The Marvel Cinematic Universe films are a series of superhero films produced independently by Marvel Studios. Currently, there are 23 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They are split into three phases which are collectively known as “The Infinity Saga”. The saga started with Iron Man in 2008 and is concluded with Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019.
There are at least 14 more movies in development as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase Four will start with Black Widow (November 2020) and it will be concluded with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
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Here is the list of Marvel Cinematic Universe films ordered by release date:
1. Iron Man (2008)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard
Superhero Appearance: None
The Main Villain: Obadiah Stane (Stark’s business partner)
The first-ever Marvel Cinematic Universe film tells the story of a wealthy magnate and innovator Tony Stark (portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.) who gets kidnaped and coerced into making a destructive weapon. Using his genius and inventiveness, he creates a suit of iron which helps him evade his detainers. Back home, he works on the suit, enhancing its features and improving it to the point of perfection. Iron Man is born.
This is the highest-rated movie in the Iron Man trilogy. With a budget of $140 million, the film earned over $585 million in cinemas globally. The success of this movie enabled Marvel to continue with the other movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If this movie hadn’t succeeded, we probably wouldn’t have seen any other movie in the series.
In a post-credits scene of the movie, we were introduced to Nick Fury, director of a covert organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D., who visits Stark to discuss the “Avenger Initiative”.
Best Scene: Intro scene in the Hammer with the soldiers while AC/DC is playing in the background.
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth
Superhero Appearance: Tony Stark
The Main Villain: The Abomination (Special Forces team leader Blonsky after injecting serum)
The Incredible Hulk tells the story of Bruce Banner, a scientist who was a part of a military experiment with gamma radiation run by general Thunderbolt Ross. During an experiment, Banner developed a condition that turned him into Hulk, a huge green monster, whenever he is in a stressful situation. Due to the fact that the military wants to weaponize him, Banner goes on the run, while searching for the cure at the same time.
Meanwhile, a new threat has emerged. An officer who was hunting Banner has injected various serums and Bruce Banner’s blood which turned him into a creature more powerful than Hulk.
In the last scene of the movie, Tony Stark approaches general Ross telling him that he knows about Hulk and informs him that the team (meaning Avengers) is being put together.
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow
Superhero Appearance: Black Widow
The Main Villain: Whiplash / Ivan Vanko (played by Mickey Rourke)
Iron Man 2 is set six months after the events in Iron Man. Now that everybody knows Tony Stark’s secret, the government tries to persuade him to share the technology used in making Iron Man. Meanwhile, a new menacing force is emerging – a Russian scientist who is eager to harm the Stark family, revenge being his motive.
Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., will approach Stark and explain that Vanko’s father and Tony’s father Howard worked together, but things didn’t end well between the two. Nick will also reveal that Howard Stark was a S.H.I.E.L.D. founder.
In Iron Man 2 we will be introduced to Natasha Romanoff also known as Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johansson). She is an undercover spy for S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury will send her to pose as an assistant to Stark to check if he is worth being a part of the Avengers Initiative.
In a post-credits scene, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson is in New Mexico calling Nick Fury to report that the item was found. The final shot will reveal that the item was Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, telling us that the Thor movie is what is coming next.
4. Thor (2011)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman
Superhero Appearance: Hawkeye
The Main Villain: Loki (secondary antagonist is Laufey, the king of the Frost Giants)
There is a realm called Asgard and it’s one of the nine realms (Earth being one of those). Odin, king of Asgard, has waged a war against Frost Giants who wanted to conquer the nine realms almost 1000 years ago. He defeated the enemy and seized the source of their power, the Casket of Ancient Winters.
In the present, Thor, son of Odin, is preparing to ascend the throne, but the ceremony is interrupted when the old enemy resurfaces and tries to retrieve the Casket. Against his father’s will, Thor decides to go to Jotunheim to confront the Frost Giants leader Laufey. After king Odin intervenes and saves Thor and his companions, he then banishes Thor to Earth and strips him of his powers.
While trying to find a way to reclaim his powers, Thor will become close with astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). In the meantime, Thor’s brother Loki has seized the throne on Asgard. When a powerful enemy Destroyer is sent to Earth to kill him, Thor must defeat him and go to Asgard to confront his brother.
In the post-credits scene, Nick Fury makes a cameo in the S.H.I.E.L.D. the facility where scientist Erik Selvig is brought to study Tesseract (one of the six Infinity Stones).
Character Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye, master archer, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and one of the founding members of the Avengers, made his first cameo appearance in this movie.
The best scene in the movie is when Thor gets his powers back.
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Joe Johnston
Starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson
Superhero Appearance: None
The Main Villain: Red Skull / Schmidt
In the first Captain America movie, we learn how a sickly man Steve Rogers became a super-soldier. During World War II Steven Rogers is determined to help in the fighting but is constantly rejected because of his physical problems. When Dr. Erskine offers him to be a part of an experiment, everything changes. Rogers bravely undergoes the experiment and from a weak man, he is transformed into a strong and fast soldier. Captain America is born.
Young Howard Stark, Tony Stark’s father, appears in the movie as the man who aided the Super Soldier Project that made Captain America. He was also the one who provided Steve Rogers with a uniform and the trademark shield.
The main villain in the movie is Schmidt a.k.a. the Red Skull. He is the commander of Nazi Germany’s secret organization called HYDRA whose plan is world domination through the power of Tesseract.
When Rogers defeats Schmidt in his aircraft he is forced to land in the Arctic. Stark tries to locate him but he is not successful. The last scene in the movie shows Rogers waking up in a hospital room which he will soon realize is not real. When he runs outside he finds himself in the present day. He is approached by S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury who then informs him that he has been “asleep” for 70 years.
6. The Avengers (2012)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson
Superheroes: Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye
The Main Villain: Loki
When Thor’s brother Loki, who is the main villain in the movie, takes the Tesseract from the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, the world is in great danger. Loki has teamed up with the extraterrestrial race Chitauri who provided him with the army for Earth invasion in return for Tesseract. Loki’s plan is to subjugate the Earth and be the king.
In response to the invasion, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury reactivates the “Avengers Initiative”. He assembles the team of Earth’s mightiest superheroes to save the world. The Avengers are: Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rogers), The Hulk (Bruce Banner), Thor, Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff), and Hawkeye (Clint Barton), even though Barton is under Loki’s influence in the first part of the movie.
It’s worth mentioning that in the comics the original Avengers were: Ant-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, and the Wasp.
With The Avengers, phase one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was concluded. It is the first movie in MCU that surpassed $1 billion in the box office.
7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow
Superhero Appearance: None
The Main Villain: Aldrich Killian (a mad scientist who will turn out to be the real Mandarian.)
After the Battle for New York (with the Avengers), Tony Stark is living out his days with an almost broken spirit. Prone to anxiety and panic attacks, he struggles with sleep and the relationships in his life. Meanwhile, an elusive figure known as Mandarin plans a terrorist action in the U.S. In a clash with his murderous associates, Stark will be forced to flee in an Iron Man suit not properly functional, calling his survival into question.
The film became an instant success and earned $1.2 billion in cinemas globally (almost as much as the first two films together, but in terms of ranking, the first movie in the series is still best ranked).
8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Alan Taylor
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
Superhero Appearance: None
The Main Villain: Malekith
A few years after the devastating invasion on Earth, Loki is imprisoned on Asgard for his crimes. Meanwhile, Thor and his companions are winning some wars in the Nine Realms. The Asgardians will soon learn that a rare alignment of the Nine Realms is about to happen which means portals linking the worlds will start to appear.
On Earth, Thor’s girlfriend, astrophysicist Dr. Jane Foster, has accidentally located such a portal and is teleported to another world. There she will release and absorb a weapon called the Aether which will awaken Malekith (the main villain in the movie) and his Dark Elf army. Thor must team up with his nemesis brother Loki to stop Malekith and save the Nine Realms from the Dark Elves.
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson
Superhero Appearance: Black Widow, Falcon
The Main Villain: Alexander Pierce (secret head of HYDRA)
While working for S.H.I.E.L.D. and trying to adjust to the modern world, Captain America will face a threat from the past. After being attacked by an assassin known as Winter Soldier, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury will visit Steve Rogers and inform him that S.H.I.E.L.D. is compromised with infiltrated HYDRA agents.
When HYDRA was defeated in 1945, their scientist Arnim Zola was brought to S.H.I.E.L.D. because of his expertise, but he used his position to rebuild HYDRA within the agency.
After HYDRA is exposed, S.H.I.E.L.D. will fall apart and its agents, including Natasha Romanoff and a high-ranking agent Maria Hill, will leave the agency. Captain America will join forces with Black Widow and Falcon to uncover the conspiracy, face Winter Soldier, and defeat HYDRA.
The main villain in the movie is Alexander Pierce, the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the secret head of HYDRA. The secondary antagonist is his henchman Winter Soldier (who is actually Steven Rogers’ childhood friend turned into an enhanced and brainwashed assassin).
In Captain America: The Winter Soldier we are first introduced to another future Avenger Sam Wilson, better known as Falcon. He is Steve Rogers’ new friend and a former pararescueman who uses mechanical wings to fly.
At the beginning of the movie, there is a villain who fought Captain America and it was played by former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre.
10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
Guardians: Star-Lord, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket, Groot, Gomora
The Main Villain: Ronan
Twenty-six years after being kidnapped by alien smugglers led by Yondu, Peter Quill a.k.a Star-Lord travels the galaxy looking for valuable items for resale. After stealing a mysterious orb on the planet Morag, he becomes a target. Ronan the Accuser, a fanatical Kree renegade, sends assassin Gomora after him. Ronan made an agreement with Thanos that he will retrieve the artifact in exchange for the annihilation of his enemies.
When Quill tries to sell the orb, Gomora ambushes him but the fight draws a pair of bounty hunters, genetically enhanced Rocket Raccoon, and a tree-like humanoid Groot. Eventually, they all end up in prison where they will run into Drax the Destroyer. They will form an uneasy alliance in order to escape, sell the orb and share the profit. When they run into Ronan he will take the orb and destroy their ship.
Selling the orb (which is actually one of the Infinity Stones) is no longer important because Ronan (who is the main villain in the movie) wants to use it to destroy the galaxy. Star-Lord and his companions are the only ones who can stop him. Guardians of the Galaxy are born.
While all the previous superheroes are somehow connected, in Guardians of the Galaxy we were introduced to a whole new group. What will connect them with the original Avengers is the mutual nemesis and the main antagonist in the whole Infinity Saga, Thanos.
Besides the Avenger series, Guardians of the Galaxy is the only movie in the MCU that has a rank of 8 on IMDb. It is also one of the two movies on the list (the other being The Avengers) that has more than a million votes on IMDb.
11. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo
Superheroes: Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Falcon, Vision
The Main Villain: Ultron
After a raid on the HYDRA base in Sokovia, the Avengers manage to retrieve Loki’s scepter used by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. In the base, they encounter two powerful enemies who work for Strucker, Quicksilver with superhuman speed, and Scarlet Witch, a telepath with telekinetic abilities.
When Stark and Banner use a scepter to create a defense program with artificial intelligence called Ultron, they will soon learn that it was a huge mistake. Instead of helping them, Ultron will see the humans as a threat and set the goal to destroy them.
There is another entity that will be created called Vision (it’s Stark’s J.A.R.V.I.S in the synthetic body). Luckily for the avengers, this one will choose their side. On one side there is the Avengers team (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Falcon) plus Vision and on the other side is Ultron (and his robots), Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch.
Nick Fury will appear to help Avengers formulate a plan against Ultron. At the final battle in Sokovia, Fury and a group of former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents will appear with Helicarrier to help save people. A former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill works for Stark.
The best line in the movie comes from Hawkeye and it goes: “The city is flying, we’re fighting an army of robots and I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense.”
12. Ant-Man (2015)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll
Superhero Appearance: Falcon
The Main Villain: Yellowjacket / Darren Cross (a former assistant to Dr. Hank who took over the company)
Dr. Hank Pym worked for the S.H.I.E.L.D. but when he discovered that they wanted to replicate his shrinking technology called Ant-Man, he resigned in 1989. In the present, Hank is pushed out from his company by his protégé Darren Cross who is working on his own shrinking suit, the Yellowjacket. Luckily for Hank, he still has an insider in the company, his daughter Hope van Dyne.
Meanwhile, Scot Lang, who just got out of prison, accepted a heist proposed by a former cellmate. When he cracks a safe in the targeted house, the only thing he finds is some suit. After trying the suit on he accidentally shrinks himself which is a terrifying experience. He decides to return the suit but ends up arrested. It will turn out that Dr. Hank has plotted the whole thing because he wants this guy to be the man who wears the suit. He chooses Scot Lang to be Ant-Man, a superhero who will stop Cross.
While Ant-Man is trying to enter Avenger’s facility to take a piece of tech necessary for the mission, he will run into Falcon and they will have a brief fight. In the post-credit scene, Falcon is telling Captain America that he “knows a guy” (meaning Ant-Man) that can help them with Barnes (Winter Soldier).
Ant-Man is the last movie of phase two in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson
Superhero Appearance: Iron Man, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Vision, Bucky Burnes (Winter Soldier), Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Ant-Man.
The Main Villain: Helmut Zemo
When the world leaders decide to restrict and regulate Avengers, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers will disagree over the matter. While Tony believes that it’s necessary, Steve Rogers doesn’t agree.
After the king of Wakanda is killed at the UN gathering, the investigation reveals that Winter Soldier is responsible. Captain America doesn’t believe that and decides to help him which will make Captain America wanted too. All of this will cause not only a division in the Avengers but an all-out war between the two factions.
Tony Stark team: Iron Man, War Machine, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Vision.
Steve Rogers team: Captain America, Bucky Burnes (Winter Soldier), Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Ant-Man).
Besides Tony Stark and his team, there is one more mysterious figure in a black suit showing up to hunt Winter Soldier. It will turn out to be the son of the killed Wakanda king and the guardian of Wakanda – Black Panther.
Captain America: Civil War is almost like another Avengers movie. The only Avengers missing are Thor and Hulk. It’s the best-rated Captain America movie.
The main villain in the movie is Helmut Zemo. He is the one who organized the UN bombing and learned the trigger words that will ensure Winter Soldier’s obedience. Helmut Zemo blames the Avengers for his family’s demise (in Sokovia) and his plan is to turn them against each other.
14. Doctor Strange (2016)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams
Superhero Appearance: Thor
The Main Villain: Dormammu (gigantic force of evil from the Dark Dimension who wants to influence other worlds)
Stephen Strange is a talented neurosurgeon who suffered severe injuries to his hands after a car accident. Since he cannot perform surgeries anymore, Dr. Strange is set on a journey to heal his hands. After he learns about the paraplegic who can now use his legs, he decides to try the same. The man points him to Kamar-Taj in Nepal where he will meet the Ancient One.
Strange must put ego aside and cross from the world of science to the world of mysticism and magic. The Ancient One is reluctant to teach him because of his arrogance but eventually will accept him as a student. Dr. Strange will learn the ways of magic and other dimensions. With the set of new skills, Strange will soon discover that the world is in danger and he is the one who needs to protect it.
Best line in the movie (when the master of the mystic arts gives a card to Strange):
Dr. Stephen Strange : What’s this? My mantra?
Baron Mordo : The Wi-Fi password. We’re not savages.
At the end of the movie Doctor, Strange and Thor will meet, which is a pretty funny scene.
15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista
Guardians: Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Baby Groot, Gamora
The Main Villain: Ego
Now known as heroes, Guardians of the Galaxy (Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Baby Groot, and Rocket) are hired by the leader of the Sovereign race Ayesha to defeat a huge monster and protect valuable batteries. When Rocket steals those exact batteries, Ayesha sends the whole fleet after them. Just when they think they are done, a mysterious ship shows up and destroys the whole fleet. Once crashed on the planet, Guardians will soon learn that the man who saved them is Ego and he claims to be a god and Quill’s father.
When they go to his planet everything seems perfect, but Ego’s secret will soon emerge. They will soon learn the Ego is the major villain.
16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr.
Superhero Appearance: Iron Man
The Main Villain: Vulture / Adrian Toomes (forced out of business by Stark; he created the suit out of Chitauri technology after the battle of New York.)
After helping Stark with an internal dispute (in Captain America: Civil War), Peter Parker returns to his high school life. What he actually wants to do is to focus on fighting crime. He starts to run into criminals with advanced weapons. After he ends up in a lake, Stark will save him because he has a tracker in Spider-Man’s suit.
Against his mentor’s commands, Peter will continue to investigate mysterious arms-trafficker, who will turn out to be the father of the girl he likes. He also has his own suit.
17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett
Superhero Appearance: Hulk
The Main Villain: Hela (Thor’s older sister)
Several years after he defeated Dark Elves and later battled Ultron with the Avengers, Thor finds himself trapped by the fire demon Surtur. That will be the least of his worries. He will end up fighting his fellow Avenger Hulk in a gladiatorial contest, but his biggest enemy will be his own sister Hela. She is the evil goddess of death imprisoned by Thor’s father Odin. Now she is free and wants to rule everything.
Thor will team up with his brother Loki, Hulk, and Valkyrie, the former legendary Asgardian warrior, to stop Hela.
Thor: Ragnarok is definitely the best movie in the Thor series and one of the best on the whole list here. The best scene in the movie is the final battle with the Immigrant song in the background when Thor releases the thunder.
Dr. Stephen Strange will appear in the movie where he will help Thor and Loki to locate their father Odin.
18. Black Panther (2018)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o
Superhero Appearance: None
The Main Villain: Killmonger
There is a hidden technologically advanced kingdom Wakanda somewhere in Africa. After his father and the king die, T’Challa is the rightful heir, but he is challenged for the throne by a powerful enemy. He is drawn into a conflict that puts the entire kingdom and the rest of the world in danger. In order to defeat enemies and save the kingdom, T’Challa must gather his allies and release the full power of the Black Panther.
Black Panther grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide. As a character, he appeared for the first time in Captain America: Civil War (2016). It’s the first superhero movie to receive a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards and the first Marvel film to win an Academy Award ( Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design).
19. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo
Superheroes: Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Stephen Strange, War Machine, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Falcon, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Winter Soldier, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Groot, Rocket, Star-Lord
The Main Villain: Thanos
In Infinity War, the Avenger and Guardians of the Galaxy will team up to fight their biggest nemesis yet, Thanos. He wants to collect all six Infinity Stones which will allow him to kill half of life in the universe.
Having acquired the Power Stone and later Space Stone from Loki, Thanos sends his lieutenants after the remaining stones. Time Stone is with Dr. Strange and Vision has the Mind Stone. Thanos himself is going for the Reality Stone at a location known as Knowhere. The last stone is the Soul Stone on Vormir and requires whoever wants it to sacrifice someone they love.
The superheroes must divide their forces to stop Thanos from getting the rest of the stones. Thor is accompanied by Rocket and Groot to Nidavellir in order to create Stormbreaker (a battle-ax that can kill Thanos).
Stark, Parker, and Strange will meet with Peter Quill, Drax, and Mantis on planet Titan, where Thanos is.
In Wakanda, Steve Rogers will team up with Bucky Barnes, Black Widow, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Bruce Banner, and Black Panther. They need to stop Thanos’ army before they reach Vision and take the Mind Stone. Thor, Rocket, and Groot will also arrive to reinforce.
Thanos will still manage to collect all the stones and activate the completed Gauntlet. He snaps his fingers and teleports away. Immediately, half of life disintegrates, including heroes Black Panther, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Bucky Barnes, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Star-Lord, Groot, Drax, Mantis as well as Nick Fury and Maria Hill.
With 8.5, Avengers: Infinity War is the highest-rated movie in the saga and probably the best one. Next to Endgame, it’s the only one who surpassed $2 billion in the box office.
20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña
Superhero Appearance: None
The Main Villain: Ghost / Ava Starr (a woman with molecular instability, who can phase through objects)
After his involvement with Avengers (Captain America: Civil War), Scott Lang is on house arrest and monitored by the FBI. Meanwhile, Hank Pym and his daughter Hope van Dyne discover that they can open the tunnel to the quantum realm where Pym’s wife might be trapped. When Lang previously visited the quantum realm, he became entangled with trapped Janet without even knowing it. Now he receives a message from her.
Hope and Pym manage to kidnap Lang leaving a decoy for the FBI. The trio now works to build a stable tunnel to the quantum realm so they can go in to retrieve Hope’s mother. For that, they need apart from the black-market dealer Sonny Burch who decides to double-cross them. Also, superpowered Ava Starr has an interest in quantum tunneling technology.
Unlike the first movie, in this one Ant-Man has an ally Hope van Dyne who has her own suit in which she becomes the Wasp.
21. Captain Marvel (2019)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn
Superhero Appearance: None
The Main Villain: Talos (Yon-Rogg is the secondary antagonist)
Vers is a Starforce member of the Kree Empire and she suffers from amnesia. During a rescue mission, Vers was captured by Talos, the commander of an enemy race of shapeshifters called Skrulls. She managed to escape and crash in Los Angeles which drew Skrulls to Earth too. Her presence on Earth has attracted S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury.
With the help of Nick Fury, Vers will begin to discover her past. She is actually a pilot Carol Danvers, who was testing an experimental light-speed engine on Earth. When destroying the engine, Danvers absorbed the energy from the explosion which led to her memory loss, but she gained extraordinary powers.
It will turn out that Danver is on the wrong side. Talos and Skrulls are refugees and Knee is the real enemy. They are responsible for Danvers implant which suppressed her powers.
22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo
Superheroes: Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Stephen Strange, War Machine, Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Falcon, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Winter Soldier, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Groot, Rocket, Star-Lord, Captain Marvel
The Main Villain: Thanos
The last part of the Avengers saga continues from the events from the previous one (Avengers: Infinity War). The remaining Avenger members regroup in the final attempt to put a stop to Thanos’ evil-minded doings and re-establish order in the universe.
This is the 22nd Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, following those of 2012, The Avengers, 2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron, and 2018 Avengers: Infinity War. A box office record-breaker, Endgame earned almost $2.8 billion and exceeded the prequel. It also became the highest-grossing movie ever.
22. Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Directors: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal
Superhero Appearance: None
The Main Villain: Mysterio (and Elementals)
After Thanos is defeated, Peter Parker wants to take a break from being Spider-Man. He goes on a Europe trip with his school. Meanwhile, Nick Fury and Maria Hill are in Mexico investigating some unnatural storm when they encounter an Elemental creature.
When Elementals starts to attack all over the world, Peter Parker will find himself recruited by Nick Fury to help.
All Marvel Cinematic Universe Films Ranked According to IMDb
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – 8.5 with 780,000 votes
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – 8.4 with 726,000 votes
- The Avengers (2012) – 8.0 with 1,233,000 votes
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – 8.0 with 1,014,000 votes
- Iron Man (2008) – 7.9 with 913,000 votes
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – 7.9 with 554,000 votes
- Captain America: Civil War (2016) – 7.8 with 635,000 votes
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – 7.7 with 710,000 votes
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – 7.6 with 540,000 votes
- Doctor Strange (2016) – 7.5 with 570,000 votes
- Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) – 7.5 with 294,000 votes
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – 7.4 with 486,000 votes
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – 7.3 with 710,000 votes
- Black Panther (2018) – 7.3 with 584,000 votes
- Ant-Man (2015) – 7.3 with 545,000 votes
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – 7.2 with 730,000 votes
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) – 7.1 with 289,000 votes
- Thor (2011) – 7.0 with 723,000 votes
- Iron Man 2 (2010) – 7.0 with 698,000 votes
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – 6.9 with 715,000 votes
- Thor: The Dark World (2013) – 6.9 with 575,000 votes
- Captain Marvel (2019) – 6.9 with 414,000 votes
- The Incredible Hulk (2008) – 6.7 with 422,000 votes
Marvel Cinematic Universe Films Box Office Performance
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – $2.798 billion
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – $2.048 billion
- The Avengers (2012) – $1.519 billion
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – $1.403 billion
- Black Panther (2018) – $1.347 billion
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – $1.215 billion
- Captain America: Civil War (2016) – $1.153 billion
- Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) – $1.132 billion
- Captain Marvel (2019) – $1.128 billion
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – $880 million
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – $864 million
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – $854 million
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – $773 million
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – $715 million
- Doctor Strange (2016) – $678 million
- Thor: The Dark World (2013) – $645 million
- Iron Man 2 (2010) – $624 million
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) – $623 million
- Iron Man (2008) – $585 million
- Ant-Man (2015) – $520 million
- Thor (2011) – $450 million
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – $371 million
- The Incredible Hulk (2008) – $265 million