A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Marvel Films

After 20 films in 10 years, Marvel Studios has risen to the top of the superhero film mountain. Their films have been hailed by critics, beloved by fans, and have elevated even their most obscure characters into pop culture and nearly every household. In 2018 they rolled out three of their best, and with a little bit of a break before their next film in 2019, now seemed like the perfect time to judge and rank the series. As always, the Reel Speak criteria of story, character, and cultural impact is at work here, along with the added element of the film’s importance in the overall series.

NOTE: This list only reflects the Marvel films in the Cinematic Universe series which launched in 2008.

Now let’s assemble…

10. THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013)

The second solo outing for the God of Thunder earns its right to be on this list because it popped the cork on the cosmic side of the Marvel universe for the first time. It explored new planets, introduced vital elements that would pay off in the future, and got audiences used to the fact that not all the action would be taking place on Earth. As a film, it is a high energy adventure with plenty of surprises, and changes the landscape with some major happenings.

9. BLACK PANTHER (2018)

Chadwick Boseman debuted the clawed prince of Wakanda in CIVIL WAR and nearly stole the show, and by the time his solo film arrived, audiences were more than ready. The first black superhero to appear in comics was embraced by all cultures, and the film established more vital elements for future Marvel films. On its own, it was a dose of superhero fun, gave us something different, and did a lot of justice to a popular character.

8. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018)

One of the many reasons Marvel’s films have resonated so well is that they all crossbreed with different genres of film; war, espionage, sci-fi, techno-thrillers, and even horror. The second solo outing for the incredible shrinking hero was the first to serve as a family film, with characters motivated by their families and their desire to stay together. It was new territory for Marvel and the overall superhero film genre.

7. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014)

The second solo outing for Steve Rogers, the greatest soldier in history, has all the makings of a political cold war/espionage film, which saw Cap caught up in a government conspiracy of the highest levels which he had more than one personal stake in. WINTER SOLDIER had plenty of surprises which changed the landscape of future Marvel films, and set events in motion that were felt for the rest of the series.

6. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)

As good as Cap’s second solo film was, his third film was the emotional gut-punch of the series. After spending years getting to know and loving our Avengers, Marvel took the bold step in splitting them up over personal and political differences, and having them slug it out. Seeing characters we love bludgeon each other was like choosing between children, and it was hard to watch.

5. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)

THE DARK WORLD opened the door to the cosmic side of Marvel, and the GUARDIANS kicked it in for good. Funny, adventurous, and an absolute joy to take in, James Gunn’s space adventure elevated minor characters into the upper echelons of pop culture.

4. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)

Everyone was apprehensive about the guy who wears stars and stripes fitting into the established real-world setting of the Marvel universe, but FIRST AVENGER took care of that in a hurry. It’s a war film with a dash of sci-fi, and captured the heart and earnestness of the old, WWII-era American spirit. As icing on the cake, the chemistry between Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell provided the overall series with its true heart.

3. IRON MAN (2008)

The very first film in the series still stands as one of the best. Character-driven and classical in its telling, Tony Stark’s journey from asshole to hero mirrored its lead actor, Robert Downey Jr., and elevated Iron Man from nearly obscure to every living room and lunch box in the world.

2. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)

After years of foreshadowing and teasing, the arrival of Thanos, the ultimate Big Bad, was worth the wait. A well-developed villain with all the power in the universe was fleshed out to the point of empathy, and was more than a match for Earth’s mightiest heroes. Thanos was what drove INFINITY WAR to its status as an epic and mind-boggling showdown, and to this day has the most shocking ending ever put to a superhero film.

1. AVENGERS (2012)

It was the first of its kind; multiple heroes assembling for the first time on the big screen in a super-sized big-screen spectacle that put characters up front and center. Director Joss Whedon’s knack for razor-sharp dialogue and character- ensemble interactions gave it humanity, and Tom Hiddleston’s second portrayal of bad guy Loki was as charming as it was threatening. It is fun, energetic, a pop culture milestone, and knows what superheroes should be doing; fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves.

Reel Speak's Top 10 Marvel Films

1. AVENGERS
2. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
3. IRON MAN
4. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
5. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
6. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
7. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
8. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
9. BLACK PANTHER
10. THOR: THE DARK WORLD