, even if it’s got a somewhat weak villain (Lee Pace is a fine choice for Ronan, but for the love of God, give the man something to do!).

* * * * * *
7. Fantastic Four: First Steps

Directed by: Matt Shakman

I can already hear some of you killing me for having this over some of the others on the list, but I stand by it. This movie rocks (no pun intended).

I adore the futuristic 1960’s world they created; it’s the kind of universe I’d want to live in from what universes we’ve seen in the Multiverse saga. Other than the planet-eating space monster, of course.

I had reservations about Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal as Sue and Reed Richards going in, but I found both of them enjoyable, and I loved the Human Torch. I really liked this version of the Thing, he felt much more like the Jack Kirby version than any of the previous versions we’ve seen on film. The relationships between the team felt genuine, even (especially?) with everyone’s main man, Herbie the robot. It was also very cool to see they’re going with little Franklin Richards having God-like powers, and I’m extremely curious what that robed figure (sure looked like Doom) in the post-credit scene wants with him…

I felt it was very smart to not start this new FF with a Dr. Doom story (obviously that’s coming!), and Galactus was a choice that made me very happy. No nano-swarm here, he’s the real gigantic deal, and when he makes planetfall in the third act it’s awesome to see him stomping around the city like a Godzilla character. I think I understand the reasoning behind using Shalla Bal as the Silver Surfer instead of Norrin Radd, but I don’t agree with it. Not for any artistic reason, and not because I cared that the Surfer was a woman, but because I love the Silver Surfer and feel he is long overdue for a good on-screen representation. That said, I did enjoy the Shalla Bal version and liked that she turned on her master to save the day, just like he did in the books.

It’s not perfect but compared to the FF movies that have come before it’s a freaking masterpiece, and it’s one of my favorite MCU entries.

* * * * * *
6. Captain America: Civil War

Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo

Captain America: Civil War, or Avengers 2.5 as I like to call it, does an unreal job of balancing so many plot lines and characters. In lesser hands it could easily have collapsed under the weight of the Sokovia Accords, the framing of and manhunt for the Winter Soldier, the introduction of the Black Panther and Spider-Man, Zemo and his plot with the other Winter Soldiers, and oh yeah, Captain America and Iron Man each leading half of the Avengers into battle against the other.

Instead, it’s somehow an awesome Captain America movie and an awesome Avengers movie.

While it was incredibly cool to see the Black Panther on screen and having him be awesome, and it was equally cool to see the MCU Spider-Man, this movie really comes down to the airport fight between the two Avengers teams and the big fight between Captain America/the Winter Soldier and Iron Man. If the airport fight wasn’t as fantastic as it is I’m sure the movie goes down a few spots (but it is, and it didn’t). The big culmination at the end, where Zemo’s plans come to fruition and we see the Avengers go from fractured to broken, only works if we really care about all of the characters involved. We don’t want to see Bucky get hurt, we know what he did is nightmarishly awful, but we also know it wasn’t his fault. We know Cap has wronged Tony, but we also know why he made the choice he made- to protect both of his friends as best he could. We know Tony doesn’t see it that way and feels betrayed by Cap and wants to tear Bucky apart. We as an audience have come to love all of them, so it really sucks when they start fighting like they’re trying to kill each other, and while the ending is as happy as it can be under the circumstances, it still sucks seeing the team scattered like they are.

I’m sure it won’t bite them in the ass in some epic way.

* * * * * *
5. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Directed by: Jon Watts

Yes, it’s full of fan service and you can almost feel the applause breaks in the way it’s filmed, there are very few times I’ve had more fun in a theater watching a movie. I’ve seen the film many times since, and while repeat viewings have revealed a couple of warts, it’s still an incredibly entertaining story that not only closes out the ‘home’ trilogy in epic fashion, it does so while also being a love letter to the Sam Raimi and Marc Webb films, giving us not only a gang of the past villains but the past Spider-Men, as well!

The Electro from Amazing Spider-Man 2 gets a much, MUCH needed rehab and actually feels like a real person and not a Joel Schumacher cartoon character. The Lizard and the Sandman don’t get a lot to do, but are used for some really funny moments and some cool action stuff at the big final fight. Doctor Octopus is great, as he was 20+ years earlier in the legendary Spider-Man 2, and we get to see both the evil arm-controlled version and the chill, Otto-controlled version again. The real star of the show to no one’s surprise, however, is Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. He is so damn good, and they get rid of that stupid mask almost immediately, thankfully.

There is some great action in this film, such as the highway fight, Spider-Man vs Doctor Strange, and everything that happens at the statue of liberty, but my favorite is the fight in Happy’s apartment building. The villains work in concert to keep Spidey in the building and forcing him to fight the Goblin, and it might be the best fight scene in any of the first 8 Spidey films. The bit when Peter is just smashing the hell out of Norman’s face and he’s just taking the blows and smiling before he powerbombs Peter through the damn floor? *Chef’s kiss*

Honestly, the scene of the three of them first swinging around together is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen in any MCU film.

While it’s a bit strange that the MCU Spider-Man essentially had a three (five, if you count the Avengers movies) film origin story, but by the end he’s out of school and out on his own thanks to the Green Goblin killing Aunt May and Doctor Strange having to wipe Spidey’s identity from the entire world’s minds, including Ned and MJ, and inspired by (as he calls them) Peter 2 and Peter 3, he ends the film rocking a fantastic version of the classic Ditko costume. Just a fantastically entertaining movie, just like…

* * * * * * *
4. The Avengers

Directed by: Joss Whedon

I will never not listen to someone making the case this is the best (or at least their favorite) MCU movie. It’s hard to explain exactly how insane this was, especially for those of us who grew up before any of the Spider-Man or X-Men films. The best thing we had was the Incredible Hulk TV show (as we walked to school, uphill both ways, in the snow- and we LIKED it), so the idea that we would ever get anything like this- hell, even anything like the first Iron Man- was a pipe dream, and while it sucks we had to grow up with the equivalent of student films for our superhero movies (at least for Marvel), it is pretty cool to have seen their evolution, and it was in the Avengers that they hit a whole new level.

Seeing all of the characters together was insanely cool, and it just kept getting better. When the Hulk and Thor faced off on the Helicarrier the crowd in my theater went bananas (same with Iron Man vs Thor), which of course was nothing compared to “I’m always angry”, which of course was nothing compared to seeing the whole team in action all at once, which of course was nothing compared to Hulk rag-dolling Loki, which of course- you get the idea.

Everyone gets a chance to shine, even Hawkeye despite spending the first 2/3 of the movie as a brainwashed henchman for Loki, but to no one’s surprise it’s Downey that holds it all together. Evan’s Captain America is right there with him, despite being saddled with the worst of his MCU costumes (it’s bad). The Hulk may get the most big crowd reaction moments, but Iron Man is the real star of the show as far as the story goes.

The battle of New York changed the world in the MCU, and it might still be the best huge battle sequence in any of these movies. Yes, the big fight with Thanos and his army is great, but I love that this is in a city and the Avengers have to fight the Chitauri invaders as well as protect civilians as opposed to fighting on a decimated landscape devoid of bystanders or collateral damage, so this one gets the edge for me.

 * * * * * *
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo

The best of the Captain America movies is one of the very best MCU films, period. They took a spy thriller and a superhero movie and put them in a blender, and the result is a near-perfect Captain America movie.

While the film has some fantastic action set pieces, such as the opening on the boat, Fury’s Hydra ambush in the streets, the Winter Soldier attack on the highway, the elevator fight, and of course the epic battle with multiple helicarriers. The Black Widow is a welcome addition, as her inclusion not only leans in the spy aspect of the tone they’re going for, but keeps Cap’s first movie in the present day tied to the Avengers a bit, and the introduction of the Falcon is great as not only is Sam a great character on his own, he is one of Cap’s very best partners/sidekicks.

While Bucky was a bit underserved by the First Avenger, here he becomes one of the most tragic characters in the MCU, as well as one of the most dangerous. His fights with Captain America are awesome, even if Cap is pulling his punches once the Winter Soldier’s identity has been revealed (“Who the hell is Bucky?”). By the end he is set up for one of the more engaging MCU character arcs.

Bonus points for having Robert freaking Redford as your villain and for him coming ready to play and not phoning anything in. He elevates the film, without a doubt. The reveal that Hydra has been inside SHIELD since the beginning was wild (although it was taken from the excellent Secret Warriors series by Jonathan Hickman and I should have seen it coming) and takes away the Avengers’ safety net, which was interesting.

Man, I love this movie. Just thinking about the details makes me want to see it again. Speaking of wanting to see something again…

* * * * * *
2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton

Holy crap this movie is so awesome, and I want to watch it like ten more times. At the time of this writing, it has not been released outside of theaters. They wanted to keep it in theaters a long time, because this has become the highest grossing domestic film EVER, and is on pace to become the highest grossing film in history.

Tom Holland does perhaps his best job as Spider-Man (in the first Spider-Man 4! We made it!) in what is decidedly a series of odd choices that somehow make what I consider to be the best Spider-Man movie yet. Recognizable Spider-Man villains are all over the place, but they’re all (with the exception of Scorpion) featured in a montage. A really awesome montage, but just a montage. I would not have minded seeing more of the likes of Tarantula, Tombstone and Boomerang, but I digress.

SPOILERS AHEAD

If you haven’t seen this yet, stop reading here! Skip ahead!

OK, spoilers have been warned.

Introducing Jean Grey as the ‘villain’ of a Spider-Man movie is a super, super weird choice, as is having the real ‘villains’ be Damage Control, complete with a group of Hand ninjas. It’s great to see the Punisher as the ‘team up character’ we’ve gotten accustomed to seeing in the MCU Spidey films (although I would have preferred Daredevil), and the relationship between the two is as hilarious as the Punisher-Daredevil relationship is violent. Bruce Banner also hangs out a little bit, until Jean takes over his mind and the real Hulk finally, finally, finally, FINALLY comes back and we get a Spider-Man (with a Punisher assist) fight with the Hulk, and it’s great! We also get some really great scenes between Spidey and the Black Widow, including a fun scene where he has to take off everything but his mask to hang out with her in a bath house that she uses as an office while she relaxes.

The twist on the big macguffin is clever as hell (and heartbreaking), and by the end we’ve got a new yet familiar status quo for the Hulk, a new understanding between Peter and the Punisher, we see Jean boarding a bus for upstate New York (wonder where she could be going?), and Peter is able to reconnect with MJ and Ned to some degree.

I have to mention the soundtrack is fantastic, and the direction is amazing- the shot composition is crazy; some of the shots in this film are works of art on par with the likes of the Black Panther films or the Spider-verse movies. Here we are at the 9th Spider-Man movie (that sentence makes my inner 10-year-old, who had zero Spider-Man movies, SO happy) and Crestin found all kinds of new tricks to show off.

* * * * * *
1. Avengers: Infinity War

Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo

As great as Endgame is, as trend setting as the first Avengers was, this is really where phases 1-3 all came together.

There is an insane number of spinning plates here, and the Russo brothers do a fantastic job of keeping anything from falling to the floor. Where the first Avengers focuses on the main core cast, and the second mostly does the same, this is weirdly Thanos’ movie. If there is a main character here, it’s him, and Josh Brolin (and of course the incredible effects team) delivers a performance for the ages. Thanos is, for an entire generation (or two, or three, or…) is now right up there with Darth Vader, Dracula, etc as far as all-time movie villains.

Considering how much ground this movie covers it still manages to be nice spotlights for Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man, Star-Lord (we’ll get to it), Gamora, Thor, Rocket, and to a lesser degree Captain America (after abdicating the position and leaving his shield in Civil War), Black Panther and the Scarlet Witch. It’s pretty impressive.

Huge kudos to Kevin Feige, the Russos and the writers for really going for it and having Thanos win. The fact that the movie ends with him watching the sun set ‘on a grateful universe’ in peace after he’s just killed over half of our favorite characters and committed the biggest crime in history (until the Maximoff twins sing about ice cream, at least) is crazy and I will always applaud the decision. I hate them for making us all wait over a year for Endgame (that was freaking torture, no matter how much Captain Marvel or Ant-Man & The Wasp they threw at us) but man, was that effective, or what?

The only real negative I have about this film is I don’t know how much I love the way the Guardians are written. James Gunn had established such a specific tone and rhythm to them that I don’t know 100% carries over here. Plus, the way Star-Lord kinda sorta definitely dooms half the universe is… I won’t say it was a bad decision, because in the context of the scene it’s understandable, to at least some degree, but it makes him the indirect cause of a lot of misery and suffering, and he doesn’t feel right again until Gunn’s Guardians 3. Some nitpicks are the lack of any attempt to give us anything to care about (or hate, besides “they’re bad!”) with the Black Order, and let’s talk about the Hulk for a second. I don’t mind Thanos kicking his ass. I do mind him being scared to come back out because he lost a fight, and I really mind that the opening of this film is really the last time we see the Hulk until Spider-Man: Brand New Day, because after this we get ‘professor Hulk’, aka ‘shitty Hulk’.

The Snappening, as some call it, was absolutely brutal to watch with a packed theater; lots of yelling and shouting to the heavens and that deep, hyperventilating crying. They had to have an usher tell me to stop (ba dum bum). It will go down as one of the most iconic moments in pop culture history. While Spider-Man: Far From Home was the epilogue for the Infinity Saga and Avengers: Endgame was its real finale, Avengers: Infinity War is the real culmination of everything they had been building to since Nick Fury was in a post-credits scene at the end of Iron Man hinting that this wasn’t a one-off movie, but the start of something new.

I’ve seen this movie countless times (it’s one of the ‘put on to fall asleep to’ movies my wife and I have- don’t fucking judge us) and I am convinced it’s the MCU at its very best (except for Peter Dinklage’s Etri. His over-acting is as painful as stubbing a broken toe). It’s got the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Wakandans, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man, Thanos and the Black Order, Thor and (briefly) Loki, insane amounts of awesome action, great character bits, a lot of well-timed humor, an all-time villain, an Avenger getting double-killed, and a hell of a memorable ending. I will say I wish they would have never introduced the idea of digitally disappearing and reappearing masks, because holy crap.

* * * * * * *

That’s a wrap! Hopefully after this December with the release of Avengers: Doomsday I can have a new #1 favorite. For now, thanks for reading! If you haven’t already, you can check out part 1 here, part 2 here, and part 3 here.