20 Best Marvel Movies Of All Time

Leaving us the best of Marvel movies, the American comic book creator, editor, publisher, and producer Stan Lee has passed away. Eventually becoming the head of what would become Marvel Comics, he worked his way up through the ranks of the family business, Timely Publications.

It all started with “Iron Man” (2008), the movie that gave the world its first glimpse of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and hinted that he might be a part of something bigger. Over 25 films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has continued to expand its narrative. Albeit in ways that have led to the introduction of new characters and planets that may or may not eventually interact with one another.

In many ways, each MCU film may be seen as a whole entity unto itself, nonetheless. They all function as interlocking parts of a larger whole, much like Lego pieces. Also, in this fashion, the Marvel films can be seen to reveal a single, cohesive narrative.

Below, we detail the recommended viewing order for the Marvel flicks, but there are other viable options. Although several MCU movies, like “Captain Marvel” and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” are direct prequels, the films still make sense when viewed chronologically.

While most Marvel films follow a direct chronological timeline, a few tell stories that overlap with those of previous movies. For example, “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” both take place before “Avengers: Infinity War,” and their events are roughly contemporaneous.

The Infinity Saga is a three-part story arc spanning the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) from “Iron Man” through “Avengers: Endgame.” The Disney+ shows “WandaVision,” “Black Widow,” and “Shang-Chi” are all part of the fourth phase, which debuted with “WandaVision.”

The events of “Thor: Love and Thunder,” the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film, occur after those of “Avengers: Endgame” and, presumably, sometime after “Doctor Strange 2” and “Ms. Marvel.”

Here’s how to watch the MCU movies in chronological order of events:

• Captain America: The First Avenger
• Captain Marvel
• Iron Man
• The Incredible Hulk
• Iron Man 2
• Thor
• Marvel’s The Avengers
• Iron Man 3
• Thor: The Dark World
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Ant-Man
• Captain America: Civil War
• Black Widow
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• Black Panther
• Doctor Strange
• Thor: Ragnarok
• Ant-Man and the Wasp
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Avengers: Endgame
• Spider-Man: Far From Home
• Eternals
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
• Thor: Love and Thunder

With 2008’s “Iron Man,” Marvel Studios began producing its films independently; Paramount Pictures distributed the first few MCU films, while Universal distributed “The Incredible Hulk.” Yet, after Disney acquired Marvel, every Marvel Studios film after “Captain America: The First Avenger” was distributed by Disney.

The three “Spider-Man” films released by Sony Pictures stand out as the only exceptions, despite being official MCU canon. So here’s how to watch all the Marvel movies in order of release:

• Iron Man (2008)
• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• Thor (2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Ant-Man (2015)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Doctor Strange (2016)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
• Captain Marvel (2019)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• Black Widow (2021)
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
• Eternals (2021)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
• Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

The headings are names of movies by Marvel, mostly series of films. However, we will be revolving all around the Marvel Avengers Universe using quotes that, in a sense, unites them all (spoilers alert!).

Marvel Movies: Avengers

Marvel’s The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame bring you through the entire 22-film arc of Marvel Studios’ superhero team, from the initial gathering of Earth’s mightiest heroes to the thrilling conclusion.

Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) launches a superhero recruitment drive to counter Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) unprecedented threat to Earth. After he acquires the Tesseract, an energy cube with unlimited power.

“I still believe in heroes.” So Fury’s “dream team” now includes; 

• Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, 
• Chris Evans’ Captain America, 
• Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, 
• Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, 
• Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, and 
• Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye.

Nick Fury addresses Iron Man and Captain America in a rousing speech, and the conversation is shockingly severe. His idea was to gather a group of extraordinary people and see if they could evolve into something more significant. He was committed to this concept.

There was hope they could form an alliance that would rally around the world in times of crisis and take on conflicts that regular people simply couldn’t handle. This cheesy but motivational Avengers line could be dated, but it still holds true today. Cap still has faith, in any case.

Later on, there is a disagreement between Captain America and Iron Man’s faction and the rest of the Avengers over whether or not to sign the Sokovia Accords. That led to the Avengers Civil War: “Cause if we can’t protect the Earth, you can be damn sure we’ll avenge it.”

In many ways, the Avengers aren’t the ideal team. They stumble and make more mistakes than any other superhero team. Not everyone gets along, and not everyone is successful on their first try. This could be because they have to deal with more international crises than Marvel’s street-level heroes.

But they’ll keep trying anyway. They are prepared to do whatever it takes to defend Earth and its inhabitants. Because they are the Avengers, this motivational quote features the word “avenge” to further emphasise the team’s unwavering resolve. It’s what they know!

Thor

“This drink, I like it! ANOTHER!”

In the original film, Thor has one of the most memorable lines when he asks for more coffee and breaks a mug in a New Mexico diner. He quickly realises that his actions were inappropriate on Midgard and seeks forgiveness. It was planned initially for Thor to return to the diner and replace the shattered mug, but the scene was cut.

This phrase has come to symbolise both his intrepid warrior spirit and his amusing ignorance of human culture, even after he realised the error of his ways. Ask for your vanilla latte like an Asgardian the next time you visit your favourite coffee shop. However, you should not be surprised if you are asked to clean up after yourself.

Iron Man

“I love you 3000.”

Both Morgan and Tony Stark say this throughout Avengers: Endgame. The line is touching and endearing simultaneously, making it one of the most memorable lines from any Marvel Cinematic Universe film. It’s an exaggerated expression on the young girl’s part that, after Tony Stark gives his life, becomes the rallying cry of the entire Marvel fandom.

To truly love someone is to love them three thousand times.

Captain America

“I can do this all day.”

Captain America promises the world that he will continue to defy convention with this rousing Avengers line. There’s no harm in him falling; he’ll just get back up. I wouldn’t call that a wrong way to go through life.

Never mind what his opponent has done to him. He will never show it. He is willing to keep going back for as many rounds as necessary. And he will succeed in the end. This is me in a heroic dimension:”)

Black Panther – WAKANDA FOREVER!

“You are a good man, with a good heart. And it’s hard for a good man to be a king.”

T’Challa, the Black Panther, Marvel’s newest superhero, was released to theatres on Valentine’s Day. Viewers were enthralled by the movie and even joined in on the battle cry of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Which is incredibly wealthy and technologically advanced thanks to the presence of a rare resource called Vibranium.

Spider-Man

“Remember, with great power comes great responsibility.”

If you can do something, use that power for the benefit of others, as the adage goes. People widely held in high esteem have followed the spirit of this message, including Gandhi and Ninoy Aquino.

Prevent the worst from happening if at all possible. You don’t need superpowers to understand and implement that bit of nerd wisdom. You can make a big difference in the world by taking small steps.

Hulk

“That’s my secret, Captain. I’m always angry.”

Seeing the adrenaline pumping through Bruce Banner’s veins at the climax of The Avengers is one of the film’s most thrilling moments (2012). Eventually, the gamma radiation erupts, his eyes glaze over the deep and potent green, and his muscles begin to swell.

Fans were enthralled by this line in the Marvel team’s first cinematic outing because they had witnessed Banner’s internal struggle with hiding his superhero identity. When people in Manhattan really need him, however, Bruce Banner gives in to his darker side, and the Hulk erupts. With a clenched fist, he gets ready to do what he does best.

Hulk, Smash!

Black Widow

“I’m Always Picking Up After You Boys…”

One of Natasha Romanoff’s quotes used for comedic effect is her wry remark as she picks up Captain America’s shield from the sidewalk. It’s an accurate assessment of how she feels in movies.

At Tony Stark’s company, Natasha is revealed to be a SHIELD agent working undercover. Nick Fury hired her to keep an eye on him and calm him down in tense situations. In The Avengers, her mission is to convince Bruce Banner to join the team and find Hawkeye.

When everyone turns against Steve, it is Natasha who not only picks up his shield from the road but also picks him up and keeps him going. As the only female player, Natasha is responsible for cleaning up after the rest of the team. A feminist would have something to say about this (whispering).

Doctor Strange

• “The Ancient One: Arrogance and fear still keep you from learning the simplest and most significant lesson of all.
• Dr. Stephen Strange: Which is?
• The Ancient One: It’s not about you.”

Guardians of the Galaxy

“I am Groot!”

Avengers eventually have Groot. The Flora colossus Groot hails from Planet X, the hub of the remote solar systems. The Flora colossi are tree-like beings whose language is nearly incomprehensible due to the rigidity of their larynxes. That makes their speech sound like they are repeating the phrase “I am Groot.”

Ant-Man

“Okay, the first thing we should do…is call the Avengers.”

As the number of MCU superheroes grows, the notion that they all go on separate adventures becomes implausible. Why should they fight a villain alone when they have thirty other friends with superpowers?

From what we can tell from the trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home, Nick Fury has an explanation for every name Spidey drops in conversation with him. When Hank Pym informed Scott Lang of the danger posed by Darren Cross, Lang said, “Okay, the first thing we should do…is call the Avengers.” This got the ball rolling.

Wolverine

“Don’t be what they made you.”

The constant dehumanisation Logan and later his daughter Laura endure at the hands of their oppressors is one of the story’s most heartbreaking elements. Of course, this is how all mutants are treated, but these two seem to get even more of it.

This is why “Don’t be what they made you” is a full quote from Logan. Both Laura and Logan have the potential to be good people, despite their backgrounds as killing machines and weapons research subjects, respectively.

X-Men

“Patience isn’t my strongest suit.”

Wolverine is sent back in time in X-Men: Days of Future Past to prevent a series of disastrous events. Professor X warns Wolverine that he must be patient with his depressed younger self before the two travel back in time. Wolverine continues by saying that patience isn’t his strong suit.

The New Mutants

“You didn’t make me up. I promise you I am real.”

Fantastic Four

Victor Von Doom – (Proposing to Sue Storm) “Four words, Sue. Four words that will change our lives forever….”

Reed Richards – (Interrupting) “The cloud is accelerating!”

Deadpool

I think the name is enough for you to check this one out :”)

Ghost Rider

“I ride, and Hell follows with me.”

Punisher: War Zone

• “Priest : God be with you, Frank.
• Frank Castle : Sometimes I would like to get my hands on God.”

[Carlos is dying after being axed by Loony Bin Jim]

• “Carlos : See you in Hell.
• Frank Castle : If I see you anywhere near Hell, I’ll kick your ass out.”

[Frank covers Carlos’s eyes and shoots him to end his suffering]

Blade

• “Pearl : Is that you? He’s here! He’s here!
• Blade : This must be Pearl. The record keeper.”

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

“My father trained me to be an assassin. That’s not who I am.”

Morbius

Based on his personality traits, Michael Morbius is an anti-hero, not a hero or villain. Morbius has overcome his reputation as a villain in the Spider-Man series. Thanks to his ongoing fight against his vampire tendencies.

Since the public is already aware of Tom Hardy’s Venom and the events in San Francisco, Morbius jokes that he is Venom to intimidate the criminal he is fighting. Also, “We are Venom” has always been Venom and Eddie Brock’s catchphrase, so “I am Venom” is a meta-reference to both of them.

Avengers, assemble!

Ultimately, I would love to top it with a cherry for all comic lovers: “Everyone fails at who they are supposed to be, Thor. The measure of a person, of a hero…is how well they succeed at being who they are.” – Frigga, Avengers: Endgame.

As Thanos returns to finish what he started, it seems all hope is lost — until portals appear, bringing heroes and fighters from all over the world just in time. As the characters we’ve followed for a decade peer through the portals to their greatest battle, we see old friends and lovers reuniting.

Hundreds of thousands of Wakandans, magic disciples, Asgardians, aliens, and other allies band together for one last assault on Thanos. This is the final battle. Finally, after all these years, the most excellent team of heroes in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be united. We’ll all get to hear the most famous of all Avengers quotes.

If Captain America gives the order, everyone obeys. The Avengers will protect a world that is full of wonders!