Fresh Insights from Rotten Tomatoes’ List of 300 Best Movies of All Time Reveal MCU’s Top-Performing Phase To Date
By now, it’s widely acknowledged that the MCU has encountered a challenging period, notably with the dismal performance of Marvel Studios in 2023, leading Disney to feature on the list of major box-office flops.
Consequently, Iger disclosed plans for a substantial reduction in output, with a shift towards producing only 2-3 movies annually along with two shows.
After 16 years, the MCU spans across 5 phases, with Phase 4 often criticized as the weakest. This criticism is justified, as it marked a period of content saturation without sufficient regard for storytelling or character development. In contrast, Phase 3 is widely acclaimed as the pinnacle, a sentiment affirmed by recent Rotten Tomatoes data.
Rotten Tomatoes’ “Best 300 Movies of All Time” spotlight Phase 3 as the MCU’s standout era. Across the 33 movies as of Phase 5, reception has been diverse among both fans and critics. Each phase has witnessed a mix of critical and commercial triumphs, such as ‘Iron Man,’ ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier,’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ as well as letdowns like ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ ‘Thor: The Dark World,’ and ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp.’
The ranking considers both Tomatometer ratings and Audience Scores, offering unexpected insights into the MCU’s Infinity and Multiverse Sagas. It confirms existing perceptions about these periods while instilling hope for the franchise’s forthcoming endeavors.
Rotten Tomatoes ranks MCU movies based on their Tomatometer scores:
- “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021) from Phase 4 ranks 128th with a score of 93%.
- “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) from Phase 3 ranks 142nd with a score of 94%.
- “Iron Man” (2008) from Phase 1 ranks 145th with a score of 94%.
- “Black Panther” (2018) from Phase 3 ranks 225th with a score of 96%.
- “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) from Phase 2 ranks 254th with a score of 92%.
- “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017) from Phase 3 ranks 274th with a score of 93%.
- “Marvel’s The Avengers” (2012) from Phase 1 ranks 286th with a score of 91%.
Phase 3 stood out for multiple reasons. Firstly, it’s often referred to as the ‘Endgame’ phase. Additionally, fans observed that the narratives progressed at a more consistent pace, with each storyline receiving adequate focus.
What are your thoughts on the list? Share your opinions in the comments below!
