Every MCU Movie Ranked from Worst to Best

From Phase One origins to multiverse shake-ups, here’s the complete MCU feature slate arranged worst to best based on overall reception, presented as a clean countdown in order only. Each entry notes the core premise, principal cast and creatives, key lore elements, and how it connects to the wider saga.

‘The Marvels’ (2023)

Carol Danvers’ powers tangle with Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan after a jump point destabilization links them. Nia DaCosta directs; Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani lead. The story revisits Kree politics, introduces Dar-Benn, and escalates jump-point lore. Mid-credits teases broaden mutant and multiverse pathways.

‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ (2022)

Thor teams with Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor against Gorr the God Butcher. Taika Waititi directs; Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Tessa Thompson star. The plot follows a quest to reach Eternity and showcases Omnipotence City. Tags introduce Hercules and future Olympian threads.

‘Eternals’ (2021)

The Eternals reunite to stop Deviants and confront a Celestial emergence. Chloé Zhao directs an ensemble including Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, and Angelina Jolie. The film adds Celestials, cosmic non-intervention, and long-span Earth history. Stingers introduce Eros and the Ebony Blade.

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ (2023)

The Pym-Lang family is pulled into the Quantum Realm to face Kang the Conqueror. Peyton Reed directs; Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, and Jonathan Majors star. New subrealms, politics, and tech map the Quantum Realm. Tags set up the Council of Kangs escalation.

‘Iron Man 2’ (2010)

Tony confronts palladium poisoning while Ivan Vanko and Justin Hammer target Stark tech. Jon Favreau directs; Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and Scarlett Johansson star. War Machine formally debuts and S.H.I.E.L.D. expands its footprint. Stark Expo seeds later tech and corporate storylines.

‘The Incredible Hulk’ (2008)

Bruce Banner seeks a cure while eluding General Ross and battling the Abomination. Louis Leterrier directs; Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and William Hurt star. The film ties gamma research to super-soldier programs. A closing cameo nudges the Avengers initiative.

‘Thor: The Dark World’ (2013)

The Aether resurfaces during a rare Convergence as Malekith targets Asgard and Earth. Alan Taylor directs; Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, and Christopher Eccleston star. The Aether is revealed as the Reality Stone. A mid-credits handoff to the Collector connects to cosmic arcs.

‘Captain Marvel’ (2019)

Carol Danvers uncovers her past amid a 1990s Kree–Skrull conflict. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck direct; Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Jude Law star. Tesseract custody and early S.H.I.E.L.D. operations are clarified. Goose and a young Phil Coulson link threads across phases.

‘Black Widow’ (2021)

Natasha confronts the Red Room and Taskmaster while reconnecting with her found family. Cate Shortland directs; Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz star. The story exposes Dreykov’s global network and widens espionage stakes. A credits tag routes Yelena toward future missions.

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ (2018)

Scott, Hope, and Hank attempt to rescue Janet from the Quantum Realm. Peyton Reed directs; Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer star. Ghost’s phasing condition, black-market tech, and FBI oversight complicate the mission. A mid-credits scene dovetails directly into the Snap fallout.

‘Iron Man 3’ (2013)

Tony confronts Extremis bio-enhancements and a terror campaign front. Shane Black directs; Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, and Ben Kingsley star. Remote-piloted armors and modular suits drive the action. An epilogue with Harley Keener closes Tony’s post-New York recovery beat.

‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ (2022)

Stephen Strange protects America Chavez while Wanda pursues multiversal power. Sam Raimi directs; Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Xochitl Gomez, and Rachel McAdams star. The Illuminati appear and incursions are defined as existential threats. The film extends consequences from ‘WandaVision’ and ‘No Way Home’.

‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ (2019)

Peter’s European trip derails when Mysterio weaponizes illusions and Stark tech. Jon Watts directs; Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Samuel L. Jackson star. Post-Blip politics and EDITH oversight shape the conflict. A final reveal publicly outs Spider-Man’s identity.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)

Wakanda faces geopolitical pressure over vibranium while clashing with Talokan. Ryan Coogler directs; Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, and Tenoch Huerta star. Riri Williams debuts and underwater world-building expands the map. The film memorializes T’Challa and redefines leadership.

‘Thor’ (2011)

Exiled to Earth, Thor must prove worthy while Loki maneuvers for Asgard’s throne. Kenneth Branagh directs; Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, and Anthony Hopkins star. The Bifrost, Nine Realms, and Asgardian politics enter canon. S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hawkeye cameos foreshadow team-ups.

‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ (2011)

Steve Rogers becomes a super-soldier to stop Hydra and the Red Skull. Joe Johnston directs; Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, and Hugo Weaving star. The Tesseract powers Hydra weapons and is lost at sea. A tag awakens Steve in modern times.

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)

An AI peacekeeping project becomes Ultron, forcing the Avengers to defend Sokovia. Joss Whedon directs; James Spader voices Ultron with the debuts of Wanda, Pietro, and Vision. Vibranium theft and Klaue link to Wakanda. Sokovia’s destruction leads to the Sokovia Accords.

‘Ant-Man’ (2015)

Scott Lang adopts Pym tech to prevent Darren Cross from weaponizing it. Peyton Reed directs; Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Corey Stoll star. The heist framework establishes miniaturization rules and the Quantum Realm. Wasp legacy and S.H.I.E.L.D. history are threaded in.

‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021)

Shang-Chi confronts Wenwu and the Ten Rings’ power. Destin Daniel Cretton directs; Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, and Tony Leung star. The film introduces Ta Lo, the Dweller-in-Darkness, and ring signal analysis. Mid-credits connect the Rings to broader cosmic monitoring.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)

Peter Quill meets his Celestial father Ego, whose plan imperils the galaxy. James Gunn directs; Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Kurt Russell star. Yondu’s arc culminates and the Sovereign tease Adam Warlock. Multiple tags seed Ravager and Kraglin threads.

‘Doctor Strange’ (2016)

A neurosurgeon trains in the mystic arts to stop Kaecilius and Dormammu. Scott Derrickson directs; Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, and Rachel McAdams star. The Eye of Agamotto introduces time manipulation. Sanctums, relics, and the Mirror Dimension become core tools.

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ (2017)

Peter balances high school life with stopping Adrian Toomes’ salvage-turned-arms ring. Jon Watts directs; Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, and Robert Downey Jr. star. Damage Control and Chitauri tech drive the criminal economy. The finale sets future rogues through prison connections.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ (2023)

The team races to save Rocket while confronting the High Evolutionary. James Gunn directs; Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and Chukwudi Iwuji star. Counter-Earth, Orgoscope, and Sovereign experiments round out trilogy science threads. Tags establish a refreshed Guardians roster.

‘Black Panther’ (2018)

T’Challa defends the throne against Erik Killmonger’s challenge. Ryan Coogler directs; Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and Danai Gurira star. Vibranium technology, Dora Milaje, and Jabari traditions shape the world. The ending opens outreach centers and global engagement.

‘The Avengers’ (2012)

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes unite to stop Loki and a Chitauri invasion. Joss Whedon directs; Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Mark Ruffalo star. The Tesseract powers the portal and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s agenda. A mid-credits tease points to a larger cosmic threat.

‘Iron Man’ (2008)

Tony Stark escapes captivity by building the Mark I and exposes Obadiah Stane. Jon Favreau directs; Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jeff Bridges star. The film launches Stark tech standards and public hero identity norms. A Nick Fury tag begins the Avengers pathway.

‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)

The Sokovia Accords split the team while Zemo manipulates old wounds. Anthony and Joe Russo direct; Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Chadwick Boseman star. T’Challa and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man enter the MCU. Bucky’s trajectory pivots to Wakanda.

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021)

A spell gone wrong brings multiversal visitors and legacy foes into Peter’s life. Jon Watts directs; Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Benedict Cumberbatch star. The narrative integrates returning Spider-villains and variant allies. Its ending resets Peter’s civilian circumstances.

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)

Thor, Loki, and Hulk face Hela as Asgard approaches its prophesied end. Taika Waititi directs; Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, and Tessa Thompson star. Sakaar, Valkyrie, and Korg reorient the franchise’s tone. The finale leads straight into ‘Infinity War’.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)

A ragtag crew assembles around the Orb, later revealed as the Power Stone. James Gunn directs; Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper star. Xandar, the Nova Corps, and the Ravagers expand the cosmic map. The film strengthens the Infinity Stone thread across phases.

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)

Thanos hunts all six Infinity Stones across Earth and space. Anthony and Joe Russo direct a large ensemble including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Josh Brolin. Titan, Wakanda, and Nidavellir anchor key battles and forge Stormbreaker. The Snap closes on a cliffhanger that reshapes the saga.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

Survivors execute a time heist to reverse Thanos’ devastation. The Russo brothers return with the MCU’s core ensemble and major supporting players. Revisits to earlier films resolve the Stones’ arcs and retire legacy heroes. The finale reconfigures the roster for new leadership.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)

Wade Wilson’s path crosses Logan’s as TVA-level meddling threatens reality. Shawn Levy directs; Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, and Morena Baccarin star. The film bridges Fox-era mutants into current continuity with meta multiverse mechanics. Cameos and TVA elements link to ongoing Phase Five stories.

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ (2025)

Sam Wilson navigates geopolitical fallout, a volatile presidency, and superhuman escalation. Julius Onah directs; Anthony Mackie headlines with Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, and Tim Blake Nelson. The narrative revives legacy programs and positions a new global security status quo. Government-level power shifts set future conflicts.

‘Thunderbolts*’ (2025)

An unconventional lineup—Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker—undertakes a black-ops mission for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Jake Schreier directs; Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus star. The operation interrogates state control over enhanced assets. The asterisked title signals an end-credits reframe of the team’s future.

‘The Fantastic 4: First Steps’ (2025)

Marvel’s First Family enters the MCU with Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm. The film establishes the team’s origin, scientific ethos, and core relationships. Cosmic-scale discovery and dimensional research set up new frontiers. Their debut positions cross-franchise partnerships and fresh threats.

‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)

Steve Rogers uncovers Hydra’s infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. while facing the brainwashed Bucky Barnes. The Russo brothers direct; Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, and Anthony Mackie star. Project Insight, Zola’s algorithm, and Pierce’s conspiracy overhaul global intelligence. The fallout drives multiple films and series forward.

Share your own worst-to-best lineup in the comments and tell us which picks you’d move up or down!