a girl’s guide to the MCU

or anyone, for that matter

Most people that know me know that I’m a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What they don’t know, however, is how big of a fan I am. There are at least 35 films in the MCU, in addition to dozens of TV series, and I have seen nearly all of them. My addiction started when I was around 13 and has remained with me for over a decade. I’m almost convinced that it’s impossible to make a bad Marvel movie (with the exception of a few flops here and there). I love everything about them: the action, the world-building, the emotional nuance.

I love the franchise so much I’ve decided to effectively write a living thesis on them. (Inspired, in part, by

briffin glue

’s episode-by-episode analysis of Over the Garden Wall.) Mostly, I write about what strikes me in each film. I’ve tried my best to describe my love for these films without spoiling them for you, but alas I haven’t been able to omit spoilers altogether.

As of now, I have reviewed 15 films, covering only those that I have very recently rewatched. As time goes on, I hope to cover every movie in the MCU, as well as a few of the TV shows. Though these reviews may not be particularly useful, I hope you do find them enjoyable and, perhaps, even convince you to watch a film or two yourself.

Last update: May 8

---

phase one

Iron Man (2008)

An oldie but a goodie. The face that launched a thousand multiverses.

It’s been a few years since I’ve rewatched this film and it still holds up. Watching this, I found myself missing Don Cheadle’s rendition of Rhodey and am so glad they cast him when they did.

Prior to rewatching, I don’t think I’d ever paid close attention to the scene where Tony first gets the electromagnet implanted in his heart. It’s excruciating, and reminded me of the countless others in the MCU who were given their abilities without consent (e.g., The Hulk, Winter Soldier, Rocket, etc.).

One qualm I have with this film is that the plot was a bit obvious. Then again, it was the first film in the franchise, and the larger MCU, too. But there’s nothing like watching Tony Stark learning to become Iron Man–and watching him grow with the MCU over the next decade.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

I was reluctant to watch this film after learning it didn’t star Mark Ruffalo. Still, after watching The Avengers and learning that the Hulk was created by accident, in a failed attempt to recreate the Super Soldier Serum that made Captain America, I wanted to know more. That, combined with the fact that the reviews for this film were overwhelming positive, despite Edward Norton being recast after only one film. And, boy, was I not disappointed.

This film made me sympathize with Bruce Banner in ways that have never occurred to me. While Ruffalo’s Hulk is just destructive, Norton’s is tragic. You feel like you’re right there with him as he comes to terms with his new reality, one he didn’t choose. You feel all the worse learning he created the ultimate bio-weapon under the pretense of a cure against radiation poisoning.

NOT TO MENTION, the depictions of physical affection in this film are so soft. The love between Bruce and Betty is so passionate that you almost forget you’re watching a MCU film—something only Edward Norton could do.

IT’S JUST SO SOFT (The Incredible Hulk 2008)

Iron Man 2 (2010)

I probably haven’t rewatched this one since around the time it came out. Now that I have I can’t believe how long I put it off. This film is already 15 years old but the visual effects couldn’t be better. Visual effects were on another level in the 2010s (see Avatar and the whole first phase of the MCU).

My favorite scenes in this film have to be the ones where Tony is playing around with his holographic AI, expanding and collapsing projections in his discovery of a new element. Speaking of, I may or may mot have cried like a bitch during the scene where Tony’s dad reaches out to him via archival footage from 1974.

Justin Hammer is the worst but also the most cunty, most unlikely villain in the MCU. All in all, this sequel does not disappoint–it is chef’s kiss and outdoes many MCU films today.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

I didn’t want to rewatch this film because I thought it would be too old timely. But I’m glad I did.

First off, I completely forgot the Stanley Tucci was in the MCU—it would be great if he reprised his role as Abraham Erskine though I don’t see that happening, but you never know. This was also Sebastian Stan’s first film in the MCU and he’s still in it today which is crazy but I’m here for it.

Besides Avengers: Endgame, this is really one of the only times we see Howard Stark in film. This young version of Stark combines the hands-on intellect with charm, standing in sharp contrast to the father-figure founder we come to know in later films.

The scene where Peggy shoots Steve up close, demonstrating the strength of his Vibranium shield, is among my top 10 favorite moments in the MCU, mostly because of Howard Stark’s reaction.

The Avengers (2012)

I was hesitant to rewatch this one. In my head, this film was all about The Battle of New York. It took rewatching for me to realize that’s not true.

The Battle only makes up around a third of the plot, the rest is all build up to it–specifically, how the team came together. We get to watch the team go from fighting each other to fighting together. And what a thing it is to watch.

You’ve got to love the moment where Thor’s hammer hits Captain America’s shield, effectively destroying a whole forest. I also enjoyed the Battle scene where Iron Man shoots his beams off of the same shield, amplifying its impact

But my favorite scene is probably Tony saying that they’ll go for shawarma after, having just fallen out of a wormhole. This film was iconic in 2012 and still remains so somehow.

phase two

Iron Man 3 (2013)

I distinctly remember watching this film in the cinema. I had been a fan of the franchise for years but this was the only one I got to see on the big screen. It was iconic then and has remained so. There are so many things I love about this movie:

1. The fact that the Mandarin, this supposed terrorist leader, wasn’t actually a real person but just some guy named Trevor from Liverpool playing a part. Let me tell you, I was so happy to see Ben Kingsley reprise his role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). In classic Marvel style, just when you think you’ve seen the tail end of someone, they pop up in a supporting role almost 10 years later.

2. Harley. The fact that an 11 year old child ended up being the perfect side-kick to Iron Man tells you everything you need to know. He somehow brought the perfect mix of ingenuity and wit to the role, all while being adorable in the process. 10/10 performance. Again, it was great to see Ty Simpkins make a cameo in the funeral scene of Avengers: Endgame.

3. The Iron Legion. I love the fact that previous iterations of the Mark became autonomous and were willing to help when called upon. I especially love the scene when they all show up at the end and line up in the sky. In many ways, this sets the stage for Avengers: Age of Ultron, plus you see the Iron Legion lend a hand in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Overall, 10/10 film, would definitely watch again.

Captain America and the Winter Solider (2014)

Another solid sequel. In many ways, this film was an inflection point in the MCU, marking the end of SHIELD and the start of the Steve-Natasha vigilante arch.

The visual effects in this film are solid. I especially love the scenes with the SHIELD helicarriers and Potomac River opening up.

Most of all, I love Bucky. The history of the Winter Soldier is, in many ways, a commentary on Soviet Era politics. Bucky, like Steve, was made a Super Solider in an attempt to uphold a certain political ideology, but, unlike Steve, he didn’t sign up for it. This film has some of the most iconic action sequencers in the entire MCU, yet is so heart wrenching at the same time. Watch at your earliest convenience.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

I watched this film for the first time recently, after putting it off for over a decade. What made me change my mind? Two words: baby Groot. I was familiar with the adolescent version of Groot from the latter Avengers films, but once I learned about baby Groot, there was no going back. Dare I say, baby Groot is better than baby Yoda.

The intro of this film goes hard, but in an emotional way. Set in the 1980s, the first scene (set on Earth) reminded me a lot of Stranger Things season 1, which is reason alone to watch in my opinion. Besides the Thor and Captain Marvel films, this is the only franchise to be set in space, giving major Star Wars vibes.

Prior to watching Avengers: Infinity War, this was also the only franchise I was unfamiliar with. Watching these films has answered a lot of questions that didn’t even occur to me before, most of them about Thanos, but the main one relating to a certain talking raccoon. I had previously assumed that Rocket was an alien that happened to resemble a raccoon. I know now that the reality is much more heartbreaking.

This film sheds a lot of light on the Power Stone, which felt like a plot hole to me in Avengers: Endgame. There was unfortunately no baby Groot in this film, but I was happy to see a sapling of Groot right at the very end, suggesting that Vol. 2 will definitely feature my competition against baby Yoda.

phase three

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

I distinctly remember watching this film in the cinema and I’m so glad I did. In many ways, this felt more like an Avengers movie, while still pushing the Steve-Bucky storyline forward in a meaningful way. One quote from this film that has stuck with me since then is something Peggy Carter says: “compromise where you can and where you can’t don’t.” Not only was this the first time we saw Black Panther, played by the late Chadwick Boseman, on screen, but this was also Tom Holland’s first appearance as Spider-Man. THIS IS REASON ALONE TO WATCH THIS FILM.

This film is full of twists and turn. Take, for instance, the other Super Soldiers and how were led to believe this was what the whole movie was about until the last possible moment. This film encompasses so many civil wars: that of vigilantism and oversight, the past and the presence, Tony and Steve. We also get a post-credit sneak peak of Wakanda and its technological capabilities, shrouded in mystery and understated as hell.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Baby Groot. That’s the whole review.

It felt like this film never wanted to end. I attribute this to, in part, the five mid- and post-credit scenes, which has to be a MCU record. Perhaps one of the most surprising revelations in this film was learning why Yondu never handed Peter over to his father, despite being paid to kidnap him in the first place. Despite the complexity of the plot, the message is simple: sometimes, you feel like you’ve been searching for something your whole life only to find it’s been right in front of you the whole time. Yondu calling Peter his son right before sacrificing himself to save his life made me want to call my own dad weeping. Watching a whole fleet of ravagers show up for his funeral, reclaiming him as their own after learning of his sacrifice, was another punch to the gut. It’s obvious that the Guardians franchise is about found family. I just didn’t expect a film about the galaxy to say so much about the paternity (peep, the entire Star Wars series).

phase four

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

I’d convinced myself I’d never watch this film as I hadn’t heard a lot about it–and the things I had heard weren’t great. But, boy, was I wrong. This film was an adventure from start to finish. And the Mandarían translations make you pay close attention.

Unlike Ms. Marvel (who, like me, is Pakistani), this franchise tastefully incorporates elements of Chinese culture with sci-fi. From the elegantly choreographed marshal arts sequences to the water dragon protecting the village (which The Academy wrote a whole article on), this film was both aesthetically pleasing and thrilling. The plot was not what I expected at all. It’s the first time in a long time a MCU movie has surprised me. To be honest, you should watch this film for Awkwafina’s comedy alone. In the midst of a high stakes action scene, she somehow manages to steal the show, despite not being a superhero herself. And how can I forget the Trevor and Morris of it all—so funny yet essential to the plot. I will admit, however, that I was not a fan of the flirty little fight scene at the beginning. Fingers crossed this was the first and last time we see a fight scene turned meet cute in the MCU.

phase five

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Typically, film series tend to get worse with each sequel, but this franchise is an exception. After watching Vol. 2, I didn’t think these films could get any better but here we are. This film largely centers on Rocket and his origin story. When I was first introduced to Rocket in Avengers: Infinity War, I assumed he was some sort of intelligent alien life form that happened to look like a raccoon. I know now that this is not the case. In the first film, you learn that Rocket is in fact a raccoon that was genetically and cybernetically modified. Learning the reality of what that meant was gut wrenching, to say the least.

In Vol. 2, we’re introduced to the Sovereign, a society where each individual is created in Huxleyan birthing pods. If Vol. 2 was an introduction to eugenics, Vol. 3 is defending a thesis on it. Based on the events of Vol. 2, the Sovereign create Adam (played by Will Poulter): an all around laugh, both visually and personality-wise. He is essentially a gold spray painted baby with a gemstone for a brain.

just look at him (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 2023)

Besides the Rocket arch, another plot point that got to me was when Peter reunites with his grandfather after 20 years and you can just tell that he never lost hope that Peter would return.

Thunderbolts* (2025)

I honestly cannot wait to see this film. I might even go to the cinema to see it–something I haven’t done in three years. I used to watch almost every MCU film in the cinema, especially during Phase 3 of the franchise, but haven’t felt any one movie has been worth the hassle since No Way Home. But I love Sebastian Stan and Florence Pugh and David Arbor. Even the latest trailer makes my eyes water because it’s so heavy. I forgot that a superhero movie could make me feel like that–could it could reach across the screen and grab me by the throat when I least expect it. I’m excited to see Hannah John-Kamen step back into her role as Ghost, which we haven’t seen since she made her first appearance in 2018 in Ant-Man and the Wasp. I feel excited about this movie the same way I did when the first Avengers came out in 2012–in many ways, it feels like the anti-hero version of the film. And in some way the makes it feel more… real? Like you don’t have to be the best version of yourself to do good. And don’t even get me started on the use of “Under Pressure” in the trailer. It gave me CHILLS.

phase six

---

The Fantastic Four (2005)

In honor of the new Fantastic Four movie coming out this summer, I had to revisit this blast from the past, despite it not technically being in the MCU. I must say, after watching Chris Evan’s play Captain America for almost a decade, it threw me to see him play a character on the opposite extreme—his rendition of Johnny Storm was more reminiscent of his role as Ransom (or should I say Hugh) in Knives Out (2019) than it was of Cap. But a good actor inhabits the persona of the character so well that you forget about the person behind the mask (something Blake Lively has received a lot of slack for recently).

Needless to say, Chris Evans’s versatility really shines through in this role. His Johnny Storm is so quick and witty, especially when he takes shots at Ben (The Thing). ALSO, I’m not sure how I didn’t remember this, but Jessica Alba blonde as Susan Storm is angelic–reason alone to watch this film, in my opinion.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

Even by today’s standards, the special effects used to create the Silver Surfer hold up. My favorite scene in this film has to be Reed dancing at his bachelorette party. He initially looks out of place at the club, but eventually loosens up and looks like he’s genuinely enjoying his powers for once.

look how happy he looks!

Chris Evans literally stole the show this time, as the plot revolves around the aftermath of his first run in with the Silver Surfer–a scene so iconic they recreated it in Fantastic Four: First Steps. When Doctor Doom reprises his role as villain, it only makes sense that the only way to beat him would be by combining powers, which Johnny (of course) is the one to do—a turn I did not expect but wasn’t mad about either. It’s no wonder they gave him his on franchise in the MCU.

ALSO, can I just say, it was really cool to see Chris Evans reprise his role as Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). The fact that he reprised his role 14 years after playing it must be an MCU record. Just goes to show the possibilities of the multiverse are endless.

---

Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Someone needs to shave Pedro Pascal’s mustache off.

---