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All 34 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, ranked from worst to best
Which MCU outing comes out on top?
What's the best movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)? And the worst?
With Deadpool & Wolverine delivering a record-breaking opening in cinemas, we are 34 movies deep into the MCU right now. That has given us enough time to go back over all of them, from Iron Man to the recently released Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, and attempt the ridiculous task of ranking all of the MCU movies so far.
You won't agree with the ranking. Even we still don't 100% agree and reserve the right to change our mind. But for now, here's all 34 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies ranked from worst to best.
(If you want to refresh your MCU memory, most of the movies are available to watch right now on Disney+.)
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Chris Hemsworth is good value as Thor and there's a great set piece at the end, but that's about it.
Thor: The Dark World suffers from a rubbish baddie in Malekith and a so-so plot.
Read our review of Thor: The Dark World.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Phase 5 got off to the worst possible start with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
It promised so much and delivered so little, getting lost in setting up the rest of The Multiverse Saga with Kang and forgetting that we actually like Ant-Man and wanted more for him.
Read our review of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Robert Downey Jr's sparkling charisma carries Iron Man 2 which also introduces Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow (and replaces Terrence Howard with Don Cheadle as Rhodey).
However, the villains were a bit of a let-down and the film couldn't live up to the freshness of the first one.
Read our review of Iron Man 2.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
It's not that The Incredible Hulk is especially awful, it just doesn't feel like it's a part of the MCU any more (although Captain America 4 seems set to change that).
Edward Norton plays the angry green guy, going head to head with Tim Roth's Abomination. He also had a girlfriend – Liv Tyler's Betty Ross. Remember what happened to her? No, neither does he.
Read our review of The Incredible Hulk.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Taika Waititi back doing a Thor movie after the huge success of Thor: Ragnarok felt right, but the reality was disappointing.
Thor: Love and Thunder doubled down on that movie's wackiness and had Natalie Portman finally back as Jane Foster, now Mighty Thor, yet the special sauce that made Ragnarok work just wasn't there. Fun screaming goats though.
Read our review of Thor: Love and Thunder.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Eternals (2021)
Eternals certainly tried to do something different to other MCU output, but ultimately was weighed down by having too much to do.
It had to introduce a whole new team of superheroes and explain their origins, rather than just having an engaging story to tell. We've seen many origin stories and Eternals just wasn't memorable enough.
Read our review of Eternals.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Black Widow (2021)
We had to wait more than a decade for Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff to get a deserved solo movie and when Black Widow did arrive, it was… fine.
It just felt so inconsequential following her Avengers: Endgame demise, but it did bring Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova into the MCU and for that, we can't fully hate it.
Read our review of Black Widow.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Sam Raimi being back in the superhero game for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promised so much, but didn't quite deliver.
The sequel is certainly fun and surprisingly dark for the MCU, yet having Scarlet Witch as the villain just never seemed to match with her WandaVision journey, despite Elizabeth Olsen's best efforts.
Read our review of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Hyperintelligent sentient AI Ultron is a great baddie in Avengers: Age of Ultron and the movie plays enjoyably with horror tropes.
Here we meet new characters Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver and witness the beginning of the end of the relationship between Tony and Cap, though at times it feels a bit messy with too many characters and plot threads.
Read our review of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Captain Marvel (2019)
The MCU finally got its first female-led solo movie with Captain Marvel as Brie Larson made her debut as Carol Danvers. Whether it's a good or bad thing, it's very much the classic MCU origin movie.
Larson more than holds her own against Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury, in his biggest role in some time. It's consistently fun, but compared to Black Panther, doesn't feel like enough of an event.
Read our review of Captain Marvel.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Given that the sequel had to deal with the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was a decent sequel to the first movie, albeit a step down in quality.
Its exploration of loss and grief was stronger than the more MCU-esque elements, including a CG-tastic finale, and it didn't quite get the balance right.
Read our review of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Spider-Man: Far From Home had a lot to deal with being the final movie of Phase 3 and the first since Avengers: Endgame changed the MCU as we know it.
That it still manages to be an entertaining Spider-Man adventure is to be applauded. And it also manages to deliver one of the best MCU credits scenes.
Read our review of Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
The first half of Captain America: The First Avenger where a scrawny, sickly Steve Rogers bonds with Bucky and Peggy and is rejected from the military is great.
However, his super-soldier second half doesn't quite live up to the start. Ace supporting cast, though.
Read our review of Captain America: The First Avenger.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Doctor Strange (2016)
Boasting Inception-style visuals and a top-notch cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Doctor Strange is an impressive addition to the MCU.
Strange himself isn't all that likeable however, and Rachel McAdams as his former love interest has bugger all to do.
Read our review of Doctor Strange.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Thor (2011)
Chris Hemsworth made a wonderful God of Thunder in Thor which also introduced us to Tom Hiddleston as Loki, one of the very best villains in the whole of the MCU.
Shame his indestructible automaton Destroyer was a bit rubbish, then. Still, Kenneth Branagh was a great choice to direct and the movie is packed with belly laughs as well as some actual pathos.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Six years after Deadpool 2 and five years after Disney bought Fox, Deadpool & Wolverine proved that Deadpool hasn't lost its edge. With Hugh Jackman's Wolverine back again, this third instalment felt like a treat for Marvel fans.
It is terrific entertainment, two hours of fan service wrapped up as a summer blockbuster. Packed with hilarious gags at the expense of the MCU (and more), Deadpool 3 has surprising cameos and stunning action.
Read our review of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Watch now: Out in cinmeas
Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)
The MCU's 20th movie (and the first to name a female superhero in its title), Ant-Man and The Wasp came as the perfect antidote to the grim business of Avengers: Infinity War.
Building on the first film, it firmly cemented the Ant-Man film's unique tone in the MCU. While not the weightiest Marvel entry, its humour and heart make it one of the most consistent and likeable.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
The Marvels (2023)
Formerly known as Captain Marvel 2, The Marvels unexpectedly become a glorious team-up between Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel), Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan (aka Ms Marvel).
Despite its very disappointing opening weekend, which set a new box-office low for the MCU, The Marvels is full of action, fun and cats.
Also, its ending, and particularly The Marvels' post-credit scene, includes some game-changing moments for the franchise.
Read our review of The Marvels.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Iron Man 3 has the biggest bait-and-switch in the MCU – the one surrounding villain The Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley – which delighted some and infuriated others.
Even though he didn't turn out to be the supervillain we expected, the movie still has some ace set pieces, plays with big themes and even gives Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper a bit more to do than be exasperated with Tony.
Read our review of Iron Man 3.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes | Disney+
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man: Homecoming ended up being a super good-natured high-school comedy boasting an excellent villain in Michael Keaton's The Vulture.
Even though this was the third Spider-Man this century, it really worked. Tom Holland is the youngest Avenger and he brought a much-needed freshness to the franchise, plus we love the relationship with his bestie, Jacob Batalon's Ned.
Read our review of Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Watch now: Prime Video | iTunes
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
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