Phase Two is where the Marvel Cinematic Universe really started to take shape and expand into the massive world it is now. Phase One introduced core characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor through solo films and brought them all together in The Avengers, but Phase Two included even more crossover appearances and cameos from other heroes. It also expanded the MCU’s scope beyond The Avengers, introducing new heroes who would become important players in the overarching Infinity Saga during Phase Three.
As we enter the start of Phase Six with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, let’s take a look back at the MCU Phase Two and rank all six movies from worst to best.
6. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
It’s not controversial to say that Thor: The Dark World is the worst movie of Phase Two and one of the weaker films of the MCU at large. It suffers from an unexciting villain and a pretty typical fantasy story overstuffed with sub-plots, but its biggest issue is making Thor (Chris Hemsworth) feel like a secondary character in his own movie. There are some high points, including some cool action sequences and a great performance from Tom Hiddleston, who is always a treat to watch as Loki, but overall, Thor: The Dark World is clearly the weak link in Phase Two’s chain.
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Though it’s generally regarded as the weakest of the team-up films so far, Avengers: Age of Ultron is probably better than you remember it being. This is the movie that introduced fan-favorite characters like Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) who continue to be relevant to the MCU’s overall story, and The Avengers’ actions in Sokovia set the stage for the events of Captain America: Civil War and all that follows. Beyond that, Age of Ultron is the only Avengers movie where the heroes both start and end as a team, allowing for sweet, domestic moments like everyone taking turns trying to lift Thor’s hammer.
The movie does have some shortcomings, not the least of which is a painfully shoehorned romance between Bruce (Mark Ruffalo) and Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) that even Marvel seems to want us to all forget. But if Age of Ultron’s main flaw is not being as epic as other Avengers films, that speaks more to the overall quality of the MCU than anything else.
4. Iron Man 3 (2013)
Iron Man 3 is one of the MCU’s more divisive films. It’s, overall, darker than past Iron Man films, showing how the events of The Avengers continue to impact Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) as he struggles with PTSD from the experience. Tony doesn’t spend all that much time in an Iron Man suit in this film, having to rely on his brain and willpower to survive and save the day.
The movie suffers from a weak villain, and whether The Mandarin twist is a disappointment or sharp commentary on US foreign policy and xenophobia remains the subject of debate. Still, Iron Man 3 is one of the MCU’s best character-driven stories, allowing Tony Stark to prove that he is Iron Man, with or without the armor.
3. Ant-Man (2015)
Ant-Man is, pun intended, a smaller-scale movie in MCU terms, so perhaps it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the film snuck up on audiences and impressed them enough to give Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) two sequels and a key role in Avengers: Endgame. The fact Ant-Man is a comedy with lower stakes gives it a distinct identity from other MCU films, and its charming cast turns what could be a just okay script into a hilarious adventure. The appearance of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) also makes it clear where the film fits into the wider Marvel, setting the stage for Scott Lang to team up with other heroes in Captain America: Civil War.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
It’s easy to forget a decade later, but when Guardians of the Galaxy released in theaters, the cosmic team was largely unknown to all but die-hard Marvel Comics fans. The Guardians were not an obvious choice for the MCU, but the film defied all expectations and catapulted the team out of obscurity. Guardians of the Galaxy balances an irreverent sense of humor with genuinely heartfelt moments that make you care about its characters, even ones that could easily be treated as jokes like Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel). Above all else, though, the movie is simply fun to watch, and it proved that the MCU could expand far beyond the Earth and The Avengers.
1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Plenty of MCU movies have epic action sequences, powerful stories, and shocking plot twists, but few combine all of them as successfully as Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Not only is it a good superhero movie; it’s also a riveting political thriller full of spies, assassins, and betrayal.
But what really makes it stand out is Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and how high the personal stakes are for him. In a strange modern world where Steve can’t trust anyone, the revelation that the deadly Winter Soldier is actually his long presumed-dead best friend shakes Cap to his core. The reintroduction of Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), now broken from decades of Hydra manipulation, shapes the rest of Captain America’s story and extends beyond that as Bucky continues to play an important role in the MCU to this day. Captain America: The Winter Soldier manages to be both an important piece of the wider Marvel world and a genuinely riveting action movie in its own right, and that’s why it’s the highlight of Phase Two.
Where To Watch MCU Phase Two Movies Online
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