MCU: Phase One, Ranked

With Marvel Studios well into a decade of their cinematic universe, it’s time to look back at the origin point and look to the MCU’s first phase to see how they compare against each other in a time before there were purple aliens collecting stones and talking raccoons. The early years of the MCU featured origin stories for heroes, turning B-lister characters into A-listers with each whopping blockbuster.

There are a total of 6 movies in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase One, and all of them serve interesting stories that culminate in an epic crossover that would ensure comic book movies would never be the same again. With the MCU heading soon into another multiverse outing, it’s time to look back at the earlier simple days.

6 Thor (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%

• Director: Kenneth Branagh
• Release Date: 27 April 2011

Thor had Marvel audiences ascend to Asgard, where they would revel in the Shakespearian drama and dialect of the Asgardians. Woven in this story was the God of Thunder, Thor, and his stubbornness that would see his father, Odin, the King of Asgard, strip him of his title and banish him to Earth as a mortal, unworthy of Mjolnir.

Thor is still a decent watch, but it’s not the best of Marvel’s Phase One. The inclusion of a forgettable gray CGI villain gets in the way of what could have been a risky Shakespearian tale of gods and mortals, and Chris Hemsworth’s dyed blonde eyebrows are certainly questionable. It’s interesting to look back on Thor and see where the character is now, as many might hope for this level of respect to return instead of the wacky comedies of today.

5 Iron Man 2 (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%

• Director: Jon Favreau
• Release Date: 30 April 2010

The success of the first Iron Man threw Robert Downey Jr. into new celebrity heights and opened up further possibilities to explore the immediate icon of Tony Stark. Iron Man 2 attempted to continue the success of this rock and roll superhero by exploring his flaws and the vices that make him mortal.

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Iron Man 2 fleshed out the MCU further with the introduction of Black Widow and a stronger role from Nick Fury but still lacked a villain with real depth. Iron Man 2 was also at heart a kid’s film, so it could never lean too heavily into the story of addiction that it deserved, but it’s still a fun and action-packed ride.

4 The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%

• Director: Louis Leterrier
• Release Date: 13 June 2008

Despite being mean and green, The Incredible Hulk attempts to tell a gentler story in which Dr. Bruce Banner attempts to train his mind and body to remain calm to avoid transforming into the Hulk. There’s definitely more of a horror angle at play with The Incredible Hulk, and it’s great to see Edward Norton in the role, which might be jarring to MCU fans considering the role has been Mark Ruffalo’s ever since.

Norton does a great job as Bruce Banner, and he’s definitely the more interesting part. There could be more of a focus on the Hulk himself, and the big CGI monster fight at the end is a tad generic and standard for a superhero blockbuster, but it’s still a lot of fun for those who want to see a punch-up.

3 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

• Director: Joe Johnston
• Release Date: 29 July 2011

Winding back the years, Captain America: The First Avenger acts as a complete prelude to the Avengers, and places the audience in the midst of World War 2. The film itself follows Steve Rogers, a devoted patriot who wants to do the right thing, despite the restrictions placed upon him due to his size. As the subject of a super soldier serum, Rogers becomes Captain America and leads the allied forces to battle HYDRA, a Nazi organization that could triumph over the free world.

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Captain America: The First Avenger blends a humble story with a war epic, providing great physicality and morality to the role of Captain America and his place in a world gone by. It’s not every day that a war epic is allowed to flourish as a superhero movie, which is one of the reasons this Phase One movie remains one of the best.

2 Iron Man (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

• Director: Jon Favreau
• Release Date: 2 May 2008

The movie that started it all, Robert Downey Jr. would cement Tony Stark as a rocker-boy billionaire genius who became an icon overnight. 2008’s Iron Man showcased a troubled industrialist, captured by terrorists and forced to build weapons for them. Crafting a suit of armor for his escape, Tony becomes Iron Man, fighting the evils that plague the world regardless of political power or American interest.

Iron Man wasn’t afraid to show that superheroes could be smart, snarky, and cool at every turn. There’s an immense charm to Downey’s performance and it’s no surprise that the MCU was able to launch itself to great heights when this was their starting point. It’s as fun and engaging as movies should be.

1 The Avengers (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

• Director: Joss Whedon
• Release Date: 26 April 2012

Five movies have built to this epic moment, where the Marvel Cinematic Universe would showcase its ultimate potential by bridging all origin movies previously seen for a team-up involving Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. Nick Fury activates the Avengers Initiative, bringing forth Earth’s mightiest heroes in an effort to stop the God of Mischief Loki from using the Tesseract to amass an alien invasion.

The Avengers couples a brilliant authenticity to each of the iconic Marvel characters, showcasing their strengths and weaknesses on-screen together. Everyone gets their moment, and the chemistry between them is as captivating and well-timed as the comedy. The Avengers proved how a cinematic universe should be run, and the pay-off of the team’s drama and action is electric.

MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

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