It's been a few days since I last saw #Endgame (2nd watch), and I have to say that I'm still overwhelmed by what happened. It ticked all the right boxes and delivered a very satisfying finale to Marvel's epic Infinity Saga. But before this film, we had a great line-up of MCU films that have helped cultivate this saga by introducing memorable characters to the MCU which would later go on to have their own films (22 in total) as well as having crossovers with other great Marvel heroes.
So today, I'm going to be sharing with you my list of Top 10 Favourite MCU Movies that have been released from Iron Man (2008), all the way up to Avengers: Endgame (2019).
*This list IS IN order of favouritism. Number 10 being the lowest and Number 1 being the highest*
10. Iron Man (2008)
Directed By: Jon Favreau
What a better way to kick off this list by adding the film that started it all off. Iron Man; one of the most important movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When it first came out in 2008, I don't think anybody expected it to be as big a hit as it was. A B-list superhero played by a washed-up actor being produced by a barebones studio? Are you nuts? And then we were all surprised to see how great it was. It's thanks in large part to Robert Downey Jr. He really is Iron Man. He manages to give that real sense of a "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist." It's really hard to imagine anybody else playing Tony Stark.
9. Avengers Assemble (2012)
Directed By: Joss Whedon
Now this film changed a lot of peoples lives, including mine. Its was one of the most risky films ever to be made and now it's in almost everyone's top ten favourite movies of all time. Since we now have Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Batman vs Superman and Justice League, people seem to forget what big of an event this really was. But man did it pay off. It is packed to the brim with iconic scenes and lines, balls to the wall action, smashing VFXs, and charm. The Battle of NY, the Thor and Iron Man fight sequence, the Hellicarrier argument and the circle team-up shot are scenes that people will never forget!
8. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Directed By: The Russo Brothers
Steve Rogers's arc in the MCU comes to a major head in this film, making him doubt his role in society more than ever. Add that to a fierce showdown between former allies, a great villain, some entertaining new characters, and you've got yourself a winner! The Russo brothers should be proud, since they take the reins for Infinity War next.
7. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Directed By: Jon Watts
After the disaster that was The Amazing Spider-Man films, Marvel would really have to make a comeback with their version of the character that would be canon in their cinematic universe. Sure, he was great in Captain America: Civil War, but could this Spider-Man sustain a solo feature length movie, or was he just good in small doses like Hawkeye? Thankfully, Marvel Studios gave us exactly what we were looking for once again. Tom Holland is the hilarious as the no-nonsense taking, quipping Spider-Man that Andrew Garfield got down and Tobey Maguire, but he's also great as the dorky yet lovable Peter Parker that Maguire got down perfectly and Garfield shamelessly ruined. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the next sequel Far From Home in July!
6. Captain America: The Winter Solider (2014)
Directed By: The Russo Brothers
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is an important movie in the MCU, not just based on what actually transpires in the film, but based on how it impacts the style and voice of the MCU going forward. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it has plenty of action, great performances, a tight script, and a complex story. The Winter Solider is notable in that it was the first MCU film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who would go on to direct several of the most important MCU movies, like Civil War, Infinity War and Endgame. They proved to be the right people for the job, and they supplied this movie with a unique tone and style that sets it apart from other movies of its kind.
5. Thor: Ragnorak (2017)
Directed By: Taika Waititi
Thor: Ragnarok is amazingly funny - a masterful choice by Marvel of giving a brilliant comedian-actor-visionary the helm for Thor's third outing. Taika Waititi, the director is a real-life creative genius - go watch his previous indie-stuff for proof. The screen-writers undoubtedly did a great job as well. On the non-inclusion of Natalie Portman's Jane Foster from the first two movies, I feel this movie presents firm evidence that you don't necessarily need a major romantic angle for a superhero movie to be massively entertaining!
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (2017)
Directed By: James Gunn
GotG Vol. 2 is a funny, action-packed sequel to Vol. 1, and it's chock-full with great performances, clever humor, more character and relationship development, and stellar visual effects. James Gunn wrote and directed this movie, so a lot of the credit for this movie's success goes to him. His irreverent-yet-still-emotionally-affecting style is perfect for guys like the Guardians. He manages to go deeper into the hero characters and flesh out their relationships with one another, while at the same time fleshing out the backstories of lesser-known characters like Nebula and Yondu.
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Directed By: The Russo Brothers
Infinity War; to say in one line, is perfectly balanced as all things should be. It was the most anticipated movie of the decade, and it had to deliver what seemed impossible; bringing together two dozen superheroes, combining plot threads from the previous 18 films, introducing the biggest villain onscreen, whilst perfectly balancing humor with emotions, action and drama - all in a single film, and the Russo brothers nailed it!
2. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Directed By: James Gunn
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a heartwarming, action-packed, and hilarious Marvel Cinematic Universe outing. The plot is great, and the main characters aren't really what you think of when you think of superheroes, which makes this a fresh take on the superhero genre. I loved the humor (mainly from Chris Pratt's character: Star Lord) and the character arcs were nicely done. Complete with a great soundtrack by Tyler Bates, and amazing performances by the actors, Guardians of the Galaxy is close to being my favourite MCU film. If you haven't seen it, I would definitely recommend!
1. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Directed By: The Russo Brothers
How do you conclude a 11-year old saga in a way that doesn't mess things up? It does sound like a near impossible task, but the Russo Brothers have surprisingly accomplished it. Avengers: Endgame, which marks the end of the Infinity Saga, is spell-bounding and surely an enthralling experience!
Disney CEO Robert Iger, Marvel Studios President Kevin Fiege and directors Anthony and Joe Russo should be proud of what they have accomplished. This will never happen again. The whole cast and crew involved should pat their backs in unison. Most notably, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner are going to be remembered for taking part and serving as the core backbone of what is the most legendary feat ever performed in cinema history.
Thank you Stan "The Man" Lee!