MCU films ranked: Our top 10 compared

Jonathan Victoria • 24 Jul 2025 Features

Our MCU rankings? Bold. Questionable. Absolutely up for debate.

In the noble pursuit of ranking superhero cinema, we’ve undertaken a task as controversial as the Sokovia Accords and as emotionally fraught as Tony’s final snap. 

Behold: our top 10 MCU films. 

Was this list built on cold, calculated analysis? Absolutely not. It was forged in the fires of gut instinct, emotional bias, and late-night rewatch marathons.

Some picks are unimpeachable, and with The Fantastic Four: First Steps coming later this week, our rankings may yet change again. 

But there’s one thing for sure; we could not agree on a definitive list, hence why we bring you our top 10 MCU films ranked and compared.

Johnnie’s List

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
2. Avengers: Infinity War
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. Captain America: Civil War
5. Guardians of the Galaxy
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
7. Black Panther
8. Thunderbolts*
9. Spider-Man: No Way Home
10. Iron Man

When deciding our lists, there were some films that we absolutely agreed on, hence why our top three are identical. In fact, I think most true MCU fans will have those three in their top three, albeit maybe in a different order (and if you have a problem with me saying ‘true’ fans, fight me I’m right).

As for the rest of the list, we have some similarities just in different spots, and some omissions and inclusions that the other didn’t agree on, hence why we needed two lists.

For me, Civil War was the film that got me really hooked on the MCU, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.

But it was the first Guardians of the Galaxy film that got me interested. I know, I arrived late to the party, but I wasn’t a massive superhero guy until I saw Andy Dwyer having a dance-off with some big blue guy with a crazy hammer while one of my favourite wrestlers Batista watched on in the background.

The second of the Guardians films isn’t personally one of my favourites, but the third and final one absolutely is, as it should be for everyone. A real tearjerker that one.

Then I have Black Panther, because – and I’m ready to throw hands again on this take – I genuinely believe Killmonger is the second best villain in the MCU. His motives makes his actions undeniably justified and Michael B Jordan brought the exact energy that made the character so hard to hate - sinister, arrogant, bold and correct. Nothing but love.

Next I put a newer entry in Thunderbolts*, or as it should’ve been called from the start, The New Avengers. I thought this was a brilliant team-up film with the right level of comedy-to-action and deserved a lot more attention and recognition.

In the penultimate spot, I have the third Spider-Man film. I’ve never been a big spidey fan, but this one was epic. I still mourn the death of Aunt May to this day.

And finally, I had to put the one that truly kickstarted it all, Iron Man. I mean, do I even need to justify this one? We probably wouldn’t even have any of the others if it wasn’t for how good the first Iron Man was. Robert Downey Jr is the king of the MCU and he took to his throne before the first act of the film was even complete.

So that’s my list and justification for the rankings. Now it’s time to check out Ash’s thoughts…

Ash’s list

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
2. Avengers: Infinity War
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. Guardians of the Galaxy
5. Captain America: The First Avenger
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
7. Captain America: Civil War
8. Spider-Man: Homecoming
9. Black Panther
10. Iron Man

Man, this was hard. Ok, starting from the bottom we have Iron Man which, like Johnnie says, started the whole shebang way back in 2008. It’s a fun, solid movie that defined the tone of an entire franchise, and Robert Downey Jr was born to play billionaire playboy philanthropist Tony Stark.

Ten years later and I was, personally, feeling a little superhero fatigue. Thor: Ragnarok left me a bit cold and I was almost done with the whole thing - but then Black Panther came along and dragged me right back in. It’s a great movie with incredible world building and an awesome villain. What more could you want?

Speaking of awesome villains, Spider-Man: Homecoming’s Vulture (Michael Keaton) is magnetic and terrifying, especially in that famous car scene. And Tom Holland is excellent as a teenaged Peter Parker.

You might have noticed that I’ve got all three Captain America films on my list (I’m not counting Brave New World), and that’s because it’s easily the best, most consistent trilogy across the entire MCU. And Cap is the best Avenger (come at me).

Civil War is an Avengers film in all but name, and the emotional stakes could not be higher. Plus, it has a great villain - who actually wins - in Daniel Bruhl’s Zemo.

It still surprises me that the Guardians movies are as good as they are. James Gunn - a filmmaker who’d pretty much exclusively made gnarly, lowbrow horror movies until that point - managed to take a team of Z-list heroes and turn them into superstars. Who’d have thought that a CGI raccoon could make you cry?

Ok, quick-fire time - The First Avenger is a brilliant throwback to classic adventure movies with a unique aesthetic; Guardians is perfection; the one-two punch of Infinity War and Endgame is a monumental achievement. I’ll never forget the devastation fans felt after watching Spider-Man turn to dust, or the elation as Cap finally got to say ‘Avengers Assemble’.

But the best MCU movie, without a shadow of a doubt, is The Winter Soldier. It’s not just a good Marvel movie - it’s a good movie, full stop. A blistering, kinetic action thriller with some of the best fight scenes to hit cinema screens in years. Plus the villain is ROBERT REDFORD!

The MCU has never been better.