Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Three delivered the Infinity Saga's explosive payoff, with 11 blockbuster films grossing over $13.5 billion worldwide, including record-breakers like Avengers: Endgame and Black Panther. From team fractures to cosmic threats, this phase redefined superhero epics with unforgettable crossovers and cultural milestones.
13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Captain America: Civil War is a 2016 American superhero film
based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America.
It is the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger
(2011) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and the 13th film in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
from a screenplay by the writing team of Christopher Markus and Stephen
McFeely.
In Captain America: Civil War, disagreement over
international oversight of the Avengers fractures the team into two opposing
factions—one led by Steve Rogers and the other by Tony Stark (Downey).
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $1.1
billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2016 and received
positive reviews from critics, with praise for the performances (particularly
Evans and Downey), action sequences and themes.
A fourth film, Captain America: Brave New World (2025), is a
continuation of Marvel Studios' Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter
Soldier (2021), following Mackie's Sam Wilson as Captain America.
14. Doctor Strange (2016)
It is a 2016 American superhero film based on the Marvel
Comics character of the same name.
It is the 14th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The film was directed by Scott Derrickson from a screenplay
he wrote with Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill.
In the film, Strange learns the mystic arts after a
career-ending car crash. While on a journey of physical and spiritual healing,
a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.
The film grossed $677.8 million worldwide and was met with
praise for its cast, visual effects and musical score.
The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best
Visual Effects.
A sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was released in May 2022.
15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
It is the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and the
15th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), written and directed by James
Gunn.
In the film, the Guardians travel throughout the cosmos as
they help Peter Quill (Pratt) learn more about his mysterious parentage.
It grossed more than $869 million worldwide, making it the
eighth-highest-grossing film of 2017, while also outgrossing its predecessor.
The film received praise for its visuals, direction,
soundtrack, action sequences, humor and performances, though some critics
deemed it inferior to the original.
It received a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 90th Academy Awards.
A sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, was released on May 5th 2023 preceded
by the Disney+ special The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special in November
2022.
16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
It is a 2017 American superhero film based on the Marvel
Comics character Spider-Man.
It is the second Spider-Man film reboot and the 16th film in
the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The film was directed by Jon Watts from a screenplay by the
writing teams of Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, Jon Watts and
Christopher Ford and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.
In the film, Parker tries to balance high school life with
being Spider-Man while facing the Vulture (Keaton).
Homecoming grossed over $880 million worldwide, becoming the
second-most-successful Spider-Man film and the sixth-highest-grossing film of
2017.
It received praise for the light tone, its focus on Parker's
high school life and the performances, particularly of Holland and Keaton.
Two sequels have been released: Spider-Man: Far From Home
(2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). A new trilogy of live-action films
from Sony and Marvel Studios is in development.
17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
The film was directed by Taika Waititi from a screenplay by
Eric Pearson and the writing team of Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost.
In Thor: Ragnarok, Thor must escape the alien planet Sakaar
in time to save Asgard from Hela (Cate Blanchett) and the impending Ragnarök.
The film received praise for its acting and Waititi's
direction, as well as the action sequences, visual effects, musical score and
humor, with many critics considering it to be the best instalment of the Thor
franchise.
It grossed $855 million, becoming the highest-grossing film
of the series and the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2017.
A sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder was released in July 2022.
18. Black Panther (2018)
It is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel
Comics character of the same name.
It is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU),
directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole.
In Black Panther, T'Challa (by Chadwick Boseman) is crowned king of Wakanda following his father's death, but he is challenged by Killmonger (by Michael B. Jordan) who plans to abandon the country's isolationist policies and begin a global revolution.
Many critics considered the film to be one of the best in the MCU and it was
noted for its cultural significance.
The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute
named Black Panther one of the top-ten films of 2018.
It grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide and broke numerous
box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a Black
filmmaker, the ninth-highest-grossing film at the time of its release, the
third-highest-grossing film in the U.S. and Canada that year and the
second-highest-grossing film of 2018.
Black Panther was nominated for seven awards at the 91st
Academy Awards, winning three and received numerous other accolades.
It was the first superhero film to receive a Best Picture nomination and the first MCU film to win an Academy Award.
A sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, was released on November 11th 2022
with Wright taking over as the lead following Boseman's death in 2020, while a
third film is in development.
An animated series, Eyes of Wakanda will be released in
August 2025 on Disney+.
19. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
It is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel
Comics superhero team the Avengers.
It is the sequel to The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of
Ultron (2015) and the 19th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU),
directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen
McFeely.
In the film, the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy
attempt to stop Thanos from collecting the six powerful Infinity Stones as part
of his quest to kill half of all life in the universe.
The film received praise for Brolin's performance and the
Russo brothers' direction, as well as the visual effects, action sequences,
dark tone and musical score.
It was a major box-office success, becoming the fourth film
and the first superhero film to gross over $2 billion worldwide, breaking
numerous box office records and becoming the highest-grossing film of 2018 and
the fourth-highest-grossing film at the time of its release both worldwide and
in the United States and Canada.
20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Ant-Man and the Wasp is a 2018 American superhero film based
on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Scott Lang as Ant-Man and Hope Pym as
Wasp.
It is the sequel to Ant-Man (2015) and the 20th film in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), directed by Peyton Reed and written by the
writing teams of Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers and Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer
and Gabriel Ferrari.
In the film, the titular pair work with Hank Pym (by
Douglas) to retrieve Janet van Dyne (by Pfeiffer) from the Quantum Realm.
The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving
praise for its performances (particularly those of Rudd and Lilly), humor and
levity and grossing over $622 million worldwide.
A sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was released in
February 2023.
21. Captain Marvel (2019)
It is a 2019 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics
featuring the character Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel.
It is the 21st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The film was directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck from a screenplay they
co-wrote with Geneva Robertson-Dworet.
Set in 1995, the story follows Danvers as she becomes
Captain Marvel after Earth is caught in a galactic conflict.
The film grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide, making it the
first female-led superhero film to pass the billion-dollar mark.
It became the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2019 and was
the 23rd-highest-grossing film of all time during its theatrical run.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics,
with praise for the performances—particularly Larson's.
Audience responses were also positive, although the audience
reception section on Rotten Tomatoes was subject to review bombing.
A sequel, The Marvels was released on November 10th 2023.
22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In the film, the surviving members of the Avengers and their
allies attempt to reverse Thanos's actions in Infinity War which erased half of
all life in the universe.
It is a conclusion to the story of the MCU up to that point,
ending the story arcs of several main characters.
The film's plot revisits several moments from earlier films,
bringing back actors and settings from throughout the franchise.
It was the highest-grossing film of all time from July 2019 to March 2021.
The film was nominated for Best Visual Effects at the 92nd Academy Awards, among numerous other accolades.
Two further films, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are scheduled
for release in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
23. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
It is the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and the
23rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), directed by Jon Watts,
written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.
In the film, Parker is recruited by Nick Fury (by Jackson)
and Mysterio (by Jake Gyllenhaal) to face the Elementals while he is on a
school trip to Europe.
The film received positive reviews with praise for its
humor, action sequences, visuals and the performances of Holland and
Gyllenhaal.
It grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide, making it the first
Spider-Man film to pass the billion-dollar mark, the fourth-highest-grossing
film of 2019 and became Sony Pictures' highest-grossing film and the
24th-highest-grossing film of all time.
A sequel, Spider-Man: No Way Home, was released in December 2021.
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Looking for more other part of cinematic universes, long-running sagas, and connected movie timelines? Dive into these in‑depth franchise guides:
- Part 1: The Complete Marvel Cinematic Universe Explained! - The Infinity Saga
- Part 2: The Complete Marvel Cinematic Universe Explained! - The Infinity Saga!
- Part 3: The Complete Marvel Cinematic Universe Explained! - Epic Infinity Saga Climax
- Part 4: The Complete Marvel Cinematic Universe Explained! (Multiverse Saga Begins)
- Part 5: The Complete Marvel Cinematic Universe Explained! (Multiverse Saga Peaks)
- Part 6: The Complete Marvel Cinematic Universe Explained! (Multiverse Saga Finale)
- Part 7: Marvel Cinematic Universe's Epic Movie Lineup!
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