Top 11 MCU Movies (Phases 1-3)
- CJ Tiernan
- Dec 8, 2025
- 7 min read
By CJ Tiernan
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was one of the largest undertakings a studio has ever taken. At the time of my publishing this list, there are 37 movies that have been released so far, earning more than 32 billion dollars at the box office (Achoo! Sorry, that number is nothing to sneeze at). It is kind of big deal. This particular list is focused on the beginning stages of the MCU (Phases 1 through 3), ranging from the first movie (Iron Man) to the epic conclusion in Avengers: Endgame and the aftermath in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Kevin Feige and his legion of superhero manufacturers have been busy in creating a series of movies that intertwine with one another while also letting specific heroes get their shine. Needless to say, I love these movies. Below is a list of my Top 11 favorite MCU Movies in the first three phases. This should go without saying but, Spoilers Ahead!
1. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
This is one of the greatest superhero movies of all time. It is also the funniest. Chris Hemsworth as Thor flexes comedic chops that we hadn't gotten to see previously. The visuals are incredible in this movie but it's the way that characters interact with each other throughout the movie that makes it. From sibling rivalry moments between Thor and Loki, to his the battle(s) with Hulk, to the creation of Korg. Aw man, do I love me some Korg. This rock man is a soft spoken leader of a rebellion. He is comedy gold (voiced by director Taika Waititi). This is also the movie where Thor loses his eye and gets an Odin-esque eye patch. It's a sick (albeit shortlived) look.
2. Iron Man (2008)
This movie set the tone for the entire MCU. Director (and man who portrays Happy) John Favreau crafted a fun, stand-alone story that created a monster. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man is simply one of the greatest casting choices in the history of cinema. His improv at the end wherein he reveals "I am Iron Man" shows such a perfect handle on the character and informs the person Tony Stark is and has become at every turn. Rich guys with an ego can be really one-dimensional in movies and TV shows but Downey Jr. plays it out in three dimensions with aplomb. It's also fascinating that Paul Bettany was cast way back in this movie and he becomes a person (living entity?) later on in the movies and even stars in the TV spinoff WandaVision.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Thor and Thor: The Dark World had some scenes that took place away from Earth, but this movie was the first one to more or less depart the planet completely. It was a bit of a gamble and a tonal shift but writer/director James Gunn nailed it. So too, did the individual(s) responsible for casting. We already knew Chris Pratt was funny (Parks and Rec) and Zoe Saldaña was a great actress capable of creating an impact in a Sci-Fi epic (Avatar), but Dave Bautista was a revelation. He was a comedic surprise in the best possible way, being I only knew he was a former wrestler (he must have smelled what The Rock was cooking and came on over to movies). Throw in voices from Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel and you've got a recipe for success. This movie was awesome and came with an attitude that was a fun and unique entry in the MCU.
4. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Speaking of casting, Spider-Man has never been as great as Tom Holland. While my favorite Spider-Man movie is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (alas, not party to the MCU), his casting is perfection. Andrew Garfield and Toby Maguire were great, but they lacked the believability as high-schoolers. They seemed much more like college students. Holland was believable as a struggling High School student with super powers (as much as one buys into super powers). This movie, and the one that proceeded it, are flip-a-coin levels of close, but I give the edge to this one because of the villain. Jake Gyllenhaal is awesome as a bad guy who can warp reality. The stakes seem higher and I like that more of the people around Peter find out his true identity.
5. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
In addition to Peter Parker, the casting of the rest of the ensemble is fantastic. Zendaya is delightful as a sardonic MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned is a scene-stealer. While Spider-Man is introduced to the MCU in Captain America: Civil War, this was the first one to really introduce us to Peter Parker ("Underoos!"). I think it was a fun change of pace that we don't see the origin story of Peter Parker as Spider-Man because it is something the audience has seen so many times that it would have felt unnecessary. Which origin story have we seen more: his or Batman's (talk amongst yourselves)?
6. The Avengers (2012)
Joss Whedon enters the chat. While there has always been some level of comedy in the MCU, Whedon upped the ante. He (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly fame) came in like a wrecking ball and made the MCU genuine action-comedies, laying the groundwork for auteurs like James Gunn and Taika Waititi after him. This was our first taste of the crossover between a lot of the different movies. I think they handle the tone shift well, maintaining the uniqueness of the characters and still giving all of them their space. Plus, Loki as the big bad before we get to Thanos is a delight. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is one of the more underrated aspects of the MCU.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
More Guardians! This movie pretty much starts with one of the funniest fight sequences ever. Baby Groot dances in the foreground while an epic battle rages almost indecipherably in the background. All this, whilst we blast some ELO. I like the idea that nothing is sacred. The Ego stuff in the final act drops this movie below the first entry for me, but we do get to meet Mantis. Also, we get a Sly Stallone cameo in this one. Classic!
8. Ant-Man (2015)
Paul Rudd is great in everything. You know who else is great in everything? Michael Peña (and Randall Park, but he doesn't show up until the sequel) is great in everything. Ant-Man is a fun twist on the standard hero because he starts as a bad guy (while an argument can be made he only stole from people who deserve it, stealing is wrong regardless of context and I reject any justification toward the contrary). He is a thief who has this superhero opportunity foisted upon him after accidentally trying to rob the wrong guy. He grows to be a better man. I like that, in addition to the young guns the MCU brings in to play the heroes, they also include established actors like Michael Douglas here, the aforementioned Sylvester Stallone, plus Academy Award winners like Anthony Hopkins, Marisa Tomei, Ben Kingsley, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Benicio del Toro, Robert Redford, and Lupita Nyong'o. There are actually even a lot more than that, I just didn't want to waste your time by listing them all. Also, I'm bummed that there was an issue that led to Edgar Wright having to step away from helming this movie. He was slated to direct the movie and is still credited as a writer. Somewhere, there is an alternate world which harbors both the Edgar Wright Ant-Man and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's Solo: A Star Wars Story. Do you think that universe has discovered world peace?
9. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
I think that there has been some serious debate as to which movie was better: Infinity War or Endgame. It is not unlike the debate between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. As was the case then, it is basically a 50-50 in which you can't be wrong because they're both great choices. I give the edge to the surprise of a lack of resolution and the bad guy winning at the end of this one. It is emotionally heavy and no ending has ever left you wanting the next movie more badly than this one. So many characters we'd become accustomed to just turn to dust and are gone. At the time, we were pretty sure it wasn't forever, but we didn't know for certain. It was a well-executed rug-pull by the Russo Brothers.
10. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Time travel, baby! Nothing is ever as cool as time travel. It is the leather jacket of the post-Back to the Future society. The unceremonious demise of Thanos at the beginning of the movie was little unfulfilling, but that battle at the end. Whoa, baby, that fight at the end! It is an all-timer that may never be topped. So many characters from the proceeding movies show up in a winner-take-all battle through time and space. And then that ending. [insert crying emoji here - the one that isn't also laughing]. Tony Stark goes out with a snap and a bang. It is beautiful. Perfect symmetry to have the character who brought the MCU into our world be the one that goes out on his terms with the victory and the one-line. When he looks at Dr. Strange (I almost wrote Dr. Strangelove there. He's a very different character) and he holds up that single finger. Uff da, that tears me up (and apparently to such an extent it brings out my Scandinavian roots).
11. Thor (2011)
The first entry in the Thor series rounds out my Top 11. The scene where Thor throws down the mug and shouts "another!" gets me every time. Natalie Portman and Stellan Skarsgård are fantastic but Kat Dennings as the comic relief is the scene-stealer extraordinaire. Kenneth Branagh directs this one in a manner that doesn't feel completely separate from some of his Shakespearian works, which I think aides the mythos and the world-building. I like that this movie walks down the path of a nearly indestructible super hero having an ego. It seems to me it would be near-inescapable to let fame and glory go to your head. It does for Thor and nearly costs him everything, but his selfless act returns his ability to wield Mjölnir. I love all of it.
Final Thoughts
Superhero movies, man. Just magisterial in their scope and breadth. I love 'em all. If you do too, you've probably seen most or all of the MCU movies as well. I ranked them all, so I'll include the rest of phases 1-3 down below. Please let me know in the comments if I missed any of your favorites. Thanks!
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