Summary
- The MCU's new focus on sequels, team projects, & key characters is due to Disney's mandate to fix company-wide issues.
- Sequels like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: Ragnarok improve upon the previous films.
- Most of the MCU's best sequels are box office juggernauts.
The MCU's best movies have been sequels, something that should become even more common in the future. The reason for that is Marvel now has a new mandate to focus on franchises, which comes from Disney's decision to fix issues company-wide.
As such, original movies like Eternals are unlikely to come out, with a focus on sequels, team projects, and Marvel's biggest characters. Future MCU movies can learn from the sequels that came before, as they teach different lessons regarding what to do or not to do, no matter how big or small the character is. With that in mind, here are the 10 best MCU sequels, with Deadpool & Wolverine not included due to the first two movies not being set in the MCU.
10 Best Marvel Movie Trilogies Ranked
With Deadpool & Wolverine concluding one of the best Marvel trilogies, the list includes some impressive live-action entries both in the MCU and not.
10 The Marvels
A Controversial But Underrated Film
The Marvels follows Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, whose powers entwine with Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan and S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. As unintended consequences destabilize the universe, the trio must collaborate to navigate a new threat linked to a Kree revolutionary and an anomalous wormhole.
- Release Date
- November 10, 2023
- Runtime
- 105 minutes
- Director
- Nia DaCosta
The Marvels being on the list should prove itself controversial. The movie ended up becoming a major box-office disappointment, with the Captain Marvel sequel now the lowest-grossing movie in the MCU. However, despite its poor box office performance, The Marvels is far from a bad movie. The sequel actually improved on the original Captain Marvel — which grossed over $1 billion worldwide — in pretty much every way.
Brie Larson's Carol Danvers was much more entertaining in the team-up movie than in her solo film. The reason for that is that The Marvels did a great job by bringing together Carol, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, who had electric chemistry. The setup of the heroes switching places whenever they used their powers also added an air of unpredictability to the film and led to creative fight scenes. All in all, The Marvels was a very fun cosmic adventure.
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9 Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
A Major Multiverse Saga Entry
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows Doctor Strange as he navigates diverse and perilous alternate realities in the Multiverse with the aid of mystical allies. Directed by Sam Raimi, this installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces a mysterious new adversary.
- Release Date
- May 6, 2022
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
- Director
- Sam Raimi
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness almost broke the $1 billion barrier, and for good reason. The movie is one of the biggest releases of the MCU's Multiverse Saga, following Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange as he attempts to save the young America Chavez from a murderous Scarlet Witch. While Elizabeth Olsen's character turning full villain after WandaVision's ending is questionable, the actress delivered one of the best villain performances in the MCU.
It was shocking to see Wanda Maximoff leave an enormous path of destruction behind her. Part of that included the graphic murders of the Illuminati. The team was one of the movie's high points, bringing back Patrick Stewart as a Charles Xavier variant, with fan-favorite John Krasinski playing a version of Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four, and more. The movie introduced multiverse concepts that will be key for the next two Avengers films.
Every Major MCU Multiverse Term Explained
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8 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
A Heartbreaking And Explosive Sequel
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Cast
Letitia Wright
Tenoch Huerta Mejía
Lupita Nyong'o
Danai Gurira
WHERE TO WATCH
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever explores the efforts of Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye, and the Dora Milaje as they strive to safeguard Wakanda from external threats following King T’Challa’s ing. Collaborating with allies like War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross, they seek to shape the nation’s future.
- Release Date
- November 11, 2022
- Runtime
- 162 minutes
- Director
- Ryan Coogler
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had the inevitably hard task of honoring Chadwick Boseman's legacy as T'Challa while also moving forward the story of Wakanda and its characters. The movie succeeded on both fronts. T'Challa's death and funeral at the start of the movie were handled perfectly, with the former Black Panther's presence being felt throughout the film, even if he did not show up on screen.
Letitia Wright's Shuri got her chance to shine in the MCU movie, becoming the new Black Panther. The similarities and differences between Wakanda and Talokan made for an impactful movie, with Tenoch Huerta's Namor proving himself a mighty foe for Shuri to take on in her debut as Black Panther. The MCU sequel also did great by going deeper into Wakanda's large cast of characters and showing how revealing itself to the world has affected the country.
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Shuri has taken over as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Panther and is expected to appear sometime again in the franchise future very soon.
7 Thor: Ragnarok
Chris Hemsworth's Best Solo Movie
Thor: Ragnarok
WHERE TO WATCH
Thor: Ragnarok, released on October 2, 2017, is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It features Chris Hemsworth as Thor, who is imprisoned on the other side of the universe, racing against time to return to Asgard to prevent Ragnarok and confront the formidable Hela.
- Release Date
- November 3, 2017
- Runtime
- 131 minutes
- Director
- Taika Waititi
Chris Hemsworth holds an impressive MCU record, with the actor being the only one in the franchise to get four solo movies. 2017's Thor: Ragnarok is easily the best of them, with the sequel turning the hero around and putting forward the best version of Thor the MCU has seen to date. Director Taika Waititi fired on all cylinders with the movie, overhauling the tone of the Thor franchise for a hilarious and vibrant space adventure.
There were also real stakes, with Thor losing an eye and Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok.
While that would not be replicated in Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder, Thor: Ragnarok still stands as one of the MCU's best movies. The film injected new life into Thor, with the character having some worthy companions, such as the Hulk, Valkyrie, Loki, and Korg. The adventure on Sakaar was fun, but there were plenty of emotional and darker moments whenever Cate Blanchett's Hela was involved, striking a nice balance. Hela brought out Thor's ultimate version, with the hero embracing his God of Thunder moniker.
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6 Captain America: Civil War
MCU Heroes Fight Each Other
Captain America: Civil War
WHERE TO WATCH
Captain America: Civil War focuses on the aftermath of Age of Ultron as international governments legislate to regulate superhuman activity. This divides the Avengers, forming opposing factions led by Iron Man and Captain America, culminating in a significant conflict between former allies.
- Release Date
- May 6, 2016
- Runtime
- 147 minutes
- Director
- Joe Russo
Captain America: Civil War was a different kind of MCU movie. While a sequel starring Chris Evans' Captain America, the film could also be viewed as a kind of Avengers 2.5. Instead of fighting against villains, the Avengers were fighting among themselves. Daniel Brühl's Zemo was an incredibly smart character who managed to manipulate the Avengers, starting a conflict that would ultimately break the team apart.
Some of the MCU's most exciting interactions and fight sequences happen in Captain America: Civil War. The movie also introduced two major characters to the franchise, with the debuts of Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther. While there was plenty of spectacle to marvel at, the core emotional story between Captain America and Iron Man's different viewpoints on the Sokovia Accords was the film's beating heart, ending with one of the MCU's best fights.
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5 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
James Gunn's Final MCU Movie
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
WHERE TO WATCH
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 follows Peter Quill as he grapples with the loss of Gamora while rallying his team to defend the universe. The Guardians face a crucial mission to protect one of their own, with stakes that could alter the fate of the group forever.
- Release Date
- May 3, 2023
- Runtime
- 150 minutes
- Director
- James Gunn
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is one of the most emotional films in the MCU. The project was the perfect way to cap off the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, to the point that it would be okay if there were no other movies for the cosmic team in the MCU. In his last MCU movie before moving on to spearhead the new DC Universe, director James Gunn made Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 a personal story focused on Rocket Raccoon.
Over the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers films, Bradley Cooper's Rocket became one of the most beloved characters in the MCU. Seeing him suffer in his early years at the hands of the High Evolutionary was heartbreaking, with the character's backstory finally explored. The movie was a beautiful way to send off many of the Guardians of the Galaxy , delivering hilarious scenes, plenty of tears, excellent team dynamics, and top-notch action.
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4 Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Steve Rogers At His Best
- Runtime
- 136 minutes
- Director
- Anthony Russo
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the most grounded MCU movie to date. The film is commonly referred to as one of the shared universe's best, and for good reason. Chris Evans soars as Steve Rogers, with the actor being accompanied by a talented ensemble that includes Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, Anthony Mackie's Falcon, Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier, and more. The latter returned to the MCU in grand style, playing one of the franchise's best villains.
The action in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is visceral, with Steve and Bucky trading blows throughout the movie, and also has the place for more intricate visual effects, with Sam Wilson's Falcon in the sky and the whole third act Helicarrier action. The mystery feel of the movie was refreshing, presenting a story that felt urgent and kept viewers on their toes. A decade later, Marvel is still trying to recreate Captain America: The Winter Soldier's tone with new projects.
Captain America: Brave New World Is The Winter Soldier Sequel I've Waited 10 Years For
Following Captain America: Brave New World's first trailer, it's clear to me that it is coming to fill a spot left by one of the MCU's best movies.
3 Avengers: Infinity War
The Best Ending To An MCU Movie
Avengers: Infinity War
WHERE TO WATCH
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
- Release Date
- April 27, 2018
- Runtime
- 149 minutes
- Director
- Joe Russo
Avengers: Infinity War shook the MCU to its core. The movie was an unprecedented event in superhero films, bringing together characters from not only the Avengers movies but all over the MCU. Josh Brolin's Thanos was the true star of the film, with the focus on the villain's quest upping the stakes to the highest they had ever been in the franchise. Also, having so many different heroes interact led to delightful moments.
Characters like the Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man group showed incredible chemistry that fans had been dreaming about for years. Avengers: Infinity War was almost non-stop action, with Thanos on his quest to collect all the Infinity Stones and erase half of the universe's population. The movie was dark and made it seem like all the heroes could die at any moment. With Thanos victorious and several Avengers snapped away, Avengers: Infinity War has the most impactful ending in the MCU.
6 Years On, I've Never Experienced Anything Like Avengers: Infinity War's Ending
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2 Spider-Man: No Way Home
A Generational Marvel Event
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the trials and tribulations of being a superhero. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) when his identity becomes a problem for the ones he loves. Unfortunately, when the spell goes wrong, Spider-Man will now have to face off with villains such as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) as Peter finally comes to that he can't run from being Spider-Man. ed by his close friends and help from an unexpected place (or multiverse), Spider-Man will go toe-to-toe with some of the most legendary foes in his storied history.
- Release Date
- December 17, 2021
- Runtime
- 148 Minutes
- Director
- Jon Watts
Spider-Man: No Way Home made every Peter Parker fan's wildest dreams come true. The fact the movie even exists is a miracle, but it actually being one of the most exciting entries in the MCU just makes it all the better. The MCU's third Spider-Man movie brought together Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield as their versions of Spider-Man. The trio sits among Marvel's best live-action teams.
Holland, Maguire, and Garfield's Spider-Man had pitch-perfect chemistry, making them feel like brothers, which the actors have since talked about, saying it was also their feeling behind the scenes. Spider-Man: No Way Home also did a masterful job of keeping the focus on Holland's Peter Parker despite the arrival of the multiverse Spider-Men and villains from their movies. The MCU's Spider-Man suffered heavy losses that will completely change Peter forever, making Spider-Man: No Way Home a love letter to the character and a perfect trilogy finale.
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1 Avengers: Endgame
The MCU's Most Important Sequel
Finally, Avengers: Endgame is the biggest sequel in the MCU. The movie had the daunting task of not only following up the excellent Avengers: Infinity War but also serving as the culmination of a decade of stories. Avengers: Endgame was right to mostly focus on the original Avengers team — with a few additions — as it allowed the heroes to have one final adventure together before half would die or leave the MCU.
The idea of having time travel play a role in the movie was inspired. It allowed Avengers: Endgame to be a big victory lap around the MCU, going back to key moments in the franchise. Iron Man and Black Widow's deaths were shocking and extremely sad, but at the end of the day, the heroes won. The movie stands as the Avengers' biggest win, balancing so many characters with great skill and bringing to life the best superhero live-action battle ever in its third act, crowning Avengers: Endgame the MCU's best sequel.
