6. The Avengers (2012)
The culmination of a groundbreaking movie strategy, Marvel Studios tied all of their existing standalone properties together in the ultimate superhero team-up, which smashed box office records around the world and ultimately grossed more than the first solo efforts of Iron Man, Thor and Captain America combined. Sure, it was never going to win any Academy Awards, but as pure popcorn entertainment The Avengers is two of the most entertaining hours to be had in a movie theater. After a slow opening act, the movie builds momentum as it establishes main protagonist, and Marvel Cinematic Universe favorite, Loki as the man who bands the heroes together. Once the team is finally united, the movie really kicks up a gear and culminates in the Battle of New York, a showstopping action set-piece that gives every character a chance to shine. Except maybe Hawkeye. Credit goes to Joss Whedon in only his second directorial effort to balance the unique blend of inter-personal bickering, throwaway gags and spectacular action that comes with the sprawling ensemble cast necessary for Marvel's most ambitious feature yet. After four years of teasing through various references and credit stings across the MCU, The Avengers became an absolute monster at the box office. Smashing the opening weekend record with a $207.4m domestic bow, the movie showed surprising legs at the box office and became only the third movie to cross $600m domestically on its way to over $1.5bn worldwide, officially making it the biggest movie that wasn't directed by James Cameron. Age of Ultron, consider the marker laid down.