A cinematic universe that has turned superheroes into one of the most popular movie franchises of all time as well as one of the richest lands in the number five spot in my Reggie’s Take Movie Franchise Countdown.

With Marvel properties like Spider-Man being co-produced and distributed at Sony and X-Men over at 20th Century Fox, Marvel was making small profits from these properties. Wanting artistic control and to retain more of the profit Marvel Entertainment set a plan in motion to independently produce its own films and as a result formed Marvel Studios.

Even though Spider-Man and the X-Men were licensed to Sony and Fox, Kevin Feige realized that Marvel still owned the rights to the core members of The Avengers. Feige who’s a huge fanboy had the idea of creating a shared movie universe just as Stan Lee and Jack Kirby did with their comic books in the 1960s.

In order to maintain and preserve continuity Kevin Feige was named as studio chief and a six person creative committee was also created and put into place.

Initially Marvel made deals with Paramount and Universal to distribute the movies Marvel Studios made. Universal would distribute The Incredible Hulk and Paramount, Iron Man. After Iron Man in 2008 turned out to be a hit Paramount agreed to to distribute Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers and Iron Man 3.

Disney in 2009 would purchase Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion and in 2010 Disney bought the distribution rights for Marvel’s The Avengers and Iron Man 3 from Paramount. Disney in 2013 would by back the distribution rights to Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. The Incredible Hulk was not part of the deal, due to the agreement between Marvel and Universal.

In just the eight years since the MCU launched its self into theaters with Iron Man, Marvel has gone from a newly formed movie studio to a box office beast that shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. With the recent release of Marvel’s fourteenth film, Doctor Strange, is continuing a string of successes when it comes to the box office return.

Robert Downey Jr.,Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans have been the anchors when it comes to talent in Marvel’s MCU and with each new film and superhero Marvel adds to the MCU they add even more talented actors and actresses to the impressive list.

Reggie’s Take:
In just over eight years Marvel has released fourteen movies with the class act of the MCU being the three Captain America movies at least to date.

Of course it all started in 2008 with Iron Man, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr. who was perfectly cast as billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. After being attacked in Afghanistan and having to escape by building an armored suit Tony returns to the States changed by what happened to him which leads him down the road to becoming Iron-Man.

Marvel has been able to take characters from their comics that many may not of ever heard of and put them up on the big screen and have them all be loved and enjoyed by many. The individual characters all have there own set of movies and own issues that are seperate from all the others and yet in the end are all still bound together.

Since being introduced to Iron man in 2008 we’ve gotten to know the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, what I would consider the core of the MCU.

Marvel has also introduced us to some fun characters from The Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man and just recently Doctor Strange. In Civil War we got re-introduced to a new Spider-Man (on lone from Sony) and what could be one of my new favorite characters once the first solo movie comes out with Black Panther.

To date Marvel has yet to have a box office disappointment with any of its films and for everything that Marvel gets right with their heroes it does have a hard time when it comes to their villains.

When you look at the villains in the MCU, other then Loki in the Thor movies and the first Avenger’s film you really have to look pretty hard to find one that would come as close.

Is the Marvel Cinematic Universe perfect? No, they do have some weak links with their villains and the unwillingness to take risks in killing off a couple of their heroes. In “Winter Solider” they lead us to believe that Nick Furry was dead, but later we find out he really wasn’t.

With “Age of Ultron” they do kill off a hero, but instead of possibly having Hawkeye die they kill Quick Silver instead who they had just introduced in that movie and my final example is in “Civil War” when Brody in his War Machine suit is shot down and falls from a height that suit or no suit should of killed him, but didn’t.

Does Marvel’s MCU deserve to be ranked higher then #5? I’m sure someone out there could make an argument that it should be, but when you eventually see the franchises that are still to come, I believe the Marvel Cinematic Universe is ranked pretty fairly. At least that’s how we see it here at Reggie’s Take.

Iron Man / 2008

2008’s Iron Man tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

The Incredible Hulk / 2008

Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him: The Hulk.

Living in the shadows–cut off from a life he knew and the woman he loves, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler)–Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of his nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and brutally exploit his power.

As all three grapple with the secrets that led to the Hulk’s creation, they are confronted with a monstrous new adversary known as the Abomination (Tim Roth), whose destructive strength exceeds even the Hulk’s own.

One scientist must make an agonizing final choice: accept a peaceful life as Bruce Banner or find heroism in the creature he holds inside–The Incredible Hulk.

Iron Man 2 / 2010

With the world now aware that he is Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark faces pressure from all sides to share his technology with the military. He is reluctant to divulge the secrets of his armored suit, fearing the information will fall into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts and “Rhodey” Rhodes by his side, Tony must forge new alliances and confront a powerful new enemy.

Thor / 2011

The epic adventure “Thor” spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard.

At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Captain America: The First Avenger / 2011

It’s 1941 and the world is in the throes of war. Steve Rogers wants to do his part and join America’s armed forces, but the military rejects him because of his small stature. Finally, Steve gets his chance when he is accepted into an experimental program that turns him into a supersoldier called Captain America. Joining forces with Bucky Barnes and Peggy Carter, Captain America leads the fight against the Nazi-backed HYDRA organization.

Marvel’s The Avengers / 2012

“Marvel’s The Avengers”–the super hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel super heroes Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Iron Man 3 / 2013

“Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Thor: The Dark World / 2013

Thor, the Mighty Avenger, battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier / 2014

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” finds Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy–the Winter Soldier.

Guardians of The Galaxy / 2014

The Marvel Cinematic Universe expands into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits–Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon; Groot, a tree-like humanoid; the deadly and enigmatic Gamora; and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand–with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

Avengers: Age of Ultron / 2015

When Tony Stark tries to jump start a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Ant-Man / 2015

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Captain America: Civil War / 2016

“Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Doctor Strange / 2016

Dr. Stephen Strange’s life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Before long, Strange is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

Categories: Movie Franchise Countdown

Tags: Captain America, Chris Evans, Iron Man, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios, Movie Franchise Countdown, Movies, Robert Downey Jr., The Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor