With 37 films released in the MCU, we’ve been taken to planets and across timelines, watched our favorite heroes take on their greatest foes, and watched how an entire cinematic universe can change movies forever. As Marvel fans debate their favorite films, there are some that stand out as 10s across the board. Are they perfect? To us, they are.
For this list, we are going to explore ten films that are flawless for their entertainment value, thrills and action, and overall story. Of course, that’s all up to interpretation, but these ten satisfy those requirements with the greatest of ease. Certain characters may be MIA on this list, but they’re still beloved. The heroes and villains mentioned on this list are featured in brilliant action flicks that changed the future of the franchise.
10
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021)
We are kicking things off with a hot take. An extremely hot take. Of all the MCU films that could have snagged this spot, it had to go with the biggest underdog film in the MCU, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Another lesser-known IP, the film follows Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), a skilled martial artist forced to confront his past and his powerful father, Wenwu (Tony Leung), the leader of the notorious Ten Rings terrorist organization, leading him on a journey of self-discovery, identity, and family legacy, blending epic fight scenes with Chinese mythology and themes of balance and acceptance. A brand-new origin story to champion, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was a celebration of the representation of Asian performers and stories.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings felt like an entirely different MCU film. And at the time of release, that wasn’t necessarily a negative. With exceptional martial arts choreography paired with the superpowers inherent to the MCU, Shang-Chi opened up the realm of possibilities. Of course, having a more than capable actor in the lead who wasn’t a household name was refreshing. Liu was able to ease into the role and create it freshly without any preconceived notions. To be frank, the action sequences in the film don’t get discussed nearly enough. While we all await a sequel, we will get to see Shang-Chi back in action in Avengers: Doomsday.
9
‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ (2011)
Perhaps the most renowned character prior to the start of Phase One, introducing Captain America into the MCU, had to be done properly. It’s safe to say, Captain America: The First Avenger did just that. The origin story of the titular character, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a frail but determined young man in the 1940s who’s repeatedly rejected for military service in WWII, until he’s chosen for an experimental Super-Soldier program that transforms him into a peak human hero, Captain America, to fight the Nazi-backed HYDRA organization and its leader, the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), using the powerful Tesseract. A story of bravery and sacrifice, Captain America: The First Avenger set the MCU in the right direction.
Up until this point, it was all about Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. Then Chris Evans arrived and became an instant rival for the top spot in the MCU. After having already played a superhero, the decision to ultimately cast Evans was the right one. Already proven a worthy action star, Evans brought the all-American charm to the character that made many want to be just like him. A genuine hero’s journey, the comic book movie elevated the source material brilliantly, turning it into an old-fashioned blockbuster. The period piece was filled with nostalgic comic action that honored the character’s history while advancing our desire for more. Between Evans, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, we had new heroes to champion. You always have a soft spot for your first, and our first time with Steve Rogers was wonderful.
8
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)
After James Gunn proved that audiences loved the quirky Guardians team, he returned for another exciting adventure. The film follows our favorite space team as they are hired by a powerful alien race, the Sovereign, to protect their precious batteries from invaders. When they find themselves in trouble, they are saved by Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) mysterious father, Ego (Kurt Russell), leading to Quill, Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), and Drax (Dave Bautista) visiting Ego’s planet, only to uncover Ego’s plan to consume the universe. A film that screams daddy issues, the colorful sequel brings the action to the forefront as the humor continues to play a crucial part in the Guardian’s success.
A whirlwind of dazzling visuals and wit, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 became more popular than the mainstream characters. Of course, we have to thank the most beloved character, Baby Groot (Vin Diesel), for that. The novelty of this new iteration of Groot is likely why there is so much reverence for this film. It’s also why the actions of Avengers: Infinity War stung so much. Though it’s not nearly as flawless as the first film, it’s a blast of a film. Just go back and watch the opening. You’ll be stuck in your seat finishing the film.
7
‘The Avengers’ (2012)
The Avengers is where it all began. The culmination of Phase One, the MCU, brought the heroes who had their solo films, and their pals, together for a supersize team up that brought the comic book page to the big screen. Earth’s mightiest heroes—Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner)—assemble for the first time under Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) in order to stop Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and the Chitauri, his alien army, from conquering Earth using the powerful Tesseract. Culminating in an epic battle on the streets of New York, The Avengers officially launched the MCU into a new realm of cinema.
When The Avengers was first released, it was hard to imagine anything ever topping it. The moment director Joss Whedon gave us that sweeping, circular shot, a major cinematic moment was born. Watching our favorite heroes team up, battle for the top spot, and ultimately show us the power of teamwork. Even as the origin story of the Avengers, what the film did was open up an endless universe of possibilities. Making Loki the main bad guy worked with the films that came before. We didn’t need a new villain for this first Avengers film. The film is an extraordinarily good time. Now, it’s a bit nostalgic to see how grand the MCU has grown since.
6
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
Listen, there was absolutely no way we could discuss flawless MCU films without the closing of the Infinity Saga. Perhaps the most emotional film of the first three phases, Avengers: Endgame watches as the surviving members of the Avengers attempt to reverse the actions of Thanos’ blip that erased half of all life in the universe. The heroes embark on an epic time heist to collect the Infinity Stones, leading to one of the greatest sacrifices ever made. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Endgame gave hope that part twos of a story can actually be more satisfying than the first part.
We knew that our heroes who were blipped would return. We knew the reunions would be heartfelt. We knew the action was going to be extraordinary. We didn’t know that Robert Downey Jr. was going to force us to need an entire box of tissues. Avengers: Endgame was proof that you could compile a star-studded ensemble and still provide a fully realized story where everyone has their moment. Is it the greatest superhero movie ever made? The debate can certainly be made! It’s a pretty phenomenal masterpiece in terms of action movies that will forever be a reference point for epic team-ups that follow behind. Good luck, Avengers: Doomsday!
5
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)
One of the biggest risks the MCU took in Phase Two was introducing a little revered superhero team led by an actor who many feared wasn’t fit to be a superhero. Well, the risk paid off because James Gunn brought magic to the cinema with Guardians of the Galaxy. The first part of the eventual trilogy watched as a ragtag group of intergalactic outlaws—Star-Lord (Pratt), Gamora (Saldaña), Drax the Destroyer (Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Diesel)—who reluctantly team up to stop a powerful villain, Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), from destroying the universe with a powerful artifact called the Orb. The misfits’ journey leads to the building of an unlikely family who go from criminals to heroes.
Why Guardians of the Galaxy was a groundbreaking film for the overall MCU was because it not only gave credence to trying out underrated characters, but layering actual humor into the action is not only welcome, for some stories, it’s necessary. The entire cast of heroes was sensational, as were the supporting characters, including Michael Rooker as Yondu, Karen Gillan as Nebula, John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey, and Glenn Close as Irani Rael. Guardians brought a new Chris into the mix as the best MCU Chris. In some respects, Pratt was a trailblazer. It wasn’t until after Peter Quill met Chris Hemsworth’s Thor did he bring out any humor into his character. Guardians of the Galaxy is a thrilling space opera that’s a visual sensation. Gunn’s vision reshaped the MCU storytelling in all the right ways.
4
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021)
This one may be a controversial take but, as you’ll understand later, MCU and fan service are a match made in cinema heaven. The third volume in the second reboot of Spider-Man will forever be remembered for the universe-smashing that brought in the heroes and villains from the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield films into one major action film that gave us everything we could have wanted, should it have been the final chapter in the trilogy. Thankfully it’s not. That said, Spider-Man: No Way Home is the bridge from Tom Holland‘s high school Peter Parker to college Peter Parker. The film follows Peter after he asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to use magic to make his identity as Spider-Man a secret again after it was revealed to the world at the end of Far From Home. When the spell goes wrong because of Parker’s actions, the multiverse is broken open and several visitors from alternate realities are brought into Parker’s universe.
It should come as no shock that Spider-Man: No Way Home was the highest-grossing film of 2021. It had all the makings of an end-of-the-year blockbuster. Especially as a film that made people want to return to the cinema. Whether you grew up with Maguire or Garfield’s franchises or not, there was pure joy that came with the nostalgia through seeing Jamie Foxx’s Electro, Willem Defoe’s Green Goblin, Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus, Rhys Ifans as Lizard, and Thomas Haden Church’s Sandman. It was a wonderful family reunion that was filled with immense emotion. Let’s face it, if you didn’t well up watching Garfield’s Peter rescue MJ (Zendaya), you may not have a heart. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s pretty darn close. Emotions and action sequences are truly a dynamic duo.
3
‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ (2017)
I grew up with Toby Maguire, I watched Andrew Garfield, but I stan the greatest Spider-Man of all: Tom Holland. After introducing his Peter Parker into the Avengers, it was time for his solo venture. Rather than a third origin story, Spider-Man: Homecoming gave us the boyish charm of Peter Parker with a fervor to save his beloved city. The film watches the age-old battle of balancing high school while facing off a new adversary, Vulture (Michael Keaton), with Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) himself as his mentor. The new iteration of Spider-Man brought new life to the beloved character and helped sustain the desire for the MCU.
With a brand new energy and exciting vision, Spider-Man: Homecoming found the nostalgia needed to tell the Peter Parker story while blending a newfound modern sensibility. Holland was the perfect actor to take on the infamous suit, especially against a tried-and-true former iconic superhero in Keaton as his foe. Furthermore, the rest of the cast, including Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, and Jacob Batalon, helped carry the franchise into a new generation. Spider-Man: Homecoming lived on its own while still building the MCU ever so slightly.
2
‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ (2024)
There may be some individuals who vehemently disagree with this entry, but call me a sucker for fan service. Ryan Reynolds changed superhero films with Deadpool and Deadpool 2. When Wade Wilson entered the MCU, how he would be portrayed as an R-rated, fourth-wall-breaking character would be crucial. By keeping the vibes the same and the comedy tight, the MCU’s power remained through a genius collaboration. Not all MCU films have to be for kids. Deadpool & Wolverine was proof of that. Giving Deadpool the brunt of the new direction of the MCU, the Shawn Levy-directed film sees Deadpool work with a reluctant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) from another timeline as they stop the Time Variance Authority from destroying his own universe.
The film is a high-octane hilarious thriller that merges the original version of the character into the future of the MCU, while poking fun at the meta world around it. With pop culture references galore, Deadpool & Wolverine is fantastic on a first watch because of the Easter eggs that pop up from start to finish. Not only do we get Jackman and Reynolds back together, we get Chris Evans as the Human Torch, Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade, and oh, no big deal, Channing Tatum as Gambit, a reference to his unprotected film. It’s full on fan service because, without the fans, there would be no MCU. Fourth wall aside, the action sequences are top-notch. Nothing is better than the opening fight sequence. If you’re not a fan of the TVA storyline or perhaps had not watched Loki, you might not fully embrace the film. If you’re devoted to the franchise, Deadpool & Wolverine reinvigorated the love when some of its predecessors waned.
1
‘Black Panther’ (2018)
Seven Academy Award nominations. Need I say more? Ryan Coogler’s first foray into the MCU was simply extraordinary. After Chadwick Boseman made his debut in Captain America: Civil War, it was inevitable that when he was given his own solo film, it would be something special. In Black Panther, T’Challa is crowned king of Wakanda following his father’s death, but he is challenged by Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who plans to abandon the country’s isolationist policies and begin a global revolution. A daring film that became a cinematic triumph, Black Panther introduced us to the warriors of Wakanda that exemplified the power of Black stories in blockbuster superhero films.
Everything about Black Panther was new and refreshing. We may have already met T’Challa, but joining him to see and feel Wakanda was simply sensational. The film was presented like an epic drama. Yes, these are Marvel characters, but they were depicted in a manner that, strip aside the names, could have told an equally captivating story. From top to bottom, the cast was extraordinary. Sure, Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross is our entry point into Wakanda, but then, the powerful men and women—Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett—brought true cinematic domination. Now, the action, T’Challa versus Killmonher over the waterfalls in the ritual combat: does it get any better? Black Panther is a fantastic feature that deserves all the praise it’s received.
