Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One movies
Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One movies are some of the best superhero films ever made, and as the MCU continues to grow, it’s worth looking back at the beginning of this cinematic juggernaut. From 2008’s Iron Man to 2012’s The Avengers, Phase One introduced many of the heroes that many non-comic book fans know today and set the stage for everything that’s followed.
The ranking of Phase One movies
The Phase One movies are all solid entries in the MCU, but some are better than others. Which movies are the cream of the crop, and which ones are the weakest links? With the release of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One – Avengers Initiative game, we had the opportunity to play through the story of the first six films in the MCU, which helped us to reevaluate them for this list. While the Avengers may be the most famous movie in the franchise, we’ve ranked the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One movies from worst to best.
Ranking of Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One movies
The sequel to the first Iron Man fails to reach the heights of its predecessor. While it’s still a fun experience, the story often feels a bit silly, and the villain isn’t anywhere near as compelling as the first one was. The debut of War Machine, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, and Justin Hammer are among the highlights, but it’s still not quite on par with the rest of the MCU.
Thor did receive a lot of flack when it first came out, but, upon rewatching it, it’s better than people think. While it’s definitely still the weakest Phase One movie, it does portray a more serious tone, introducing the iconic villain Loki, and it features a more focused story than Iron Man 2, despite the latter’s good action set pieces.
The Incredible Hulk often gets overlooked, but elements from this Edward Norton-led movie resurfaced later in the MCU, from the Avengers’ battle against Loki’s army to Emil Blonsky’s form being the basis for Abomination. This action-drama is a slower movie but still has fun sequences, most notably the opening chase and the final battle between Hulk and Abomination. It’s also a compelling story about Banner’s attempts to get rid of the Hulk once and for all, and the introduction of Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross.
Captain America: The First Avenger is the origin story of Steve Rogers and his efforts to become a soldier during World War II. It also introduced Hugo Weaving as antagonist Red Skull, as well as Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, who went on to star in her own show, which is highly recommended.
The movie focuses on Rogers’ relationship with Carter, as well as Carter and ‘90s-era Howard Stark, played by John Slattery, which makes for great interactions. It also has a compelling villain in Red Skull and a solid final battle.
The Avengers, the first big crossover, is a game changer. Seeing Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Captain America all in the same place was something that fans of these movies had been waiting for for years, and it didn’t disappoint, with exciting fight scenes and Tony Stark and Steve Rogers bickering their way through the whole ordeal. The film also solidified Loki as an iconic villain, and his plans to conquer Earth were the first real threat the team had to face.
The kickstarter of the whole shebang, Iron Man is still as good as it ever was, with Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark a charming lead, and Jon Favreau’s direction and visual style holding up to this day. Tony’s journey from playboy to protector of the world is compelling, and the finale of the movie, in which Tony dons his iconic suit for the first time, is one of the most memorable moments of the MCU.
The villain Obadiah Stane is a bit undercooked, but he’s a great foil for Tony, and there’s a solid fight scene at the end. The movie also introduced Black Widow, Nick Fury, and S.H.I.E.L.D. and set up the whole “Avengers Initiative”, which would play a crucial role in the film that followed.
