For about a decade now, I’ve updated my Marvel Cinematic Universe power rankings with each new movie and TV series release. I’ve also preposterously avoided putting those rankings in one consistent place, so as the list hits 50 entries, it’s time to rectify that!
Below you’ll find my favorite MCU movies and TV ranked in order from best to worst. Before you begin picking nits, yes, I’ve included Marvel TV shows published during the MCU that aren’t considered MCU canon, and no, I won’t change that.
Tier 1: The Best
My absolute favorites, the true cream of the crop, the only selections on here that I’d stack against other personal favorites in their respective mediums. Added weight here given to the decade-long buildup and payoff of “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” and several hundred bonus points awarded for David Tennant. I also break up the seasons of Netflix Jessica Jones because there’s a chasm between the quality of season one and season two!
1) Avengers: Infinity War
2) Avengers: Endgame
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3) Jessica Jones (Season 1)
4) Thor: Ragnarok
Tier 2: Great
The second tier is the place to note that I place weighted value on the importance of a movie as it pertains to the big picture of the MCU. For example, because of their earlier release dates, both Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers had enormous impact on what the MCU could and would become (see also: Iron Man in the following tier).
5) Guardians of the Galaxy
6) Captain America 3: Civil War
7) Black Panther
8) Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier
9) Spider-Man: No Way Home
10) Avengers
11) WandaVision
12) Daredevil (Seasons 1,2,3)
Tier 3: Good
I like all these, but I don’t love them. Shouts to “The First Avenger” for steadily climbing my rankings more than any other entry, as one of the rare MCU films that appreciates with age.
13) Captain America: The First Avenger
14) Spider-Man: Far From Home
15) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
16) Iron Man
17) Spider-Man: Homecoming
18) Shang Chi
19) Werewolf by Night
20) Loki (Season One)
21) Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Tier 4: Perfectly Average
I had a good time with all of these, but I know rewatching them would definitely not do them any favors. Iron Man 3 is the clearest example here because I really loved the movie the first time I saw it in theaters, but when I watched years later, found it far more underwhelming. The lesson of course is never rewatch anything!
22) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
23) Iron Man 3
24) She-Hulk
25) Ms. Marvel
26) Black Widow
27) Ant-Man & The Wasp
28) Thor: Love and Thunder
29) Eternals
30) Captain Marvel
31) Avengers 2: Age of Ultron
Tier 5: Mixed Feelings
Selections here means there are elements I like, but there’s also a lot I didn’t enjoy. A bunch of interesting messes, although less so than the prior the tier. No, you’re not mistaken, I do indeed think “The Dark World” belongs among this group, as I still quite enjoy the Loki portions of the film!
32) Ant-Man
33) Moon Knight
34) Doctor Strange
35) Hawkeye
36) Falcon and the Winter Soldier
37) Luke Cage (Seasons 1 & 2)
38) Agent Carter (Seasons 1 & 2)
39) Runaways
40) The Punisher (S1, S2)
41) Thor 2: The Dark World
42) Cloak & Dagger
Tier 6: I’ll Only Watch With a Comic In Hand
If I am somehow compelled to watch one of these again, I will only do so if I can simultaneously read some comics and look up when something interesting appears to be happening. Also a friendly reminder that comics? Comics are the best.
43) What If?
44) Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
45) Defenders
46) Thor
47) Agents of SHIELD
48) Iron Fist Season Two
49) Incredible Hulk
Tier 7: Nope
There is no conceivable situation in which I could be compelled to rewatch one of these, save torture, sudden residence in Lucifer’s domain, or my wife asking weirdly adamantly.
50) Iron Man 2
51) Jessica Jones (Season Two)
52) Plumbing emergencies
53) Iron Fist Season 1
54) Running out of coffee
55) Inhumans
The “There is No Mandarin Award” Award Show
The other recurring update I’ve made throughout MCU reviews is the “There is no Mandarin Award” for villain most thoroughly wasted in service of the plot. Generally it means a Marvel Universe villain that the MCU uses in name only, but has no real plans for. It’s a consistently competitive list since the MCU also has a habit of killing off all its best villains.
This one’s been updated since 2013, and Iron Man 3, and I’m excited to codify these results in one home destination!
Our winners:
2013: The (Not) Mandarin
2014: Ronan the Accuser
2015: Baron Von Strucker
2016: Cottonmouth
2017: Surtur
2018: The Black Order
2019: Ronan the Accuser
2020: DNP
2021: Taskmaster
2022: Gorr the God Butcher
2023: MODOK
This is massive disrespect to agents of shield. Understandable list otherwise even if I have some personal disagreements