Logan Sork Film Reviews
Ranking of The Marvel Cinematic Universe
There's no doubt that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a big impact on the film industry and Pop-culture in general. No other franchise history has produced as many interconnected films that tell a singular story. With over 20 films being produced and more on the way, this pop culture juggernaut shows no signs of fatigue. Still, while some entries have undoubtedly been spectacular, there have been a few clunkers along the way.
Here's my ranking of every film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe from worst to best, starting things off with...
Here's my ranking of every film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe from worst to best, starting things off with...
#21 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
This is not only the worst movie in the MCU, it’s one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen period. Chocked full of loud non-stop action scenes, juvenile humor, annoying characters and dramatic moments with little to no weight, this movie had me wishing it would end almost as soon as it started.
#20 - Captain Marvel
The most recent film in the MCU is anything but good. This film had so much potential seeing as it is their first female led superhero film. Unfortunately, almost everything I the film is completely devoid of a personality. From the visuals to the story to the characters, almost everything in this movie is completely forgettable. The cat was cool though.
#19 - The Incredible Hulk
This movie is one that everyone seems to forget about, and it’s easy to see why. Aside from a good performance from Edward Norton as the titular character and some fun action scenes, there really isn’t anything special about this movie.
#18 - Guardians of the Galaxy
I can’t for the life of me figure out why everyone loves this movie so much. Sure, it’s got some fun moments and a cool soundtrack, but that’s about all it has to offer. The movie tries so hard to be funny that it forgot to ask me to care about any of these people. As a result, the film feels like it has no stakes, which means I didn’t exactly go out of my way to get invested in it. Still, good soundtrack.
#17 - Spider-Man: Homecoming
This movie is a mixed bag for me. There are a lot of good heartfelt moments and action scenes, as well as a good villain in the form of Michael Keaton’s Vulture. The main problem comes in the form of the hero. I liked Tom Holland well enough as Spider-man in other times he’s portrayed the character, but here he comes off like a whiney unlikable brat for most of the runtime. I get that he’s supposed to grow (and eventually he does) but he really brought down the film for me. There is also a distinct lack of style that other films featuring the titular character brought to the table.
#16 - Thor: The Dark World
Everyone makes this movie out as one of the worst superhero movies ever made, but honestly, it’s not that bad. Sure, the villain is completely forgettable, and the third act is a mess, but there were also enough elements to keep me thoroughly entertained while watching. There are cool set pieces, fun action scenes and even some interesting mythological elements that kept me interested. That being said, I did forget most of it as soon as the movie stopped, but it was entertaining enough for what it was.
#15 - Iron Man 2
Here is a case of a movie trying to do too much. At its core, this movie has a great story about our hero’s troubled past and the demons he must face. On top of that, you’ve got great performances from the cast and an intriguing villain. The film falls apart when another less interesting villain is introduced as well as supporting characters added only to expand the universe. This is a great example of how more does not necessarily mean better.
#14 - Thor: Ragnarok
There is a lot of good to be found in this movie. The cast is great, there are tons of fun action sequences, a threatening villain and even a few poignant dramatic scenes. Where it falls flat is when it tries to inject comedy into literally every scene of the movie. Look, I like comedy when it’s done right, but this is just too much. There are so many great scenes in this film that are undercut with a joke, robbing them of any dramatic potential. Still, this movie is quite good, it just could’ve been better.
#13 - Ant-Man
This movie is hilarious. Almost every single joke lands perfectly and this is all to do with the incredible cast. There are also some great creative action sequences and a great story at its heart. The problems come in the form of the villain and the lack of stakes. But still, I did have a lot of fun while watching it.
#12 - Ant-Man and The Wasp
This movie is about the same in terms of quality when compared to the first one, but I like this one a little more. This mostly comes in the form of Evangeline Lilly’s Wasp, who brings a much more serious tone for some great comedic moments. The villain is also a little bit better, though not by much. I’d say this is on the same level as the first, but if I had to pick, I would choose this one.
#11 - Black Panther
What I really enjoyed about this movie was how seriously it took itself. The reason a lot of these films aren’t that memorable for me is that they always try too much to have fun. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of fun parts here, but they are balanced out with a great story and wonderful characters that make me feel something. That being said, there are a couple of problems to be found, most notably some terrible effects and a couple of over the top performances. Despite those shortcomings however, Black Panther is an otherwise great movie.
#10 - The Avengers
The one that changed it all. This movie is a lot of fun with a lot of great characters coming together for the first time ever and providing excellent action sequences and entertainingly witty banter. While that’s all good, there aren’t really a lot of stakes to the film, making it hard to get invested. Still those bumps are ironed out by the sheer amount of fun this film provides.
#9 - Captain America: The First Avenger
There’s something about the WWII aesthetic that makes this film so enjoyable. Sure, it’s pretty formulaic and it montages through some of the coolest parts of the film but there’s also a lot of fun to be had. The WWII time period makes this film standout from other MCU films and helps give it it’s own charm. There’s also a great story about what it means to be a hero at it’s core. Toss in a great villain and romantic interest and you’ve got yourself a pulpy fun time.
#8 - Thor
In my opinion, the first Thor film is still the best out of the lot. While it’s far from perfect, the film has a lot to love about it. The way it introduces the mythical side of things to the universe is done in a way which can be taken seriously and have fun with it at the same time. There’s a great story about honor at its core and has some great comedy thanks to the fish out of water element of the story. Couple those elements with great set designs and direction and you have yourself a flawed but entertaining fantasy adventure.
#7 - Captain America: The Winter Soldier
While it’s a bit more serious and loses some of the fun the original had The Winter Soldier more than makes up for those losses. At the center of this superhero film is a political spy thriller of changing sides and false identities that’s oh so captivating to watch despite the fact that you can see some of the twists coming a mile away. Add to that the visceral action sequences and fight choreography and this sequel improves upon the original in more ways than one.
#6 - Iron Man 3
The reason I enjoy this film so much is the amount of risks it took. There aren’t many giant films these days that take risks with its story and characters like this one did. Some of them worked and some of them didn’t but at least they tried. There are a lot of clever moments and twists that exist in this film, making it seem anything but formulaic, which makes me have a soft spot for it. There are slow parts, but this is made up for in the form of great action, fun performances and some great dialogue. Iron Man 3 isn’t afraid to be weird, which is why I love it so much.
#5 - Avengers: Infinity War
One can’t help but watch this film and be in awe of how much they were able to do here. There has never been a film to have so many characters in one place and the film must be commended for that. Still, that is a weakness for the film as well, seeing as not everyone is able to get much to do and results in certain characters being relegated to very small roles. Still, the sheer amount of stuff in this movie is impressive and is topped off by Josh Brolin’s truly memorable performance as Thanos.
#4 - Avengers: Age of Ultron
I like Age of Ultron for a lot of the same reasons I enjoy Iron Man 3. It’s not afraid to try new things while still remaining somewhat faithful to the established norm. Sure there are some slow moments and some of the new characters aren’t that interesting, but this is more than made up for in the form of James Spader’s menacing (and sometimes hilarious) Ultron.
#3 - Iron Man
The one that started it all is still one of the best. Not only are the story and characters excellent but the degree to which this film changed cinema history cannot be understated. It is because of this one film and all others after it that the cinematic landscape changed. Still, despite the amount if changes this film imposed, it’s still awesome enough to stand on its own.
#2 - Doctor Strange
Don’t get me wrong, this movie is about as formulaic as it gets, but it does it with so much style and uniqueness that it becomes something so much more. The effects are stunning, the world building is excellent the performances are great, and it even saves itself from falling into the third at fight trap. Plus, with the great message about materialism at its core, it almost overcomes every ounce of familiarity by throwing something new at you every other scene.
#1 - Captain America: Civil War
This movie is everything I look for in a great superhero movie. Not only does it have great action sequences and fantastic characters, but it actually has consequences. Most of the films on this list can not exist and the story would be no different. It also has a great moral debate at ti’s core and takes time to explore it in a nuanced way before letting go and having some truly memorable moments over the course of the run-time. When it comes to the Marvel Universe Civil War is about as good as it gets.
Well, there's my ranking of every film so far in the ever growing Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What is your favorite/ least favorite MCU movie? Be sure to sound off in the comments below!
What is your favorite/ least favorite MCU movie? Be sure to sound off in the comments below!