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With twenty-six movies under its belt and more to come in the following years, the MCU is showing no signs of slowing down. Especially now that the MCU TV series premiered, all superhero fans have plenty of content to watch. As a result, it's sometimes easy to forget the older movies that came beforehand.
Truth be told, not all MCU movies are great, some are just "good". Even then, there's plenty of options to choose from if the fans want to return to the older movies and remember how the MCU used to be. Some of the MCU movies work great even today, no matter if you've watched them before or not.
10 Iron Man (2008)
While the discovery of the identity of the main villain ends up as predictable, the first Iron Man still has a lot to offer. It's fascinating to see what Tony Stark used to be like, witnessing his gradual transformation to a hero and comparing it with his behavior in the later movies.
Plus, the movie's light-hearted and funny. It contains a lot of jokes that work even today. Some have aged badly, but most of them still hold. And finally, the nostalgia factor can also work its magic here because, without Iron Man, there would be no MCU.
9 Thor (2011)
Some viewers might prefer the funnier Thor: Ragnarok (2017) but story-wise, the first Thor movie is the best of the trilogy. It helps that Kenneth Branagh directs it and transforms a comic book tale into an almost Shakespearean tragedy. But it's still a superhero movie, so it's fun and the characters aren't afraid to quip.
However, the movie has a strong emotional core as it focuses primarily on the complex relationship between Thor, Loki, and Odin. That gives all three of their actors a chance to shine. Not to mention that it was this movie that made Loki a fan-favorite villain.
8 Marvel's Avengers (2012)
While the first Avenger movie suffers because of recycling Loki as the main villain, it works as a story about the team getting together. Since all of them have different personalities, finding common ground is no easy task, especially once Loki's scepter poisons the atmosphere.
However, it wouldn't be the Avengers if they didn't get over it in the end. Many hilarious quips and the strengthening of the bonds between the characters are the main reasons why their first team movie works even today.
7 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
The retro first Captain America was nice but it's the second movie that takes the cake. Steve Rogers discovers that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated by Hydra and has to deal with it with the help of his friends, Black Widow and Sam Wilson.
The movie is full of tension and the stakes are high since nobody knows who to trust. Plus, the Winter Soldier enters the scene which presents a new challenge for Steve. While this movie helps set the stage for later movies, it works even as a standalone spy thriller that's truly exciting to watch.
6 Ant-Man (2015)
Considering all the MCU movies have their stakes raised high and the heroes have to save the world or the universe, it's refreshing to watch a smaller, more down-to-Earth movie about a man who flies on ants and ends up fighting a single evil man.
Ant-Man is the ultimate summer superhero comedy ideal for watching with a group of similarly-minded friends. Paul Rudd as Scott Lang is a likable superhero. The supporting characters work as well, especially when it comes to Scott's interactions with them, such as his epic fight with Falcon.
5 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Even though it's titled Captain America, this movie could very well be called the third Avengers since most of the superheroes meet in it - and fight. The movie begins the conflict that will only end in Endgame. But before that happens, it's easy to enjoy the fast-paced, emotionally-charged story.
Because despite all the effective battle scenes (such as the airport battle), it's still ultimately a movie about losing friends and family, which is something that will resonate with plenty of viewers. And, it introduces Spider-Man and Black Panther, of course, which is another reason why this movie is so important.
4 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Tom Holland's Spider-Man became a fan-favorite immediately after his first appearance in the MCU, so his solo movie had to be good. And it was. Spider-Man: Homecoming is a feel-good teen movie the likes of which the MCU hasn't offered before......despite the fact that many of its viewers are teenagers.
Peter Parker is relatable because he deals with the things many people know, such as school, bullies, or first love. What helps this movie too is that it creates an unusually sympathetic villain. Michael Keaton's Vulture has a reason for what he does, and the shared scenes between him and Peter belong among the best moments in the movie.
3 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Both of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies are a fun watch but the second one wins because it has a stronger villain - literally. The living planet Ego played by the ever charismatic Kurt Russell has a better part in the story than Lee Pace's Ronan the Accuser.
The characters are already well-established, which allows their relationships to grow and deepen. The movie is once again hilarious. Besides offering several emotional scenes, it has a not-so-secret weapon: the one and only baby Groot!
2 Black Panther (2018)
Before Shang-Chi, Black Panther was the first major look into another part of the MCU, one that hasn't been explored before. And the fascinating world of Wakanda is a place that many fans want to return to. Luckily, they will get the chance in the upcoming sequel that won't, unfortunately, feature the late Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa.
The first Black Panther creates a villain whose actions make sense. The sympathetic heroes portrayed by talented actors make this movie a great superhero piece - even if the fights are sometimes overly CGI.
1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Avengers: Endgame presents the end of one era. But even if it wasn't important because of this, it still works as a mixture of humor and tragedy. It uses the concept of time travel, which is always fun and brings most of the previously established superheroes onto the scene.
That's a dream come true for Marvel fans. The movie has a fast pace despite its length: it's over three hours. Plus, it's so emotionally rich that the final scenes will have more than one fan in tears......even if they already know how it will end.