Dhruv Sharma
Disney made its streaming service debut with pomp and show. Unsurprisingly, since it will be competing with other streaming giants like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, the platform is offering every major Disney film and show that dates back to its inception. But out of the vast array of movies that are featured on the platform, most fans have been eagerly waiting for all the Marvel movies that will finally be available online.
Over the years, Marvel movies have not only lured generations of comic book fans but have also versed pretty much everyone with Stanley’s remarkable world. The good news for all MCU fans is that among all the other highly anticipated Pixar and Star Wars movies, the platform will also include an epic superheroic pile-up of 12 Marvel films. Here’s a list of all the Marvel movies that are available on Disney Plus.
12. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ is the first of the ‘Captain America’ trilogy and is set in early-to-mid 1940s, during World War II. Compared to almost all the other films in the franchise, this one stands out because of its “period piece” inspired setting and its heave emphasis on Steve Roger’s journey towards becoming a superhero. It may not have as big of a fan following as the others but it very well sets the stage for future storylines. And now, after finally watching the entire franchise, if you look back at ‘The First Avenger’, as a viewer, you will be able to admire all the connective tissue that binds all the movies of the franchise.
11. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
In the vast canon of all MCU films, if we compare it with all the others, ‘Thor: The Dark World’ is more or less of a forgotten gem. The film’s villain, Malkeith the Accursed, may not be as exceptional of an antagonist as Thanos, but for the most part, his presence is quite enjoyable. Chris Hemsworth, yet again, does not disappoint with his role as the God of Thunder and his character, who was previously portrayed with a snobbish domineering attitude, comes off as a very noble individual in this one. Set after the events of the ‘The Avengers (2012)’, Thor embarks on a journey of treachery and self-discovery when the Dark Elves threaten the future of the universe and even Odin is not able to protect Asgard from this looming peril.
Apart from that, the film also highlights Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) past and makes you empathize with him, despite all of his history of wrongdoings. And finally, not to mention, even Kat Denning’s surprisingly significant screentime, adds some much-needed funny moments to the film, especially towards the end. All in all, ‘Thor-The Dark World’ may come nowhere close to being as epic as ‘The Avengers’ movies but it still manages to build a strong foundation for what comes later. Your MCU binge is certainly incomplete without this one. With Disney Plus, you can not only enjoy the top-tier films of the franchise but you can also rekindle yourself with these origin classics.
10. Iron Man 3 (2013)
In the aftermath of the events of ‘The Avengers’, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) struggles with PTSD and his near-death experience begins to take a toll on him. Haunted with demons of his past, he gets all paranoid about threats that could potentially be much bigger than that of the Chitauri. Out of desperation, he even ends up building an army of Iron man suits, and while he’s at it, a conspiracy around a terrorist organization starts to unfold. The film reflects on the weaknesses that lie in Tony’s demeanor who tries to project himself as an invincible hero. But it can be clearly seen how he is almost staggering to the edge while trying to make sense of everything that’s going on around him.
Apart from Robert Downey Jr’s stellar portrayal of a vulnerable superhero, the film is also bolstered with some great performances including that of Gwenyth Paltrow, who perfectly captures the warmth and supportive nature of her character—Pepper Potts. While the Mandarin—played by Ben Kingsley—comes out as a disappointing antagonist, Guy Pearce‘s Aldrich Killian makes up for all of it. ‘Iron Man 3’ is indeed the perfect conclusion to the Iron Man trilogy and it’s certainly the kind of movie you can watch again and again.
9. Ant Man (2015)
Starring Paul Rudd, being the 12th installment in the MCU, ‘Ant-Man’ might seem a little underwhelming and less groundbreaking compared to all the others, but that does not make it any less entertaining. The film centers Scott Lang, a petty thief who tries to rekindle his past after spending years in prison. But as he tries to reconnect with his daughter Cassie, he gets caught up in another heist where he is expected to steal a supernatural suit from Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his daughter Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly). Soon he finds himself in the mysterious suit that can literally shrink him to the size of an ant while granting him superhuman strength. Going up against a villain called Yellowjacket, he must grow stronger to prove his worth and ultimately, protect his family.
‘Ant-Man’, with its innovate jokes and light-hearted themes, never skips a funny beat. It might seem a little small scale in comparison with its predecessors but it is certainly not an insignificant one. Despite its relatively weak antagonist, ‘Ant-Man’ is a great comic addition to the franchise that will blow you away with its incredible CGI and extremely entertaining performances.
8. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
With a star-studded cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, and many other renowned names, ‘Age of Ultron’ is a well-crafted chapter in the franchise as it subtly introduces us to the mind stone, that happens to be one of the infinity stones Thanos is looking for and in addition, it also establishes a prelude for ‘Black Panther’ by briefly bringing up Vibranium and its impact on the nation of Wakanda. Along with this, the film also gives birth to a few more superheroes like Vision, Scarlett Witch, and Quicksilver, most of whom, end up becoming a part of the Avengers Bandwagon in the long run.
On the downside, ‘Age of Ultron’ has a relatively one-dimensional antagonist who still manages to throw a roughshod on the superheroes with his army of villainous Bots. Eventually, all of it comes down to a grand war where, despite being heavily outnumbered, the Avengers are able to save the day. For some, with its compelling new characters and deeper stories, this film might come off as a much better sequel of the first Avengers movie. Whereas for others, it might seem like one of the weaker entries in the franchise because of its lack of a proper overarching antagonist and some unforeseeable superhero deaths.
Whatever your opinion may be about it, it cannot be denied that this film dishes out some major teasers for the films that follow. From Ulysses Klaue’s (Andy Serkis) character as an arms dealer to its references to other films like ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and ‘Infinity War’, ‘Avenger: Age of Ultron’ is not only a fest of outstanding CGI but it also offers some necessary build-up for its sequels.
7. Iron Man (2008)
Right from the get-go, ‘Iron Man’ established itself as one of the most intense and strongest installments of the MCU. As a linchpin, this pivotal movie marked the beginning of a spectacular decade long franchise by laying down some solid conceptual groundwork for the movies that followed. While ‘Endgame’ finally concluded Iron’s Man reign with a remarkable ending, ‘Iron Man’ started it all. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film revolves around Tony Stark who is the billionaire genius son of a renowned inventor and weapons contractor, Howard Stark. During one of his presentations in an Iraqi Unit, things don’t go as planned and he gets attacked by a group of combatants with ulterior motives.
With a car battery attached to his heart after this incident, he barely survives the attack and is forced to work for the terrorists who abduct him. While he pretends to be a part of their sinister intent, he secretly devises a way to use his heart for powering something even bigger. And that right there is how the world is introduced to the “Iron Man”. Looking back at all the origin movies in the Universe, if you think about it, next to a “superhuman soldier”, a “literal god” and of course, a “green rage machine”, Iron Man is the only self-made superhero and that’s one big reason why this one will always be close to our hearts. I’m pretty sure that at some point of time, we would all be willing to binge through the entire franchise all over again. Well, now that ‘Iron Man’ will be available on Disney Plus, there’s indeed no better place to start off with an epic binge.
6. Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014)
After the foundation set by ‘The First Avenger’, ‘Winter Soldier‘ not only elevates Captain America’s hold as a superhero but also further explores the boundaries of the entire ‘Avengers’ franchise. It has plenty of action scenes, great performances and also a gripping storyline, but what makes it a significant film in the franchise is how it transpires the voice of MCU in a whole new direction. Captain America, who was previously brushed under the rug quite often, gets to be a star in this one and anyone who still questions his status as the greatest avenger ever, should certainly watch ‘Winter Soldier’.
5. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
‘Captain America: Civil War‘ is the third film in the ‘Captain America’ trilogy and is, without a doubt, the best amongst the three. The film throws some light on all the crises of the previous films and makes it a reason for an intense showdown between heroes, who were former allies. Apart from its realistic depiction of a hefty conflict that ensues between the heroes, it also introduces ‘Black Panther‘, played by Chadwick Boseman, and of course, Tom Holland as ‘Spiderman‘. ‘Civil War’, to put it simply, makes you question whose side are you on?
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Looking back at all the movies that first introduced us to the MCU, it’s almost funny how even the smallest things made us swoon over our favorite superheroes. But now, with movies like ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, one can’t help but wonder how Marvel has never held itself back from exploring a zanier side of the mythology of its universe. With its quirky characters and vast universe, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, again, has an incredible cast which includes Chris Pratt as Star-Lord/Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon and Karen Gillan as Nebula.
Besides its memorable comic moments, the film heavily reckons upon the eccentric personality of its characters, especially on that of the egotistical-jackass Rocket and of course, the least articulate yet significant—Groot. Despite being completely CGI-based, these two characters wring out every last bit of emotion out of you with their expressions and vocal intonations.
Directed by James Gun, the film centers Peter Quill, who salvages through the darkest corners of the galaxy while searching for anything that might have a resale value. This is when he comes across a silver orb which is highly desired by many other powerful forces in the universe; one of whom is the great Ronan. After Ronan is finally able to get his hands on the orb, it comes down to Peter, Gamora, Drax, Groot, and Rocket to stop him and save the universe.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Unlike most other films in the MCU canon, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘ ends with more of a somber tone where the superheroes, though they are stronger than ever, suffer from a huge loss; especially Star-lord. It is yet another promising sequel that further dwells into a more mature story where Star-lord ends up meeting a man named Ego, who claims to be his father. But as he—along with other galactic defenders—further investigate the intentions of the ambitious celestial being, they realize that he up to no good and is only driven by his sinister goal of ruling the entire universe.
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2. Captain Marvel (2019)
Air Force pilot Carol Danvers—played by Brie Larson—is discovered by Kree after her aircraft crashes. She is then trained under the elite military unit of the Kree known as Starforce and the mentor of her command, Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), takes her under his shadow. But an attack from the Skrulls inadvertently leads her to Earth after six whole years. Though, at first, she feels more like an outsider in this new world, she soon begins to discover that the planet might hold more significance to her past than she could’ve imagined. With this, she sets out to seek answers and along the way, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), from the S.H.I.E.L.D, also helps her unravel the mysteries of her past.
To an extent, because of its simplicity and fairly linear storyline, ‘Captain Marvel’ lacks the know-how that makes most other Marvel films so outstanding. But its ideas of empowerment and also the fact that it is the first MCU film with a female protagonist, make it a worthy superhero film that cannot be missed. More than anything else, the film is not only about the initial journey of superhero but it also reflects on how the importance of one’s individuality is often linked with strength. It plunges into the depths of Carol’s character and projects a greater message in lines of finding ourselves and challenging our differences.
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1. Avengers: End Game (2019)
With Thanos’ snap, the universe, as we know it, comes to an end as half of its life forms are wiped out in a matter of minutes. ‘Avengers: End Game’, one of the biggest movies of all time, brings us a bleak world where the Avengers have lost for the first time. The fallen heroes must reunite, and probably for the last time, they must prepare themselves for an epic showdown that could potentially reverse the grim fate of the world. This highly anticipated film does not disappoint and draws an impeccable conclusion for the entire franchise.
The film reminisces all the tragedies, drama and most of all the “actions”, of the previous films that turn into significant consequences in this one. With some of its deeply impactful light-hearted moments and action scenes that can literally keep you at the edge of your seat, it finally drifts towards a heart-rending conclusion. This bold finale perfectly marks the end of a decade-old legacy and regardless of whether you’re a Marvel fan or not, you can’t help but admire this “cinematic event.” That being said, if, like many other die-hard fans of the franchise, you can literally watch this film a countless number of times, having it on a streaming service like Disney plus is certainly going to help you with your “rewatch” endeavors.
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