Every MCU Director's Best Film (NOT In The MCU)

Prior to this year, Sir Kenneth Branagh was the only MCU director to have been nominated for Best Director at the Oscars. Perhaps not too surprising given his extensive filmography and classical training.

Branagh rose to prominence by adapting and starring in various William Shakespeare productions for both theatre and film, and it was their success that led Marvel to hire him to adapt Thor for the big screen. It was no easy task, and while the film is by no means the best MCU entry, it did a serviceable job at establishing Norse mythology within the universe, as well as making stars out of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston.

Since Thor, Branagh has continued to star in and direct more mainstream movies like Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Cinderella (2015) and Murder On The Orient Express, all of which have been met with a good reception.

But if you want to watch Branagh’s best work behind the camera, look no further than his Shakespeare adaptations. Much Ado About Nothing (1993) and Hamlet (1996) are very, very good, but the best has to be the one that earned him his Oscar nod: Henry V (1989). Featuring an all-star ensemble cast including Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, Christian Bale and led by Branagh himself, the film is widely considered the greatest Shakespeare film adaption of them all.

True to the source material, while still accessible enough for wider audiences, Henry V is an acclaimed masterpiece with numerous accolades to its name. At the Academy Awards, it won Best Costume Design, while Branagh himself bagged two nominations for Best Director and Best Actor. Not bad for his directorial debut.