The first film in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Widow, is finally set to release on July 9. The oft-delayed film will mark the beginning of a new chapter of the MCU after the climactic events of Phase 3. Upon their releases, each installment in Phase 3 was received fairly well by critics and audiences alike, and they all raised the stakes and built toward the Avengers' ultimate showdown with Thanos. Below is a ranking of the eleven films in the MCU's Phase 3, based on an average of their Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores.
2019’s Captain Marvel had the lowest critic reviews out of any of the Phase 3 films and an even lower Rotten Tomatoes audience score at 45 percent. The film was the first MCU solo film starring a female superhero, and the general consensus was that Brie Larson's performance as Carol Danvers was solid. However, the film was criticized for following the standard Marvel formula without much deviation, and critics also thought the film’s nonlinear story felt disjointed.
James Gunn had a tough task following up Guardians of the Galaxy, but critics reacted fairly well to 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Particular praise was given to Baby Groot, the soundtrack and the film’s vibrant colors. Despite this, critics also seemed to agree that the film was generally inferior to the first film, thanks to a lack of focus and a feeling of repetition from its predecessor.
There was a lot resting on 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War due to the fact that it contained the first major showdown between the Avengers and Thanos. The Joe and Anthony Russo-directed film ended up receiving mostly positive reviews, with critics singling out Josh Brolin’s unyielding Thanos as a particular highlight. Some criticism was leveled toward the film’s length, as well as the under-development of certain characters.
Following the heartbreaking ending of Infinity War, Marvel Studios delivered a palate cleanser with 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp. General opinion was that while the villains were underdeveloped and the film generally felt inconsequential to the greater MCU, it was still a ridiculous and entertaining summer action movie. Despite general audiences not reacting to the film as well as critics, the film was a success, and a third Ant-Man film is on the way as part of Phase 4.
2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home was the second solo film to star Tom Holland as the titular web-slinger. Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as the duplicitous Mysterio and the globe-trotting locations were praised as the sequel’s high points. A number of the complaints that were aimed toward the film can be summed up by critic Tim Brayton at Alternate Ending, who called the film, "The epilogue to Avengers: Endgame first, and Iron Man 4 second."
Critics agreed that the strongest part of 2016’s Doctor Strange was its visual spectacle, with Chris McCoy of the Memphis Flyer calling the film, "a coherent vehicle to keep the eye-popping visuals going." Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as the lead character was also praised, as was some of the film’s more subtle comedy, while Mads Mikkelsen’s villainous Kaecilius was criticized for being underdeveloped and feeling fairly generic.
The first installment in Phase 3, 2016’s Captain America: Civil War provided audiences with an all-out battle between Captain America and Iron Man, two of the MCU’s most recognizable heroes. Critics heaped praises on the film's action set pieces and ethical debates, while also giving it some flack for its length. Overall, this film pleased both critics and fans while also preparing the world for what was to come in the rest of Phase 3.
Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures’ reboot of the Spider-Man series, 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, received widespread acclaim. Praise was directed towards Tom Holland and Michael Keaton’s performances as well as the story’s coming-of-age elements. Audiences and critics were won over by the newest incarnation of Spider-Man, proving Marvel and Sony’s unprecedented deal regarding the character’s rights to have been a worthwhile gamble.
Taika Waititi essentially gave the Thor franchise a tonal and stylistic makeover with 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, and the changes he made were welcomed by critics and audiences alike. Kristen Lopez of Culturess called the film, "a heap of fun," and other reviewers agreed, singing the praises of Tessa Thompson’s performance and Waititi’s energetic directing. Following the film’s release, it was widely agreed upon that the Thor franchise is in safe hands with Waititi.
The climactic fourth installment in the Avengers franchise was, as expected, a total success. 2019’s Avengers: Endgame treated audiences to exciting action scenes and emotional character moments. Critics heavily praised the story arcs of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers in particular. While the film was criticized for its length, with some feeling three hours was excessive, Endgame smashed box office records, becoming the highest grossing film of all time for just under two years.
2016’s Black Panther was a milestone not just for the MCU, but for the world in general. The Ryan Coogler-directed film caused both the character of T’Challa and his actor Chadwick Boseman to become household names, and inspired audiences around the globe. Black Panther is not only Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic’s highest rated Phase 3 film, but also their highest rated MCU film in general.
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