Every Marvel Comic Book Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

9. The Avengers

The Avengers (let's not mention the silly, unnecessary retitle in Europe) marked the confirmation that Kevin Feige's Phased approach to story-telling was a success, so it's probably one of the Marvel supremo's favourite points in the MCU. It took all of the strands established in the Iron Man movies, Thor and Captain America (less so The Incredible Hulk, of course) and tied them together in an ensemble that delivered on the necessary spectacle as well as suiting the huge billing.

There are issues with it - particularly in the third act when the Chitauri are dropped in to manipulate the escalation - but Joss Whedon captured the spirit of Marvel's premier team as well as introducing hints of complexity to the backstories of each character to prick further interest.

Instead of it just being two hours of the heroes teaming up for hero shots and action, Whedon introduces Tony's arrogance and superiority complex, Cap's man-out-of-time alienation, Hawkeye and Black Widow's history and the Hulk's split personality, which all made for substance to back up the spectacle organically.

The Avengers defines what blockbuster event movies have become, and rather excitingly set a precedent for Marvel that insists they outdo every Avengers film with what comes next.