Rank: 1st Total Worldwide Box Office: $9,076,741,580 No. Of Films: 12 You have to hand it to Marvel Studios: since the birth of the MCU back in 2008, they've hardly put a foot wrong. Yes, there are a few movies in the canon that aren't quite as good as others (Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk, perhaps), but - generally speaking - there are no truly bad films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And that's an incredible feat to have pulled off really, which is why the MCU - the highest-grossing movie franchise of all-time - earns its place at the top of this list: consistency. As a concept, the MCU was a stroke of certified genius: building a cinematic "world" in which superheroes could come and go between pictures at their leisure, similar to the Marvel comic books, has kept audiences captive for almost a decade. And Marvel's approach to continuity and quality has ensured that, despite a few questionable moments here and there, the MCU has remained solid and reliable ever since Iron Man. The original plan, for a series of movies to build towards The Avengers, has been well and truly surpassed; after the critical and financial success of that film (thank you, Joss Whedon) Marvel have set their sights on conquering the future - all the way up until 2018. There is no sign of slowing down, either, as the studio continues to deliver two pictures per year - expanding the cinematic world, introducing more characters, and - ultimately - building its legacy. Well done, Marvel: you deserve to be the highest-grossing movie franchise ever. Like this article? Agree or disagree with the order of the list? Which franchises do you think are the best and worst? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section below.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
