I can do this all day.
Brave New World hit theaters this past weekend, so we have a new MCU ranking to discuss. It's been nearly a decade since we've seen a Captain America movie on the big screen, so it was nice to return to one of the MCU's familiar franchises. Not only is this one of the familiar franchises...it's also probably the best. The Captain America films are the only real competition with the Spider-Man films for the best series inside of the MCU. Let's see if Brave New World can measure up.
4. Captain America: Brave New World
I thought Brave New World was good. It's not great and it definitely still feels like a Multiverse Saga movie, but I really enjoy Sam Wilson as our new Captain America and I thought Harrison Ford's version of Thunderbolt Ross was very interesting and compelling. The actual story here is pretty muddled, but the characters were fun and it had the political thriller vibes of Winter Soldier. It's definitely the worst film in this franchise, but I think it's better than most people are giving it credit for.
3. Captain America: The First Avenger
The First Avenger gives us what is arguably the most compelling origin story in the MCU. Steve Rogers is this shrimp of a human being who has a heart of true gold. So, when he gets the Super Soldier Serum, he naturally becomes this true symbol of hope and patriotism in World War II. I think this movie succeeds in the most important aspect: Cap himself. Chris Evans's Captain America is the second best character in the franchise, and most of that is due to The First Avenger. We see how badly he wants to fight and how dedicated he is to helping his country, so when he goes down in the ice, you feel that. It sets up this arc for him being the man out of time, and I think it is just amazing. Beyond that, it's fun to have a period piece inside of the MCU. The World War II aesthetic and production design is great. I don't think Red Skull is a great villain and I think the movie struggles with pacing at times, but this movie is one of the most important pieces of the Infinity Saga.
2. Captain America: Civil War
Civil War is one of the most impressive pieces in the MCU. The concept of our heroes fighting each other is so gimmicky and cheap...but this film finds a way to make it make sense. The writers found a way to make it so that Cap and Iron Man would not see eye-to-eye on the Sokovia Accords. Cap, having just found out that HYDRA was infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D., does not trust governments. Iron Man just built Ultron and he nearly destroyed the world, so he wants the Avengers to be put in check. This is a great way to build a conflict between the two of them...but then the real kicker is when Iron Man finds out that Bucky murdered his parents. Civil War is everything great about the MCU: incredible, blockbuster action, layered, compelling characters, an earned conflict, and a beautiful setting of the stage for the Avengers to be split up for Infinity War.
1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Winter Soldier is one of my favorite movies of all time, so it was never a question of what would be number one on this list. What makes this movie great is how it stands apart from the rest of the franchise. As much as I love the MCU, a lot of the films have the same tone and vibe. Winter Soldier feels like a 70s political thriller, full of conspiracies and shady government figures. The film feels like it introduces a new plot twist every 20 minutes that just keeps you on the edge of your seat. It finds a way to make the story feel huge and have massive implications for the wider MCU while also having a personal story between Cap and Bucky. The cherry on top is the action. This film has the best action in the MCU, and it's kind of not even close. The elevator fight is one of the coolest action sequences in any movie I have ever seen. This movie is just adrenaline-pumping, awesome, exciting MCU. I absolutely adore it, and it is my favorite of the Captain America movies.