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15 years have passed since the first Iron Man The movie launched the glorious cinematic phenomenon known as Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU has been cinematic storytelling on an unprecedented scale, taking a global audience on a journey that has been going on for all this time. Today, while words like “superhero fatigue” find prominence, a new generation of avid viewers is still discovering this world of stories.
It invites us to take a second look at all of the things that made the MCU so special. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that many of her films rank as excellent standalone titles. It’s almost as if the MCU is made of two pieces connected, and a lot of projects that have been great standalone superhero movies in their own right. These movies could also make for a great way to introduce someone new to the MCU. Here are the top 10 stellar, standalone MCU movies.
10 Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier It was an important anchor piece in the early stages of the MCU. However, it was an equally effective standalone story – perhaps the best in the entire MCU. The film marks Captain America’s first exploits in the modern world after being rescued from the ice, and sees the hero face modern challenges with the same powerful idealism. In this cycle, he built new relationships, rediscovered some old ones, and found his purpose in the modern world. All of these elements would go on to serve the overall saga in subsequent films.
However, the movie presents itself as an excellent movie even outside of these details. Captain America: The Winter Soldier marking a major tonal departure from the rest of the MCU up to that point. The film placed itself squarely in the category of spy thrillers with a central conflict that came with strong parallels to current political issues. All of its other goals are neatly accomplished as rational extensions of this central plot – developing the character of Captain America, establishing relationships and conflicts that will be crucial to subsequent MCU films.
9 bull
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As a kind of origin story for Thor, the first bull The movie has been mostly separated from the rest of the MCU. Despite this, the movie offered viewers an exhilarating experience of fantasy action mixed with a few touches of the MCU’s typical sense of humor. As one of the first MCU films, bull Deal with a different field of reality Iron Man and explored deep space realities that would become relevant to the MCU’s later narrative. Backed by a stellar cast, she captivated audiences with her performances and personal relationships – from Loki’s troubles with his father to Anthony Hopkins’ stunning performance as Odin.
8 Guardians of the Galaxy
the first Guardians of the Galaxy He has a special place in the hearts of MCU fans. The movie is set far from the land of the Avengers, but it jumps on old tunes like “Hooked on a Feeling.” Director James Gunn was so focused on achieving his unique vision of a superhero space opera that he would often imagine scenes around specific soundtracks. In the end, he managed to craft a delightfully tonal choreography that allowed the movie to stand tall no matter what the MCU tag. Even someone who barely has a cursory grasp of the MCU can enjoy the stylistic filmmaking Guardians of the Galaxy.
7 ant Man
ant Man is another MCU origin story on this list, one that has little to do with the larger MCU saga surrounding it. However, it had a lot to do with Kevin Feige’s vision for the MCU. movie, like Guardians of the Galaxy, was the result of a concerted effort by MCU showrunners to create color variations across their films, an idea Feige called “genre plays”. Cast members like Paul Rudd and Michael Peña were the perfect candidates to bring this vision to life. Ant-Man and the Wasp It could be seen by newbies to the MCU as a fun and entertaining heist comedy that just so happens to involve a shrink suit.
6 Incredible Hulk
He suffers from complex human rights issues and a main actor who dropped out of school after one movie. Incredible Hulk It could be called a forgotten MCU movie. It seems that fans simply don’t want to remember he existed, preferring instead to enjoy a bubbly Ruffalo in countless MCU projects. But the Edward Norton-led film is not criminally underrated. It was a great take on the iconic Marvel hero that was dark and suspenseful – closer to a monster horror movie than a superhero flick. From the opening favela chase to the introduction of the Hulk’s first villain, this movie sits on a unique stylistic level that makes for an excellent indie watch.
5 Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger It is the first film in the MCU timeline, and is set before all others during World War II. The film well represents the sentiments of the era and offers a complete origin story of not only the superhero Captain America but also the ideals that later put him at odds with Iron Man. But the movie makes perfect sense even without making any of these connections. the first captain America The film celebrates traditional ideals of good, presenting the war superhero as an example of this. With its many subtleties and exciting fight sequences, it’s a movie that could easily stand on its own merits.
4 Spider-Man: Homecoming
Forget the Iron Man bits for a moment, though Spider-Man: Homecoming is good a Spider Man A movie as we’ve seen before, one that adheres completely to the character’s comic book origins. But this is an angle that only makes sense for seasoned comic book fans. For everyone else, what they see is what they get – and the movie can connect anyone with its heartwarming and topical story. at its base, Spider-Man: Homecoming It is a movie about a teenager at school who struggles to balance responsibility with the desire to live a normal teenage life. With its apt and charming portrayal of teenage anxieties, the movie has a greater emotional quotient than many of the others on this list.
3 Black Panther
Black Panther It was a cornerstone moment in cinema history and represented a huge win for cultural representation in the media. Chadwick Boseman’s character was already introduced to the MCU in Civil warThis film explored the dynamics and challenges facing his country, Wakanda. The filmmakers went to great lengths to imbue the fictional nation with symbols from real African cultures, giving the film a sense of authenticity like never before. With a central plot drawn from real history, the movie hooked viewers without having to draw on its own MCU underpinnings.
2 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi was the first major character to be introduced to the MCU after the conclusion of the Infinity Saga, and also the first Asian superhero in the MCU. The character did not get a backstory in the world of superheroes. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings It was the entire prequel to it, and as such was a fully independent film in its own right. The movie brought in magic, wuxia-inspired action, and also introduced new stakes in the MCU. Before everything , Shang Chi He told a story about the family – and this was the basis that made the film such an excellent independent watch.
1 Iron Man
Iron Man It was the movie that started it all, opening global audiences to the possibility of a superhero movie that was both grounding and awesome, and could be fun while being in the pressing social realities of the present day. As the mainstay of the superhero cinematic universe’s vision, the film had no support to draw on. He needed to have enough bite on his own to start a full phenomenon – which I did. Due in large part to Robert Downey Jr.’s perfect acting and natural charisma, as well as a never-before-seen scene of an iron tracksuit flying in a movie, Iron Man It’s still an amazing standalone movie in the MCU.
