Since 2008 Marvel Studios has given fans excellent movies that have changed the genre and the industry as a whole. "Iron Man hit theaters a decade ago and since, Marvel has released 19 other films. No one knew what was coming. Now that "Ant-Man and the Wasp" is out, fans will have to wait until March of 2019 for the next installment, "Captain Marvel." So, after 20 films in 10 years it's worth ranking these films from worst to best. Disclaimer: This is all my opinion so feel free to agree to disagree.
20. "Thor: The Dark World" (2013)
Most fans would agree that after many smash hits, "Thor: The Dark World" is Marvel's worst movie. Thor got a sequel in 2013 and it was not up to par with previous movies. It suffers from a boring plot, a weak villain, and too much screen time devoted to Natalie Portman and Kat Dennings. They're both great actresses but the focus should be on Thor, not side characters. The bright spots in the movie are the performances of Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. They both give good performances in an otherwise mediocre film.
19. "The Incredible Hulk" (2008)
Marvel's second attempt at a Hulk movie wasn't a disaster, but it wasn't the movie studio executives were hoping for. Poor side characters and another weak villain drag the movie down and it's too bad this film turned out the way it did. The "Incredible Hulk" stars Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. His performance was the best part of the movie. Mark Ruffalo fits well in the role too, but some fans almost wish Norton was in more movies as the Hulk.
18. "Iron Man 2" (2010)
"Iron Man 2" falls short of the current standard of Marvel sequels. The story is all over the place and it's frustrating for fans who were anxious for an Iron Man sequel. At least Robert Downey Jr. gave the movie a sense of humor. Marvel lucked out in the end. It's shocking how fans forget the weaker films in the early stages of Marvel's box office dominance.
17. "Iron Man 3" (2013)
"Iron Man 3" was such a drop off for Marvel, especially since it was released after the first Avengers movie. Robert Downey Jr. does well as "Iron Man" again but everything else is lacking. From side characters to the twist with the Mandarin that ticked off so many comic book fans. Fans love "Iron Man" but perhaps it's a good thing Marvel doesn't have a 4th movie in the works.
16. "Thor" (2011)
Thor's first movie is your basic fish out of water story. The film isn't bad but it isn't very memorable. It has good characters and it has good visuals. It's the writing and the story as whole that bogs it down. The connections to the other movies feel shoehorned as well. For an early stage Marvel movie, it's passable.
15. "Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017)
The best thing about "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is the comedy. There are a ton of laughs throughout the whole thing. Michael Keaton as the Vulture is one of Marvel's best villains. Keaton makes this movie, without him, it wouldn't be the same. An average story and average side characters prevent this movie from being fantastic.
14. "Doctor Strange" (2016)
"Doctor Strange" is a visually outstanding movie. It's a really fun film and it was really worth watching in the theater. Benedict Cumberbatch owns this role. He was born to play Doctor Strange. The downside is the story and character development is rushed. Another lame Marvel villain doesn't leave enough of an impact compared to other movies.
13. "Ant-Man" (2015)
The biggest advantage "Ant-Man" has is that Paul Rudd can do no wrong. His portrayal of the superhero is one of the best that Marvel has to offer. He and Michael Douglas steal the show. The humor is on point and makes "Ant-Man" one of Marvel's funniest movies.
12. "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011)
"Captain America: The First Avenger" takes a superhero who hasn't been popular for decades and makes audiences take him seriously. On the surface, Captain America is an outdated superhero who was popular during wartime. "The First Avenger" turns him into a relatable character and Chris Evans was a perfect casting choice. Many fans enjoyed the fun adventure story and it works in the long run when we see Cap in future movies.
11. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015)
The sequel to one of the biggest blockbuster movies of all time met most fans' expectations but it does not live up to the first movie. It's great to see Earth's mightiest heroes once again, and even some new faces, team up to save the world again. The film did it's best to not just rehash the first Avengers and continue the story. However, it felt like we were getting too much of a good thing. James Spader as Ultron saves the movie and stands out as a threatening villain.
10. "Black Panther" (2018)
"Black Panther" truly exceeded everyone's expectations. Chadwick Boseman took the internet by storm with his portrayal as the King of Wakanda. But the best performance was Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger. One of Marvel's most powerful and relatable villains resonated with audiences. The film wasn't afraid to tackle real-world issues and that was a risk worth taking.
9. "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)
When "Guardians of the Galaxy" hit heaters in 2014, Marvel Studios did the unthinkable. They took unknown and almost irrelevant comic book characters and made an entire fanbase fall in love with them. Heroes like Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot became household names for comic book movie fans. This is when Marvel figured out they could do no wrong. An unbelievable cast and a great script help make one of Marvel's best films.
8. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (2017)
The second installment of "Guardians of the Galaxy" outdid its predecessor rather swiftly. The second film of the franchise was more funny, more dramatic, and it made more money the opening weekend. Chris Pratt along with the rest of the cast are so enjoyable to watch no matter the circumstance. Much like the first one Vol. 2 also had a killer soundtrack.
7. "Captain America: Civil War" (2016)
Captain America's 3rd movie was more like Avengers 2.5. Earth's mightiest heroes split due to political interferences and the consequences impact future movies. The conflict between our heroes creates good drama and some memorable action scenes. The hero vs hero film gave fans something we had never seen before. "Captain America: Civil War" certainly left its mark.
6. "Ant-Man and the Wasp" (2018)
This was the first time we got to see the classic team-up of Ant-Man and the Wasp on the big screen, and it did not disappoint. The chemistry between Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne is fun to watch. Michael Douglas returns to play Hank Pym and the history between he and Hope is great to watch unfold. The comedy brought out many belly laughs from audiences, making it arguably Marvel's funniest movie.
5. "Iron Man" (2008)
The film that kickstarted a cinema dynasty. "Iron Man" recreated the superhero genre forever. Robert Downey Jr. became the perfect portrayal of Iron Man. His demeanor made audiences expect new things from our protagonists. A great origin story is what the film is and it does it extremely well.
4. "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017)
Thor's third movie is his best. It's the Thor film we have been waiting for. Great comedy, action, and acting create a memorable and classic movie. Hemsworth and Hiddleston do great as always. New faces like Cate Blanchett and Tessa Thompson captivated fans with their performances. "Thor: Ragnarok" is one of the most enjoyable Marvel movies to date.
3. "The Avengers" (2012)
The blockbuster crossover event brought many fans' dreams into reality. "The Avengers" finally made it to the big screen and the results were astounding. Great action scenes and acting really make the film stand out. Joss Whedon does an excellent job directing a large cast of characters
2. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014)
"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is one of the few sequels that's better than the first one. It is exactly what a sequel should be. It continues the story and develops its characters from previous installments. The action scenes are some of Marvel's best and most memorable. Since it hit theaters, this has been a fan favorite for years.
1. "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018)
Fans knew this was coming for years. It was all a part of Marvel's plan and it paid off. The crossover event of the decade left fans with jaws dropped and eyes watered. Infinity War is the pinnacle of superhero movies. It's rewarding to see our favorite heroes join forces. Guardians and Avengers fighting side by side created good action and solid comedy. Josh Brolin as Thanos stole the show and in one snap he became the best Marvel villain. The bold cliffhanger has fans anxious for what will come next…
Marvel Studios has created something cinema hasn't seen. It created a shared universe that will live on for who knows how long. "Captain Marvel" and "Avengers 4" will be in theaters in 2019. After 20 movies, the bar is set very high for future films. However the next movies turn out, it's been a great accomplishment Marvel has achieved in just 10 years.
