Summary
- Phase Two of the MCU saw experimentation with the formula, creating nostalgia with hits like Guardians of the Galaxy.
- Iron Man 3 struggles with a disappointing twist, while Ant-Man shines with its blend of superhero and comedy.
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier takes a darker, political thriller approach that proves Marvel movies don't need constant quips.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe enters Phase Two from 2013 to 2015, providing audiences with 6 MCU movies and the promise of going beyond Earth. Phase Two was a tad of a shake-up for the MCU and a time where experimentation with the formula would flourish, and allow for further intrigue into characters known and unknown.
MCU: Phase One, Ranked
The starting line of the Marvel Cinematic Universe had some humble successes still more memorable than most for the comic book movie genre.
Whilst some movies in MCU’s Phase 2 were not as well received as that of Phase 1, there is still a lot of nostalgia to look back on, with MCU movies that still act as the pinnacle of Marvel Studios’ heights as they enter into the 2020s with new releases.
6 Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
- Director: Alan Taylor
- Release Date: 8 November 2013
Thor’s second solo adventure sees him fight against Dark Elves in an effort to keep Asgard and Earth from plunging into darkness and rage. What could have been a triumphant return to Asgard, with its characters and consequences from the first Avengers movie, instead turned into a rather slow and mediocre drama where not much happens in terms of interesting villains and motivations.
There are certainly emotional scenes to be had, but further exploration of Thor and Loki’s relationship as brothers, and their ties to their mother were necessary, especially when paired against a villain that failed to compel. Thor: The Dark World isn’t terrible, but it has a weird place in the MCU.
5 Iron Man 3 (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
- Director: Shane Black
- Release Date: 25 April 2013
After the events of the first Avengers movie, Tony Stark suffers from his experiences. PTSD and anxiety attacks plague Tony, and even within the indestructible armor of Iron Man, he cannot escape the torments of his fears. Things go from bad to worse when the Mandarin makes himself known, vowing to tear Tony’s world apart, from his home to his friends and family.
What could have been a serious finale to Iron Man’s trilogy, ended up being less ‘Iron’ and more ‘Man’. The movie is mainly about Tony Stark’s retribution against a disappointing and predictable Mandarin plot twist, and whilst there are entertaining scenes, and RDJ is as charismatic as ever, it’s a tad too subversive to be repeated.
4 Ant-Man (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
- Director: Peyton Reed
- Release Date: 8 July 2015
The MCU gets bigger by going smaller thanks to Ant-Man, a movie that features Scott Lang, a master thief, who is tasked with stealing plans to save the world. Ant-Man is a wonderous blend of superhero flair mixed with comedy charm, and Peyton Reed and Paul Rudd seem to be a charming duo that shows that the little guy can be the most important every now and then.
Even to those who have a distaste for bugs and ants in particular, Ant-Man doesn’t gross people out, but instead keeps them engaged with hilarity and heart. The lack of an epic scale really helps to make Ant-Man feel more personal and believable, even if it involves a guy shrinking to a microscopic level.
3 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%
- Director: Joss Whedon
- Release Date: 23 April 2015
The Avengers return for their second outing as a team, and for this adventure, they are once again called into action to stop a world-ending threat, one that Tony Stark is responsible for. Tony has crafted the ultimate artificial intelligence with Ultron, but Ultron takes matters into his own hands when he develops sentience, and decides that to save the world, the human race must die.
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There is much conflict in Age of Ultron surrounding the stellar chemistry of characters, and everyone seems to be battling their own demons, making for a darker approach to their characters, but still equally as safe for a sequel that doesn’t take much risk. The introduction of new characters is neat but underdeveloped, and the action goes a long way in making Age of Ultron a stand-out that still has much to be desired.
2 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
- Directors: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
- Release Date: 26 March 2014
Steve Rogers is adapting to the modern world, but that very world is turned upside down when S.H.I.E.L.D. Becomes compromised with H.Y.D.R.A. Agents, thrusting Captain America and Black Widow into a deeply rooted political plot, all whilst they try to battle the hunting, resilient, and mysterious Winter Soldier.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier deserves credit for taking the MCU in a darker direction, providing a political thriller over the spectacle of a humorous comic book movie. The Winter Soldier is intriguing, unexpected, and at times fairly dark, and it proves that not every Marvel movie needs to be quips upon quips.
1 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
- Director: James Gunn
- Release Date: 31 July 2014
The Marvel Cinematic Universe leaves Earth behind for a cosmic voyage, bringing forth sci-fi elements and a space opera worthy of the Marvel name. The movie follows the rogue human Peter Quill as Star-Lord as he finds himself with a ragtag group of misfits with the common goal of stopping Ronan the Accuser from controlling the galaxy with a mystical orb.
Guardians of the Galaxy is brilliantly electrifying and provides audiences with a new team of misfits and outcasts that are tasked with doing a little bit of good and a little bit of bad to save the galaxy. The creativity, chemistry, and humor is Marvel at their peak thanks to James Gunn, and it proved that Marvel could make a star out of the weirdest and most unknown characters with the right talent and risks.
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