In the vast Multiverse of the MCU, we have watched an empire form from 2008 to infinity. Building block upon building block, every movie, Disney+ show, and spinoff has built upon each other in a precarious balance of action, witty one-liners, and stunning CGI. The MCU has famously split its movies into phases, with the films in The Infinity Saga laying down the foundational aspects of the franchise. As such, heading into The Multiverse Saga, it has been exciting for fans to see the newest projects, particularly the news actors and characters being brought into the fold.
Naturally, every character has a beginning. An origin story wherein one or both of their parents die in some tragic way, or they experiment with something they should not be tampering with, or they have a hero they want to emulate, and they succeed. Indeed, when it comes to the best superhero movies, many are, in fact, origin stories about beloved characters. Here are the best origin stories, either in movie or series form, in the MCU, ranked.
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9 Captain Marvel
Marvel Studios
Captain Marvel has accumulated some of the highest troll-reviews out of any MCU movie (per Forbes). Fans were upset at Captain Marvel’s excess of power and her snarky attitude. Of course, could this hatred have stemmed from a deep-rooted male-centered universe? Absolutely. Thor has what seems like infinite power, and Tony Stark has a plethora of sarcasm and a cocky attitude, so why couldn’t Captain Marvel have these same qualities? Her origin story film was the first woman-led Marvel film in the MCU, and was a monumental moment for fans that had watched the 20 previous male-led films. Though the film may not have been the most positively-received MCU movie, it was a fantastic introduction to a character that proved crucial in Avengers: Endgame.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel is one of the most textbook origin stories MCU has put out to date. Kamala Khan discovers she has the powers of her idol, Capitan Marvel, and must learn how to balance her normal life with her new-found super life. This show was met with trolls online by long term fans when it premiered on Disney+ earlier this year, however, this show was catered to a different audience. It has a very coming of age feel, and seemed to be aimed towards the younger audiences the MCU now has. It told a sweet and heartfelt story, wrapped with an incredible new actress steering the project, Iman Vellani.
7 Doctor Strange
One of the most visually stunning MCU movies is Doctor Strange. With its warping of reality and the traveling through dimensions, the CGI speaks for itself. Being an origin story of a lesser-known Marvel Comics character at the time, it needed to have a lot of draw to it. With redemption at the heart of the storyline, compelling characters, an epic end battle, and the franchise’s first foray into magic, Doctor Strange deserves more attention from the MCU fans as a great origin story.
6 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
The first origin story of Phase Four is a tale of friendship, family, and epic action sequences. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the introduction to the trained assassin who ran from who he was created to be, only to be sucked back in later in his life. With stunning visuals, some of the best fight scenes in the MCU, and the introduction to a brand-new world of magic and mystical, it is a fantastic origin story and beginning of Phase Four.
5 Captain America: The First Avenger
Paramount Pictures
The first time we were introduced to the Star Spangled Man, the Man Out Of Time, Mr. Steve Rogers himself was in Captain America: The First Avenger. A brilliantly done origin story that was able to be just that. Released in MCU’s Phase One, there was no connecting needing to happen to a bigger plot, or a need for familiar characters to pop up. It was a standalone movie that got to explore all aspects of Cap’s story, from him gaining his powers to leading his team in the War and loosing his Bucky. A fantastic introductory story to the universe and the character we would travel with through the next decade.
4 Black Panther
One of the biggest MCU movies ever was Black Panther. Nominated for an Academy Award, the story of T’Challa and his rise to becoming King is one of the best origin stories in the MCU. Although we got to see the character of Black Panther in the third Captain America movie, this movie explores the beginnings of him being crowned King. A story with so much heart makes for number four on the list.
3 Ant-Man
Walt Disney Studios
One of the most criminally underrated MCU movies is Ant-Man. It is the perfect origin story, filled with a tragic past, gray heroes, family themes, and the best comedy. Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang, an ex-burglar who simply wants to see his daughter again, and the events of this movie set him on a trajectory to end up saving the universe. What’s more, this origin story explores how he obtains his suit, and introduces characters that are memorable, all while having some fantastic action scenes in a shrunken down world.
2 Guardians of the Galaxy
One of the best MCU movies, Guardians of the Galaxy is about the collection of the biggest idiots in the galaxy. Following the self-named Star-Lord, the assassin Gamora, the bounty hunters Groot and Rocket, and the walking thesaurus Drax. A fantastic team-up movie that lets us explore parts of the galaxy we hadn’t seen before. With an appropriate mix of humor, heart, and a great introduction to a beloved team, James Gunn gave us one of the best origin stories in the MCU.
1 Iron Man
The birthplace of the MCU lies within Iron Man’s glowing palms. The original origin story of Tony Stark and his journey to becoming the protector of the Earth, Iron Man. From his journey to weapons creator, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, to the hero who would sacrifice himself for the greater good, the best MCU origin story is that of Tony Stark’s in Iron Man. More than just Tony’s story, Iron Man is, in many ways, the MCU’s origin story as well.
