Where Does the New 'Fantastic Four' Stand in the Marvel Movie Ranking?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe: A Comprehensive Ranking of All Movies

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become a cultural phenomenon, with 37 blockbuster movies and counting since its inception in 2008. From the iconic Iron Man to the newly introduced Fantastic Four, the MCU has created a vast universe filled with big stars and unforgettable stories. Now, with the release of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," it's time to explore how this latest addition fits into the ever-expanding saga.

The Latest Addition: 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is now in theaters, bringing Marvel's heroic family from the comics into the MCU proper. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), his wife Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), her brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and their pal Ben Grimm, aka the Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), take on the planet-devouring Galactus. With its 1960s retrofuturistic style and likable characters, this film is considered one of the best welcoming Marvel movies in years.

Ranking the Marvel Movies: From Worst to Best

Here’s the definitive ranking of all the Marvel movies so far:

37. 'Iron Man 2' (2010)

This sequel introduced Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow and put Don Cheadle in the War Machine armor. However, it was mostly a scattershot mess with Tony Stark facing the underwhelming villain Whiplash.

36. 'The Incredible Hulk' (2008)

Edward Norton starred as Bruce Banner in this early MCU film, which was mostly forgettable but served as a reminder of the need for a good solo Hulk film.

35. 'Iron Man 3' (2013)

The results were only so-so as Tony Stark dealt with PTSD and criminally underused antagonist Mandarin.

34. 'Thor: The Dark World' (2013)

Chris Hemsworth's Thor faced a dark elf with an Infinity Stone, while Tom Hiddleston's Loki delivered a standout performance.

33. 'Thor' (2011)

A quasi-family drama that saw Thor banished from Asgard to Earth, this film set up the future Avenger's journey to be worthy of his mystical hammer.

32. 'Eternals' (2021)

Chloé Zhao brought a naturalistic feel to this diverse yet overly earnest movie about heroes who protected humanity for thousands of years.

31. 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' (2015)

This film created sparks between Wanda Maximoff and Vision, plus introduced the secret home life of Hawkeye.

30. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' (2023)

Paul Rudd's Scott Lang had to protect his teen daughter when their family got trapped in the Quantum Realm, with Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror being a saving grace.

29. 'Captain America: Brave New World' (2025)

Anthony Mackie played a great Captain America, but the film was not a great Cap movie, starting as a 1970s-style paranoia thriller.

28. 'Captain Marvel' (2019)

Brie Larson's photon-blasting space warrior debuted in a 1990s nostalgia-fest, with a sweet relationship between young Nick Fury and Goose the cat.

27. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' (2018)

This satisfying sequel doubled down on the original's joyful aspects with Evangeline Lilly's Wasp making an appearance.

26. 'Doctor Strange' (2016)

Benedict Cumberbatch's introduction to the MCU was fantastically weird and trippy, with magical effects creating a signature psychedelic experience.

25. 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' (2021)

Shang-Chi and Katy faced a magical confrontation with Shang-Chi's father, with the film getting lost in its own mythology.

24. 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' (2022)

Sam Raimi brought a scary bent to the dark fantasy, with Benedict Cumberbatch's magic man throwing down with a dangerous foe.

23. 'Thor: Ragnarok' (2017)

Taika Waititi's funniest Marvel project featured a hostile takeover of Asgard by Hela, with Jeff Goldblum stealing the show.

22. 'Black Widow' (2021)

This solo spy thriller reunited Natasha Romanoff with her estranged "family" of Russian secret agents, launching Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova as the franchise's next superstar.

21. 'The Marvels' (2023)

Disney+ teen heroine Kamala Khan made her big-screen debut in an enjoyable, body-swapping space romp, with a scene involving a herd of cats being an all-time MCU moment.

20. 'Ant-Man' (2015)

This heist comedy with a super-shrinking dude was a bigger risk than "Guardians of the Galaxy," with Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Evangeline Lilly delivering great performances.

19. 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' (2019)

Tom Holland's Peter Parker faced international incidents during a European vacation, with Jake Gyllenhaal making an over-the-top splash as Mysterio.

18. 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' (2017)

Kurt Russell playing a living planet was just the beginning, with Baby Groot dancing in a space battle and Yondu stealing the show.

17. 'Thor: Love and Thunder' (2022)

Chris Hemsworth's hero returned for a surprisingly profound romantic comedy, with Natalie Portman back as his astrophysicist ex.

16. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' (2025)

This film is considered one of the best welcoming Marvel movies in years, with Julia Garner's Silver Surfer being a joy to behold.

15. 'Thunderbolts' (2025)

The "punch and shoot" misfits explored depression and loneliness, with a focus on the power of a good group hug.

14. 'Iron Man' (2008)

Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man set the tone for everything that was to come, with his signature swagger and attitude.

13. 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (2017)

Tom Holland's Spider-Man balanced extracurriculars, a date for the big homecoming dance, and fighting the Vulture in an epic young-adult adventure.

12. 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022)

Ryan Coogler honored Chadwick Boseman while setting up the future of his Wakandan heroes, with a stirring story about life, legacy, and loss.

11. 'Captain America: The First Avenger' (2011)

Marvel nailed the origin story of Steve Rogers, offering a great World War II aesthetic and a moral code that created an intriguing thread for his next two movies.

10. 'Avengers: Infinity War' (2018)

This third "Avengers" film was an all-night buffet of superhero fare, with a stupendous cliffhanger that fans loved to hate.

9. 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' (2023)

Rocket earned the spotlight in James Gunn's trilogy finale, with a mission to save one of their own and a narrative about compassion and empathy.

8. 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021)

This emotional conclusion paid off aspects of Tobey Maguire's and Andrew Garfield's earlier Spider-films, with old bad guys like Doc Ock and Green Goblin showing up for a stirring story about second chances.

7. 'Deadpool & Wolverine' (2024)

Ryan Reynolds' Merc with a Mouth and Hugh Jackman's clawed grump saved their worlds, with a focus on the characters' vulnerabilities lending needed depth to an entertaining romp.

6. 'Black Panther' (2018)

Chadwick Boseman's warrior king took fans on a magnificent journey with awesome set pieces and a near-perfect villain in Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger.

5. 'The Avengers' (2012)

The jam-packed ensemble lived up to its giant-size expectations, with fanboy hearts melting when hammers and shields flew as Iron Man, Cap, and Thor met.

4. 'Captain America: Civil War' (2016)

Personal and political stakes were at play, with an awesome superhero battle and memorable intros for Black Panther and Spider-Man.

3. 'Avengers: Endgame' (2019)

This three-hour compilation paid off everything that came before it with callbacks and cameos, with a climactic battle that knocked your socks off.

2. 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014)

Fantastic tunes, a strange cast of characters, and a story that hooked fans on feelings, from the emotions of young Peter Quill crying over his dying mother to the hilarity of grown-up Peter explaining "Footloose" to Gamora.

1. 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' (2014)

More political thriller than superhero blockbuster, this film tapped into timely themes of privacy concerns and military might used in ethically questionable ways.