With Captain Marvel here and Endgame just around the corner, we thought that we’d share our top five favorite Marvel films. We’ll give a brief explanation of why, but we’d also love to hear your thoughts!
Brandon
5. Guardians of the Galaxy
The Un-Avengers. The breath of fresh air Marvel needed with the best soundtrack in the MCU.
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Soldier. Hero. Friend. Betrayed by SHIELD, and hunted by his best friend.. Cap has his hands full. This is the movie that took the solo MCU films to new heights.
3. Captain America: Civil War
This movie is pure excitement. The two greatest Avengers are set on a collision course. Lines were drawn in the sand - everyone forced to pick a side.. and one Avengers-sized Battle Royale.
2. The Avengers
We’d seen crossovers. Nobody was ready for the first cinematic universe. We have a Hulk!
Top Spot - Iron Man
The one that started it all. Tony Stark is the heart of the Avengers, and RDJ is the life-blood of the MCU. This film set the tone for the next decade of Marvel films.
Mitch
5. The Avengers
Mark Ruffalo absolutely nailed Bruce Banner and who doesn’t love Tony’s line about shawarma? Proof of concept for everything to come and it’s still a great watch like thirty years later. Can any of us even remember what the world was like before Marvel was ruling it?
4. Thor: Ragnarok
Story time. Remember when Suicide Squad looked bad, but then it served up that trailer with “Bohemian Rhapsody?” I became bitter. So when Taika Waititi rolled out a trailer with freaking “Immigrant Song” in it!? I lost my marbles. I had to watch this movie three times to admit it salvaged Thor and Made Marvel Funny Again.
3. Black Panther
The soundtrack. The tech. The memes. What I dig most about Black Panther is King T’Challa. It’s not everyday we get to watch dynastic feuding and a grown man in a cat costume in the same movie. Wakanda’s also probably my favorite introduction of a new world in any Marvel movie.
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Return of the Hydra? Check. Elevator fight to end all elevator fights? Check. Captain America getting out of dodge on that dope Harley? Check, check, check. This is a story about testing the bounds of Steve Roger’s beliefs - in his country, in the cause he fights for, in the friendship he won’t let go of.
Top Spot - Captain America: Civil War
I dig consequences. Most Marvel movies suffer from a depressing lack of stakes (when a bad guy’s trying to destroy the world, spoiler alert, they probably won’t). This is the only time we see our heroes lose…and they lose big (before you bring up big, bad Thanos, look, everyone’s coming back to life and you know it). This movie gave me faith the MCU could find ways to tell grown up stories.
Zach
5. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2.
I don’t like when people throw the word family around like it’s nothing. This Marvel movie showed a great family dynamic in a way that didn’t feel pandering or pretentious.
4. Ant-Man
What can I say? I love Paul Rudd and heists. Sue me.
3. Avengers: Infinity War
We all thought Thanos was gonna be awful, right? We all feel silly now. Infinity War is a great testament to craftsmanship in film making!
2. Black Panther
I mean…come on.
Top Spot -Thor: Ragnarok
Take a character that no one cares about. Take away everything that makes that character identifiable. Make this character’s movie funny while critiquing the same character’s franchise…usually you get a disaster. Not here! Thor: Ragnarok is everything I want from Marvel. This film is bold, clever, and all around awesome!