Marvel Cinematic Universe
Year: 2008 - Present
Created by: Kevin Feige
Films: 42
Series: 24
Created by: Kevin Feige
Films: 42
Series: 24
"I hope these films have evoked a dialogue on equality, justice, freedom, embracing diversity, and combating intolerance with the power of partnership, sacrifice, and love." - Robert Downey Jr.
The rejuvenation of the superhero film genre in the late 90's and early 00's paved the way for comic book publisher Marvel to get out of bankruptcy and gain a new lease of life. After a string of standalone franchises with multiple studios during the early 00's, Marvel and film producer Kevin Feige struck a deal with Paramount Pictures to bring the Marvel characters to life in a shared film universe, The Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2013 Disney acquired the Marvel properties and has continued to bring Marvel's long line of heroes to the big and small screens in an ever expanding shared universe. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has gone on to become the most successful film franchise of all time with a box office total of just under $30 billion as of 2022.
Collected here are my reviews for every film and series that creates the MCU, divided into their appropriate phases, and listed in release order.
Note: This list only includes films and series released as part of the mainline MCU. Legacy Marvel film franchises that have been retroactively canonised (Fox & Sony films) are not listed here.
Collected here are my reviews for every film and series that creates the MCU, divided into their appropriate phases, and listed in release order.
Note: This list only includes films and series released as part of the mainline MCU. Legacy Marvel film franchises that have been retroactively canonised (Fox & Sony films) are not listed here.
Phase One (2008-2012):
When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) creates a metal suit that grants him extraordinary combat abilities, he inadvertently brings with him the dawn of the super-human. Before long, more super-powered beings begin appearing and a secret government agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., led by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), is tasked with uniting them under one banner, the Avengers Initiative, to fight against extra-terrestrial threats.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. Saga (2013-2020):
In the wake of WWII agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) must navigate life after Steve Rogers, and with with the Strategic Scientific Reserve to develop new ways to protect America and its allies from powerful new threats. Following the formation of the Avengers, agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and a crack team of S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives investigate a series of strange cases involving super-human individuals. Meanwhile the enemy, Hydra, infiltrate the organisation and plan to destroy it.
Phase Two (2013-2015):
The Avengers may have saved Earth from alien invasion, but it has taken its toll on our heroes. New threats rise in the unlikeliest of places, and new allies can be found in any size or species. Meanwhile a mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin), devises a sinister plan.
The Defenders Saga (2015-2019):
Visually impaired lawyer Matt Murdoch (Charlie Cox), private detective Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), former convict Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and billionaire martial arts expert Danny Rand (Finn Jones) all moonlight as super-powered vigilantes. When a common enemy brings them all together, they form The Defenders to clean up the streets.
Meanwhile Frank Castle (John Bernthal), a former Marine, exacts revenge against the criminals who killed his family, bringing his own unique form of justice to those he deems worthy of punishment.
Meanwhile Frank Castle (John Bernthal), a former Marine, exacts revenge against the criminals who killed his family, bringing his own unique form of justice to those he deems worthy of punishment.
Phase Three (2016-2019):
The worlds leaders have agreed that the super-human problem is out of control, and that the Avengers must not operate with the level of unparalleled freedom at which they currently do. Rifts begin to form within the Avengers, pitting them against each other. Meanwhile Thanos' plan finally comes to fruition, signalling the end times for humans, aliens, and gods everywhere.
Phase Four (2021-2022):
As the world adjusts to life after the blip, our surviving heroes find themselves alone. Each has their own overwhelming grief and trauma that manifests in different ways, some for good, and others take a darker path. All this pain leads to the discovery of the multiverse, where infinite possibilities are within reach. But tampering with the multiverse can bring about disastrous consequences that will change the very fabric of reality as we know it.
Phase Five (2023-2025):
A powerful new threat emerges from the multiverse in the form of Kang the Conquerer (Jonathan Majors). With the Avengers disbanded, heroes and villains alike unite under multiple super-powered groups to combat this cataclysmic force.