Overall, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has earned a staggering $22.588 billion at the box office and cemented the A-list credentials of stars like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan and Elizabeth Olsen.
Here is the breakdown of critics' views of the movies in the MCU, from lowest-ranked to the top movie in the series based on an average score from aggregator sites Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes.
The Best MCU Movies According to Critics
25. Thor: The Dark World
The 2013 movie is the second Thor film, following Thor and Loki teaming up together to combat the invasion of the Dark Elves. The film received a 60 score out of 100.
24. The Incredible Hulk
This movie is one that many leave out of the MCU canon, given it stars Edward Norton as The Hulk and was released by Universal Pictures. However, officially it is the second MCU movie and received a score of 64 out of 100.
23. Iron Man 2
Robert Downey Jr returned to his role as Iron Man in 2010, in the sequel directed by Jon Favreau and written by Justin Theroux. The movie received an average score of 64.5 out of 100.
22. Thor
Kenneth Branagh directed the first Thor, which introduced Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston's Thor and Loki in the fourth movie of the MCU. It has a score of 67 across Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
21. Iron Man 3
Favreau did not return to the director's chair for Iron Man 3, and handed the reins to Shane Black. The movie has a score of 70.5 out of 100.
20. Avengers: Age of Ultron
This is the second Avengers movie, which follows an AI created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner that starts rebelling, threatening humankind. The movie received a score of 71 out of 100.
19. Captain Marvel
Brie Larson starred as the eponymous Captain Marvel, whose powers make her almost unstoppable, and a brilliant ally to The Avengers. The film has a score of 71.5 out of 100.
18. Captain America: The First Avenger
The first Captain America movie received a score of 73 out of 100 on average between Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes. The film shows the origins of Steve Rogers during World War II.
17. Ant-Man
Paul Rudd's outing as the miniature superhero received 73.5 out of 100. The film follows an ex-con who is enlisted to help defend the Ant-Man shrinking technology when a maniacal businessman wants to steal it.
16. Black Widow
Critics have already had their chance to talk about the movie despite it not having come out yet. Black Widow follows Natasha Romanoff as she faces her past to save her future. The movie received a score of 74.5 out of 100.
15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The second outing of the Guardians of the Galaxy received a score of 76 out of 100. In the movie the group travels through the universe, and Peter Quill learns more about his family.
14. Avengers: Infinity War
The penultimate Avengers movie received 76.5 out of 100. It shows the Avengers in their desperate attempt to stop Thanos, who gains the Infinity Stones and begins to enact his horrific plans.
13. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Ant-Man and the Wasp is the first Marvel movie that featured a female hero in the title. The movie received an average score of 78.5 out of 100 from Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes.
12. Spider-Man: Far from Home
Tom Holland took on the mantle of Spider-Man in the first movie, Spider-Man: Homecoming, in 2017. The second movie follows him trying to escape his superhero identity on holiday after the events of Avengers: Endgame. The movie has a score of 79.5 out of 100.
11. Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Avengers (tie)
Two films from the MCU come in tenth place with a score of 80 out of 100.
The Winter Soldier is the second Captain America movie and ninth movie in the MCU. It gives more background to the character of Bucky Barnes, who went onto become an Avenger and lead the series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
The second, The Avengers, is the introduction and bringing together of the crime-fighting, superhero team, after S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Nick Fury recruits them to stop Loki.
9. Doctor Strange
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Doctor Strange, an arrogant surgeon who seeks a spiritual path to help him recover from injuries, and finds himself battling with bigger powers than he knew existed. The movie has a score of 80.5 out of 100.
8. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings
This is the second movie from the pandemic era to come out, and had a solely cinematic release. So far it has impressed critics with an average score of 82 out of 100.
7. Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming (tie)
Another tie in seventh place, Captain America: Civil War saw The Avengers split over how regulated the group will become following the events of Age of Ultron.
Spider-Man: Homecoming comes next in the MCU canon after Civil War, as it introduces Spider-Man after he was recruited by Iron Man to fight Captain America, his new adversary. The movies gained a score of 82.5 out of 100.
5. Thor: Ragnarok
The third Thor film had a very different tone from other MCU movies, thanks to director and writer Taika Waititi. The movie saw Asgard, the home of Thor and Loki, be destroyed after their past came back to haunt them. The movie earned a score of 83.5 out of 100.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy
The 2014 movie brought together a ramshackle group of extra-terrestrial criminals, who go in search of Infinity Stones without realizing quite how important they will come. The film earned an average score of 84 out of 100 from Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes.
3. Avengers: Endgame
The three-hour epic movie is a big favorite for fans, as it finally solved the issue of the Infinity Stones that the heroes had been tackling for years before. The movie received a score of 86 overall.
2. Iron Man
The first movie of the franchise is in second place among fans. Robert Downey Jr. kicked the franchise off with this film, which followed a selfish, billionaire weapon manufacturer develop technology to defeat his enemies. The movie received a score of 86.5 out of 100.
1. Black Panther
Black Panther had a huge cultural impact, as it was the first Black superhero movie in the MCU. It was also the first MCU movie to win an Oscar, taking home three as well as being the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture. The movie has an average score of 92 across Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes.
