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The most recent entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thunderbolts, marks the conclusion of the franchise’s chaotic, postponed, and extensively revised Phase 5. It hints at a more straightforward path for Phase 6—one that, while still rooted in over 15 years of MCU lore, emphasizes the creators’ awareness of the need to attract casual audiences who may not follow every new release closely.
Thunderbolts brings together largely minor characters from Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Ant-Man and The Wasp. The film efficiently summarizes their backgrounds without relying heavily on intricate details. This seems like a deliberate shift from the lore-heavy previous film, Captain America: Brave New World, which attempted to weave connections from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Eternals, and Avengers: Endgame. Given the mounting burden of prerequisite knowledge in the MCU, making these movies approachable and appealing has become increasingly vital as Marvel seeks to recover from recent box office setbacks.
Nevertheless, this task proves challenging, as each Marvel Studios film or TV show continues to advance a grand narrative filled with both triumphs and failures. Marvel’s ambition to continually outdo itself and explore limitless spin-off potential has compelled it to navigate real-world difficulties, resulting in a somewhat unpredictable and fragmented collection of films.
Currently, the MCU lineup consists of a mix of grand successes, forgettable entries, and outright failures. While fans may debate the merits of each film, the team at Polygon collectively ranked every MCU movie from best to worst. (The MCU television shows also ignite similar discussions, but they warrant a separate ranking.)
How We Ranked Every MCU Movie
Polygon consistently tracks Marvel Studios releases, gathering staff opinions after each film debuts to reassess where the latest entry fits into our rankings. We emphasize narrative strength and character development, the film’s ability to tell a coherent story, unique or bold approaches to the franchise, quality of effects, performances, and satisfying integration into the existing universe.
[Ed. note: This list will be updated as new MCU films debut. Last update: May 2025, to include Thunderbolts].
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