The Marvel Cinematic Universe is beginning the slow march toward the end of its current phase with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as the long-running Multiverse Saga finally winds down. It’s a make or break moment for an MCU that has been slowly declining in popularity after Avengers: Endgame, despite big films like Deadpool & Wolverine and Thunderbolts*.
It’s all a lot, and it seems so quaint when you consider where it all began—way back in 2008 with Iron Man and the Marvel films that released in its wake. Before you dive into Fantastic Four and the road to Avengers: Doomsday, here’s Phase One of the MCU, ranked, and where to watch the movies on TV and streaming.
6. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Is it bizarre that so many people forgot for years that The Incredible Hulk is actually in the MCU until recently? Starring Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, The Incredible Hulk was a tumultuous release, with reports of behind-the-scenes drama and an ongoing rift with The Hulk rights, wherein Paramount owns a portion of them. It shows, too, in its dismal 68% Rotten Tomatoes score. In recent years, however, this film has become increasingly important, with its iteration of “Thunderbolt” Ross returning to kick start Captain America: Civil War, and its Leader tease, unresolved for nearly 20 years, serving as the driving factor for 2024’s Captain America: Brave New World.
5. Iron Man 2 (2010)
How do you follow up one of the biggest comic book movies ever made? If you guessed a tightly plotted, raucous sequel that gives viewers more of what they want, then you didn’t see Iron Man 2. The 72% Rotten Tomatoes score may not seem that bad, but Iron Man 2 is an infamously troubled film. It’s trying to balance being a sequel while setting up Tony Stark’s place in the universe, a thing that was still very much in its infancy, all while finally teasing the future of the MCU. While many agree Iron Man 2 has aged pretty well, the muddied plots aren’t helped by the multiple set pieces which were given away in the trailer before release.
4. Thor (2011)
2011’s Thor is such an odd beast compared to where the character and franchise are today. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor was clearly meant to evoke a much more epic, Shakespearean feel than its raucous space adventure follow-ups. The film currently sits at a comfortably 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks to stellar performances from both its established stars like Anthony Hopkins and newcomers Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. However, audiences at the time didn’t necessarily connect with its thin plot and bizarre narrative. One has to wonder where the character would be today if the eventual course correction with Thor: Ragnarok never took place.
3. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
For a World War II-set action/adventure superhero origin, the MCU made the decision to go with director Joe Johnston. After all, he’d already made a beloved WW2-set action/adventure superhero origin with 1991’s The Rocketeer. If you knew that going in, you likely recognized his hand in Captain America: The First Avenger. The penultimate entry in Phase One, The First Avenger’s action and romance sub-plot proved incredibly popular with fans, netting it an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s not the highest for Phase One, but it was a sign of just how popular the Captain America character was going to become.
2. The Avengers (2012)
There will never be another experience like The Avengers in our lifetime, and rightfully so. For the time, The Avengers was a big swing: Take all the disparate characters introduced across five movies, each with wildly different tones, plots, and settings, and make them hang out for one massive adventure. It sells itself almost entirely on spectacle alone, but it works because the characters are just so good. Somewhere in the thick of all of this, when Captain America and Iron Man are bickering as everyone else rolls their eyes, everyone realized this was something magical. The Avengers, which has a stunning 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and sequels are forever going to be trying to recapture this magic.
1. Iron Man (2008)
The first Iron Man feels like it was so long ago, to the point that it’s almost quaint to rewatch it. Stellar performances, a top-notch cast, and restrained action and special effects made this one a gem, which has netted it a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score. But many have likely forgotten those awkward months leading up to release, in an era where the most prominent Marvel films were the awkward Spider-Man 3 and the middling X-Men: The Last Stand. Iron Man released in an era when comic book movies were changing for the better, and it more than deserves its spot as the most-beloved MCU Phase One film.
Where To Watch Every MCU Phase One Movie Online
To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in the US, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!
