Last week, Disney and Marvel Studios scored another hit with SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (read Reel Speak’s review HERE). The superhero/kung-fu/fantasy hybrid is the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and the 21st of the “solo” films which feature the individual heroes before they move onto the mighty AVENGERS team-up movies. SHANG-CHI has right away been hailed as one of the best of the solo outings, which brings us to Reel Speak’s Top 10 Best Solo MCU Films.
Ever since the MCU launched with IRON MAN way back in 2008, every solo-shot worked to accomplish several things; to establish the character, to connect them to the larger universe, and to plant seeds for sequels. The MCU has done this very well with their individual hero films, with even their lesser received efforts still worth a watch. These are the non-AVENGER films that did it the mightiest…
10. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)
The ever-popular web-slinger suffered through a decade of terrible movies produced by Sony Pictures before finally coming home where he belongs. Tom Holland took over the role and instantly brought a down-to-earth innocence that embraced the character’s comic origins and made him relatable; Spidey was finally an earnest American kid who just wanted to be an Avenger…to help others and to be a hero on the way. With that, HOMECOMING hits Spidey’s 1960’s character-origins…while offering some of the best twists/surprises in the MCU so far.
9. THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013)
TV’S GAME OF THRONES alum Alan Taylor directed the second solo outing for the God of Thunder, as played by Chris Hemsworth. THE DARK WORLD had major consequences for the MCU moving forward…with huge events that would play right into INFINTY WAR (2018) and ENDGAME (2019). Stylistically, it’s a nice combo of sci-fi and fantasy, has high energy, plenty of surprises, and one of the best overall scores in a Marvel film, as provided by Brian Taylor.
8. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (2021)
The test of time has not been put to Marvel’s newest film yet, but it’s hard to overlook it’s uniqueness. SHANG-CHI’s plot is rooted in family drama with a main villain who only wants to bring his family back together. Gone is the standard bad guy who just wants to destroy and rule and is instead coping with grief. Fresh, new, and a lot of fun on the screen.
7. BLACK PANTHER (2018)
The late great Chadwick Boseman took on the role of the first superhero of African descent in mainstream American comics and elevated the character into an instant cultural icon. It is the first superhero film to earn a nomination for Best Picture, was a box office smash, and has kids across the world yelling Wakanda Forever! as a unifying cry. The film itself, directed by Ryan Coogler, is a visual stunner, and similar to SHANG-CHI, capitalized on a strong father-son story.
6. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)
Even after Marvel Studios pulled off characters such as Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk…we still weren’t sure how the Star Spangled Man would fare on the big screen. Thank the gods we were wrong, because Joe Johnstons’s WWII-set origin story not only reinvented the character for new generations, but established a line of trust in Marvel movies that has yet to be broken. Chris Evans embodied the character perfectly, and his strong supporting cast of Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci, Hugo Weaving…and the magnificent Hayley Atwell gave the film a take-me-serious weight.
5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)
Our beloved Avengers are torn apart at the seams in an internal conflict over government oversight and freedom. Our heroes had been banging heads since day one; particularly Captain America (Chris Evans), and Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr), but this time the conflicts come to blows and a deep division within the team. As directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, CIVIL WAR did the legwork to make sure Cap and Iron Man’s reasons for taking their respective sides were fleshed out; both are vulnerable while dealing with loss…giving this massive slugfest a strong human side.
4. THOR: RAGNAROK (2017)
Everyone’s favorite cinematic oddball Taika Waititi helms Thor’s third solo film which sees the God of Thunder whisked across the galaxy in this star-studded romp…which included Jeff Goldblum, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, and Karl Urban. RAGNAROK isn’t afraid to show just how strange the galaxy can be, and despite the many laughs, puts Thor through some of his toughest tests while having vital happenings for the MCU.
3. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014)
Captain America has his world turned upside-down when he sees his faith in the institution fail by way of espionage and treachery…when he discovers SHIELD has been overrun by the evil Hydra for decades and his best friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), has been alive for 70 years as a master assassin. Helmed by Anthony and Joe Russo, THE WINTER SOLDIER also turned the MCU on its head with important events happening, and its grittiness and old-school violence gives it a throwback sense to the 1970’s.
2. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)
This may seem like a bit of a cheat since there’s more than one hero in this one, but for this gang of misfits it’s still their own solo film and it is not an AVENGER movie. James Gunn directs this laugh-a-minute romp which expanded the MCU into the far reaches of the galaxy, and by the end had instantly elevated the characters, which most of the world had never even heard of before 2014, into cultural icons.
1. IRON MAN (2008)
If SUPERMAN (1978), can be considered the grand-daddy of all superhero films, than IRON MAN from 2008 can be called the godfather of the Marvel run. Robert Downey Jr. experienced a much-needed career resurgence when he took on the role of Tony Stark, the billionaire/playboy/philanthropist who would build the armor of Iron Man. Jon Favreau directed this first outing which started it all, which had a real-world grit to it which gained our confidence from the first frame. Downey was joined by a cast that resembled the call-sheet on Oscar night; Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, and Gwyneth Paltrow…which once again sent a signal that Marvel Studios meant business. Overnight, Iron Man became a new icon in pop culture; transcending his long-past comic and cartoon popularity…and changed the game for Marvel movies and for all superheroes on film.
- IRON MAN
- GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
- CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
- THOR: RAGNAROK
- CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
- CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
- BLACK PANTHER
- SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
- THOR: THE DARK WORLD
- SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING
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