Over the last two decades, theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)has had some outstanding highs, and some crushing lows, but among them all,there are several sequel movies that stand out as the very best. There is no denying it: I am an MCU fanboy, and I have been since 2008 whenIron Mangraced our screens. But when examining the MCU critically, it’s clear that there are some movies that stand out more than others.
For instance, there used to be a stigma around sequels, with the idea that sequels were never better than the originals. However, the MCU has absolutely put that idea to rest with several incredible movie sequels that stand tall above their predecessors. In fact, the sequel format is part of the defining fabric of theMCU, as it expands the universe, one story at a time.
And when talking about incredible stories, it’s important to note how much James Gunn, the executive co-head of DC Studios, helped to shape outer space in the MCU. WhenGuardians of the Galaxycame out initially, it was a movie about a group of unknown heroes that no one cared about, but Gunn made people care, and delivered one of the most fun, emotional, experimental, and powerful movies in the MCU with hisGotGtrilogy.
And as good as the original movie was,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2kicked things up a notch with Peter Quill learning who his father is. This movie largely takes place on one planet, Ego, with Quill learning to harness his newfound powers, but the emotional gut punch of a twist is that his father is an unfeeling monster who killed his mother. Add to that the scene where Yondu embraces Peter and accepts him as his own, and this is a spectacular movie.
Next up, the Russo’s debut foray into the MCU saw them directCaptain America: The Winter Soldier. With Steve Rogers now in the present day, and working alongside SHIELD, he needs to figure out what it is he holds dear in this new world. After seeing some things that make him doubt his new employers, Captain America goes on a journey that reunites him with his old friend, and sees SHIELD overthrown by HYDRA.
This film is a spectacle, with espionage and incredible action throughout. It’s also great to see how Captain America evolves in a new world, and what it means to him to see his old friend once again after so many decades and the belief that he would be dead. It hits all the right notes, and again, it perfectlypushes the narrative forward for Steve Rogers.
Thor had a bit of an identity crisis in the first two movies, with the character sticking out among his fellow Avengers. As an Asgardian god, Thor was initially presented as a kind of Shakespearean alien. ButThor: Ragnarokhelped to redefine the characterand make him feel like a more important part of the family. This was also helped in large part by the fact that his own family turned on him, and he was reunited with the Hulk on Sakaar.
The comedy of this film sets the tone, but it’s further enhanced by incredible action, and clever character building between Thor, Loki, and Hulk.
The comedy of this film sets the tone, but it’s further enhanced by incredible action, and clever character building between Thor, Loki, and Hulk. Taika Waititi managed to knock it out of the park here, even if his follow-up film wasn’t quite as spectacular. All the same,Ragnarokchanged the game for Thor, and it pushed the limits on what comedy could do for the MCU.
Talking about comedy,Deadpool & Wolverineis technically a sequel to two movies that happened outside the MCU, but this film brings the popular character played byRyan Reynolds into the MCU, and more specifically the Void between realities. It also managed to do something that had never been accomplished in 25 years of Marvel movies, with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine gearing up to fight alongside Deadpool (because we don’t talk about the version of Deadpool fromX-Men Origins: Wolverine).
Reynolds collaborated with Shawn Levy, and together with a spectacular team, they brought this fairytale of a movie to life.It’s hilarious, it’s raunchy, it is packed with nostalgia, and it feels like the perfect movie to tie the MCU in to everything that came before and during the various other Marvel franchises. It may not push the envelope very far for the rest of the MCU stories, but in terms of how it brought together so many important stories, this movie is a stand-out hit.
A lot of people have a lot of love for the Russo’s debut film,The Winter Soldier, but if I’m being honest, my heart belongs toCaptain America: Civil Warfor the best in that trilogy. Seeing such an iconic comic book story adapted on the big screen, and seeing the heroes that I grew up admiring come to blows, it was an emotional roller coaster.The film is tense, and it asks a lot of important questions that the heroes need to answer, and I love how it was handled, and the relationships between heroes like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers are impacted.
It also serves as the first movie to introduce Spider-Man into the MCU, which is itself a spectacular moment. But overall, the way this movie manages to juggle so many different heroes with huge personalities and even bigger egos,this was the template that made movies likeAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgamework.
Speaking of Spider-Man, another nostalgia fest in film form isSpider-Man: No Way Home. While the leaks and rumors may have hinted at the big surprise of this movie,nothing could ruin the magic of seeing Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland all side-by-side in Spider-Man outfits saving the day. Jon Watts did a great job giving these heroes a proper send-off, and helping the MCU’s Peter Parker to learn some hard lessons with the help of some good friends.
Of course, the movie is also an emotional roller coaster, with Peter Parker choosing to be forgotten in the end, but it’s also the moment for me when Peter Parker truly fulfills his destiny, and meets the high standards that Tony set for him years earlier, tobecome the Spider-Man. Garfield’s redeeming moment when he saves MJ is also one of the most beautiful things to ever happen in the MCU, so yeah, this movie earns its spot in third place.
Talking about intense emotional journeys, Gunn’s final entry in the MCU stands tall asone of the best-crafted films in the superhero genre of all time. With the focus shifting to Rocket Raccoon, it’s heartbreaking to see how this incredible, tough guy ended up on a journey through the universe on his own before finding friends like Groot and the other Guardians.
The High Evolutionary is one of the most terrifying villains in the MCU, with an incredible performance from Chukwudi Iwuji. This movie was able to transform Rocket Raccoon from a mouthy comic relief CGI character into the beating heart of the team. And on top of that, the action, the incredible scenes, andthe way this film wraps up a story while leaving the door open for morewas the perfect way to send off these pivotal characters in the MCU.
Finally, last, but certainly not least,Avengers: Endgamestands out as the strongest sequel in the series. While this movie is technically a crossover film, it’s a sequel to theprevious threeAvengersmovies, and it neatly concludes the Infinity Saga in one of the most successful movies ever made. Following the events of the blip, the remaining heroes band together to try one last time to save the world.
All things considered, it was one of the wildest and most intense cinematic experiences in superhero cinema, and it stands tall as the strongest sequel in the MCU.
The incredible sci-fi heist storyline is elevated with emotion, conclusions, and the highest stakes of the entire MCU.It’s a well-balanced epic film, and it was the perfect way to end the Infinity Saga, with final goodbyes to Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. All things considered, it was one of the wildest and most intense cinematic experiences in superhero cinema, and it stands tall as the strongest sequel in theMCU.
