Excited for ‘Infinity War?’ Here are the 10 best Marvel films to get you hyped

It was 10 years ago when Samuel L. Jackson made a brief appearance during a post-credit scene in “Iron Man” with a mention of an “Avengers Initiative,” and from there a phenomenon was born.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has taken over the world, creating a groundbreaking shared universe. One that other studios have tried to replicate, but none could ever fully duplicate. They’ve broken box office records, with five of their films having grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Most importantly, they’ve brought to life some of Marvel Comics’ most beloved and obscure characters like never before, creating a whole new generation of comic book readers and a permanent stamp in modern-day pop culture.

With their biggest film, “Avengers: Infinity War,” releasing this weekend, it’s time to look back at this legendary franchise and see which of their films are bound to stand the test of time.

10. “Doctor Strange” (2016)

Starting off our list is the latest origin film from MCU, “Doctor Strange.” While containing some repetitive elements from previous Marvel films, there’s no denying that this tale of redemption and self discovery still has plenty to offer. It has some of the most creative visual effects sequences of the entire franchise, elevating the action within this film to an exciting level. Combine this with a solid cast and you have yet another hit from the studio.

9. “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)

While most Marvel fans often point out the first two films about Thor are some of the studio’s weaker efforts, “Thor: Ragnarok” proves that third time’s the charm. Even though this entry could’ve benefited from taking certain elements of its premise more seriously, the fun with “Thor: Ragnarok” is unmeasurable. Unlike its predecessors the film gives a major boost to the color palette and dialogue to create an overall exhilarating experience that mostly works. The battle between Hulk and Thor on the planet Sakaar is worthy of admission price alone. For fans who want to turn their brains off and have a great time, “Thor: Ragnarok” is bound to be a blast.

8. “Ant-Man” (2015)

We continue our list with yet another origin story focusing on the obscure Marvel hero “Ant-Man.” While it’s clear that Edgar Wright as director would’ve helped this film’s style be fully realized (the director left the project due to creative differences), there’s still plenty of fun in this smaller scaled adventure. “Ant-Man” remains as one of Marvel’s funniest films by far, taking full advantage of their premise to execute some top-notch humor while containing plenty of heart. The use of scale and perspective in the visuals adds to the comedic edge, but also allows for a great level of creativity in the action scenes. While Marvel’s bigger 2015 effort, “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” may have disappointed some, “Ant-Man” is a valuable example of how great things can come in small packages.

7. “Black Panther” (2018)

Next up on the countdown is the most recent addition to the MCU and a cultural phenomenon in itself, “Black Panther.” Despite some odd pacing and characterization choices, “Black Panther” contains some of the best elements of any Marvel film to date, proving the studio hasn’t run out of steam even after 18 films. Ryan Coogler’s direction elevates the film with his aesthetic choices in costume design, music and overall production design. These choices also add to the world building, which is easily the strongest in the MCU so far. “Black Panther” makes for solid entertainment that adds a new level of personality to the franchise.

6. “Iron Man” (2008)

We now move from the latest Marvel movie to their earliest with “Iron Man.” Being able to stand toe-to-toe with some of the best Marvel films even 10 years later is a massive accomplishment. The action, realistic tone and witty humor are top notch as always, though ultimately this film stands out from the crowd with Robert Downey Jr. as the titular hero. Downey gives the character a respectable level of intelligence and wit while still making him feel relatable, making for one of the most perfect superhero castings yet. If you have yet to see the film that started it all for Marvel, then you’re doing yourself a huge disservice.

5. “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017)

The fifth spot on the list is a tie between Marvel’s high-flying space adventures with “Guardians of the Galaxy” and its sequel, “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2.” The first film was a game changer for the MCU, focusing on a ragtag group of oddballs with a stronger emphasis on humor than the studio was used to playing around with. Its sequel continues the fun tone but delves deeper into the protagonists, successfully showing depth and heart while possibly being the most visually stunning MCU film. These two high octane adventures are joyrides worth taking.

4. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)

After a long battle with Sony to take back their most famous hero, it’s no surprise that Marvel did the webhead some justice in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” This light-hearted, small-scaled journey may not be the typical Marvel adventure, but it knew it didn’t need to be. Rather than giant explosions and city battles, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” brings the hero back to his roots by crafting a charming story capturing the feeling of a Jon Hughes-inspired high school comedy. On top of this, the film contains a stellar cast, including one of the best on-screen Spider-Man representations yet with Tom Holland and one of the MCU’s best villains with Michael Keaton as Vulture. For those who thought the web-slinger couldn’t be saved after “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming” will make you excited for Spidey all over again.

3. “The Avengers” (2012)

While it’s hard to believe that anything could be more anticipated than “Infinity War,” lets not forget about the film that became Marvel’s first phenomenon. “The Avengers” remains the highest grossing superhero film ever made. It’s the kind of film that other studios have been trying to mimic, but none have succeeded. Featuring the well-established characters we have come to know, the film could’ve taken more time to have them play off one another, both comedically and dramatically. Top it off with the return of fan favorite Loki and a final battle like nothing seen before, “The Avengers” put the MCU on the map as a force to be reckoned with.

2. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)

The runner up on our list is easily Marvel’s most mature and grounded film. While most of the entries in the MCU are made to appeal to audiences of all ages, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is made for an older crowd. Featuring a heavier tone, plot and set of themes than most MCU movies, it also goes deeper into Steve Roger’s development coming to terms with his new reality, leaving its mark in the franchise. For those feeling tired of the bright visual effects but are still looking for an exciting story, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” has plenty to offer.

1. “Captain America: Civil War” (2016)

At the top spot of our list is a film that takes everything we love about the MCU and elevates it, with “Captain America: Civil War.” A tale of conflicting moralities drives this film, seeing these characters as we have never witnessed before and allowing their experiences to have real weight to their universe. Never allowing the audience to completely side with one or the other, we see the struggles and challenges they’ve all gone through to come to these decisions. At the same time, the film still remains fun to watch, balancing out a whole new cast of characters and exciting action scenes without feeling overstuffed. The reason “Captain America: Civil War” is number one is because it knows how to utilize a shared universe to its fullest potential. The movie isn’t just about seeing characters crossover and disastrous battles, but blending all the experiences, choices and ideas from the previous installments to create a sense of believability on both a personal and global scale. It’s the film that shows why no cinematic universe can beat the MCU.

The MCU has given viewers years of entertainment and plenty of memories that moviegoers will remember for a long time to come. We can’t wait to see what “Infinity War” has in store and what the MCU produces in years to come.