ScreenAge Wasteland Ranks the Marvel Cinematic Universe

SAW Community

7 years ago

Reading Time: 23 minutes

Just in time for Spider-Man: Far From Home, ScreenAge Wasteland is proud to present the our community’s ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Thirteen people (whether is was staff, commenters, or Twitter followers) took part in sending us their personal rankings of the MCU films. We then assigned them points (top spot got 22, last spot got 1) and tallied the scores. In the event that someone hadn’t seen a MCU film, a multiplier was added to bump that film’s score up to what it would have been if all 13 people had seen it.

So swing on over and see where each MCU film placed. And feel free to agree or disagree with where a film ranked in the comments below!

22. The Incredible Hulk (2008) | 48 points

In my uniquely personal narrative, this film is a bastard stepchild in the MCU. I find it contributes little to the cycle and lacks the same energy as many of the others. – Saint Pauly
Abomination was extremely cool. That’s about it. – Vincent Kane
The best decision Marvel ever made was replacing Ed Norton with Mark Ruffalo. – Romona Comet
The first third of this movie is top notch, equal to some of the higher ranked standalone flicks and even though what follows is not necessarily bad (especially after a few rewatches) it does leave a fair amount to be desired. Even though I’m perfectly happy with Ruffalo’s domination of the Banner role, a small part of me will always wonder what Norton would have been like in the ensemble films. – Blank Stare
Meh. – DryButSoupy
I’ve always found The Incredible Hulk to be severely underrated. There’s a good chance that if Norton had stuck with the role, this film would be higher up on everyone’s list. It’s got a solid cast and I’m glad Marvel brought back William Hurt as Thunderbolt Ross for Phase 3. Now what about Betty, Marvel? – Marmaduke Karlston

21. Thor: The Dark World (2013) | 54 points

I liked this one more than most viewers because of Loki. I still can’t believe they got Natalie Portman to do two of these. – Saint Pauly
Thor is my favorite superhero. – SomewhereSomehowSometime
Loki is the best part of this entire film, and I don’t even like Loki that much. – Romona Comet
Wasted villains and Natalie Portman seemed to phone it in. Drastically improved after watching Endgame though. – King Alvarez
This film feels like a holdover from the 90s slate of comic book movies. The villain is forgettable, his evil plan is cliche, the action is serviceable at best and it doesn’t do anything to justify its existence within the MCU. – Sailor Monsoon
They leaned into the fantasy, which in theory I like, but the execution was muddled. It’s forgettable. – DryButSoupy

20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) | 86 points

A sequel to crap will always be worse than the original crap. – Saint Pauly
I’m a sucker for ‘hero discovered’ stories, which is one of the reasons Iron Man rates so high for me. Hero defined is trickier, but damned if this film doesn’t manage it – and actually manages to be more fun and for higher stakes than the original. For Ant Man 3 – more Luis! – Bob Cram
A massive step forward for Reed, this movie is fun, cozy and heartfelt in the right places – yet still somehow manages to be a little bit on the forgettable side. I’m not entirely sure why; the plot is engaging and the characters are people I care about. Yet here we are. – Blank Stare
While I appreciate a smaller scale (no pun intended) superhero movie, the stakes are so low in this movie, they’re non-existent. Scott Lang has to be home at a certain time or he’ll get in trouble. There’s also a ghost lady who needs blah blah blah who gives a shit. – Sailor Monsoon
The Wasp is so underused in this film. Ghost is a cool villain, but the plot to save her is wrapped up in a stupid way. Honestly, Michelle Pfeiffer is the only good part of this movie. Oh, and Walton Goggins plot was pointless. – J-Mart
This was a nice breather between the two Avengers flicks. The Ant-Man films are always smaller, superhero films which I enjoy. The sizing jokes are also on point this time, and c’mon, who doesn’t love Cassie Lang! – Marmaduke Karlston

19. Iron Man 2 (2010) | 88 points

I cannot stand Mickey Rouke. – SomewhereSomehowSometime
Stark’s story is a good one and was worth seeing on the screen. None of the wit was lost and we gained a rounded, flawed and tortured character behind the iron mask. – Blank Stare
The interactions between Rourke and Rockwell are the best part of the movie to me. I enjoyed Rourke’s Whiplash but wanted more. Robert Downey Jr. embodies Stark even more here. The bad guy going after Stark’s technology again was well redundant. Justin Hammer dancing is always a win though. – Vincent Kane
By far the most underrated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, it gets a bit bogged down with universe building but that’s literally no different than any comic in existence. The plot is fun, Mickey Rourke is fun, Sam Rockwell is fun and Downey Jr. hasn’t hit the point of sleepwalking through these movies yet. – Sailor Monsoon
Black Widow got wasted, Whiplash is absolutely ridiculous. Such a disappointment. It’s a fun-bad MCU film to watch let’s be honest. – J-Mart
Don’t really understand why this movie is so maligned. Everything works, as far as I’m concerned. Sam Rockwell in a film is always a plus. Cheadle as Rhodey works better for me than Terrence Howard did. – DryButSoupy

18. Captain Marvel (2019) | 95 points

I wanted to like this one more than I did. Brie Larson does a splendid job but I found this to be more a placeholder before Endgame than anything else. – Saint Pauly
Finally, a female-led Marvel film that is not only badass but gives me intense 90s nostalgia. – Romona Comet
I thought this was more fun than most of you guys, on second viewing its a solid flick. – King Alvarez
if it wasn’t for Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn, this movie would be completely unwatchable. The plot is heavily reliant on flashbacks, which would work if this film was a mystery the audience was supposed to unravel but they’re given all of the information a good 40 minutes before the main character, which defeats the purpose and makes the structure needlessly convoluted. The villain is boring, their evil plan is lame and the action is stale. On top of all of this, Brie Larson gives a lifeless performance. This is almost as bad as the worst of DC. – Sailor Monsoon
I need a Goose in my life right meow! I loved the skrulls and Captain Marvel has a killer soundtrack, gorgeous scenes and Brie Larson being the badass that we love. It’s funny, epic and was a ton of fun and surprised me. – J-Mart
I liked it. It’s not even close to the top of the pack, but seeing younger versions of Nick Fury and Phil Coulson was awesome! Oh, but anything involving Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel was sort of boring. The Fury/Danvers dynamic was a highlight, though. – Marmaduke Karlston

17. Doctor Strange (2016) | 101 points

Love, love, love this movie because it is so much like the time I grew up in (the 60s and 70s). Mysticism. – SomewhereSomehowSometime
The Master of the Mystic Arts is one of my favorite characters in the comics, but he works best there as a supporting character. I feel the same way about the MCU version. I’ve enjoyed his appearances in Thor: Ragnarok and the Infinity War/Endgame movies a bit more than this. It’s a decent enough movie, I just didn’t think that a movie about the endless possibilities of magic and the multiverse would end up feeling as mundane as this. – Bob Cram
Dazzling visuals and Cumberbatch plays Strange very well but this felt like a struggle to get through. Nothing there to bring me back for more. – Vincent Kane
Visually stunning but I was not invested in the story whatsoever. – Romona Comet
Spectacular effects and a stellar cast are no substitute for a lackluster script. Throw Iron Man, Batman Begins, and Inception into a blender, shake vigorously, and then pour whatever comes out into a used Dixie cup and that’s Doctor Strange. – Sailor Monsoon
If you’re struggling to get your girlfriend to watch a Marvel film, tell her that Rachel McAdams is in this. Girls love her, and you end up both winning. – Marmaduke Karlston

16. Ant-Man (2015) | 103 points

Paul Rudd’s charisma isn’t enough to pull this flat script and tired storyline out of the toilet. – Saint Pauly
They made a fun movie with Ant-Man! Come on, that doesn’t seem possible, even after Guardians proved Marvel could do third-string characters well. Likeable schlubs are Paul Rudd’s bread and butter and the supporting cast is great – Michael Pena being the standout for me. I just wish the villain hadn’t been so damn bland. – Bob Cram
It has its own little charm and the dynamic between Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly makes the movie for me. It was fun enough during the first watch but nothing that brings me back for multiple viewings. I just can’t with Michael Pena… – Vincent Kane
Paul Rudd brought a goofy, sarcastic Scott Lang to the MCU and managed to pull it off in only a way that Paul Rudd could. Plus, we got one of the best MCU characters in Michael Pena’s Luis. – Romona Comet
A sort of insecure-feeling film with a lot to prove and not a whole lot to work with, by a somewhat competent director who felt just a touch out of his depth. I get it, I liked it (despite the overall placement on this list) but I care less and less about this movie as the years go by. – Blank Stare
Luis is one of the funniest MCU characters ever. Paul Rudd makes any movie better even if his role is tiny. Evangeline Lily is a badass! It’s a small movie but it was a big surprise and I love it even more every single rewatch. – J-Mart

15. Thor (2011) | 107.5 points

I love the conflict in the first two Thor films. Loki as an antagonist is much more subtle and 3 dimensional than most MCU baddies. – Saint Pauly
This movie is a classic hero’s journey in outline form. It has a distinct departure/call to adventure. It has the middle initiation/challenges and trials phase, and it has the return, which in this case has a decisive victory along with a great sacrifice. In my opinion, the screenplay, director, casting, cinematography, and music all really work together to create a great movie. It has flashbacks between ancient history, modern day, and recent previous history with action ranging across the our world and the other realms. – SomewhereSomehowSometime
Decent. I really had nothing to say about Thor one way or another. I’m glad they stopped dying Chris Hemsworth’s eyebrows blonde. – Romona Comet
The main problem with this film (besides Hemsworth’s terrible hair and eyebrows) is the fact that Thor is exiled to earth until he proves himself worthy, which he then accomplishes within three days. His character arc is rushed and never feels earned. But the film earns a never-ending amount of goodwill for casting Hiddelston as Loki. – Sailor Monsoon
Not a bad movie, but one of the weaker Phase 1 films. Solid, but not special. – DryButSoupy
I recently rewatched this in my countdown to Endgame and found it better than I remembered. It’s a solid solo film and does a good job making the mythology fit into the modern, realistic MCU. – Marmaduke Karlston

14. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) | 110 points

This is the weirdest episode of The Black List ever. I dunno, I always want to like this more than I do. Lots of scenery chewing from James Spader and forced comedy/drama. I like parts of it – and it’s an important step on the road from Iron Man 3 to Civil War and Infinity/Endgame. I just can never get excited about watching it again. – Bob Cram
The party scene might be one of my favorites of all the MCU. James Spader’s voice as Ultron had me giddy at times but by the end of the final scene it just felt like more of the same. I didn’t care for the new characters introduced. – Vincent Kane
A movie slightly ruined by false advertising. The trailers depicted a much darker and more serious tone than the film ultimately delivered, which left many fans (myself included) disappointed. It’s not a bad movie, just not what I wanted. – Sailor Monsoon
I like Ultron and some of the action was cool but this movie bored me too often. Black Widow and Hulk dating just disturbed me and this could have been so much better. Joss Whedon dropped the ball on this movie. – J-Mart
Again, another pretty good MCU film that tends to get dumped on by some fans. It’s a little overlong, but the opening battle shows the Avengers in peak form. – DryButSoupy
Hawkeye finally became a fully developed character. After viewing Endgame it’s clear that Age of Ultron had the biggest impact on that film. There are a lot of direct callbacks to this film. So it took four years, but Age of Ultron finally got the credit it so deserved. Also, it’s fun. – Marmaduke Karlston

13. Iron Man 3 (2013) | 137 points

I know I’m wrong not to like this one, but, to me, the fact that he can just make a million suits and control them without being in them negates the need for Tony Stark to be Iron Man. – Saint Pauly
For such an important character I always feel like the Iron Man movies don’t hit the heights they should. Even the first movie has a lackluster villain. The third installment shortchanges Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin and Guy Pierce as Killian just doesn’t inspire. I liked almost everything else and the action sequences are some of the best of the series. – Bob Cram
I can honestly say I have grown to like this movie more and more over the years with some rewatches. I was really digging where I thought they were going with the Sir Kingsley’s Mandarin and the “twist” caught me off guard. However, meeting Trevor is one of my favorite scenes of the MCU. – Vincent Kane
I liked that they dealt with Tony’s PTSD from nearly dying in The Avengers, but like a few other MCU films, I wasn’t impressed with the villain, Aldrich Killian. – Romona Comet
if you, at any point in time, bitched about the Mandarin twist, I just want you to know that you’re the worst. Not only is Ben Kingsley fucking aces, it might be the second most interesting thing to happen in the entire MCU behind “the snap.” – Sailor Monsoon
Shane Black superhero movie that actually feels like a Shane Black movie. Though it wasn’t a hit with a lot of fans, I loved the Mandarin twist. My main criticism is that they didn’t stick the ending. – DryButSoupy

12. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) | 141 points

This is my 17 year old niece’s favorite of the Marvel films and it’s easy to see why – it’s a throwback to a simpler type of tale, a pulp adventure movie with super-hero details. Even the Red Skull (criminally underused) and Hydra feel like something out of a Rocket Man serial. My only complaints are that it feels constrained and Cap really doesn’t feel like Cap until the end. – Bob Cram
The setting is a masterstroke and the story is linear but fun; in deeper retrospect this movie does feel largely unnecessary, being that the entire ‘frozen in ice’ tale could have been handled in a fifteen minute prologue. But I’m still so damned glad this exists, not only for setting up some notable MCU moments and characters, but because of the brazenness of the concept. – Blank Stare
The training sequence up until Steve Rogers exits the super soldier machine is the best 15 minutes in the entire MCU, and if you disagree, you can catch me outside. – Sailor Monsoon
Boring! Red Skull is an absolute disappointment. It could of been so much better, but I’m glad there are better Captain America films. Chris Evans got better as the MCU continued. – J-Mart
Solid origin movie for Captain America. Joe Johnston was a great choice to direct. I just wish the Red Skull would have stayed around to be a more prominent bad guy in the MCU. Though it was cool to see him in Infinity War, that amounted to a glorified cameo. – DryButSoupy
There’s a reason the MCU managed to succeed: all of the Phase 1 solo films were solid. Captain America is no exception, and reaches the heights of Iron Man. I’d argue the supporting cast here is stronger than any other MCU film in Phase 1. – Marmaduke Karlston

11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) | 146 points

So much fun. They tried to outdo the first film and that was a mistake (as was Taserface), but I love the characters so much I don’t care. Kurt Russell as Ego wasn’t the slam dunk I’d hoped for, but Michael Rooker as Yondu saves the day (in more ways the one). “I’m Mary Poppins, y’all!” – Bob Cram
Much more fun than the first Guardians of the Galaxy if you can believe that, and has one of the best uses of music in any of the movies with Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain. – Romona Comet
The first movie, writ larger, essentially. And while that’s usually a bugbear, I did not feel disappointed in this because I wanted to see the Guardians of the Galaxy do exactly this: get in more adventures, solve a few mysteries, roam the space-ways and bicker like children. Russell was endlessly entertaining as expected and even when some of the humor fell flat, I knew it was Gunn being Gunn and was enchanted nonetheless – Blank Stare
The cinematic equivalent of eating nothing but Halloween candy for a week. It’s fun, but it’s too much. If they cut out half the jokes, this would be a strong contender for the best Marvel film. – Sailor Monsoon
This film disappointed me so much the story was OK. The film was weird, but not in a fun way. Mantis was the only good part of this film to be honest. – J-Mart
Not nearly as good as the first. Most of the jokes didn’t land. Considering the cast and everything this movie had going for it, it should have been better. – DryButSoupy

10. Black Panther (2018) | 154 points

The thing about the Marvel movies that I enjoy is that feeling I had when I was a kid and came out of a film like Indiana Jones or the newest Star Wars and just wanted to play, to pretend I was a character in the movie and crack a whip or fight with lightsabers. Or slam my arms together and shout “Wakanda forever!” I’m an adult now, so I don’t do that. But I kinda want to. – Bob Cram
A spectacle that put a new, much needed hero on the big stage. One of the few comic book movies that actually has something to say for the real world we live in. A fun romp with interesting and lovable characters and a “villain” that has a backstory that makes you understand why he is doing what he does. – Vincent Kane
To me, the most beautifully shot MCU movie. “WAKANDA FOREVER!” Also, can we all agree Erik Killmonger kinda had a point? – Romona Comet
Again, I love a left field take, especially years into a well known franchise and this delivered; as a setup, it was excellent. As a story it was a solid, if familiar tale that got carried by (another under-referenced villain) in Killmonger. He works as an anti-idealist and the personification of might-makes-right and I loved that. Needless to say the spectacular setting and memorable visuals make this a great movie. – Blank Stare
Again a great villain, but ultimately kind of loses me with the video game vibe to the final fight. – King Alvarez
A decent movie, but the more distance I get from it, the more the flaws stand out. The CGI in the end battle is just plain bad. Good performances from the actors, though. – DryButSoupy

9. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) | 156 points

Has everything I love in a superhero film (lots of action, humour, a story line stronger than a thread it hangs on by) and one thing I personally don’t find in many of these films: genuine heart. Would be my favourite, but I find it a tad juvenile. – Saint Pauly
Let me say this first, I just love Spider-Man movies. All of them. And Homecoming is no different. A fresh new take and it is still extremely fun and interesting. A few minor gripes, but Michael Keaton as a villain is not one of them. I want more. – Vincent Kane
I should have seen it coming but I legit gasped out loud when Liz’s dad opened the door on Homecoming night. And the Captain America PSAs are really fun. – Romona Comet
It’s still my favourite Spider Man film, the Washington DC sequence is still memorable. Tom Holland is the best Spider Man. Yeah I said it fight me! Keaton’s Vulture is an amazing villain and this movie is hilarious yet relatable. – J-Mart
Kind of disappointing. Too much Stark. Holland makes a decent Spidey/Peter Parker. Michael Keaton is great as the Vulture. – DryButSoupy
It definitely gets better with a rewatch. My main issue is that it doesn’t feel like a Spider-Man film and that’s because the film calls attention to itself every five minutes by shouting, “Hey, did you forget Spidey is in the MCU now? Because he is! Avengers Tower! Happy Hogan! Battle of New York! WOOOOO!” I’m hoping future Spider-Man flicks keep the connections to the larger universe more subtle. – Marmaduke Karlston

8. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) | 179.5 points

Not really a Thor movie for me, but a fun comedy. – Saint Pauly
The most fun I’ve ever had watching an MCU film. Leave it to Taika Waititi to finally figure out how to make Thor interesting. – Romona Comet
Thor was boring. He was one note, overly familiar and even though he never felt like he was taken with the total seriousness of some of his comic book incarnations, he still barely floated in in continuity for no other reason than he existed. Ragnarok leaned hard into the Guardians-esque comic book vision of the wider universe and reminded us that Thor and everything he’s familiar with is a little bit ridiculous. We still cared… well, Thor still cared. The biggest problem with Waitiki is that his moments of legitimately inspired pathos are overridden by immediate comedy, creating a flawed gem. – Blank Stare
Hands down the best Thor movie, even if it doesn’t really feel like it fits with the other two. – King Alvarez
A film that really doesn’t want to have anything to do with the ragnarok bullshit it’s saddled with and it shows. Everything removed from Asgard is great but every scene involving Hela stops the film dead. – Sailor Monsoon
The best Thor “solo” movie. Loved the Jack Kirby influence on some of the design. Funny and maybe a little too jokey, the influence of Guardians of the Galaxy’s style is obvious. – DryButSoupy

7. Iron Man (2008) | 200 points

The only comic subscriptions I had when I was a kid were to Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Seeing ol’ Shellhead on the screen for the first time was magic and Robert Downey Jr. was perfect. Yeah, the ending falls down a bit, but this was something special and showed Marvel could do a decent film with characters not everyone knew. – Bob Cram
The movie that started it all. I don’t think this franchise could have survived with anyone else but Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Tony Stark. If Cap is the heart of the MCU, Tony is the soul. – Romona Comet
the still-fun underdog knockout. Seeds of greatness were sewed here, and then cultivated by people who cared. This movie should be in some sort of time capsule somewhere. – Blank Stare
The film that started it all. Robert Downey Jr. was reborn as Tony Stark and the world was better for it. He is Iron Man. – King Alvarez
There are few films that work solely due to the charisma of one actor but goddamn did Robert Downey Jr. knock it out of the park as Tony Stark. The film is 90% Stark hammering shit or testing other shit and its completely captivating because Downey Jr. is effortlessly likeable in the role. The third act is a bit shakey but the rest of the film more than makes up for a mediocre villain fight. – Sailor Monsoon
The one that started it all is also one of the best of the MCU. Works great as a stand-alone movie, which is getting harder and harder to say about some of these MCU films. – DryButSoupy

6. Captain America: Civil War (2016) | 204 points

I really really really liked the whole premise of this story. Are you a hero if when saving the world you have collateral damage by killing innocent people? Do they want to surrender individual will to a panel, or be free to make decisions for themselves as they see fit? – SomewhereSomehowSometime
This is the story I, along with many others, begged for when the MCU kicked off and it didn’t disappoint. (Well in one area but give me a sec) Similar to Avengers, Civil War did a great job of combining story and characters with a fun battle royal between them. My only real complaint is that, in typical Marvel fashion, it didn’t go far enough. Rhodes should have died. – Vincent Kane
Cap has one of the best story arcs ever and between this and Winter Soldier, they make The First Avenger a better film. – King Alvarez
A film that really needed just one more rewrite to be great. It does a good job of introducing Spider-Man and Black Panther into the universe and the airport fight is still a top five moment but the villain’s plan is needlessly convoluted and could’ve been better with just one more pass at the script. – Sailor Monsoon
The airport scene is one of the best fight scenes in any superhero film. The introduction of Spider Man and Black Panther and Giant Man is awesome and this film is dramatic and epic and feels like an actual war. – J-Mart
There is so much to love about this film from the airport fight to the final battle between Cap and Tony. Hawkeye got a few good quips in, we saw the debut of Giant Man and hot Aunt May, and the film made me excited for another version of Spider-Man. – Marmaduke Karlston

5. Avengers: Endgame (2019) | 205 points

I often have popcorn when I see a film, though wait for action scenes to eat it so as not to disturb the others around me. Well, I had to wait a horribly long time for enough happening on screen to nosh! There’s entirely too much talk and too much tying everything together (I couldn’t shake the feeling I was watching season 10 of Friends), and what action they finally introduced was routine and unsurprising. Moreover, I still don’t understand why they took an entire film to set up Captain Marvel only to have her do little more than a cameo here. – Saint Pauly
Overweight Thor, the ridiculousness of only half of human life being gone supposedly, but not life in all forms, plants, other animals, etc, and Thanos and ALL THE BAD GUYS conveniently dying along with Iron Man… come on now. *rolls eyes* – SomewhereSomehowSometime
I feel like it’s a bit of a cheat to separate Infinity War from Endgame, because the first film suffers as a result of being 90% setup. Endgame gets to be the big denouement. Endgame is big, loud, too long, with too many characters and scenes and… shut up. I’m not crying. YOU’RE crying. – Bob Cram
A waterfall of Cool Stuff Happening in a memorial-like send off to some of Earth’s greatest heroes. I need a rewatch but I left the theatre sad, exhilirated, curious yet satisfied. The Russos continue to deliver an awe inspiring balancing act of character management, finding great scenes which grow the heroes we’ve come to love but never straying from their cores. Sidenote, I hate that Endgame somehow ended so much lower on my list, but it’s a testament to how great the above movies are in the end. – Blank Stare
This is one of my favourite movies of the entire year. The entire third act is what makes this film one of my favourite superhero films of all time. The Russo Bros nailed this epic event and gave a great ending to the MCU saga. Avengers Assemble! – J-Mart
This is the type of movie to see in theaters opening weekend. The atmosphere is just insane. The shouting and cheering, it’s what makes the moviegoing experience worthwhile. The last half an hour is the definition of a nerdgasm. Oh, and Hawkeye continues to be badass. – Marmaduke Karlston

4. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) | 209 points

What I wished every Marvel film was like: long on action and short on narrative. – Saint Pauly
This is a movie that shouldn’t work at all, but to me is a comic book movie masterpiece. Hoe the multiple stories were interwoven together with being the Thanos show. I love bleak and unhappy endings and the life being sucked out of the theater at the end of the film is one of my favorite movie experiences ever. – Vincent Kane
I don’t think I’ve ever had the kind of theater experience that I did when watching the last fifteen minutes of this movie. – Romona Comet
the ultimate ensemble movie; astounding stakes and a cinematic gut punch no one ever saw coming, combined with Marvel fully addressing their supposed villain problem and then dropping the mike. This hit harder than I thought possible. – Blank Stare
The fact that this film works at all, is a goddamn miracle. It’s easy to forget now but it bares repeating, a major studio released a film in which most of its iconic characters died at the end. Characters aimed at children. And kept them dead for over a year. That’s fucking ballsy. We all knew they were coming back but, for almost 400 days, they were dead, which could’ve backfired horribly with kids getting upset and parents bitching (as they do) but Marvel rolled the dice and it paid off. – Sailor Monsoon
Thanos is one of my favourite movie villains of this decade and Josh Brolin nailed his role as Thanos. I cried a lot while watching this the first time and the action scenes are huge and this movie is funny but serious. – J-Mart

3. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) | 215 points

I loved the whole story, corniness and all. The music was great and I really enjoy Chris Pratt. – SomewhereSomehowSometime
In an alternate universe I was born more recently and this is my Star Wars. So good. So fun. – Bob Cram
Solid unique characters that were fully developed, outstanding soundtrack, and the ability to be one of the only MCU movies to stand on its own. Plus, it has Vin Diesel’s greatest acting performance at that time. – Vincent Kane
I had no connection to this comic prior to the film, but damn did they have me hooked with this cast. – King Alvarez
Everything about this film is fun. Everyone in the cast is firing on all cylinders, the humor isn’t grating, the soundtrack is one of the best of all time and it opened up the MCU without feeling like a tacked on exposition dump. It might not be the best but it’s the one I’ve returned to the most. – Sailor Monsoon
Good cast. Good story. Different. Showed that not all MCU movies have to adhere to the same formula or to traditional superhero clichés. – DryButSoupy

2. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) | 223 points

A solid entry and pure entertainment. This film, more than most, is the bread and buttered popcorn of the MCU for me. – Saint Pauly
Seeing Hulk, Thor, Iron Man and Cap and… uh… the others… on the big screen together made my inner childhood nerd squee with delight. It’s not as good as some of the films I ranked lower, but I’m still delighted every time I watch it, so it ranks higher on goodwill alone. – Bob Cram
The standard bearer for bringing a movie universe together with multiple characters in an entertaining and cohesive way. The 360-degree shot of the Avengers is one of the best moments in movie history. – Vincent Kane
This film still holds up. The third act featuring the Battle of New York continues to be epic and amazing. Mark Ruffalo is a better Hulk than Edward Norton, and Loki is one of the best Marvel movie villains of all time. I also love that the Avengers love Schwarma. – J-Mart
The first Avengers movie is arguably the best, if only because it’s the first time we get to see all these heroes together. – DryButSoupy
This is the first MCU film I saw in theaters and it will remain a definitive moment in my movie-watching life. The 360 spin might just be the most iconic shot in the whole MCU (there’s a reason it was reused in Endgame). Hawkeye didn’t get too much to do, but dammit if Phil Coulson didn’t go out a hero! – Marmaduke Karlston

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) | 259 points

Has everything I love in a superhero film, plus Sebastian Stan. I loved the creative action sequences and the complex conflict with Bucky. Also, Sebastian Stan is so hot, his surname is the origin the verb ‘to stan’ (and you can’t tell me different). – Saint Pauly
I love spy movies. I love Captain America. This was a match made in heaven for me. It’s got some great set pieces – never has an elevator ride been as fun to watch – but it’s the character bits that keep me coming back. “You might be in the wrong business.” This is the one I show to people who don’t like super-hero movies. – Bob Cram
A old style conspiracy thriller with modern technology that is smarter than most super hero movies. To me this where Steve Rogers really becomes what Captain America is supposed to be. Elevator scene is fantastic. – Vincent Kane
Whereas The First Avenger introduced us to Steve, The Winter Soldier is where his arc really took off and in my opinion, cemented Cap as the heart of the entire franchise. – Romona Comet
A perfectly constructed superhero film. There’s no annoying jokes, no terrible third act and the villain doesn’t suck. It effortlessly sidesteps over every problem that’s plagued the MCU. It’s not only the best film Marvel has ever made, it rivals most espionage action thrillers, i.e., the James Bond and Mission: Impossible films. – Sailor Monsoon
Bucky is fantastic, the action scenes are intense and the story is thrilling. The Russo Bros made a sequel that was miles better than the first film and Chris Evans is a treasure. – J-Mart
The gold standard of solo hero MCU films and a great example of the best of the super hero genre in general. Deserves to be in the conversation as one of the best super hero flicks of all time. – DryButSoupy

Captain America: The Winter Soldier took the #1 spot by a healthy margin, and, overall, 2014 was a banner year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Thank you to everyone who participated in SAW’s first community ranking!

How does your ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe look? Share your ranking in the comments below!

Spider-Man: Far From Home hits theaters July 2, 2019.

The official ScreenAge Newsletter has arrived! Subscribe to receive a semi-regular round-up of all our exclusive content, including reviews, editorials, Top 100 lists, and more! C'mon, we know you want to venture further into the Wasteland with us!