Skip to Content

Every Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie, Ranked From Worst To Best

From Iron Man to Thor: Ragnarok, we rank every entry into the multi-billion dollar franchise

By Matt Miller
this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

In July of 2017, months before the box office success of Thor: Ragnarok, the Marvel Cinematic Universe successfully passed $12 billion in worldwide box office grosses. That's $1.3 billion a year in less than a decade. Having far surpassed other major franchises like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit series, Marvel is showing no sign of slowing down, with the very promising Black Panther due out next year. But the franchise hasn't always been a certain success. In the beginning, there was quite a bit of skepticism about how a project this ambitious would fare. And along the way, despite almost consistent box office victories, the quality of the movies have been uneven at best. Not all Marvel films are created equal. Here are the 17 films that make up the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ranked from worst to best.

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

When even Chris Hemsworth's biceps aren't enough to make a movie watchable, you know you've fucked up horribly. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

Two years later, I still couldn't tell you who Ultron is and what his age was. If there was any semblance of plot in this movie, memory of it has been pushed out of my brain in favour of about 30 billion superheroes hitting each other until I felt like I'd just gotten off a mildly dangerous carnival ride.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

Remember when Edward Norton was the Hulk and then very suddenly not? Yeah, I still don't remember what happened there? Was that ever explained? Is Norton okay? 

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Thor (2011)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

A superhero movie posing as a cheap Lord of the Rings knockoff, Thor ended with a team of LARPERs fighting an empty CGI suit of armour. 

Iron Man 2 (2010)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

At one point Mickey Rourke, who is some sort of trashy Russian hacker, attacks a car race, which sounds like some shit that actually would happen in 2017.

Ant-Man (2015)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

In one scene, Ant-Man shrinks down to a microscopic level and then Neil deGrasse Tyson ruins the movie magic by explaining how that's not actually possible in science. 

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

It's sad that the idea of Captain America punching a Nazi would probably be controversial if this movie were released today. At least this movie harkens back to a time when good and evil seemed kinda clear.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

The best thing to say about Iron Man 3 is that it was a little bit better than Iron Man 2. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

Sadly, what started as the best entry to the Marvel Universe quickly ruined a good thing by trying too hard to make it bigger and better in the subsequent sequel. What a very Marvel thing to do. 

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Doctor Strange (2016)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

Don't worry if you were too stoned to follow Doctor Strange. The movie looks good enough to make up for its indecipherable plot.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

Even though it falls into the familiar Marvel trap of a big, stupid ending, about two-thirds of Winter Soldier is a riskier and smarter entry into the MCU than most. 

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

In a refreshing change of pace, Marvel turns a Spider-Man movie into a funny teen drama that gives the supporting characters a chance to feel alive. The biggest accomplishment here, though, is making the sixth Spider-Man movie (with the third actor to play Peter Parker) in 15 years somehow not suck. 

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Avengers (2012)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

The idea seemed doomed. How could Marvel put so many stars, so many heroes into one film? How could they pull off the balancing act of an interconnected universe consisting of a half dozen blockbuster films and fit them into one movie? Though a touch uneven and dizzying, Marvel pulled off one of the most impressive and ambitious feats in the big movie business.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

Where previous entries felt stuffed to the brim, overwhelming, and just plain messy, Marvel finally found a good balance of the number of superheroes-to-story ratio. Even with appearances from literally everyone—and an introduction to the new Spider-Man—Civil War still somehow feels like a Captain America movie. 

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

After two very bad Thor movies, director Taika Waititi somehow managed to not only save the franchise, but provide a promising formula for the next generation of Marvel movies. Thor: Ragnarok is a hilarious, exciting, and unexpected Marvel movie that stands out from every other film in the MCU, while proving to be one of the best big-budget blockbusters of 2017. 

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Iron Man (2008)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

It's the movie that started it all. Iron Man changed not only the superhero genre, but the movie industry as a whole. Plus, this was the movie that brought Robert Downey Jr. back, and the only Iron Man movie in which Tony Stark is a lovable asshole rather than just an asshole. 

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

this image is not available
Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

Guardians has everything a Marvel movie should be: an awesome soundtrack, a hilarious script, a unique visual style, its own attitude, an ensemble of fully-developed characters, a talking tree, and the rare ability to stand-alone among the rest of the universe. Guardians is at once part of the MCU and literally in its own galaxy, yet it still provides the backbone for how all these worlds are connected. It's proof that audiences are open to (slightly) new ideas, and don't require something familiar and rehashed every time. 

From: Esquire US
Watch Next
 
preview for Esquire UK - Featured Videos
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Film

dune 2021 timothee chalamet suit

‘Dune: Part 3’: Release Date, Cast and Spoilers

hollywood, california march 10 john cena speaks onstage during the 96th annual academy awards at dolby theatre on march 10, 2024 in hollywood, california photo by kevin wintergetty images

Why Was John Cena Naked At The Oscars?

galliano

'High & Low — John Galliano' Review

dune two

How the Road Runner Left a Big Mark on 'Dune: Part

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below