Dude, you're embarrassing me in front of the wizard
Everyone has an ongoing ranking of the Marvel films and series from best to worst, but I'm Bucky-ing tradition by compiling a list of my favorites
In light of the big Marvel Studios news coming out of this year's San Diego Comic-Con and ahead of the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe series, Agatha All Along, arriving on Disney+ in September, I decided the time had come for me to make a list of my favorite MCU movies and television series.
Two notes: 1) These are my favorites, not those I think are the best. Though to be fair, that list would look similar to the one below. 2) The shows are only those that originated on Disney+. As much as I love Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Punisher they are ineligible. Yes, I did intentionally not include Iron Fist.
So with that settled, let's get this party started. Avengers...
FAVORITE MCU MOVIES
12) Ant-Man
Scott Lang's origin tale is everything I could want in a Paul Rudd superhero flick. It helps that most of what Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish conceived when they initiated the project before leaving it made it to the screen. Scott is the most charming hero this side of Tony Stark. He's got serious competition from his adorable daughter Cassie, best mate Luis, and mentor/original Ant-Man Hank Pym. I love a heist movie and this one has the goods. One of my favorite set pieces features cat burglar Scott infiltrating Hank's house and stealing the Ant-Man suit — a test engineered by Hank. Another is the sweet meet cute between Scott and Sam Wilson/Falcon at Avengers HQ.
11) Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
"What a bunch of a-holes." Denarian Saal once said this about Peter Quill and company. He's not wrong. However, since Vol. 1, the Guardians have shown some emotional growth. The final installment of writer/director/comics fanboy James Gunn's trilogy proves this unequivocally. While the film punches you in the feels with Rocket's backstory, the gags, laughs, and action sequences still come fast and furious. A fantastic ensemble delivers, featuring standout turns by Chukwudi Iwuji (his High Inquisitor is the best Big Bad in the MCU right now), Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldaña, and Dave Bautista. This is the most satisfying final film in any Marvel Studios franchise to date. Endgame wishes it was this good.
10) Spider-Man: Homecoming
As much as I love Spider-Man: No Way Home, I always come back to the simple charms of the first and best Tom Holland/Spidey movie. Peter Parker swinging around Queens; going up against Adrian Toomes/Vulture (Michael Keaton, killing it); proving himself to mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr. giving a full performance instead of phoning it in); and wanting to go to the dance with his crush. It's especially gratifying seeing Peter have a real relationship with his aunt May (a welcome Marisa Tomei), who is a fully dimensional character here as opposed to the sequels. As for Peter, Holland is clearly having a blast in the role and it shows.
9) Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Marvel has a knack for recruiting acting legends to appear in their films. However, their greatest coup in this regard has to be landing Tony Leung Chiu-wai as the titular character's father/main antagonist, Xu Wenwu. The Hong Kong actor, known for his work with Wong Kar Wai, brings menace, nuance, and grace to his character. He's not the only highlight though. Love you, Morris! Destin Daniel Cretton's film is a delightful, heartfelt, funny, action spectacle with terrific performances by Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, and Michelle Yeoh. This is one MCU film that is long overdue for a sequel.
8) Black Panther
While this is undoubtedly King T'Challa's story, masterfully led by the late Chadwick Boseman, this is also an ensemble piece as everyone supports each other. The character interactions and their relationships are so well written and wonderfully performed. You truly believe that all of these people have a shared history in one way or another. This features, for my money, one of the best ensembles in a solo Marvel movie. And then there are the spectacular set pieces: T'Challa vs M'Baku! The Busan car chase! Killmonger and Klaue at the Museum of Great Britain! Now, can we get a spinoff featuring Danai Gurira's Okoye and Winston Duke's M'Baku? Please?
7) The Marvels
I really like Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau/Photon. But I'm a huge Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel stan, which is the main reason this movie made the list. To love Kamala is to love her family and I adore the Khans. Iman Vellani was born to play Kamala, who is the best character to hit the MCU in the past five years. Kamala is Carol's biggest fan and it's a joy to see her finally meeting her idol. Having Kamala's parents and brother along for the ride is amazing as their reactions to everything are THE BEST. There's a plot here, but really it's all about the relationships. Oh! And Goose and the Fleurkittens! So. Many. Fleurkittens!
6) Captain Marvel
She burst onto the screen as Vers, a member of the Kree alien race with a memory gap. Ultimately, she discovered her identity had been a lie and that she was former U.S. Air Force Captain Carol Danvers. Carol's origin story is filled with backstabbing; double-crossing; found family in the form of Maria Rambeaux and her daughter Monica; regained identity; a bangin' '90s soundtrack; the return of Phil Coulson; a younger Nick Fury; a healthy sense of humor; and a kickass Fleurken kitty named Goose. Honestly, what's not to love? Oh! And it has Annette Bening. Yeah, there was no way this wasn't gonna be a fave of mine.
5) Thor: Ragnorak
Hands down, the wildest entry in the Thor franchise, as well as the best and the most unabashedly fun. Writer-director Taika Waititi is consistently inconsistent yet when he hits, he hits big. Every member of the cast seems to be having a ball, especially Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, both of whom were probably delighted to get a script that is alternately hilarious and action-packed with real stakes. When it comes to the comedy, my favorite moments are Thor and Loki's reactions to seeing Hulk again in the arena and the pair playing Get Help later. All this and Cate Blanchett being a total badass while dressing the part.
4) Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff finally gets the solo flick she deserves (minus the dodgy CG in the third act) and we get to know more about the first female Avenger. Namely, that she had a found family way before she met Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, et al. Turns out, Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, Melina Vostokoff, and Yelena Belova were the only dad, mom, and sister, respectively, that Nat ever knew. Even after years of estrangement, they picked up right where they left off — complete with the bickering and violence. To be honest, I don't even need the plot of Nat and her fam finally ending the Black Widow program; just give me more of them hanging out.
3) Avengers: Infinity War
The best Avengers film bar none. Infinity War is peak MCU. A thrilling endeavor, complete with heavy emotional beats bookending the film. The quest to defeat Thanos gives us some truly inspired — some even iconic — team ups/pairings. All of these feel organic and seamless; none seem forced or patronizing. I really wish we were treated to a mission featuring Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Okoye, and Wanda Maximoff. Like a Marvel version of Birds of Prey. On the bright side, this is where Stephen Strange met Tony Stark and Peter Parker. For this fangirl, a family was born.
2) Doctor Strange
I love Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange. His performance is always note perfect. That said, he may never have a better showcase than his MCU debut. Director Scott Derrickson and writer C. Robert Cargill craft a beguiling, magnificent introduction to the surgeon-cum-sorcerer that's infused with humor. My favorite exchange between Kaecilius and Strange: "How long have you been at Kamar-Taj, Mister..." "Doctor!" "Mr. Doctor?" "It's Strange." "Maybe. Who am I to judge?" It also happens to feature my pick for the other best ensemble of any solo Marvel movie.
1) Captain America: The Winter Soldier
This is the best entry in the Steve Rogers-era Captain America franchise. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo made their MCU debuts with this slick conspiracy thriller that reintroduced Bucky Barnes (a sensational Sebastian Stan) as the tortured, broken antihero I adore. It also gave me more Natasha Romanoff and Maria Hill. Yessss! Steve was always too vanilla and strident for my tastes — and is far too sanctimonious in retrospect. But Bucky Barnes is the protagonist fighting to save the world (he wouldn't want me calling him a hero) we deserve.
FAVORITE MCU SHOWS
5) Echo
This Hawkeye spinoff hits the bullseye. Featuring a mostly Native cast led by the sensational Alaqua Cox reprising her role as Maya Lopez, the series picks up the dangling threads of its predecessor by bringing Maya home and diving into her past. Her family — great turns by Chaske Spencer, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal — are strongly tied to her despite her attempts to sever all ties. Maya isn't a cookie cutter character by any stretch and it's one of the reasons I love her. No one thing defines her: Not her fighting prowess, not that she's hearing impaired. She shows that there is a way out of the darkness.
4) She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
I've loved Tatiana Maslany since Orphan Black. So, I was beyond stoked when she was cast as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk. We get a nice, easy chemistry between Maslany's Jen and Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner/Smart Hulk — the characters are cousins. But the real fun comes from Jen finding a She-Hulk/life balance and interacting with her friends, particularly Ginger Gonzaga as her BFF Nikki Ramos. It also features possibly my favorite-ever meta sequence and the introduction of my second favorite character in the past five years, Patty Guggenheim’s Madisynn King (“...with two N’s, one Y, but it’s not where you think.”).
3) What If...?
Our favorite heroes and villains in new animated stories featuring a fair number of our favorite MCU actors voicing their characters? Sign. Me. Up. Even better? The protagonist of this series is Jeffrey Wright’s The Watcher, who coolly observes the multiverse … unless he's forced to participate; and Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter is back in a sizable role as Captain Carter — she got the superserum instead of Steve Rogers. Season two gifts us with a female Native hero named Kahhori, voiced by Reservation Dogs' Devery Jacobs. The show is a lot of fun, but the stories are bigger and more confident in its second season. I can't wait for season three!
2) Hawkeye
Part of me will always resent Clint Barton for living when Natasha Romanoff perished instead in Endgame. (Pretty sure he would understand.) That said, I am so happy he lived because we got one of the best MCU series as a result — and it's set over the holidays with an Avengers musical built into the story! As a fan of the Matt Faction comic run, I love that Kate Bishop (an ideally cast Hailee Steinfeld) and Pizza Dog are officially part of the MCU. We also get Kate's mom Eleanor Bishop (my beloved Vera Farmiga), plus the return of my girl Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh!) along with Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (again played with relish by Vincent D'Onofrio).
1) Ms. Marvel
This should come as no surprise considering I just gushed over my girl Kamala Khan and her fam when talking about The Marvels. Her origin story is fresh, idealistic, and hopeful despite the dangerous obstacles in her way. That's pretty much the best way to describe Kamala herself. Here, you also get to meet her friends, her community and extended family, as well as see her Northern New Jersey hood. There is no other hero like Ms. Marvel, which is why she deserves more screen time along with her fabulously talented portrayer, Iman Vellani.
Was this just like Budapest? Or do you and I remember Budapest very differently? Tell me some of your favorite MCU films and shows!
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I love the amount of quotes spread throughout this.