Top 10 MCU Movies According To IMDb
IMDb has long been a trusted site for critic and audience reviews on new and popular films. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe being the home to some of the most popular movies since 2008, it is little wonder that IMDb is full of moviegoers voicing their opinions of the MCU. While a few of these movies have a tendency to be lackluster (looking at you, Dark World), many receive stellar ratings and Marvel fans seem to be generally pleased with the way the comics have been adapted for the big screen. The following are the top ten Marvel Cinematic Universe movies according to their IMDb ratings.
10. Doctor Strange - 7.5
Deserving a spot on this list for the visual effects alone, Doctor Strange is the story of how an arrogant, self-assured surgeon learns his place in the universe. The journey takes him to the Ancient One who teaches him to elevate his mind, deepen his spirit and touch the mystic arts to become the Sorcerer Supreme. With stellar performances by Benedict Cumberbatch, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton, Doctor Strange is an intense and introspective thrill ride that leaves audiences wondering what they are truly capable of.
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9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - 7.6
A surprising addition to the top 10, Guardians 2 finds the crew of the Milano crash landing on the homeworld of Ego, a celestial being who claims to be Peter Quill's father. The mysterious being, perfectly portrayed by Kurt Russell, is arrogant, cocky, and occasionally severe, insisting that Peter claim his birthright as a god. However, there is more to this mysterious man than meets the eye, and Quill will need the help of all his friends to win the day. This film is also host to one of the most emotional performances in the MCU, with Michael Rooker portraying Quill's adopted father, Yondu.
8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 7.7
A change of pace from the more fantasy, magic, and science-fiction films previously on this list, Winter Soldier falls more in the spy-thriller/action mold, as with most of the movies in the Captain America series. With S.H.I.E.L.D. compromised and Nick Fury apparently K.I.A. Captain Rogers is plunged into the shadowy world of espionage and assassination that is typically Natasha's realm. Banding together with Black Widow and the newly introduced Falcon, Steve must clear his name and rout the traitors out of S.H.I.E.L.D. before the world is subjected to the rule of Hydra. However, a mysterious super soldier assassin from Steve's past is on their trail and time is running out. With plenty of martial action and gunplay, Winter Soldier is a conspiracy riddled thrill ride that is sure to enthrall Marvel and action movie fans alike.
7. Captain America: Civil War - 7.8
One of the most pivotal moments in the Marvel Comics and, of course, in the MCU, is the signing of a registration act, known in the films as the Sokovia Accords. After the events of Age of Ultron (a movie sorely missing from this list in my opinion) and further collateral damage inadvertently caused by the Avengers, Tony Stark, Vision, and several others agree to have their actions regulated by the elected bodies of the world, seeing this as the only way to prevent further innocent deaths. Fearing that the likes of Wanda Maximoff and Bucky Barnes will not be treated fairly under these Accords, Rogers, Sam Wilson, and Clint Barton do no sign on. This sets off a war that will have no winners, all while the true puppet master, Baron Zemo, lurks in the shadows and engineers the destruction of the Avengers.
6. Iron Man - 7.9
The debut film in the MCU, nobody had seen a superhero movie with as much grit, guts, and high production value when Iron Man was released in 2008. Masterfully crafted by Jon Favreau, Iron Man certainly benefits from being the first of its kind and beginning the 11-year story of Tony Stark. As with any first movie in a long and varied saga, the changes in production and tone are noticeable when compared to later films. While the production values have changed dramatically over the course of the past decade, the MCU excels at allowing the actors to forge their character and keep them consistent over multiple movies. The Tony Stark seen boozing and womanizing at the beginning of the movie is not all that different to the Tony who builds the first Iron Man armor out of scraps and blasts his way out of captivity.
5. Thor: Ragnarok - 7.9
My personal favorite MCU movie, Ragnarok focuses on the fun and adventure of comic books while still hitting important emotional beats and reminding us exactly what it is heroes do. The vibrant colors of the set and character design, especially on the junk planet of Sakaar, help offset the dark events of Odin's death and Hela's slaughter on Asgard. Easily fluctuating between fun, offbeat, and even occasionally slapstick comedy and the more sinister events of chaos and destruction is a skill that few excel at to the extent of director Taika Waititi. His unique brand of filmmaking has extended from WWII, to vampires, to Star Wars and Marvel. With a soundtrack reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, the third installment in the Thor series is easily the best and a fun romp through the reaches of space that has surprising gravitas and impact on the climax of the Infinity Saga.
4. The Avengers 8.0
The first in a long line of bold crossovers within the MCU, The Avengers finds our heroes introduced over the course of the previous four years of films battling to save New York from an alien invasion. Connecting character and story threads from virtually every preceding Marvel movie, The Avengers was enjoyed by comic fans and moviegoers alike. While it takes a while to find its stride and has few factors that really set it apart from other Marvel movies, the third act alone is worth the price of admission. The Battle of New York really allows us to see how our heroes work alongside each other and what they are capable of at this point in their careers. This thrilling action sequence is capped off by a pivotal moment in Tony's character development as he nearly is sacrifices himself to cut off the Chituari and win the day.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy - 8.0
Another film in a similar vein as Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy blazes its own trail and allows characters like Peter Quill to really come into their own and develop into a personality unlike any other in the MCU. In typical pirate fashion, Quill gathers a crew of misfits around him to undertake a dangerous mission including Rocket Raccoon and his ally Groot, Drax the Destroyer who seeks vengeance for his slain family, and the assassin Gamora. With the single best soundtrack in the Marvel filmography, Guardians is a unique and explosive space adventure. Complete with a jailbreak sequence, dogfights in starfighters, and a radical warlord antagonist, Guardians is a love letter to comic books, classic rock, and science fiction.
2/1. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame - 8.0
Coming in at the top of the list, and rightfully so, is the two-part finale to the Infinity Saga: Infinity War and Endgame. Seeing as these two films are closely linked, with Endgame picking up moments after the conclusion of Infinity War and their identical rating of 8.0 from critics and audiences, it seems only right to combine these two into the peak of this list. As the Asgardian refugees of Ragnarok head for sanctuary on Earth, they are waylaid and massacred by the titan warlord, Thanos. The ensuing battle for the Infinity Stones takes our heroes from Knowhere, to Wakanda and the moon of Titan. The film may also have the most emotional gut punch in the saga as it concludes with evil triumphing and our heroes left scrambling for answers. While Infinity War may be the better written and produced of the two films, Endgame appeals to the audience at large by reuniting the Avengers after their splintering in Civil War and by putting numerous comic book references and fan-service moments onscreen in a tour de force of action, adventure, and emotion. Endgame is, at its core, a story of undoing past wrongs, self-sacrifice, and trusting those who stand by your side. And who doesn't love Captain America finally getting to call for the Avengers to assemble?
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Source(s): IMDb.com