Summary
- The MCU has accomplished the largest ongoing franchise with 34 films and 10 TV shows over just 16 years.
- Seemingly impossible moments like Peter Quill’s planet father and Stark’s time travel define the MCU.
- Unbelievable crossovers, character transformations, and reality-altering magic make the MCU a must-see experience.
The MCU brought the world of superheroes from comic books to the big screen, but even when adapting a story about fantastical heroes, it’s hard to believe some of the things that the MCU has been able to accomplish over the last 16 years. While superhero movies have been around for decades, the MCU has achieved something entirely new which has yet to be successfully replicated. Beyond a simple film trilogy, or a franchise that extends over as many as 10 plus films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown into an empire that includes 34 films, 10 TV shows, and many more slated for release in the coming years.
Not only has the MCU created this incredible volume of stories, which makes it the largest ongoing franchise with a single continuity of all time, but it also did it in just shy of 16 years. But, even more impressive than the quantity and speed of Marvel Studios in creating new projects, the films have managed to capture the same magic and incredible versatility that the comics offer, with wild crossovers, impossible events, multiverse shenanigans and so much more. All coming together to create something that has to be seen to be believed.
Related Please Marvel, I Need Avengers 5 & 6 To Make Up For A Totally Wasted Deadpool & Wolverine Cameo Opportunity
Marvel Studios may have dropped the ball with one Deadpool & Wolverine cameo, but I’m sure it can still happen in Doomsday or Secret Wars.
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10 Peter Quill’s Father Turns Out To Be A Planet
All of these moments stand out as things that felt to like they would be impossible to deliver on the big screen, but somehow, Marvel managed to make it work. One such moment comes from the comic stories about Ego, the Living Planet. Of course, in the comics, Ego is a typical planet in terms of it’s appearance, apart from the fact that it is sentient and has a face. So adapting a character like this was already a tall order.
However, director and writer of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, James Gunn, leaned into the less conventional aspects and was able to turn Ego into a character who made sense in the MCU. In fact, he made him an integral part of the story, as Ego turns out to be the father of Peter Quill, and a Celestial. Ego chooses to talk to humans and other alien races in a form that is more comfortable and to scale to put them at ease. However, his core exists inside the planet, and once its destroyed, Ego is gone for good.
9 Chris Evans Returns To The MCU As Johnny Storm
Other MCU moments are unbelievable because it just seemed outright impossible. Back in 2005, prior to the MCU, Chris Evans was cast in the role of another Marvel superhero, Johnny Storm. Fantastic Four was a movie that came from 20th Century Fox as they tried to expand their superhero offering following the success of their X-Men trilogy. However, the films failed to generate the same excitement as the X-Men movies, and after two entries, the project was scrapped with plans for a reboot put in place.
Fortunately, Chris Evans landed on his feet and was cast in the role of Steve Rogers, aka, Captain America just a few years later. However, the world created by Fox, and the one that Marvel Studios was crafting were entirely separate. Disney purchased Marvel in 2009, as the MCU was growing in popularity, and a decade later, in 2019, Disney also purchased Fox. These deals paved the way for one of the most exciting cameos in the MCU, when Chris Evans returned in Deadpool & Wolverine, playing Johnny Storm.
Robert Downey Jr., who plays Iron Man in the MCU, will also be making a return in a similar vein to Chris Evans, as he will tackle playing a new Marvel character from the Fantasic Four comics, Doctor Doom.
Related Should any other former MCU hero actors come back as villains?
The world is still reeling from the reveal at San Diego Comic-Con that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Though there has been some division over the announcement, it has also left some wondering whether other former MCU hero actors should return to the franchise to play villains. I personally think it depends on the actor in question, as Downey Jr. is a pretty big name that feels like both an attempt to recapture the success of the past and offer a twist on an iconic character. Though it wouldn’t have the same comic book twist as RDJ’s Doctor Doom, I would love to see Peter Serafonwicz return, though now playing Mephisto, as he has the perfect vocal gravitas for the character, let alone imposing personality in certain things.
8 Half Of All Life In The MCU Dies
However, the MCU does not rely on external stories or cameos to make it a success. Throughout the Infinity Saga, Marvel was focused intently on building its own universe of films. So, after 10 years of building, when Thanos wipes out half of all life in the universe at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, it comes as an incredibly emotional moment. The thing is, it also changed the dynamics of the MCU forever.
Up to this point, every MCU movie ended on some sort of positive note, with the heroes defeating the bad guys. Avengers: Infinity War did not do that, and instead it leaned into this high-stakes ending. Of course, the outcome and the final battle with Thanos would be released almost exactly a year later in 2019, but it was still a huge shock for MCU fans who were not used to seeing the heroes lose. Despite the trauma, this was still one of the most memorable moments in the entire MCU.
7 Iron Man Dies
And as stated above, the conclusion came in 2019 with Avengers: Endgame. This final chapter in the Infinity Saga, and the last battle with Thanos, was a marvel of movie making, not just because it managed to break every box office record and become the highest grossing movie of all time (until James Cameron’s Avatar was re-released shortly after and managed to claim back the top spot), but because it felt like a live-action comic book. The battle scenes, the time travel heist, the team-ups with the largest gathering of superheros of all time, it was all spectacular.
However, the real defining moment of Endgame comes when Tony Stark sacrifices himself to defeat Thanos and his army, once and for all. It makes perfect sense for the Infinity Sage to open and close with Tony, but it was still a huge loss that took time to process. Tony was so pivotal to the MCU that his legacy is still being reflected on in Spider-Man sequels, and series like Ironheart. His final lines, and the snap of his fingers is easily one of the most notable and iconic scenes in the MCU to date.
Related Robert Downey Jr. Reveals How Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man Helped Him See Iron Man’s Potential
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6 All Three Spider-Man Actors Team-Up On Screen
Speaking of Spider-Man, Spider-Man: No Way Home was an emotional rollercoaster for Peter Parker, which saw him lose his beloved Aunt May, and all of his friends and loved ones forgetting him. But the film did have one silver lining that had audiences going wild. Spider-Man is easily one of the most popular superhero characters of all time, and as such, he has been adapted to film on multiple ocassions. Sony has managed to create two iconic versions of the character, played by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.
Tom Holland took the reins of the character in the MCU, and he has been doing a spectacular job, but the abrupt conclusions of the previous Spidey’s stories have always been a sore point for fans of the other versions. However, No Way Home corrected this in the most exciting way possible when it brought both Garfield and Maguire’s Peter Parkers into the MCU to help the MCU version of the character. This crossover will remain hard to beat, because no other character has had so many beloved iterations and it provided closure and an ending for the older versions.
5 Loki Becomes The God Holding All Of The Multiverse Together
The MCU has done more than just provide heroes with another chance to shine, as seen in the Disney+ series, Loki. Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, is one of the best villains from the MCU, with his character frequently changing sides and displaying a depth that is distinct from most other villains. In Avengers: Infinity War, Loki is killed off in the film’s earliest scenes, when he confronts Thanos and attempts to protect his brother Thor. While this would spell the end for most characters, the MCU brought Loki back due to the time travel mishaps in Endgame.
However, Loki is then taken by an ominous organization, known as the TVA, where he uncovers the dark secrets behind the TVA’s origins. But the most impressive part of the story comes in season 2, when Loki comes full circle and embraces his destiny for a glorious purpose. However, it’s not in the way he used to think. Loki single-handedly saves the multiverse when he walks into the heart of the TVA, and uses his godly powers to hold and maintain the infinite timelines. Not only is the visual for this spectacular with Loki and the world tree, but so is the completion of his heroes’ journey.
Related The MCU Already Explained How Doctor Doom Can Replace Kang For Avengers 5 A Year Ago
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4 One Eternal Manages To Turn An Entire Celestial To Stone
Eternals received one of the worst receptions of any MCU movie, but that doesn’t mean the movie doesn’t contain some of the absolute best moments from the franchise. With a cast of powerful Eternals who have lived on Earth for thousands of years, these beings have come to think of the Earth as their home. However, when they learn that the Celestials who sent them had an ulterior motive for the Eternals to aid in the growth and expansion of life on Earth, they rightfully feel betrayed.
However, resisting the will of a Celestial seems like an impossible task, considering their enormous size and power. Fortunately, the Eternals are resourceful and capable of putting their strength together in a way that allows Sersi, their new leader, to use her alchemical powers to transform the Celestial Titan, Tiamut, into a giant pile of inanimate rock. This is remarkable, and visually stunning, making it one of the most unbelievable moments in the MCU.
3 Tony Stark Cracked Time Travel
Time travel, in most forms, is technically impossible. Traveling back in time, using machines and transporting an entire person seems far-fetched at the best of times, but even in a superhero movie, it just feels like a step too far. However, when Scott Lang comes out of the Quantum Realm after five years, feeling like he’d only been trapped for a moment, Stark has a missing piece that he needed to crack time travel, and do so in a way that made some semblance of sense.
However, even though Stark figures out how to manipulate time by navigating the quantum realm while shrunk to an atomic size, he is strict in how the Avengers should use this ability. The fact is, while the snap led to five years of devastation and grief for so many, erasing that time, the life lived, and the new life which has been born would be disingenuous. The Avengers use time travel to put things right, but they are careful about putting everything back in its place, and not making this scientific breakthrough into some gimmick.
Related Should the MCU make a Hulk vs Wolverine movie?
Deadpool & Wolverine teased a Hulk vs Wolverine fight with multiverse versions of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk. While Deadpool was sent to another universe before he could see the fight play out, the MCU has already put that idea on the big screen, and it might be worth it to revisit. Instead of picking up on that moment, a multiversal Hulk vs Wolverine movie could be how Marvel Studios brings back Henry Cavill’s Wolverine, setting up another universe that could come into play when Avengers: Secret Wars comes around.
2 Not One, But Two Entire Secret Civilizations Emerge From Nowhere (Wakanda and Talokan)
Modern technology allows people to navigate and map out the world with incredible accuracy. From satellite imaging, to drones, there is very little about the modern world that escapes being seen and documented in some way. However, within the MCU, two secret kingdoms were able to evade detection for centuries. Fair enough, specific species of animal or plant life might be discovered on a fairly regular basis, but to hide entire civilizations seems impossible.
Regardless, Wakanda, the secret African nation which has developed in isolation after harnessing the power of vibranium, has kept itself hidden from the world. In addition, the underwater kingdom of Talokan also harnessed vibranium and used it in a more organic way to change its people. The people of Talokan evolved to breathe underwater, and have enhanced abilities that make them distinct from other humans. As a result, they hid themselves to avoid detection.
1 Scarlet Witch Creates New Life Through Her Magic
Wanda Maximoff is potentially one of the most tragic characters in the MCU, and she also happens to be one of the most powerful. Wanda lost her parents as a child, which led her and her brother down a dark path. However, when the pair choose to change and side with the heroes, her brother, Pietro, is killed in battle. Then, she struggles to get control of her gifts, causing her to cause harm to others by mistake. However, when she finds a ray of light in her life with Vision, their love story was cut short by the invasion of Thanos.
She then loses Vision, and remains one of the most isolated heroes after Endgame. In her process of grief, Wanda’s powers got the best of her, and she created a bubble of reality around her, with Vision being brought back to life. However, she also managed to create life when she gave birth to twin boys. Their existence was limited to the range of her powers, but as seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, her boys were real in many other realities. This powerful manifestation was equally impressive and devastating, proving the extents the MCU can reach with its storytelling and imagination.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
Created by Kevin Feige First Film Iron Man Upcoming Films Deadpool & Wolverine , Captain America: Brave New World , Thunderbolts (2025) , Blade (2025) , The Fantastic Four (2025) , Avengers 5 , Avengers: Secret Wars First TV Show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Upcoming TV Shows Agatha: Coven of Chaos , Ironheart , Daredevil: Born Again , Wakanda , Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man , Marvel Zombies , Wonder Man , Vision Quest Cast Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Scarlett Johansson , Samuel L. Jackson , Jeremy Renner , Chris Hemsworth , Mark Ruffalo , Edward Norton , Paul Rudd , Tom Holland , Tom Hiddleston , Anthony Mackie , Cobie Smulders , Brie Larson , Chadwick Boseman , Sebastian Stan , Chris Pratt , Dave Bautista , Zoe Saldana , Bradley Cooper , Vin Diesel , Pom Klementieff , Josh Brolin , Karen Gillan , Clark Gregg , Paul Bettany , Don Cheadle , Benedict Cumberbatch , Evangeline Lilly , Simu Liu , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Angelina Jolie , Kit Harington , Salma Hayek , Richard Madden , Barry Keoghan , Gemma Chan , Ma Dong-seok , Brian Tyree Henry , Kumail Nanjiani , Lauren Ridloff , Lia McHugh , Jonathan Majors TV Show(s) Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , Agent Carter , Inhumans , WandaVision , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , Loki , What If…? , Hawkeye (2021) , Moon Knight , Ms. Marvel , She-Hulk: Attorney at Law , Secret Invasion , Marvel’s Echo Expand
Upcoming MCU Movies
- Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025
- Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025
- The Fantastic Four (2025)
Release Date July 25, 2025
- Blade (2025)
Release Date November 7, 2025
- Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date May 1, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027