With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness becoming the eleventh entry in Phase 4 of the MCU, its mixed reviews amongst critics and fans make it difficult to place in the rankings of MCU movies and shows. As Phase 4 is the first Marvel phase to fully feature TV shows as a part of the cannon, it has featured some of the best (and worst) MCU entries thus far.
With Phase 4 just eclipsing its halfway point, here’s a look at how all of the movies and shows of the current MCU phase stack up against one another.
Eternals (2021) - 6.3
With an IMDb rating of 6.3, Eternals not only has the lowest rating in Phase 4 but is also the lowest in the entire MCU so far. With more characters than it knows what to do with, Eternals tries to do so many things right that arguably very few of them end up landing correctly.
Despite Chloé Zhao’s effort of delivering one of the most visually impressive films in the MCU, it doesn’t save Eternals from being a convoluted cluster of characters, twists, and storytelling.
Black Widow (2021) - 6.7
The movie that came out five years too late, Black Widow’s solo outing provides fans with a fun adventure that dives into the past of Natasha Romanoff. With the introduction of many lovable MCU side characters such as Florence Pugh’s Yelena and David Harbour as Red Guardian, Black Widow has many moments where the titular character is overshadowed by the supporting cast.
While this doesn’t take away from the fun and enjoyable action-packed moments of the story, its strict adherence to the Marvel formula combined with the timing of the movie made this a pretty bland entry to the MCU.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) - 7.2
While The Falcon and the Winter Soldier received mostly positive reviews, it did not live up to the expectations that fans had for the debut of Sam Wilson as Captain America. It is still highly enjoyable though, as the banter between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes has made the two of them one of the best duos in the MCU.
With a lackluster villain and a pretty unfocused story that leaves more to be desired, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier fell flat for fans in some places but made up for it by finally allowing fans to see Sam Wilson don the legendary shield of Steve Rogers.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) - 7.4
The most recent entry in the MCU, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, provides an exciting, horrifying adventure with many twists and turns along the way. Directed by Sam Raimi, this film (for better or worse) features many of the director’s quirks and bag of tricks that make this one of the most unique films in the MCU.
Despite being one of the MCU’s more divisive films, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has many fan-pleasing moments, a villain unlike anything fans of Marvel have ever seen before, and has had a pretty impressive box office run so far.
Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) - 7.4
With groundbreaking action and fight sequences, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings introduced a new and exciting character to the MCU that had to navigate through his family history in order to live up to his legacy.
Although the film has many visually impressive moments and some of the best combat scenes in the MCU, it does feel like the movie plays a little too close to the typical Marvel formula for an origin movie. However, that doesn’t take away from the success of the film as it became the second highest-grossing movie of 2021.
What If…? (2021) - 7.4
The What If…? anthology series has been one of the most enjoyable highlights of the MCU and has provided the answers to many questions that pondered the minds of fans. With an interesting concept, great screenwriting, and the amazing narration from Jeffery Wright as The Watcher, it’s no surprise why What If…? became such a hit with fans and critics alike.
While the show sometimes focused on questions and scenarios that some fans weren’t as interested in, the highs of Marvel’s What If…? stand out as some of the best moments in the entire MCU.
Moon Knight (2022) - 7.5
When it was announced that Moon Knight would be coming to the MCU, fans itched with anticipation for the Fist of Khonshu’s appearance in his own TV show. What fans didn’t expect though, was to receive Oscar Isaac’s sensational performance as Marc Spector (and Steven Grant).
With great performances all around combined with a pretty compelling story, Moon Knight was a very solid entry to the MCU and definitely has fans excited for what the future has in store for Oscar Isaac’s character(s).
Hawkeye (2021) - 7.6
A surprising delight for most fans, Hawkeye finally gave the titled character the solo treatment he deserves. Set during the holiday season, Hawkeye provided fans with a fun adventure that introduced many likable new characters and gave fans a reason to care about the MCU’s most forgettable hero.
The show also introduces Kate Bishop, a naive but hilarious sidekick to Hawkeye that makes for one of the best comedic duos in the entire MCU. This heartwarming Christmas story let Jeremy Renner fully dive into his role as the purple archer and gave fans the duo the never knew they wanted.
WandaVision (2021) - 8
Bringing something never before seen to the MCU: a sitcom, WandaVision provided fans with an interesting and intriguing story with two of its most underdeveloped characters. As the first TV show in the MCU, WandaVision left its fans with many questions that kept them coming back for more.
While fans may have been slightly let down by the answers the show provided to those questions, there’s no denying that WandaVision proved to be one of the best ways to kickstart a new era in the MCU.
Loki (2021) - 8.2
One of the most unique and out-of-the-box entries in the MCU to date, Loki provided fans with a fresh and engaging story with one of the most lovable characters in the MCU. While Tom Hiddleston’s performance as the God of Mischief is always spot on, the performances from Sophia Di Martino as Sylvie and Owen Wilson as Mobius elevated this show to a whole other level.
With so many things going right for this show, Loki is not just the best TV series in the MCU but one of its best entries in Phase 4 so far.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) - 8.4
With an IMBd score of 8.4, Spider-Man: No Way Home not only has the highest score in Phase 4 but is tied for the highest score out of the entire MCU. With many fan-pleasing appearances, exciting battles, and no shortage of emotional moments, this film was by far the highest-grossing film in 2021.
With speculation brewing about potential appearances/cameos long before its actual release, this film definitely lived up to the hype. Receiving both high praises from critics and also having an amazing box office performance, it’s no surprise that Spider-Man: No Way Home finds itself at the top of this list as one of the best MCU movie of all time.
Next: 10 Avengers That Have Never Interacted Onscreen (That We Want To)