The Marvel Cinematic Universe Has released 34 movies so far, and some of them have stood the test of time better than others. Not all MCU movies have aged gracefully. Sometimes this has to do with the CGI of the time, while in others, further films in a series end up just surpassing their predecessors, which are not as good as what came after.
However, many entries in the shared universe have aged quite well over the years. The range from solo movies to team-up projects. With the MCU showing no sign of stopping, given how The Fantastic Four will debut in 2025 and the X-Men are set to enter the franchise in the not-so-distant futureThe number of projects in the MCU will continue to grow. Future MCU movies need to learn from those that have stood the test of time, like the entries on this list.
10
Ant man
Released in 2015
Paul Rudd’s first solo movie in the MCU is one of the entries in the franchise that looks even better now than when it was released. 2015s Ant man It’s not a massive entry in the shared universe, but it has a lot of style A heist plot that is different from almost all other MCU movies. His smaller-scale story is also refreshing amid some end-of-the-world and multiverse scenarios.
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The CGI in Ant-Man is well-done, with impeccable visuals that make the most of Scott Lang’s shrinking powers. Rudd would go on to direct an Ant-Man trilogy; However, despite the growing stakes with each movie, the first Ant man Remains the character’s best solo entry. His CGI holds up especially well when compared to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania And the dynamic between Scott’s powers and real-world objects is more exciting than in the quantum realm.
9
Thor
Released in 2011
Chris Hemsworth is one of the MCU’s longest-running and most popular stars. As such, Thor could continue in the franchise for a few more years, especially with Deadpool & Wolverine Teasing a meeting in the future between the God of Thunder and Deadpool. Thor’s MCU films started in 2011, with a solo movie that is very different from the other three that the character has led so far.
Thor presents a rare pairing of the perfect director and project. Kenneth Branagh brought a Shakespearean flair to his only MCU projectEstablishing an ethereal and regal look that made Asgard one of the MCU’s most gorgeous and intriguing locations. In history, the film continues to this day, showing the beginning of Thor’s journey, as the character lets go of his arrogance and slowly transforms into a more honest hero. yet Thor: Love and Thunder Overdid it in the humor department, 2011s Thor is a great gum cleanser.
8
Iron Man 3
Released in 2013
Iron Man 3 Had to face quite a bit of backlash when it was first released. The reason for this was the movie’s Mandarin twist, with actor Trevor Slattery only pretending to be the villain rather than introducing the formidable Mandarin to the MCU. While there is still a lot to like in this movie, Iron Man 3‘s Mandarin fakeout hurt the film’s public image for years.
The Mandarin twist fix and a hard-hitting storyline with Tony Stark’s anxiety after-The Avengers Make for a compelling movie.
However, the MCU would make it right later. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Used the real mandarin in all its glory. The film even brought back Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, connecting it to Iron Man 3. The decision ends with Robert Downey Jr Iron Man 3 A better movie when watched now with fresh eyes. The Mandarin twist fix and a hard-hitting storyline with Tony Stark’s anxiety after-The Avengers Make for a compelling movie.
7
The Incredible Hulk
Released in 2008
The Incredible Hulk is another MCU movie that has aged well for a key reason. It remains the only Hulk movie in the franchiseAnd based on the character’s sad movie due situation, it will remain so for the foreseeable future. Since then, Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner had to be developed in the Avengers movies or solo projects of other characters.
While The Incredible Hulk Is not one of the MCU’s best movies, it is older than many of the other parts in the franchise. The film focused on the Berserker version of the HulkWhere the MCU character still retained the split personality with Banner and all the rage that the Hulk is known for. After years of Smart Hulk, the current situation of the character is old, and The Incredible Hulks classic Hulk story makes it a better watch years later.
6
Guardians of the Galaxy
Released in 2014
While James Gunn has left Marvel to take over as one of the heads of DC Studios, his work in the MCU will continue to be revisited for many years to come. The director’s Marvel debut, 2014 Guardians of the GalaxyWas the perfect way to start with both feet in the door. Guardians of the Galaxy taken The world by storm when it was released, Elevating iconic Marvel characters to fan-favorite status.
The movie has only gotten better over the years. Guardians of the Galaxys CGI, jokes, action, character interactions, music and more all hold up Until today. The movie feels like a time capsule that brings viewers back to when it was released but also continues to feel fresh and daring a decade later, which is no small feat.
5
Captain America: The First Avenger
Released in 2011
Chris Evans’ Captain America trilogy is certainly one of the MCU’s best, if not the number one. However, his first solo film is often cast aside due to the huge MCU impact of Captain America’s subsequent films. Captain America: The First Avenger deserves as much attention as the hero’s other solo adventuresWith this movie providing a different kind of tone and genre from many other MCU entries.
Captain America: The First Avenger is a war epic. It does a fantastic job of telling Steve Rogers’ origin story in a serious way That never gets cheesy. The chemistry between the characters, the unique war setting, the hand-to-hand combat and the Phase 1 shine that the MCU movie basks in continue to make it an even better watch as time goes on.
4
The Avengers
Released in 2012
The Avengers was the movie that Changed the MCU and live-action superhero films forever. It served as proof that a shared universe is possible, with heroes from different movies coming together to save the world from a common enemy. Featuring half of the original team in the MCU, The Avengers Continues to age gracefully, serving as a look back at simpler times, when the MCU found its groove and knew what it should be.
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes battle a major villain in Tom Hiddleston’s Loki. The character has since left an even bigger mark on the MCU, and as the years pass, THe avenges Becomes more and more the portrait of what future MCU team-up films should aim to be. It offers high stakes, strong heroes and villains with great charisma, impressive CGI action, a compelling story and a team that feels better when it’s together.
3
Iron Man
Released in 2008
Iron Man was the first movie released in the MCU. It showed that the franchise had potential, with Robert Downey Jr. Changing his life and the MCU was set up for the huge success it would see in the years to come. More than a decade later, Iron Man Continues to be one of the best movies of the MCU, with many aspects of it still holding up to this day.
The CGI of the movie might be the best aspect of it. Although it was the first entry in the MCU, meaning future movies would get bigger budgets and more advanced technology, Iron Man’s armor has probably never looked as realistic as it does in this film. Iron Mans CGI is leagues more appealing than the character’s nanotechnology suits in Stark’s recent MCU outings. That and the throwback to simpler times make the movie even more compelling nowadays.
2
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Released in 2014
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Has always been one of MCU’s best films. However, it has aged incredibly well given that no other MCU project, be it a movie or a TV show, has been able to achieve what Evans’ solo movie has. Captain America: The Winter Soldier Offers The most thrilling, grounded adventure the MCU has seen Until today.
Multiple projects have tried to go for the same kind of more mature tone, with intimate hand-to-hand action and darker storytelling. Some Examples include Black Widow On the movie side and Disney+’s Secret invasion On the TV side. as it says, Captain America: The Winter Soldier Seems to be the best kind of movie that the MCU could have created in this grounded tone, and the franchise has not managed to recapture that feeling again, making the movie more special and exciting over the years.
1
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Released in 2015
finally, Avengers: Age of Ultron Completes the list as the MCU movie that is the best old. While still not one of the best entries in the franchise, the second movie for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has greatly improved over time. The biggest problem the movie had was that Marvel Studios tried to set up too many future storylines in a single project.
All MCU Avengers movies |
|
---|---|
Movie |
Year |
The Avengers |
2012 |
Avengers: Age of Ultron |
2015 |
Avengers: Infinity War |
2018 |
Avengers: Endgame |
2019 |
Avengers: Doomsday |
2026 |
Avengers: Secret Wars |
2027 |
However, now that most if not all of The setup space is paid off in the MCU, Avengers: Age of Ultron Can be watched with fresh eyes. Fans can now pinpoint the exact moment that a certain character charged in a way that would completely change his MCU story, like Thor’s Ragnarok prophecy, or set up a major movie moment, like Captain America later picking up Mjolnir to fight Thanos. Now, every rework of Avengers: Age of Ultron Leads to a better, more complete experience than the last, aging gracefully like this MCU Keep going.
All announced upcoming MCU movies