The Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting a big shakeup following the end of its Phase 6. With more than half of the confirmed Phase 6 movies out now, we’re taking a look back at the last two phases of the MCU, and how they stack up.
Phase 5 of the MCU began in 2023, following 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Phase 5 of the MCU consists of six total movies: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, and Thunderbolts*.
Phase 6 consists of just four movies as of now, and began with 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and now includes Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are also included, but obviously aren’t out just yet.
MCU Phase 5 & 6 ranked
8) Captain America: Brave New World
You could realistically rank any of these bottom three in a similar order, but I’m starting with the latest Captain America film. The first film without Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers had a lot of promise, including the appearance of Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk. However, it never really lived up to any of it. What was supposed to be the bold new introduction of a new Captain America instead fell flat.
The action sequences, which make up a large chunk of any Captain America movie, never really landed, and while Red Hulk’s inclusion was fun, it was largely left to the final 20 minutes or so of the movie. Bringing in Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns/Leader was an interesting angle, but it wasn’t enough to elevate this movie, especially when it was supposed to have higher stakes in the larger MCU.
7) The Marvels
The first Captain Marvel was a smash hit for Marvel Studios, raking in over $1 billion at the box office and introducing one of the most powerful beings in the MCU. The sequel, unfortunately, didn’t live up to the original in any way. The Marvels was billed as a way to introduce even more characters into the MCU, including a larger role for Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani). In that aspect, it delivered, as the trio’s chemistry and charm carried a large part of the movie.
Unfortunately, that was about all the movie had going for it. It also felt like, whether earned or not, the movie had little in the way of push from Marvel Studios. It released during a time where the MCU was in a bit of upheaval, and got little marketing. Even though it did bring us back the Fox X-Men in the form of Kelsey Grammar’s Beast, it wasn’t enough to lift up what was otherwise a perfectly average movie.
6) Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
In all honesty, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania could have been even lower on this list. In the larger grand scheme of the MCU, the movie was supposed to be one of the biggest in its history. The movie was meant to be the grand movie debut of Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), who was at the time being billed as the next “big bad” of the MCU.
To its credit, the movie introduces Kang wonderfully, and he did seem like every bit of the major villain he was meant to be. However, things fizzled immediately, both in and out of the movie. Despite being billed as a main villain, Kang was promptly defeated in his very first movie, and beaten by Ant-Man, no less (no disrespect to Paul Rudd/Scott Lang).
Furthermore, Majors subsequently faced some major legal issues after the release of the movie, and was fired from the MCU soon after. That, coupled with some jarring choices like M.O.D.O.K. and the inconsistent tone of the movie, marks this as one of the biggest failures in the MCU.
5) Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool movies have traditionally just been about delivering fan service to fans of both the character and the Marvel universe. Deadpool & Wolverine took this to the extreme, in both good and ways. The movie partners up Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine as they go on an adventure to essentially save the multiverse.
Along the way, they’re greeted by and interact with a ton of people. The movie has a ton of fan service cameos, including Chris Evans appearing as Johnny Storm, Dafne Keen as X-23, Wesley Snipes as Blade, and even Channing Tatum’s Gambit. The movie has tons more packed in it, and exists mainly as a way to cram in as many jokes about the MCU and its history with Fox than anything else.
In a way, this makes Deadpool & Wolverine a true mixed bag. It is a great comic book movie, if you like comic books that simply just throw a ton at the wall. As an actual movie, it doesn’t really stand the test of time, and can serve as what happens when you get a little too devoted to the bit.
4) The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The very first movie of the MCU’s Phase 6 is also the very first time we see Marvel’s first family in it. The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes us back to the 1960s, and avoids a classic origin story in favor of showing us a group that is already properly famous and known for its heroics. Although the movie stumbles here and there, it’s definitely the best iteration of the team we’ve ever seen on screen.
Between the beautifully constructed 1960s sets, the retro look of the suits the group wears, and of course the inclusion of a proper Galactus, and you have all the bones of a great movie. The story never gets too bogged down in the ongoings of the group, and saves all of its future MCU setup for a few post-credits stingers. It can sometimes get a little too lost in the weeds when it comes to the spacefaring adventures of the group, but is a really fun entry for the family into the MCU.
3) Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts* (or New Avengers) is a movie that feels like it never got the love it deserved. The movie had the unfortunate designation of releasing right after Captain America: Brave New World, and was at a point when many were at the peak of “superhero fatigue.” It’s a shame, too. Thunderbolts* delivers a proper ragtag “unlikely heroes” movie, complete with a group that really doesn’t feel like it should work together, but does.
On top of the fun of the movie, it also retains a surprisingly emotional throughline. The movie deals with some topics that other MCU projects just wouldn’t, including loneliness, grief, depression, and even childhood trauma. All of this is wrapped up in a movie that has as much heart as the best MCU projects, and should’ve been revered amongst them.
2) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
James Gunn’s final (for now) foray into the MCU delivered on the franchise he helped make famous. The Guardians of the Galaxy arrived in the MCU as one of the most curious groups, but despite fans not knowing much about them, they quickly became a fan-favorite crew in the universe. The third entry in the film franchise deals largely with Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) and his upbringing/status amongst the group, and does so incredibly.
In the end, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is about as perfect a sendoff as you can get for a superhero movie. Every character in the movie grows in an emotional way, their chemistry remains unmatched, and it delivered on an ending for the group even though it did have some hiccups during the midway point of it.
1) Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Truthfully, the top spot on this list could equally be Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and this might be recency bias. However, Spider-Man: Brand New Day not only delivers the best MCU Spider-Man film to date, but one of the best movies of the past two phases in the entire universe. The latest entry in the Spider-Man franchise picks up after 2021’s No Way Home, and deals largely with Peter Parker (Tom Holland) having to be Spider-Man while handling the loneliness now that everyone has forgotten his existence.
Unlike past Spider-Man films, Brand New Day doesn’t worry too much about the larger MCU. Spider-Man is largely ground in his responsibilities in New York City, and for the first time in the MCU has genuine interactions with heroes and members of the city (including The Punisher and The Hulk, who make some great cameos). Even the MCU connections, which include a not-so-secret villain, fit nicely in the movie and with Spider-Man’s attitude overall.
Between the video game-inspired action sequences, the awesome POV scenes of Peter swinging through the city, and an MCU movie that finally understands Spidey’s character, and this one might stand the test of time as the crowning achievement of the MCU’s latest phase.
