MCU Movies (A First-Time Watcher's Ranking)
SPOILERS, maybe. First time watching all of these. God help me. Will update as I finish each.
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- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloAfter the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.7/10
Funnily enough, the "reduced" cast makes this much more manageable and slightly better than Infinity War. Thanos was right! Just wish it didn't end on a big, dumb hour-long fight. Should've ended the Marvel gravy train here, honestly. - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.7/10
Genuinely good action movie, with interesting themes and good characters. Great direction. The best Marvel slop up to this point. - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonPolitical involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.Low 7/10
Another great Captain America sequel. Balance of drama, action, and comedy is almost machine-like, but has some problems with bloat. Makes me excited to watch the Russo-directed Avengers movies. - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris HemsworthMark RuffaloThe Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.Low 7/10
Way too many concurrent plots going on, but still pretty great. Exciting the whole way through. Feels rushed in places. - DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandZendayaBenedict CumberbatchWith Spider-Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.Low 7/10
Engaging, fun, and emotional. Might be my new favorite Spider-Man movie. - DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.High 6/10
Most interesting premise and best characters, but falls a bit short in plot. If I were to start reading a comic book based on watching one of these movies, it would be this one. - DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattZoe SaldanaDave BautistaThe Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord's encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.6/10
Mixes melodrama and wacky hijinks a bit too loosely, but still manages to be a good sequel off the back of the characters. Just good sci-fi fun. - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.Low 6/10
Very overrated, but good enough for a watch. Serviceable popcorn blockbuster. Blue space laser. - DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandMichael KeatonRobert Downey Jr.Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.High 5/10
Good Spider-Man movie and the best MCU "origin story" movie so far. Faint, sour whiffs of Dragonball: Evolution with the high school stuff. Shot like a Disney Channel movie. - DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandSamuel L. JacksonJake GyllenhaalFollowing the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.5/10
Very flawed, but still entertaining in a silly kids movie kind of way. Would've hit the spot when I was 8 years old. - DirectorRyan CooglerStarsChadwick BosemanMichael B. JordanLupita Nyong'oT'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.Low 5/10
Appreciate the attempt at a message, but the movie feels like it's more interested in building the mythos of Wakanda and big war scenes than building it's main characters. - DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthNatalie PortmanChristian BaleThor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.High 4/10
Not sure why this is rated so much worse than Thor: Ragnarok. It's not amazing, and it's trying way too hard to be funny, but it's a campy, passingly amusing superhero dramedy flick. Okay villain. Embrace clown Thor. - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloWhen Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it's up to Earth's mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.High 4/10
Close to a low 5/10. A few good character moments, but is mostly schlock. Suffers from constant quips/one-liners and an annoying villain. - DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddMichael DouglasCorey StollArmed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.High 4/10
Part heist movie, part trite divorce/relationship drama, part Marvel CGI/VFX nightmare. Very uneven. Feels like 2-3 different kinds of movies at times. Just odd enough to be partway interesting. - DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsChris EvansHugo WeavingSamuel L. JacksonSteve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum". But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization.4/10
Very unmemorable, but watchable. - DirectorChloé ZhaoStarsGemma ChanRichard MaddenAngelina JolieThe saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.4/10
Way too many characters. None of them feel fleshed out. Decent direction, but pretty bland. Would've made for a good TV show maybe. - DirectorDestin Daniel CrettonStarsSimu LiuAwkwafinaTony Leung Chiu-waiShang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.4/10
Blatant Chinese movie market pandering. Mediocre kung-fu flick. When the Mandarin and the marketable plushie showed up, I laughed out loud. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowTerrence HowardAfter being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.4/10
Horribly overrated. Basic, but necessary hero origin story. A mediocre introduction to this universe. Lame. - DirectorAnna BodenRyan FleckStarsBrie LarsonSamuel L. JacksonBen MendelsohnCarol Danvers becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.4/10
Generic sci-fi with a Marvel skin slapped on top. Green shape-shifting space orcs aren't the baddies?! The 90s! Girls get it done! It's whatever. - DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael PeñaAs Scott Lang balances being both a superhero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.Low 4/10
More boring than anything, but not overly offensive. - DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsEdward NortonLiv TylerTim RothBruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.Low 4/10
Expected worse, given the user reviews. Still not very good. - DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthTom HiddlestonCate BlanchettImprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.High 3/10
Transparent attempt to retroactively make these Thor movies less miserable. Tries to be serious and funny, but fails at both. Transformers levels of stupid. Who-gives-a-shit villain. Serious "Badass" Thor sucks, honestly. Just make a comedy next time. - DirectorCate ShortlandStarsScarlett JohanssonFlorence PughDavid HarbourNatasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.High 3/10
Nice of them to give this character a solo movie. About 10 years too late. Way too much exposition. The dumb action movie crap and odd attempts at comedy feel so out of place. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Mickey RourkeGwyneth PaltrowWith the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.3/10
Boring. Villains are really bad. Relationship drama lacks any weight. - DirectorShane BlackStarsRobert Downey Jr.Guy PearceGwyneth PaltrowWhen Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.3/10
Interesting themes that fall flat on their face. PTSD presented with all the subtlety of a blunt object. Kid actor. Third act is laughably bad. - DirectorSam RaimiStarsBenedict CumberbatchElizabeth OlsenChiwetel EjioforDoctor Strange teams up with a mysterious teenage girl who can travel across multiverses, to battle other-universe versions of himself which threaten to wipe out the multiverse. They seek help from the Scarlet Witch, Wong and others.Low 3/10
Another CGI nightmare, but with bland characters rather than annoying ones. Not even Sam Raimi/Evil Dead camp can save this slop. - DirectorScott DerricksonStarsBenedict CumberbatchChiwetel EjioforRachel McAdamsWhile on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.Low 3/10
CGI clusterfuck with the most annoying lead yet. Honestly, the whole movie is pretty annoying. Somehow manages to make Eastern mysticism and surrealist visuals boring. - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsChris HemsworthAnthony HopkinsNatalie PortmanThe powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.Low 3/10
Serves little purpose, other than to introduce the boring characters. Poor direction. Could've just read the synopsis and saved myself some time. - DirectorAlan TaylorStarsChris HemsworthNatalie PortmanTom HiddlestonWhen the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster.2/10
You couldn't pay me to watch this again. The secondary characters make me want to tear my hair out.