Whereas more child-friendly fantasy movies tend to focus on adventure, the PG-13 category brings with it the promise of more action, more intensity, and a slightly more mature sense of humor. In recent years, superhero movies have made up the overwhelming majority of these as the MCU has gone from strength to strength.
Though Thor: Love and Thunder looks set to add to the extensive list of great MCU fantasy movies this summer in the hands of a master of whacky PG-13 action in the form of Taika Waititi, now isn't a bad time to evaluate which titles are the best to watch of what's out there. The movies that movie fans on Ranker determined are best didn't have to be Marvel projects, they just happened to work out that way.
Ant-Man And The Wasp (2018)
The advantage of some of the wackier superheroes that exist in the MCU is that they can make for some great off-beat movies. Ant-Man and the Wasp hit the sweet spot in 2018 mixing some classic size-changing action with a heartfelt domestic plot and plenty of the slightly more advanced humor that PG-13 movies are able to access.
Despite that, there's an atmosphere of family comedy about Ant-Man and the Wasp which works to its benefit. Whilst a convoluted plot of quantum confusion could become tedious, the movie keeps the tone of a fun crime caper that drags the viewer along with it, and the action is all top-notch.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
The advantage of the PG-13 category is that it gives movies the room to explore the darker side of beloved characters. Avengers movie in contrast to his fully self-confident persona in previous outings.
This background lends a depth to one of the MCU's best characters and makes all of the over-the-top action more compelling to watch, and the payoff to the movie even more satisfying. It might be darker than the previous Iron Man movies but it's nevertheless a complete package full of perfectly-executed action and humor.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
With Phase 4 in full swing, it's easy to forget some of the great films that made up the initial wave of MCU movies. One of these was Captain America: The First Avenger, the origin story of Steve Rogers, a frail man transformed into a superhero in the midst of the Second World War.
Being set in such an important period of history, the movie doesn't shy away from some of the realities of the time and it also helped set the trend for having superhero movies filled with plenty of heartfelt emotion. As a result, the first Captain America movie managed to win over a lot of fans of fantasy without doing anything spectacularly different.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame is a glorious testament to the character and heart of the franchise.
Endgame's most impressive feat is giving something to do for almost everyone involved in the franchise, from the Guardians of the Galaxy to Ant-Man. With tons of action as the heroes make a final attempt to take down Thanos, drama as they are forced to make tough choices, and some very real emotion, Endgame is one of the most satisfying fantasy films around.
Ant-Man (2015)
Whilst a lot of superhero movies are so geared towards action that they don't end up having much of a fantasy feel, that definitely can't be said of Ant-Man. With its absurd premise and endlessly fun execution, Ant-Man is full of creative moments that feel like they would work even without the superhero premise.
Paul Rudd is perfect in the title role, the dialogue he shares with other characters is full of wit, and it takes full advantage of the character's charm by becoming a full-on heist movie towards the end. Of course, the unique appeal of Ant-Man is the size-shifting action that is thrilling and hilarious at turns.
Iron Man (2008)
The first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe still stands out nearly 15 years later due to its fast-paced blockbuster nature that introduced the world to Robert Downey Jr's take on the superhero. Although it's just a typical origin story in many ways, Downey's charm carries the movie to unexpected heights.
As he dons the suit and fights back against the nefarious forces that want their hands on his technology, the movie falls back on some incredible action set-pieces complemented by great special effects. However, it's in the less action-packed moments when the audience is getting to know the eccentric genius of Tony Stark that the movie has a real sense of fantasy fun.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
In the traditional, more family-friendly world of PG-rated fantasy, even the moments of tension are usually designed to offer some level of reprieve to cater to younger viewers. The advantage of the higher age rating is that Avengers: Infinity War is able to pull off one of the most brutal endings in fantasy movie history.
As well as being one of the darkest moments in the MCU, the Thanos snap also represents a real defeat for the heroes of the movie after the viewer has come along on their adventure to try to stop the villain. These bold choices set the movie apart and it does so without losing anything in thrilling moments of action involving the various of the MCU.
The Avengers (2012)
Though it's been far outdone in scale in more recent years, there is something special about the first huge collaboration between the central heroes of the MCU at the time. After Loki gets his hands on the Tesseract and threatens all life on Earth, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Black Widow step up to meet the challenge.
That's the idea anyway, as much of the movie involves dealing with the group's inability and unwillingness to work together. Even so, seeing heroes rise to the challenge when it matters and work together is still a joyful sight, and one of the biggest appeals of the fantasy genre in general.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
It's hard to think of a more appropriate PG-13 fantasy hero than Peter Parker, the teenager trying to use his newfound powers to help people whilst also dealing with the ordinary difficulties that come with being in high school. Spider-Man: Homecoming nailed this balance as Tom Holland's Spider-Man is caught between his school commitments and a new threat in the form of The Vulture.
Ultimately these worlds eventually come together in the worst possible way for Parker, leading to some excellent dramatic moments. Also full of hilarious quips and awkward moments, Homecoming did a great job of reminding audiences why Spider-Man is one of the best-liked superheroes.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Proving that fantasy is best-served with a ton of comedy, Thor: Ragnorok is Taika Waititi's hilarious galaxy-trotting adventure that's so out there it's almost hard to believe it's actually an MCU movie. Waititi's skill is in getting the most out of already charming characters like Chris Hemsworth's Thor and Mark Ruffalo's Hulk.
Although it's full of wacky moments and offbeat humor as Thor finds himself stranded on the wrong side of the universe without Mjolnir, the movie always manages to feel purposeful. Even the action is smartly done and there are plenty of crowd-pleasing moments that only make the Thor: Love and Thunder all the more tantalizing.
