Every MCU Origin Story Ranked From Worst To Best

6. Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Captain Marvel Black Panther Iron Man
Marvel Studios

The most recent MCU origin story is a firmly middle-of-the-pack outing that gets a hell of a lot right, though also doesn't quite reach the upper echelons.

Shang-Chi feels markedly different to most other origin movies so far, exploring both Asian culture and the Asian-American experience through the lens of a visually stunning martial arts fantasy flick.

Between Destin Daniel Cretton's balletically choreographed action sequences and the fun chemistry between Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and his pal Katy (Awkwafina), Shang-Chi is an energetic blast.

It sadly can't quite sustain that momentum all the way to the finish line as the CGI-soaked third act eventually becomes tiresome, and the titular hero is undeniably outshone by Tony Leung's antagonist Wenwu, but as a crowd-pleasing exercise in representation, it's still a breath of fresh air.

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Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.