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

While its sequels are far superior, there is still plenty to like about Captain America: The First Avenger. A lot of this is thanks to Joe Johnston, who crafted a good old-fashioned blockbuster that perfectly encapsulated the tone and setting of World War Two.

Johnston was in many ways the perfect man to direct The First Avenger, having helmed the underrated superhero flick The Rocketeer (which is set in a similar era, as well as the fan-favourite Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, which has tonnes of fun visuals.

Both were in serious contention for this list, but instead the lesser-known October Sky takes the win here. Based on a true story, the film tells the tale of Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal), a teenager living in a small mining town, who aspires to become a rocket engineer. It is a truly inspiring coming of age story, featuring fantastic performances from Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper and Laura Dern.

Even if its story may not be anything particularly ground-breaking, Johnstone nevertheless adds enough magic and heart to elevate it above other films that share a similar narrative.