THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE DEFINITIVE MCU MOVIE RANKING: EVERY MCU MOVIE RANKED
- shaunalexandercraw
- Jul 25
- 38 min read
Updated: Jul 25
From Iron Man to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, we rank all 37 movies in the MCU
The Venus Fry Cook loves the MCU. Yes, his love dropped off as the Multiverse Saga played out, but as a fan of both comics and movies, the MCU was and is a dream come true. After multiple viewings in multiple orders at multiple times, the Venus Fry Cook has put together his definitive list of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Here is every MCU movie ranked — all 37 of them up to The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
37. THE MARVELS
We know, we know. Most lists rank this a bit higher. But for the Venus Fry Cook, the MCU had come off the rails at this point, and this was a bit of a nothing film. The absolute worst, most forgetable villain of any MCU movie. We're sure the actor is a nice person but this casting is disastrous in an alreay terribly written role. A misleading marketing campaign that tried to position the film as a centerpiece to the franchise. And the waning popularity of Brie Larson as Captain Marvel all worked against The Marvels. Iman Vellani is a hilarious bright spot and a charismatic standout whose potential has been somewhat squandered by a directionless Multiverse Saga. At the end of the day, you could take this title out of the MCU, and the franchise would be all the better for it.
Hero - 7/10
Villain - 2/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 6/10
Action - 6/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 6/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 6/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 61
36. THOR: THE DARK WORLD
It’s almost unfair at this point but the second outing from Thor generally falls at or near the bottom of any list. If the Venus Fry Cook went on pure gut feeling, this may rank a bit higher — but the scoring criteria determines the ranking. And when you add it all up, Thor: The Dark World just doesn’t cut it. For the record, the VFC likes this movie. He loves Thor, Loki is still a masterpiece in this film, and the chemistry between the two is still amongst the best in the MCU. But a boring villain, sluggish pace, and lackluster action knock this baby down to bottom. But make no mistake, Thor: The Dark World is still worthy.
Hero - 7/10
Villain - 5/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 6/10
Action - 5/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 6/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 5/10
MCU Connection - 6/10
TOTAL - 62
35. THE INCREDIBLE HULK
The oddest entry into Phase 1 of the MCU, the Incredible Hulk has always been a bit of a stepchild. It gave us just enough of the Hulk for Mark Ruffalo to run with, and it gave us Everett Ross, who became a great mainstay in the MCU for years to come. It also gave us the Abomination, who… could have been awesome had it not been for She-Hulk. The biggest knock against The Incredible Hulk is a barely-there story that’s just enough to prop up a couple of big action sequences. The fun fight scene at the end keeps this movie from the bottom. Also, shout out to the Venus Fry Cook’s favorite moment when Banner says, “Betty, I’ve gotta try” before kissing her and throwing himself out of the helicopter to fall to Harlem and confront the Abomination. Now that’s some hero #$%@.
Hero - 6/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 5/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 6/10
MCU Connection - 6/10
TOTAL - 65
34. CAPTAIN MARVEL
Sigh. Okay. Full transparency. When the Venus Fry Cook first watched Captain Marvel, he liked it a lot more. He was appreciative of Brie Larson’s work in Short Term 12 and Room, the MCU was at the peak of its powers, and this movie was sandwiched between two epic Avengers movies. But all of that covered up what the VFC came to see as the truth: Within the MCU, this was a below-average movie. Brie Larson never lived up to the potential of a banger character. The plot was fun, especially everything with the Skrulls, but it was ultimately undermined by a pretty contrived arc born from the rise of woke Hollywood. We won’t run this into the ground too much — but oh, what could have been. Props to Ben Mendelsohn, who always crushes it.
Hero - 7/10
Villain - 6/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 6/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 7/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 69
33. THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER
This should have been epic. Hemsworth and Waititi building on the landmark Thor: Ragnarok. Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher. Even Natalie Portman returning as Lady Thor had the Venus Fry Cook excited because he was a fan of the Unworthy Thor storylines from Marvel comics. But wow, was this ever a miss. It should probably be lower on the list, but the score is the score. This film became a parody of itself. Everything that worked in Ragnarok was left unchecked and taken too far in Love and Thunder. Gorr became one of the most wasted opportunities in all of the MCU. Thor adopting Gorr’s daughter after killing him was… weird. Thor having a daughter at all was weird! Nothing in this film was as good as it could have/should have been. There’s just enough talent in here to keep it from falling too low — and Russel Crowe as Zeus probably keeps it out of the bottom altogether — but ultimately a disappointment.
Hero - 8/10
Villain - 6/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 6/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 7/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 70
32. CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD
The Venus Fry Cook didn’t mind this one so much. The biggest hit against it is that the MCU was floundering by this point. It simply came out too late, it didn’t have a strong enough connection to an Avengers throughline (because there’s been no Avengers throughline in the Multiverse Saga), and people just love Chris Evans as Captain America so freaking much. Now, this is no Winter Soldier, but the VFC thinks the attempt at a spy thriller with the Red Hulk was handled pretty well. The action sequence with the carriers on the ocean was a ton of fun. They blew it with the Leader for sure, and the film lacked an overall sense of gravitas, but had something like this come out in the Infinity Saga, it probably would have been received a lot better as a fun film. It's more a victim of its time and place in the MCU than anything else. It deserves some credit for a decent effort.
Hero - 8/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 8/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 6/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 5/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 71
31. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA
This one’s tough. If we’re talking originality and boldness, this movie really went for it — and the Venus Fry Cook loves to see that. But Kang was shockingly not as cool or menacing as we thought he’d be (scandals aside), the execution fell short of the ambition. Cassie was one too many teen geniuses in the MCU, the story was kind of all over the place, and the great supporting cast of the first two Ant-Man films was replaced by some quantum realm soldiers who just couldn’t fill their shoes. But Paul Rudd is still funny, the world is still cool, and there’s just enough going on to keep this from being a complete disaster in the eyes of the Venus Fry Cook (even if others view it that way). Between Marvel trying to build up to Kang as the Multiverse Saga's big bad, Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, Cassie Lang as Stature, all the shenanigans of the quantum realm, and the titular centerpieces in Ant-Man and the Wasp — there was just too much going on and not going on well enough. We didn’t mind M.O.D.O.K. as much as most though. In fact, the Venus Fry Cook thought his death scene was both touching and funny.
Hero - 7/10
Villain - 6/10
Supporting Cast - 6/10
Story - 5/10
Action - 6/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 9/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 71
30. ETERNALS
One of the oddest entries into the MCU canon, Eternals is, in the eyes of the Venus Fry Cook… actually kinda fun. It was ambitious, distinct, and planted a lot of fun seeds that unfortunately never came to fruition (especially a Kit Harrington Black Knight). In a decent-enough story that spanned thousands of years, the large cast of heroes was handled relatively well. Sersi was a less-than-charismatic lead to get behind, but her character’s arc of developing an affection for the human race was interesting. Ikarus’ fall (pun unattended but acknowledged) was an intriguing choice. And the celestials were a worthy entry that quite literally became a part of the MCU canon by way of Tiamut in the Indian Ocean. But if Marvel thought they were going to turn another unknown franchise into a household name (ala the Guardians of the Galaxy), they were dead wrong. Of all the things that were happening — or could have been happening — in the MCU, the Eternals just should not have been a priority. But still, an underrated and admirable effort with some overlooked bright spots.
Hero - 7/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 6/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 72
29. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
This had potential. And the Venus Fry Cook was here for it. But what could have been a riveting fusion of Bruce Lee Kung Fu and Marvel magic ended up being a pandering, disappointing, and at times annoying, soapbox sub-action flick. Now, this list has already become more negative than the Venus Fry Cook intended (and make no mistake — the Venus Fry Cook enjoyed this movie), but it could have been SO. GOOD. Instead, it’s just another average entry.
Simu Lu seems like a wonderful guy, but he just wasn’t it. Too much poor-me angst and not enough sheer kick-ass martial arts prowess that will make you shake just to see him striking a pose. Instead, he gets bullied and beat up. A lot. Including by his sister. The VFC has never been a fan of Awkwafina, so we’ll leave it at that. The realm of Ta Lo was cool, but not as cool as it could have been. The 10 rings were fun, but not nearly as awesome as they should have been. The Great Protector was neat but not as epic as it should have been. And ultimately, the movie was good — but just not even close to as good as it should have been. Credit to Wenwu, one of the better villains of the Multiverse Saga, and the Venus Fry Cook will vouch for Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery until the MCU is long dead and buried, but this movie simply did not realize its full potential.
Hero - 8/10
Villain - 9/10
Supporting Cast - 6/10
Story - 6/10
Action - 8/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 6/10
TOTAL - 72
28. THUNDERBOLTS*
The Venus Fry Cook did not love this movie as much as a lot of other people did. No, it did not return the MCU to form in the eyes of the VFC. Let’s get the biggest issues out of the way. Ghost has no business in this movie, let alone as any kind of Avenger. Come on. Her character has nothing going on in this movie. The VFC actually loves Yelena and Bucky — although they could have done better with a pretty flat Bucky who has so much potential as a layered, badass character. The Red Guardian didn’t warrant a place on the team, though he could have served as a good supporting character in the background. And the U.S. Agent was handled well enough. But the Sentry. Oh, the Sentry. Not bad — but not great. He’s such a cool, epic character in the comics! This version just doesn’t even come close, despite Pullman’s respectable performance. And the VFC can straight up do without Valentina.
The concept of this team is great. The story is okay. The action could have been better. But the construction and presentation of this roster is so flawed, it ultimately undermined what could have been a top-tier entry when the MCU needed it most. But we have to say, the Venus Fry Cook loved the whole asterisk campaign and how the Thunderbolts were secretly the New Avengers all along. That’s good stuff.
Hero - 6/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 6/10
Story - 6/10
Action - 6/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 72
27. BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
Oh, what could have been. This is a good flick. Ryan Coogler is stellar (the Venus Fry Cook is a Coogler fan. Creed. Sinners. Black Panther. We’re here for it). Namor the Sub-Mariner is one of the most underrated Marvel characters, and his MCU interpretation within Ryan Coogler’s vision was fantastic. The VFC loved it. And Letitia Wright stepped up and turned it out — BUT — forgive us, she’s just not the Black Panther. T’Challa is the Black Panther. With Chadwick Boseman, this could have been a top 10 or even top 5 MCU film. We see the vision. They did the best they could, and they made a good movie propped up by solid world-building, a good story, and great performances (Angela Bassett had the VFC’s Oscar vote).
But with the tragic passing of Boseman, this project should have been shelved or recast. The Venus Fry Cook would have been calling John David Washington to step into T’Challa’s vibranium shoes. Still, credit to everyone involved: the reverence for the great Chadwick Boseman was felt, and you made a wonderful movie in the end.
Hero - 7/10
Villain - 8/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 6/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 7/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 73
26. BLACK WIDOW
One of the most underrated MCU films. We don’t know why people hate on this movie so much. Its greatest flaw is that it was released a phase too late. Scarlet Johansson as Black Widow was everything you needed for a female-led MCU movie,
Marvel! You passed her over for Captain Marvel, and it was one of the biggest mistakes of the franchise.
Black Widow is a great intersection of superhero camp, MCU scale, and the spy movie genre. The supporting cast is outstanding: The Venus Fry Cook will turn up for Florence Pugh’s Yelena every day of the week, the Red Guardian works better here than The Thunderbolts*, and Rachel Weisz is badass enough to pull off Melina even with her unforgivable actions. The girl power messaging wasn’t too heavy-handed while still managing to be profound enough for audiences to consider. The action was good and Scarlet Johansen killed it as always, pulling back the layers on one of the MCU’s best characters. The Venus Fry Cook may have even rated this higher had he not been eroded by the universal underrating of this respectable entry.
Hero - 8/10
Villain - 6/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 8/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 7/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 74
25. IRON MAN 2
Better than it should have been and not as good as it could have been. The MCU was in the process of finding itself and setting up for the big Phase 1 Avengers film. The introduction of Black Widow here was outstanding and launched her presence as one of the most important MCU characters. Robert Downey Jr. elevates the film way beyond where it would be ranked with any other actor.
The film doesn’t quite have enough action, and its story flounders a little, tapping into Iron Man’s demon-in-a-bottle storyline without coming close to realizing its full potential. But man, does this have one of the best supporting casts you’re gonna see in a Marvel movie. The aforementioned Black Widow, Nick Fury, Rhodey, Happy Hogan, and Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer. Wowza. And Mickey Rourke gives an underrated turn as the villain, Whiplash. The whole just never added up to more than the sum of its parts, but this movie is still a riot from start to finish. Watch it again. It’s better than you remember (especially through the lens of a declining MCU).
Hero - 8/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 10/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 6/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 6/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 7/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 75
24. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
This movie is a freaking blast. An absolute caper from start to finish that comes between the epic Avengers outings, Infinity War and Endgame. Brandishing another of the best supporting casts led by Michael Peña’s gift to the world, Luis, Ant-Man & The Wasp is a good ol’ get-the-macguffin movie. Just before Hollywood and the world were taken by storm by ideology-first content, this movie is a great example of what movies can be at their best. FUN. Laughter, excitement, adventure, and some heartfelt moments are the best cinema has to offer.
There is so much creativity and imagination going on in this movie, and some absolutely off-the-wall scenes. The moment where a half-shrunken Scott Lang has to go into his daughter’s school is completely absurd in all the best ways. Not only does the MCU need more movies like this, the whole freaking world needs more movies like this. It would rank way higher on the list if Ghost weren’t one of the absolute worst and most boring villains of the entire MCU. That aside — grab some popcorn and throw Ant-Man & The Wasp on to remember how much fun the movies can really be.
Hero - 7/10
Villain - 6/10
Supporting Cast - 9/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 9/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 76
23. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
First things first. Let’s set aside the unspeakably cruel treatment of Baby Groot at the hands of the Ravagers. My goodness, was that ever unnecessary, Mr. Gunn. That aside, James Gunn and the Guardians are fantastic as always. While this is the least awesome of all three, it’s still awesome.
The chemistry of this team is off the charts, and the climax of Vol. 2 is the best example of that cohesion. Even amidst the entertaining action, it’s still heartfelt and funny all at the same time. Ego is a really unique and interesting villain, and Kurt Russell knocks it out of the park. The pacing slows at times, and the film can be a bit self-indulgent, but the Venus Fry Cook doesn’t mind self-indulgence from world-class directors. This movie also gave us one of the most emotional moments in MCU history that no one saw coming. That’s right, we’re talking about Yondu’s death. Wowza. He’s Mary Poppins, y’all. Oh! One more thing. We love the “unspoken thing.” You’re a dancer, Gamora. And we love you for it. Boy, does the Venus Fry Cook ever miss these moments. Well done as always, Mr. Gunn.
Hero - 9/10
Villain - 8/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 6/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 9/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 7/10
MCU Connection - 6/10
TOTAL - 76
22. IRON MAN 3
This movie is better than you remember. If you hate the Mandarin reveal, stop reading now. Forget that. Stay here. The Venus Fry Cook is going to change your mind. How often do people complain about how formulaic and paint-by-numbers superhero movies (or movies in general can get? With The Mandarin / Trevor Slattery, Iron Man 3 gifted us with one of the most unexpected and unique moments of the decade. NO ONE saw that coming. And Ben Kingsley is so freaking good, he completely sucked us in. And come on, Trevor Slattery is HILARIOUS. LOL ROTFL WTF hilarious.
All that aside, this is also one of the most intriguing Tony Stark / Iron Man arcs of any film, and it sets up his franchise-long-arc (needing to protect the world) that ignites Avengers: Age of Ultron, plays into his fallout with Steve Rogers in Captain America: Civil War, takes him into space in Avengers: Infinity War for a faceoff with Thanos, and ultimately pays off in climactic fashion with Avengers: Endgame. As far as the VFC is concerned, Iron Man 3 could take a run at the top 15 if it weren’t for one thing: Pepper Potts going superhuman and beating the bad guy in the end. It’s ridiculous — and not in a good way. Oh, and Tony destroying his suits was kinda dumb too, though we get it in terms of his arc. Those aside, this is a damn near flawless MCU movie.
Hero - 9/10
Villain - 6/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 76
21. ANT-MAN
Big things come in small packages (we can’t believe we opened with that ridiculous line). The unexpected casting of Paul Rudd was an inspired choice to helm this suburban caper. The MCU gives us a straight-up heist film (before the Ant-Man-led “time heist” of Endgame). From the supporting cast (MCU all-star Luis) to the leads, everyone pulls their weight and elevates the film. The decision to have a retired Hank Pym working with superhero rookie Scott Lang was a brilliant choice that brings the best of Ant-Man from Marvel comics to the big screen. For anyone who grew up watching Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, you know we felt right at home in this ant-sized world. This was the first hero introduced after the first, epic Avengers movie, and audiences felt confident about how Marvel was going to grow this increasingly exceptional world. The VFC has no complaints. Ant-Man is top-to-bottom fun.
Hero - 8/10
Villain - 6/10
Supporting Cast - 9/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 77
20. THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
Although it's not quite the hit the MCU needs it to be, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a good MCU movie. And that’s saying a lot. If this title had come out during the peak of the MCU, it would probably gross a billion dollars, and everyone would be singing its praises. But in the hit-and-miss Multiverse Saga, it’s another victim of its time. That being said, there’s a lot to love about this movie. The team is fantastic. Joseph Quinn shines as Johnny Storm (easily the funniest character in the movie), but the runaway MVP of this movie is Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, The Invisible Woman. She absolutely knocks it out of the park. Exceptional. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is well-cast as Ben Grimm, but the script doesn’t give him enough to do. And we tried to get on board with Pedro Pascal, but — despite his excellent efforts (and we’re Pascal fans) — we just couldn’t shake the feeling that another actor would have been better suited. The four of them weren’t each given quite enough to do from start to finish, especially when it came time for the climax, but they came close. And, okay, we’ll say it. Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer was pretty cool. Now, the Silver Surfer is one of the Venus Fry Cook’s favorite superheroes. The Norin Radd, proper Silver Surfer — and he was not a fan of this choice. But it led to a fun dynamic with Johnny Storm, and it all turned out okay.
The retro-futuristic world of Earth 828 is amazing. The score is a revelation. Fantastic foooooour! And this is a visually rich film, with something to devour on every page — amma I right, Galactus? Speaking of Galactus, he’s awesome, but not as good as he could be! There is so much to this character and how tortured he is by his hunger, but they never really dive into it. Between the four titular heroes needed a bit more to do, and some undevelopment for both Galactus and, dare we say, Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer, this film almost could have been longer — which is rarely said for an MCU movie. The pacing as is was a bit odd, but they make it work. All and all, it was a breath of fresh air. A solid return to above-average (though not quite peak) form for the MCU. Keep it up, Marvel.
Hero - 8/10
Villain - 8/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 6/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 9/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 77
19. THOR
There was a time when Thor was in the Venus Fry Cook’s top 10 MCU movies… until the quality of titles kept coming, and Thor slowly moved down the list. But the VFC still loves this movie. Audiences may forget what a leap this was at the time. Marvel brought in director Kenneth Branagh and his Shakespearean lens to introduce Marvel’s first cosmic storyline with unknown actors Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. It was a bigger risk than people give it credit for now, and, boy, did it pay off.
At times, balancing the fish-out-of-water story of Thor on Earth with the cosmic adventures on Asgard felt awkward and oddly paced — but the character arc of Thor is fantastic, Loki was and is one of the best villains / characters of the MCU, and there were some truly beautiful moments. In fact, one of the VFC’s favorite endings in all of the MCU is the moment Thor sacrifices his connection with Jane by using Mjolnir to break the rainbow bridge to save Jotunheim — the very world he set out to destroy in the opening act — from his trickster brother, whom he fights even though he loves. Shakespeare, baby.
Hero - 9/10
Villain - 10/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 6/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 9/10
TOTAL - 77
18. AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
A lot of lists regularly rank this title low, but the Venus Fry Cook loves this movie. It’s the fulcrum of the Infinity Saga and has some spectacular moments that connect the entire throughline. No, it’s not perfect. But going through phases 4-6 without the Avengers or Iron Man, Cap, and Thor together with the rest of the team should remind audiences just how excellent this kind of movie was in the middle of a glorious time so many of us wish we could have again in the MCU.
This version of Ultron was odd, but he was still pretty cool. And the storyline of Ultron trying to create his own body with vibranium (before we’d ever met Black Panther or Wakanda) only to be thwarted by the Avengers, who create Vision instead — one of the absolute highlights of this film — is incredibly fun. The epic climax gives everyone their moment. Previously overlooked heroes like Hawkeye really shine in this film. New characters like Wanda are introduced well. And the story doesn’t forget our mainstays like Black Widow and Hulk, even if their well-intentioned but misguided romance never pays off. This movie also plants seeds that grow into Civil War, Black Panther, Infinity War, and Endgame. It’s an essential title in the MCU.
Hero - 9/10
Villain - 8/10
Supporting Cast - 6/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 8/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 7/10
MCU Connection - 9/10
TOTAL - 77
17. SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
This might be a bit high in the rankings for some people, but the Venus Fry Cook really liked this movie. Tom Holland always delivers as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, the romance with MJ is one of the best in the MCU, and the Mysterio villain was boldly inventive and fun. Yes, okay, Tony Stark leaving cutting-edge tech with a borderline WMD to a teenager was a questionable choice, but remember the source material, people — these are comics! It happens. The action is never as good as it should be (a common theme with this Spider-Man trilogy), but it makes up for it with sheer charm. Everything about these characters and this movie is so endearing. \
This trilogy — and especially this film — understands Peter Parker. At the heart of it all, he’s really just a kid who wants to get the girl, but ultimately lives up to the responsibility he has to use his powers for good. Simple, effective, and beautiful. Also, we’ve just gotta point out, the scene where Peter asks MJ to do something and she instantly says yes and they go for a walk leaves the Venus Fry Cook swooning. It’s as if John Hughes wrote a special moment for the MCU. The awkward, innocent high school chemistry between these two is electric and the unsung heart of the Spider-Man trilogy.
Hero - 8/10
Villain - 8/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 78
16. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL: 3
Wow. James Gunn, how did you pull this off? This is another ranking that’s a victim of its timing and placement in the MCU. It came as the MCU was declining, after Disney tried to fire Gunn, and after the Guardians kinda… didn’t matter anymore? Oh, and Disney Marvel also went and killed off Gamora in Infinity War. Now, that was a great moment in Infinity War, but you know, James Gunn had kind of been working on this great romance between Star-Lord and Gamora.
Now, the Venus Fry Cook doesn’t know much about how that all went down behind the scenes, but it left Gunn way behind the start line on this one. And he pulled it off. He realized the sleeper arc on Rocket that had been quietly brewing. We got an all-time one-take shot of the Guardians in action. And Vol. 3 brought all the heart and humor we’d come to expect from Gunn and the Guardians. The VFC has two major complaints. One: Kraglin should not be / is not a Guardian — he’s just James Gunn’s brother. Two: The Venus Fry Cook will never forgive Gunn for turning one of the most enigmatic and gravitational characters of Marvel comics into an infantilized shadow of his true potential — RIP Adam Warlock. Those aside, a fitting conclusion and a sad echo of what the MCU once was.
Hero - 9/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 7/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 9/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 9/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 7/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 79
15. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
This one gets better every time the Venus Fry Cook watches it. In an era of irreverence, skepticism, and self-deprecation, how amazing is it to have a hero who simply stands up for what is right? Chris Evans owns this role from the first minute. No one knew how much we’d love Peggy when she first appeared as Cap’s love interest. The Red Skull was perfect. And the overall visual tone of this movie is so distinct, it really transports you to comicbook-WW2-land. You’ve gotta give credit to Marvel in Phase 1 for how distinct each film was within the franchise.
The First Avenger has some decent action, although it could have been better, and the supporting cast, including the Howling Commandos, is a riot. This movie also has a lot of really nice, quiet moments. The early conversation between Cap and Dr. Erskine. Peggy consoling Rogers when he loses Bucky. The radio interaction at the end, where Cap tells Peggy he’s gotta put the ship down, and they talk about dancing. This film is just so completely sincere, and wow, does the Venus Fry Cook ever miss sincerity in movies today. An absolutely stellar superhero debut that was the last piece of the puzzle for The Avengers.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 8/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 79
14. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING
The infusion of Iron Man and the Stark tech was an excellent choice that helped differentiate this iteration of Spider-Man from the Amazing Spider-Man films and the beloved Raimi trilogy. It was surprisingly fresh for a well-trodden character, and it didn’t stop there. Sneaking in an unexpected MJ without red hair went over surprisingly well, thanks to an exceptional portrayal by Zendaya. And Michael Keaton’s Vulture is one of the best villains in the franchise. From the opening sequence where he scavenges (see, Vulture wasn’t just a clever name) the scraps of alien tech, to the reveal that he’s Liz’s dad, this is a bad guy that keeps us on our toes. Spider-Man: Homecoming was an excellent entry that more than held its own at the peak of the MCU.
Hero - 9/10
Villain - 9/10
Supporting Cast - 9/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 6/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 79
13. DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Let’s get one thing out of the way. Wolverine is the Venus Fry Cook’s all-time favorite character. Not favorite Marvel character. Not favorite superhero. From Homer’s The Odyssey to Red Dead Redemption 2, Wolverine is the Venus Fry Character’s favorite CHARACTER of all time. And that moment where Hugh Jackman put on Wolverine’s classic cowl mask brought tears to the Venus Fry Cook’s eyes.
There’s a world where this could be in the VFC’s top 10 or even top 5. But here’s the thing. The story’s pretty weak. It’s a barely-there nonsense story that’s just enough to prop up all the fun shenanigans. Which is fine. Irreverence works here because it’s Deadpool. The VFC is always down for fun cameos (not everyone’s cup of tea, we know), and the action is a cut above most MCU movies. The MCU connection score would be higher had this not been like the fourth movie we’d seen multiversal connections in. Oh, and if you didn’t already notice, they do the same hand-holding ending thing that the Guardians did in their first movie. It was awesome with Madonna singing away in the background, but it had already been done by this same freaking franchise. But for sheer fun, hilarity, exceptional action, and the pure greatness of Wolverine — the VFC has a lot of love for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 6/10
Supporting Cast - 9/10
Story - 5/10
Action - 10/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 9/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 80
12. DOCTOR STRANGE
Alright. The Venus Fry Cook knows this is a contentious choice. Most lists rank this one way lower. The biggest knock against this film is that it is unflinchingly formulaic, right down to the villain doppelganger that audiences were growing tired of right on the heels of Ant-Man (also formulaic). Here’s the thing. It nails the formula! In fact, you could argue that this is a near-perfect superhero movie.
Benedict Cumberbatch gives the world a Doctor Strange for the ages. Wowza, talk about perfection. The arc Strange goes on is impeccable. From the arrogant doctor to the broken man with nothing to lose, to having to choose between the life he wanted back and the life of greater purpose he was destined for, all the way to the epic ending where he straps the broken watch onto his mangled hands, this is a perfect superhero story. And don’t get us started on him bargaining with Dormammu, fighting for who knows how long in an endless timeloop, mastering his sorcerer skills until the dark dimension demon gives in. Wowza. Doctor Strange. Watch it again. See it for what it is. And simply respect the masterpiece.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 8/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 9/10
MCU Connection - 7/10
TOTAL - 81
11. DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS
We know, we know. We know people don’t like this movie, and no one in their right mind would have it ranked this high – and the Venus Fry Cook has no idea why. This movie is insane! It’s not perfect, the VFC has heard about the dysfunctional production, and yeah, America Chavez kinda sucks. But it is darkly bonkers and brought the multiverse to the MCU before it got worn out by one movie after another.
Okay, let’s get this out of the way: the VFC thinks MCU audiences misunderstand the Scarlet Witch. In the comics, she bounces back and forth between villain and hero all the time! She is a crazy witch who does crazy things, but always kinda has her heart in the right place, even though she causes devastating harm to massive amounts of people. That’s exactly what makes her a great villain for this Raim-horror entry! She’s a sad, haunted, twisted, tragic figure. We love you, Wanda.
The Illuminati are awesome. Zombie Strange made the Venus Fry Cook’s jaw drop to the freaking floor. And that magic showdown between Doctor Strange and Sinsister Strange in the climax is the best wizard showdown the VFC has ever seen on screen. With all respect to Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, that’s how you do a wizard duel. We know we’ll never convince anyone, and we respect your opinion if you bear no love for this Doctor Strange sequel. But we’re simply ranking the VFC’s favorites based on his scoring criteria, and this is where Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness lands. And the VFC loves it.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 8/10
Dialogue - 7/10
Humour - 6/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 10/10
MCU Connection - 10/10
TOTAL - 82
10. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
For a lot of people, this is number one on their list. Or at least a top 5. Once upon a time, it was in the Venus Fry Cook’s top 5 as well, until other awesome MCU movies kept hitting the screen. But make no mistake, this was the movie no one knew they wanted. Marvel took an unknown C-level team and turned them into a beloved household name.
James Gunn is himself a hero for all time for giving us such a unique movie smack dab in the middle of the Avengers throughline. Note the 10/10 for boldness score. James Gunn swung for the fences and knocked it out of the solar system. He crafted the perfect team, brought just the right amount of quirky and cheeky sensibilities with arguably the best dialogue in the franchise, and infused it with such astounding heart that it’s a challenge to spend an hour with the Guardians and not shed a tear. A bland, one-note villain (who Thanos dwarfs in seconds with a quick appearance) is what keeps Guardians of the Galaxy out of the top 5. On the flip side, Bradley Cooper as Rocket is one of the most underappreciated performances of the franchise — barely a notch behind Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. And this gets a bit structurallly technical, but in the VFC’s opinion, this movie has the best set of sequences of any MCU title, highlighted by that outrageous prison sequence. “That was a pretty good plan,” indeed.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 8/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 7/10
Dialogue - 10/10
Humour - 10/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 10/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 83
9. SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Confession: the Venus Fry Cook found the first half of this movie kinda boring. Jon Watts just isn’t the best with action, and it shows in what should be a rollercoaster first half. It wasn’t until Toby and Andrew showed up that things really got cooking. But then, man, did they ever cook. Seeing these guys on screen again was an absolute delight, and yet they never outshine Tom Holland’s MCU Spider-Man. And they are hilarious together. That scene in the lab where they’re making their villain-saving tools and Maguire tells Ned about his best friend becoming a villain and dying in his arms and how it was heartbreaking was way funnier than it should have been.
Doctor Strange was a great addition, even if his inclusion was connected to what the VFC thinks was a pretty lame story. Ugh, okay, another confession: the Venus Fry Cook really didn’t like the whole we-can-redeem-the-bad-guys storyline, especially after Aunt May went down (but kudos for giving her the original, comic-accurate “responsibility” line). But the dramatic climax makes it all worthwhile, and sweet Zeus, the romance between Peter Parker and MJ when he sacrifices hers and everyone else’s memory of him was exquisite. The VFC is a romantic after all. And the way this movie leaves Spider-Man as an anonymous street-level hero with no tech moving forward is a very clever way to reverse the Stark-powered “Home” trilogy — giving us the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man at the heart of the historical comics.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 9/10
Supporting Cast - 10/10
Story - 6/10
Action - 6/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 9/10
Drama - 9/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 10/10
MCU Connection - 9/10
TOTAL - 87
8. BLACK PANTHER
Another movie that’s number one on a lot of lists, Black Panther, doesn’t rank quite as high for the Venus Fry Cook, but that doesn’t mean the VFC doesn’t love this movie. A 10/10 hero meets a 10/10 villain in a 10/10 creative vision and original world. Wakanda was breathtaking, the home of important social themes that Ryan Coogler presents in a much more elegant way than later MCU titles. By the time Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger utters the words, "Just bury me in the ocean, with my ancestors that jumped from the ships, cause they knew death was better than bondage," you realize you may have just heard the essence of the film summed up in one worldview-shattering sentence.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 10/10
Supporting Cast - 9/10
Story - 9/10
Action - 8/10
Dialogue - 8/10
Humour - 6/10
Drama - 9/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 10/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 87
7. IRON MAN
Robert Downey Jr. capped off his rise from the ashes with this star-remaking turn as Tony Stark, Iron Man. A B-rate hero from the comics became just as popular as Superman on the big screen. Everything worked in this movie. An incendiary character arc wrapped in a hotrod red suit blasting around with the perfect balance of humor and drama. Obadiah Stane was a rock-solid villain on a personal and physical level, leading to a great climactic clash. And the film wrapped up with two explosive mini-shockers. First, in a genre defined by secret identities, Tony Stark declares, “I am Iron Man,” as we smash to credits. The Venus Fry Cook was floored and had no idea how a superhero whose identity was known to the world was ever going to work. And after the credits rolled, Nick Fury appears and drops the words, “Avengers Initiative,” and nothing was ever the same again. If this is your number one, the Venus Fry Cook salutes you. Iron Man was and is a beautiful, special gift to the world. And we know in our hearts that’s right.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 9/10
Supporting Cast - 9/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 8/10
Dialogue - 10/10
Humour - 9/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 87
6. THOR: RAGNAROK
Holy hellso. What was this? In a complete tonal departure from anything we’d seen with Thor in four appearances up until this point, Taika Waititi steps in and shows a side of the God of Thunder that has never existed anywhere. Not in the comics, not on screen, and not even in anyone else’s wildest dreams. And it worked.
This vibrant, off-the-wall, gong show was pure joy. The Venus Fry Cook laughed harder at this movie in the theatre than any other MCU film. Jeff Goldblum as the Grandmaster, Mark Ruffalo returning as Bruce Banner / the Hulk, and the notorious duo of Korg and Miek are all laugh-a-minute performances in a 10/10 supporting cast. Oh, and they also have Tessa Thompson’s badass Valkyrie and Hiddleston’s welcome return as Loki the good guy. Hela is cool, but oddly, not quite as epic as she could have been. She may just be overshadowed by all the other exceptional shenanigans. But quirk and humor aside, this movie also delivers on the premise of the original Thor, which opens with an abandoned coronation before Thor learns humility. And whether we realized it or not, Thor’s trilogy-long arc is actually his ascension to the throne of Asgard. That moment is a fitting conclusion that brings the trilogy together — and a character searching for his soul to his own self-actualization.
Hero - 9/10
Villain - 7/10
Supporting Cast - 10/10
Story - 7/10
Action - 9/10
Dialogue - 10/10
Humour - 10/10
Drama - 7/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 10/10
MCU Connection - 9/10
TOTAL - 88
5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
Now movie this is freaking a banger. The Venus Fry Cook didn’t know how much of a Captain America fan he was until he saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The Russo brothers hit the MCU scene en route to becoming the MCU MVPs among directors with this spy-infused, exquisite superhero movie. Bucky returns as the Winter Soldier, one of the best villains of the franchise. Scarlet Johansen gives what might be her best outing as the Black Widow (how cool is it that she showed up in an Iron Man movie and a Captain America movie btw — damn she’s cool). We get the Falcon for the first time, serving up some cool aerial moments. And Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Redford round out a perfect supporting cast on either side of the good and evil struggle.
This movie delivers one of the best wall-to-wall, single-title stories in all of the MCU, while also giving some of the best action and fight scenes of the franchise! Amongst all the great moments, that Zola algorithm reveal was astounding. We also get some nice quiet moments like the touching Steve / Sam “On your left” bit that continues to play out in Avengers: Endgame a whole phase later. There are a lot of characters and threads in this movie, and there’s a lot going on — right in the middle of the MCU’s rise through Phase 2. And the Russos completely nail it. Number one on a lot of lists and rightly so. A masterstroke of superhero moviemaking.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 10/10
Supporting Cast - 10/10
Story - 10/10
Action - 9/10
Dialogue - 10/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 8/10
MCU Connection - 8/10
TOTAL - 90
4. THE AVENGERS
This was more than a movie. This was an event. It felt like a generation had been building up to this moment. Nothing like it had ever been done before. Normally, solo titles are spun off of an ensemble project, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced the main heroes in their own solo movies first before bringing them together in a group outing. Weaving different tones, worlds, and eras was a big challenge, but Marvel delivered in epic fashion. Aside from Hawkeye (who was done a bit dirty until the third act), everyone was given their time in the sun, and boy did they shine. Just like the comic book origins, Loki was the perfect villain to bring them together.
It was a joy watching the Avengers assemble. There were lots of laughs to be had watching this odd collection of heroes banter with one zinger after another, and it all builds up to what is arguably the best action sequence in the entire franchise. The third act, what would come to be known as “The Battle of New York,” was the most fun, epic, funny, dramatic, action-packed, satisfying, popcorn-blockbuster, superhero sequence the Venus Fry Cook had ever seen. Maybe still to this day. The experiment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a complete success. It changed cinema forever (for better and worse) as studios scrambled to make their own cinematic universes. But for one time, for one moment, in this one movie, we were treated to pure cinematic superhero bliss.
Hero - 9/10
Villain - 9/10
Supporting Cast - 9/10
Story - 8/10
Action - 10/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 8/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 10/10
MCU Connection 10/10
TOTAL - 90
3. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
This shouldn’t have worked. In fact, the Venus Fry Cook did not like the sound of Captain America: Civil War when he first heard about it. But now here it is, higher on the VFC’s list than any other ranking on the internet. Once again, the Russo brothers achieved the impossible. They somehow made a Captain America movie AND an Avengers movie — in one movie! They brought back Black Widow, Hawkeye, Rhodey, Bucky, Falcon, Ant-Man, Vision, and Wanda — AND they introduce Black Panther and freaking Spider-Man! They took formula and genre and shaped them to their will, making Iron Man the structural antagonist to Captain America’s protagonist, while also maintaining Iron Man’s hero status.
The airport sequence is right up there with the top action sequences of the franchise, and the final fisticuffs showdown delivers a far more personal climax as Zemo’s master plan comes to light, pitting Rogers and Stark against each other. It’s a devastating, brilliant encounter where Cap comes out on top — but only because it was two-on-one for a good part of the fight, allowing Stark to save face. The Avengers are officially disassembled, setting the stage for the Infinity Saga climax, while leaving audiences with a cast of characters and a world that is absolutely teeming with lore, history, and potential. But still, on its own, Captain America: Civil War is an elite outing that warrants this high ranking as one of the Venus Fry Cook’s all-time MCU faves.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 8/10
Supporting Cast - 10/10
Story - 9/10
Action - 10/10
Dialogue - 9/10
Humour - 7/10
Drama - 10/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 9/10
MCU Connection - 10/10
TOTAL - 92
2. AVENGERS: ENDGAME
Okay, one criticism: the VFC strongly dislikes the blip, the 5-year time jump. It’s so disruptive and so weird when you think about it (I mean how many couples would have remarried only to have their original spouse return, come on that’s effed up). Half the universe dying was great, but it didn’t need to be more than a few days and it still would have felt devastating. But that aside, this is a momentous film that brings 30+ heroes and villains together in a final battle for the ages. Ant-Man is surprisingly essential to saving the universe (and it’s completely believable) as the Avengers reassemble for a time heist that takes them back through the entire MCU. And Thanos, of course, is the greatest villain in all of the MCU and one of the greatest in movie history (more on him later).
There are too many tear-jerking moments to count, none more so than the death of Iron Man. The heart, soul, and ultimately, the main character of the MCU dies in the end. And then, the most fitting, most beautiful moment of the franchise — Steve Rogers… the solider, the Avenger, the hero — returns to his true love to the tune of “It’s Been a Long, Long Time,” a song written for soldiers returning to their family after fighting in World War 2. Top marks, Marvel. That was a moment for the ages. And the Venus Fry Cook has listened to that song 3000 times since.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 10/10
Supporting Cast - 10/10
Story - 9/10
Action - 10/10
Dialogue - 10/10
Humour - 8/10
Drama - 10/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 10/10
MCU Connection - 10/10
TOTAL - 97
1. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
The Venus Fry Cook wanted to make Endgame number one. It’s the triumph. Where the heroes win. But the VFC simply cannot deny… that Avengers: Infinity War is better. Here’s the trick. You have to understand… The Avengers are NOT the heroes of this movie. Thanos is.
When you realize that Thanos is the protagonist of this film. That it is Thanos who goes through the classic hero’s journey. That it is Thanos who heroically sacrifices and ultimately triumphs against all odds to achieve his goals in the end, then you realize the greatness of this completely singular cinematic experience. Thanos is a villain, no doubt about it. And he’s the greatest villain in the MCU, establishing an unmatched threat throughout the Infinity Saga. In fact, in the VFC’s opinion, Thanos is the greatest and most iconic villain in all of cinema since Darth Vader. But narratively, Thanos is the protagonist of Infinity War. And from that perspective, this film scores a near-flawless 99/100 on the Venus Fry Cook’s rubric.
There is a moment when Thanos and Iron Man are fighting one-on-one, where Thanos looks at Iron Man and says, “Stark.” Wow. The Venus Fry Cook has contemplated at great length how much that moment means. And this film is filled with moments like that. Each of the three main heroes, Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man, is given their own quests. And shout-out to Thor for a surprisingly staggering performance alongside a tree and a raccoon. Wowza. But in the end, all of them fail. Because this is someone else’s story to win. And if you believe Thanos was right (which, for the record, the VFC does not), then that final image of Thanos, the tired champion who gave everything he had to save the universe, sitting in peace and watching the sun go down, just might be the most beautiful thing to ever grace the silver screen.
Hero - 10/10
Villain - 10/10
Supporting Cast - 10/10
Story - 10/10
Action - 10/10
Dialogue - 10/10
Humour - 9/10
Drama - 10/10
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness - 10/10
MCU Connection - 10/10
TOTAL - 99
IN THE END, THOUGHTS…
The Venus Fry Cook was once among the biggest MCU fans out there. The truest of true believers. He was excited and dedicated going into phase 4. But tragically, the MCU lost its way. And the VFC has been so heartbroken, it had been a while since he even went back and watched all of these movies. But going back down memory lane made the VFC realize how jaded he’d become. How divided audiences had become. How cynical. Angry. Resentful.
But these movies, these characters, reminded the Venus Fry Cook how great the MCU truly is. How lucky we are to have these characters and these moments. What towering achievements so many of these films were. Even if it was fueled in part by corporate greed and the bottom line, it was artists on the front lines, creating magic for us to enjoy. There will never be anything like the MCU again. The Venus Fry Cook will cherish it forever and take comfort in knowing that at any time, he can return to this world to see the likes of Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and the rest of the Avengers. Heroes all. Thank you for being brave, and bravely being.
VFC Biases
The big ensemble titles are always more fun and score higher.
She-Hulk broke The Venus Fry Cook’s love for the MCU. Anything after She-Hulk was experienced with less adoration and forgiveness.
Based on the scoring rubric below, titles with a stronger connection to the overall MCU will generally place higher.
Disclaimers
These lists are not the “best” — they are the Venus Fry Cook’s favorites.
In the event of a tie, the Venus Fry Cook will make the call.
Criteria
For this particular list, we’ve got a rubric, folks. Each item is scored out of 10 for a total of 100 possible points.
Hero: The individual or team that is positioned as the primary hero. This applies only to the hero(s) within the context of the single project, not overall.
Villain: The main antagonist — does not include supporting bad guys.
Supporting Cast: The hero’s friends, the henchmen, and the randos — this covers the cast of characters that surrounds the super hero(s) and big bad.
Story: The quality of the plot and narrative itself.
Action: The quality, staging, presentation, and entertainment value of the fight scenes and action sequences.
Dialogue: The quality of the overall dialogue.
Humour: The comedic value.
Drama: The dramatic value.
Originality, Risk Taking & Boldness: The distinct and unique vision.
MCU Connection: The connection to the overall MCU via storylines, character appearances, or references.
