Ranking Every Aspect Of The MCU From Worst To Best

The reason why The Avengers worked so well is that it was the result of four years and five movies worth of buildup, allowing audiences time to invest in the characters and gradually learn about the wider mythology and its potential threats to the world. Marvel Studios were constantly telling us that we should be excited, because it was going to be the biggest superhero movie of all time. And it was.

Although The Avengers and Age of Ultron don't hold up quite so well on repeat viewings, the first time you watch either movie is nothing short of spectacular. Characters we've seen on solo adventures teaming up, trading banter, and constantly in-fighting before taking down a common enemy in a third-act action extravaganza is almost the definition of blockbuster entertainment.

Of course, they are by no means perfect. Both movies are guilty of unnecessary subplots, dramatic tension frequently offset by a poorly-timed one-liner, ignoring certain characters and reducing the main threat to a charismatic villain backed by an army of dispensable cannon fodder.

But when it works, it really works. Joss Whedon's trademark dialogue allows the disparate personalities to bounce off each other, the character dynamics are frequently shifting and the defining set-pieces are some of the most impressive ever seen in the comic book genre. Hopefully the Russo brothers manage to adapt and evolve the established template now that Whedon is no longer at Marvel Studios in any capacity.