Best Marvel movies in MCU’s Phase Four, ranked

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Many see Phase Four of nan Marvel Cinematic Universe a debased constituent for nan franchise. After nan MCU seemingly peaked with Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios succumbed to nan weight of its ambition arsenic it tried to entreaty to audiences and create truthful overmuch contented successful truthful small time.

Nevertheless, nan MCU did nutrient immoderate sparkling gems like Shang-Chi and Spider-Man: No Way Home, displaying awesome committedness pinch its ongoing Multiverse Saga. While nan franchise has struggled to regain its footing, it’s only adjacent to punctual fans of its merits by exploring nan worst and champion films successful Phase Four.

7. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

After Thor: Ragnarok group a precocious barroom for nan God of Thunder, head Taika Waititi grounded to unrecorded up to nan hype pinch its follow-up, Thor: Love and Thunder. Christian Bale stands retired pinch his tragic, fiendish portrayal of Gorr nan God Butcher, and Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster gets a terrific reboot arsenic Mighty Thor.

However, this movie suffered from an overabundance of awkward, half-baked joke and unfinished CGI, becoming a premier illustration of nan MCU’s post-Endgame decline. Ragnarok was nan lighthearted escapade Thor needed, but Love and Thunder proved location could beryllium excessively overmuch of a bully thing.

6. Black Widow (2021)

Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh successful "Black Widow."

By nan clip this movie premiered, a Black Widow solo task had been agelong overdue. Finally showing audiences nan life of Natasha Romanoff earlier she became a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, this globe-trotting spy thriller wrapped up Black Widow’s travel good pursuing her heroic sacrifice successful Endgame.

By introducing nan world to fan-favorite characters for illustration Yelena and Red Guardian (both of whom will look successful 2025’s Thunderbolts), this movie ensures her bequest will unrecorded successful nan MCU. It’s not nan astir singular aliases groundbreaking Marvel film. Still, Black Widow presents an breathtaking escapade complete pinch dense action sequences, witty banter, and a heartfelt communicative astir uncovering family successful a harsh world.

5. Eternals (2021)

An image of nan celestial Arishem from Marvel's "Eternals."

Eternals chronicles nan MCU’s type of quality history, showing nan maturation of civilization from nan involution of its immortal alien heroes, expanding nan franchise’s interstellar world, and presenting its creation astatine nan hands of nan almighty Celestials. At first, handing head Chloé Zhao nan keys to Marvel’s cosmic kingdom caller disconnected her Oscar triumph seemed for illustration a guarantee for success.

Upon release, Zhao’s movie group itself isolated from nan remainder of nan MCU. Eternals gave audiences a dazzling cinematic escapade that introduced a new, divers group of heroes pinch a thought-provoking communicative astir free will and morality connected a monolithic scale. Unfortunately, Eternals besides stood retired arsenic 1 of Marvel’s biggest disappointments, arsenic it struggled to juggle its layered communicative and immense formed of heroes and villains.

4. Doctor Strange successful nan Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Wanda Maximoff and Stephen Strange guidelines successful a reddish wood together successful Doctor Strange successful nan Multiverse of Madness.

This Doctor Strange sequel had sizeable hype arsenic Spider-Man head Sam Raimi’s comeback movie and different important section of nan MCU’s Multiverse. The communicative whitethorn characteristic a small excessively overmuch instrumentality work pinch its humor, cameos, and callbacks, but Multiverse of Madness stands retired acknowledgment to its acheronian tone, Raimi’s unique style of filmmaking, and its loving tributes to classical horror.

While Scarlet Witch’s modulation into villainy whitethorn beryllium excessively jarring aft WandaVision, she still established herself arsenic 1 of nan MCU’s astir layered and tragic figures arsenic she tries to regain her family nether nan power of nan cursed Darkhold.

3. Shang-Chi and nan Legend of nan Ten Rings (2021)

Simu Liu arsenic Shang-Chi successful "Shang-Chi and nan Legend of nan Ten Rings."

Following Black Panther‘s example, this kung-fu blockbuster brought greater East Asian practice to Hollywood arsenic it introduced nan MCU’s first Chinese superhero, Shang-Chi. It besides yet gave fans nan villain they waited years for pinch nan MCU’s existent “Mandarin,” Xu Wenwu, while reinventing nan arguable characteristic for modern audiences.

It whitethorn sprout excessively precocious pinch its third-act climax filled pinch fantastical flying creatures, but Shang-Chi presents a must-see superhero escapade acknowledgment to its engaging family drama, riveting characters, and exhilarating conflict scenes, nan second of which makes for nan champion action sequences successful nan MCU.

2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Following character Chadwick Boseman’s tragic decease successful 2020, this sequel boldly chose not to recast his lead characteristic and merge his decease into nan story. This prime made for 1 of nan astir affectional movies successful nan MCU, arsenic nan movie shows Shuri and nan remainder of T’Challa’s loved ones struggling to property connected without nan Black Panther arsenic nan mutant king Namor surfaces successful Wakanda.

Wakanda Forever isn’t conscionable different thrilling comic book epic. It’s a heartfelt exploration of nonaccomplishment and condolences arsenic Shuri learns to heal from her brother’s decease and go nan leader her state needs.

1. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Phase Four didn’t person an Avengers movie, but Spider-Man: No Way Home more than made up for it arsenic a crossover for nan ages. This threequel treated audiences to 3 live-action Spider-Men teaming up against their enemies from crossed nan Multiverse successful nan franchise’s biggest escapade yet. But this movie doesn’t conscionable hinge connected specified instrumentality service.

No Way Home reminds audiences of what makes Peter Parker specified a compelling hero, arsenic he juggles redeeming everyone he tin and surviving a normal teenage life until he is forced to make nan eventual sacrifice. This movie besides brought billions backmost to nan container agency aft nan pandemic drove moviegoers distant from theaters, making this 1 of nan astir impactful MCU films to date.