The Marvel Cinematic Universe is well into its Phase 4, with no signs of slowing down, and fans are waiting for some of its highly anticipated upcoming releases, which include Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, scheduled for November 11, 2022. The concept of a shared cinematic universe has not only paid off financially but also completely changed the Hollywood landscape. Fans wouldn’t have the Infinity Wars and Endgames without the individual films that introduced audiences to these characters.
Responses to the introductory films of the MCU have varied over the years, but each one has proven foundational for both the development of the characters and the fans’ relationships with them.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – 6.6
Thanks to strange IP rights from years earlier, The Incredible Hulk was actually a Universal Studios film while still being technically within the still-nascent cinematic universe. This bit of trivia only underlines the outlier status of this largely forgotten Edward Norton vehicle within the MCU.
Though The Incredible Hulk has its bright spots, Louis Letterier’s attempt at rebooting the Hulk was arguably more derided than Ang Lee’s pensive take five years earlier. Many critics felt that it had terrible CGI, poor dialogue, and a lackluster plot, which added up to making it not only the lowest-ranked movie in the MCU but also one of the worst comic book movie adaptations for fans.
Captain Marvel (2019) – 6.8
The long-awaited arrival of Carol Danvers was met with a mixed reaction in the summer of 2019. Coming on the heels of the massive cliffhanger that was Avengers: Infinity War, the seemingly tangential origin story was not what MCU fans were clamoring for.
The primary issue was Danvers’ amnesia plotline. Though Brie Larson is an undeniably great actress, her character was by design, ill-defined. Even still, the film is a capable introduction to Danvers’ power set (the direct by-product of the Space Stone), Nick Fury’s origins, and the conflict between the Kree and the Skrulls.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – 6.9
In an industry that thrives on international ticket sales, a significant blockbuster explicitly steeped in American patriotism was a risky move. On top of that, the classic Steve Rogers persona that was first developed 20 years before the other Marvel heroes as WWII propaganda, was far more clean-cut and altruistic for the cynical audiences of today.
Smartly, Marvel tapped veteran director of The Rocketeer and Jumanji, to hit the exact right tone for the first period piece of the MCU. Carried along by Chris Evans’ stellar performance, the film is not as celebrated as its subsequent sequels, but it does manage to establish enough integrity to eventually make Captain America a fan favorite.
Thor (2011) – 7.0
For their big-screen debut of Thor, the cocky Asgardian prince and wielder of Mjolnir, Marvel tapped Shakespearian veteran Kenneth Branaugh for the director’s chair, indicating that they wanted some austerity in their take on the Norse gods.
But they couldn’t quite commit to the exercise, in part because of the studio’s burgeoning tongue-in-cheek style, which undercut the classical style Branaugh was attempting. However, the film did introduce the world to Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston as Thor and Loki, two of the most prevailing and popular characters in the MCU and two of Hollywood’s most charming new movie stars
Ant-Man (2015) – 7.3
Ant-Man was on the Marvel agenda almost since the beginning, with Edgar Wright on board early as the auteur that would bring the high-concept hero to life. However, Wright left the project with only two months until production was to begin, leaving the team scrambling for a new creative leader.
Enter Peyton Reed, who brings his light touch to a film already populated by such likable stars as Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Peña. While the stylistic remnants of Wright’s film make audiences think about what could’ve been, there’s enough charm to make Scott Lang and Pym Tech’s debut a pleasant watch all around.
Black Panther (2018) – 7.3
Chadwick Boseman’s Prince T’Challa had already made an impression in Captain America: Civil War, but his solo film, Black Panther, was one of the biggest events in Marvel history. Guided by Creed auteur Ryan Coogler, and borrowing in part from Ta-Nahisi Coates, the Wakandan hero’s rise to leadership became a crucial allegory for the complexity of Black men’s place in the world.
The newfound depth for the typically fun-loving Marvel universe garnered praise beyond any film before it from fans and critics alike. It remains an instant classic beyond any Marvel-machinations and earned the only Best Picture nomination in the MCU.
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021) – 7.4
To kick off Marvel’s Phase 4 in a post-Endgame world, it was past time to introduce an Asian superhero into the MCU. Enter Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, a Kung Fu master from the comics in dire need of an update.
Reimagining many of the more problematic elements of Shang-Chi’s origins, the 2021 film successfully crafts a narrative of familial trauma featuring Hong Kong legends like Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh and new stars like Awkwafina. Though Shang-Chi himself still requires more definition in future films, the movie successfully builds a world that fans are eager to see again.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – 7.4
Tom Holland’s brief cameo in Captain America: Civil War made the MCU’s new Spidey an instant sensation, with many fans positively ecstatic over Holland’s sweetly pitched performance. One year later, audiences were more than ready for his solo outing.
After two previous Spider-Man origin series (franchises that would never, ever interact with the MCU), the filmmakers at Sony chose to skip past all the spider-biting and Uncle Ben-dying and spin a John Hughes-tinged tale of Peter Parker trying to be a regular high school kid, populating his world with charismatic classmates and relatable villains.
Doctor Strange (2016) – 7.5
Eight years into the grand universe experiment, it was high time to start introducing sorcery into the MCU, with Bleeker Street’s own Doctor Strange as our natural guide. One of Stan Lee’s earliest creations, Stephen Strange is often pitted against magical monsters and reality-bending conundrums, so it was natural to expect that this film would be the most psychedelic Marvel movie yet.
With British star Benedict Cumberbatch donning the Cloak of Levitation and up-and-coming horror filmmaker Scott Derrickson behind the camera, the new superhero delivered on the premise and established Doctor Strange as one of the franchise’s most important characters going forward.
Iron Man (2008) – 7.8
A shared cinematic universe was merely a glimmer in Marvel’s eye when Jon Favreau’s Iron Man was released in May 2008. At the time, the company was just trying to stay alive and avoid bankruptcy. Little did they know that Robert Downey Jr.’s career-defining performance would spark one of the most successful enterprises in cinema history.
His casual snarkiness hiding a big heart quickly became the house style at Marvel. From the moment fans first saw RDJ’s Tony Stark, set to the classic sounds of AC/DC, the actor took control of Hollywood and set the tone for the entire series in the future.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) – 8.0
While Iron Man and Captain America weren’t necessarily the marquee names in Marvel comics before their big-screen debuts, they were practically icons compared to the Guardians of the Galaxy, a niche team of space raiders with no name recognition outside the most devote comic book lovers.
So it was a massive heat check for Feige to tap horror auteur and Troma-alumni James Gunn to adapt the series as a summer blockbuster. Thankfully for MCU fans everywhere, the gamble paid off in the form of an irreverent space opera that audiences immediately adored.
