Let's start off this list with the first Deadpool movie. It took a lot of convincing by fans and Ryan Reynolds to make this movie, and it did not disappoint. The ScreenJunkies have joked about the movie being like a long episode of Family Guy, and I think that's spot on. The humor is dark and edgy, which is maybe not for everyone, but it worked for me. I love Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, and I couldn't imagine anyone else playing this character.
© 20th Century Fox
Let's continue with Shang-Chi . The movie follows a standard MCU structure, with a strong first and middle act, but falling off at the end, partly due to the CGI slugfest that looks terrible. But that first act though is really good. The choreography in these fist-fights is on par with great Kung-Fu classics, and the humor is good as well.
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Here we might step into arguing territory. I think Civil War is good, but not that good. The conflict between Steve and Tony is definitely a highlight, and Black Panther's introduction and character arc work really well here. The first outing of Spiderman in the MCU was probably the best part of this movie, but in typical Marvel fashion, I didn't care much for the villain. Zemo is just a bit flat, with confusing motivations and an even more confusing plan.
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In my opinion, the best Deadpool movie is the second one. The humor lands well for me, and the whole Cable story makes for a fun driving force for the plot. Deadpool's chemistry with Cable is also fun to watch. I especially want to say something about the X-Force scene, where they jump out of the jet, because the way they fail so spectacular still brings joy to my life.
© 20th Century Fox
This Xmen movie is very good. If the third act didn't take that much of a dip in quality, then I would rank it much higher, but here we are. Seeing a broken Charles Xavier, who doesn't want anything to do with his powers and the world, is more exciting than I thought. Magneto is great as always, and the Quicksilver scene is one of the best scenes out of all Comic Book movies ever.
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The first Iron Man movie can only be described as cool. Tony Stark is kind of a... not nice person in the first act, but is humbled pretty quickly. I liked seeing his change in character, and how he became the most beloved character in the MCU. Looking back, it's insane to think that in the comics, Iron Man wasn't most people's favorite character.
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This is another controversial placing, but hear me out. I think the way this movie subverts our expectations of the Mandarin works really well here. It's also exciting to see Tony overcome obstacles without the help of his full equipment. We see him in situations that wouldn't work normally because he could always get out with his suit. Also, Ben Kingsley is hilarious!
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Spiderman: Homecoming is a solid movie, and an important step in introducing Peter Parker in the MCU. Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon and Michael Keaton did an amazing job in their respective roles, bringing this coming of age story to life. The cute moments between the kids feel like straight out of a 2000s teen comedy. Moreover, the humor is actually funny, not like the standard Marvel quipping, but with actual jokes.
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The second Captain America movie is kind of awesome. It feels like an action thriller at times, but in the end it's definitely a comic book movie. Steve has great chemistry with Black Widow, and the whole S.H.I.E.L.D conspiracy makes for an exciting piece of cinema. The design of the Winter Soldier looks great and makes him come off as a real threat to Steve. Good movie!
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This may be the most influential comic book movie on this list. Back in the day, superhero movies were laughed off as corny garbage, but then Sam Raimi happened. Don't get me wrong, the movie is still kind of corny, but in the best way possible. It's just charming to see this over the top Green Goblin, battling Peter Parker, that spouts goofy one-liners. In the end, Spiderman did what no other movie managed to do – make superheroes cool.
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Ahh… the one that started it all… kind of. This movie is just awesome. I don't even have much to say about this one, it's just a plain old good time. This was the first time that we got a big crossover event like this, and at the time, this was a huge deal. Everyone loved and talked about this movie. I was in school when it released, and even my teachers couldn't shut up about it. This paved the way for truly awesome superhero movies.
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I want to preface this by saying that all the Guardians movies are on this list. This one was the weakest of the three, but it is a great movie nonetheless. Rocket shines in this one with the start of his character arc that continues into the next movie. Yondu's story is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I guess the only thing holding this movie back is the main plot that is not as strong as in the other movies.
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Spiderman: No Way Home is a truly satisfying conclusion to the MCU Spiderman trilogy. The action and the comedy are on point and the movie has a certain weight to it that I like. The one thing that stands out is definitely Willem Dafoe, who gives it his all as the Green Goblin. Seeing the old spider-men return is also great, especially with Andrew Garfield, who gets to redeem himself over like 30 minutes of screen time.
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Before I watched this movie, I never would have thought that it is as good as it is. Xmen: First Class is exciting, fresh, and deeply emotional. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, as Charles Xavier and Eric Lancer, give a convincing performance, showing us how much these two characters actually care or cared for each other. The Xmen training montage remains one of my fondest memories of Xmen as a whole, and the final showdown with Sebastian Shaw is as harrowing as it should be.
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Logan doesn't even feel like a comic book movie. It feels like a real movie, and an excellent one at that. Following this old and broken down version of Wolverine, trying to find peace in a dystopian future, is everything I wanted it to be. Dafne Keen as X-23 is incredible, to say the least. The R-rating feels earned, because this kind of movie really needs this brutality, it's Wolverine we're talking about after all. The ending will break you. Please watch this movie if you haven't already.
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Who would have thought that a comedic Lego version of Batman would work so well, and be as faithful to the character as this movie is? This is probably the funniest comic book movie out there. It's joyful, heartwarming and has a surprising amount of emotional depth. Ever since BoJack Horseman, Will Arnett has been one of my favorite actors and especially voice actors, and he really brings the heat in this one. His comedic timing and chemistry with Michael Cera as Robin is the highlight of this movie.
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So if the first Sam Raimi Spiderman showed the world again that superheroes can have good movies, then this one showed the world that they can also be great. For many people, this is their favorite superhero movie, and not without good reason. Alfred Molina is excellent as Doctor Octopus and fits perfectly into the directing style of Sam Raimi. The train scene is one of the most iconic moments in superhero history and brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it.
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Thor: Ragnarok was a surprise for many reasons. Thor movies always tried to be serious fantasy/science fiction movies, but with new director Taika Waititi, the series went in a direction no one thought to be possible for Thor. The characters are genuinely funny, and Thor's character arc revived him as a character and pushed his role in the MCU in the perfect direction for the next MCU projects. Also, some of the shots in this movie are like really good, which was almost never the case in an MCU movie before. It's a colorful and fun film that makes you laugh and leaves you wanting more.
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Wow, this movie hit like a truck. I remember when it released, it broke all kinds of records in the box office and everyone couldn't shut up about it. A movie with characters that us casuals have never seen or heard of before, in settings the MCU never explored before, did this well financially and with critics. It was a sensation. This was the first time the MCU really tried something different and without this film, the Marvel movies we know today would not exist.
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Okay, so I would definitely rank Across the Spiderverse higher if not for one issue. It ends in a cliffhanger. I know that this doesn't make a movie worse than others, but it certainly makes it less satisfying. On the other hand, it just looks so amazing. The action, the colors, the dialogue, the characters. Everything is on point and feels just right. Seeing Miles as a more confident Spiderman makes me so happy somehow, since I wanted to see more of that ever since the ending of the first movie.
© Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Animation
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is my favorite MCU movie. I love the finality of this movie, it really feels like the perfect ending for this trilogy. It was a great choice to have Rocket be the main focus of this story, and it broke my heart. James Gunn upped the ante in terms of his directing, with shots that are so inexplicably beautiful, you forget that a lot of it is CGI. Also, this movie includes the best fight scene in the whole MCU.
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I want to rank these two together since I feel like they come as a package deal. Though if I had to rank them separately, I'd have to say that Infinity War was a bit better. Anyway, this was the moment the MCU peaked. Every movie that came before it, set up this spectacle. When these movies came out, it felt like the whole world was watching. So many great moments that I can't even list them all. I truly think that this kind of event is a once in a lifetime thing, and we will never see any franchise reach this scope of popularity.
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Now, before you hop into the comments and start hating me for this, let me explain. I think The Dark Knight is the best movie on this list. But, it just isn't that much of a comic book movie, it's more like a Christopher Nolan crime thriller. The plot is nearly perfect, the performances are fantastic, and the action is thrilling. Of course, I have to talk about Heath Ledger. Do you remember that before the movie came out, people were sceptical about this casting choice? Oh, how wrong they were. In the performance of his lifetime, he showed the world the pinnacle of acting. I can't say how much it saddens me to have lost such a talent, such a human being. Rest in peace, Heath.
The Dark Knight is a masterpiece that will always hold a place among the best movies of all time. I think you can't argue with that.
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The Batman is the best Batman movie out there for me. It just has the vibes. Robert Pattinson is my favorite on-screen Batman, and Jeffrey Wright is my favorite Gordon. The opening monologue of this film sets the tone perfectly, and the movie culminates in this intense detective story that I love. Finally, an on-screen Batman that really shows us why he's called the world's greatest detective. The music is also so good here. It's kind of a meme at this point, but who would have thought that Batman and Nirvana would go together like peanut butter and jelly?
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Into the Spiderverse is the best comic book movie in my opinion. It is so refreshing, so full of life and so exciting to watch. Miles Morales won over the hearts of millions with this movie. It is the origin story we never thought we wanted. The animation is something that no one has ever seen before. It genuinely looks like a moving comic book. The comedy is implemented very well and the action flows seamlessly from frame to frame. It is a modern work of art.
© Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Animation
Today, we're here to rank our 25 picks for the best comic book movies out there. Feel free to write in the comments if I forgot any of your favorites. So, let's enjoy this little superhero ride together!
