Ranking Marvel Studios Phase 4 Movies and Series

Phase 4 of Marvel has not been what everyone expected it to be after the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Marvel gained a lot of viewers and followers through their storytelling and cinematic experience. Phase 1 to Phase 3 even became a pop-culture reference in the early 21st century, but unfortunately, Marvel disappointed a lot of fans in Phase 4.
People even commented that Marvel died with Tony Stark / Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Endgame, but I believe that Marvel has the caliber to make a comeback in storytelling through their experience in the world of connecting their story. It is not easy to connect so many stories together and bring them to a conclusion, but I believe Kevin Feige will save Marvel yet again.
Here are my picks and ranking for all the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s projects, movies, and TV shows that were released in Phase 4, i.e., from January 2021 to November 2022.

#1. Spider-Man: No Way Home

This movie was a dream come true for all the fans of live-action Spider-Man lovers. Marvel Studios and Sony brought in three different Peter Parkers we have seen till now in the movies. The main Marvel Cinematic Spider-Man played by Tom Holland, and the other two who played the role of friendly neighborhood Spider-Man- Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Also, including the foes of the other two variants of Peter Parkers was amazingly executed, whether it was Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx), Lizard (Rhys Ifans), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Norman Osborn / Green Goblin (Williem Dafoe).
The entire movie was one rare experience a viewer could have had. Not just the various Spider-Mans and their antagonists, but the original one of MCU going through a downfall in his life and losing his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) breaks the heart of viewers.

#2. Loki, Season – 1

Loki was the best Disney Plus shows Marvel Studios came up with throughout Phase Four. The Loki series continued the mystery of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) disappearing with the ‘Tesseract’ in the ‘Avengers: Endgame’ which leads Loki creating a new timeline, which ends with ‘One Who Remains’ (Jonathan Majors), a variant of ‘Kang the Conqueror’ being killed and leading to an opening of a wide Multiverse.
The series remains one of the most interesting and entertaining series Marvel Studios has released till now. The entire story was well written and directed, building a ‘Time Variance Authority (TVA)’ and also including a female variant of Loki- ‘Sylvie’ (Sophia Di Martino).

#3. Shang-Chi and the legends of the Ten Rings

A movie that hardly anyone had any hopes from came out as a banger and made many people their fans from its debut movie. Developing a story based from a long time from the medieval ages to the present, the director- ‘Destin Daniel Cretton‘ makes a spectacular movie with thrilling action sequences.
‘Simu Liu‘ portrays the main lead of the movie, Shang Chi has the legend of Chinese cinema, ‘Tony Leung Chiu-wai‘ as the antagonist and father of Shang Chi, ‘Xu Wenwu’.
Action sequences of the movie are fantastically filmed and choreographed, along with the movie and story that is well written and summed up.

#4. Moon Knight – Season 1

One of the best-written shows on Dissociative Identity Disorder, where we see Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) suffering from the disease where he switches to being Mark Spector whenever he sleeps and how his disease keeps on getting out of control as the story progresses. Not just Steven’s disorder, but he later realizes that he posses the power given to him from the God of Moon and Vengeance, Khonshu (F. Murray Abraham).
The series has a beautiful display of a person suffering and struggling with his disease while being a superhero and fighting demons, and also embracing the powers he posses. Action sequences of the movie are worth watching, and also the writers keeps us in a state of limbo as we don’t get to see the actions taken by the third personality, Jake Lockley.

#5. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

We did a detailed review for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, so please do check that out.
The movie remains one of the most emotional movies Marvel has ever done. The entire movie is honored to Chadwick Boseman and how the Wakandians try to carry on T’Challa’s legacy. Right from the beginning of the from, and right till the end, the director keeps the audience emotional and making sure that nothing in the movie over-powers the unfortunate demise of Chadwick Boseman.
The action sequences of the movie were really good, especially the ones done by Okoye (Danai Gurira) and Namor (Tenoch Huerta). The story of Wakanda dealing with foreign invaders and Wakanda securing their resource of Vibranium on the international stage has become an issue for them. And also, Wakanda discovering another nation near them that was hidden all along, Talokan and how they indluge with them. We also see how Shuri (Letitia Wright) takes on the mantle of the Black Panther in order to save Wakanda.

#6. Werewolf by Night – Special Presentation

This time Marvel brings in a completely different kind of storytelling experience for its viewers. The presentations are not as long as movies, moreover, they have the length of a TV series. But there is no other episode for it. The special presentation sets up the character and the movie quickly and finishes off the story.
The special presentation build up the story of the warriors who stay in the dark and kills the demons, unlike the Avengers and other superheroes. And among all heroes in the dark, remains a demon who lives among them, Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal) who is later revealed to be a Werewolf. Jack is risking his life to save his friend, Ted/The Man-Thing (Carey Jones) who is captured with a Bloodstone.
The movie/special presentation sets up a really good story for viewers to dive into, the story is narrated quick and has a few infamous characters among the movie watchers but were waited all along by comic-book fans.

#7. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

After the events of Wandavision and Spider-Man: No Way Home, the movie continues the story of Wanda Maximoff/Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) who is in the search of her kids, Wiccan (Julian Hilliard) and Thomas (Jett Klyne). On other hand, Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) has recently wiped out the memory of people who knew Spider-Man’s identity and is also greeted by a girl, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who has been running through the multiverse, trying to evade a monster who is after her who wants her powers of traveling through the multiverse.
The movie shows us a glimpse of various universes, and shows us many other variants and other heroes who exists. The movie carries out a horror vibe, carried on with various jumpscares, camera angles and shots used in any horror movie, and some wonderful scenes that really makes me wonder how nearly the movie makers squeezed it for PG-13.

#8. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – Season 1

Continuing the events after the ending of Avengers: Endgame, where we see Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) passes on his mantle and shield to Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) to be the next Captain America. Although Sam Wilson struggles to accept such a great honor he is being passed on, we see what changes Falcon’s mind for becoming Captain America, along with the adventures he has been on with Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Baron Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell).
The story narrated in the entire show is really good and well-written. The building up of characters, not just the two main leads, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but even the rest of the cast members who appears in the show are developed precisely, according to the show’s requirements. The only aspect the show lacks is in its pacing.

#9. What If…? – Season 1

With a different style of storytelling experience, Marvel brings in an animated series for its viewers where we get to see how differently a timeline can change even with the slightest disturbances that can occur in a hero’s journey.
A completely different storytelling experience which deep dives into the lives of our various beloved heroes like Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Doctor Strange, Vision/Ultron, Iron Man, and many more. It even shows how the different timelines can affect the heroes and their mentality.

#10. WandaVision – Season 1

The story continues after the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, where Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) lost her love interest and partner, Vision (Paul Bettany), and how she copes with Vision’s loss. The events gets so tense because of the actions of Wanda as she captures the entire town and a Federal Agency has to intervene to save the entire town.
The show has a template of a Sit-Com and has many jokes in its script and storytelling. The first 3 episodes have a black-and-white tone and the rest of the episodes get colored. It is an idea that show explores how Television and color grading has evolved.
I am not a big fan of black-and-white visuals but after the third episode the plot and pace really picks up revealing what the entire scenario is of the plot.

#11. Hawkeye – Season 1

Finally, Marvel Studios explores the story of one of their main Avenger- Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner). Even after being involved from Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this is the first time we get to see more about the man with precise skills with his bow and arrow.
Along with Clint Barton, the show tags along the upcoming hero, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfield) who is a big fan of the Avenger and also wants to become like him.
The series was really good, writers built up really good mystery for what Kate’s mother, Eleanor Bishop (Vera Farmiga) is involved in. Also, the build-up of a the underworld head, Kingpin/Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) was good, but could have been even better. But it was disappointing to see Wilson Fisk getting knocked off so easily by Kate Bishop, as we saw him in Daredevil, he was a giant to compete against.

#12. Black Widow

Similar to Clint Barton / Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), we get to see a solo project of Natasha Romaoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). The movie shows us the past of Natasha Romanoff, who she used to work for the Red Room since her childhood and what were the events that got her to leave the Red Room and join the S.H.E.I.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division).
The movie also introduces us to her friends/family – Alexei / Red Guardian (David Harbour), Melina (Rachel Weisz) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). Soon we see how the Natasha Romaoff teams up with her family to destroy Red Room and stop their mission of creating more Black Widows.
Although the movie was good in building the characters related to Natasha Romanoff, it had really good action sequences and nicely built plot for Natasha past, her time between Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, along with building up the Yelena as next Black Widow. But the movie and writers messed up with Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) by revealing his identity and making him seem a weak person unlike in the comics.

#13. Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special – Special Presentation

After a year of mostly disappointment projects from Marvel Studios in its Phase 4, Marvel nails their second presentation as well. Do check out the detailed review for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
Although the movie had a hilarious plot about Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista) getting a gift for Star-Lord / Peter Quill (Chris Pratt). The special presentation movie felt like it was running and had a really fast pace. Even 40-minutes of the movie felt really short.

#14. Eternals

A completely different take from Marvel Studios. Buillding a plot completely from the human civilization to present, exploring how the humans evolved and where they currently are. Even after having many stars in the movie, it still underperforms and does not delivers to its hype. Although the action sequences were more than decent and the movie hardly had any superhero overpowering theme, instead it had a mature theme was a bit underwhelming and did not engage much with audience. It was not that we have never seen mature themes in Marvel before, but the theme was not explored and expressed better to the viewers.
The movie also kills off Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Ajak (Salma Hayek). It was disappointing to see Marvel losing up actors of such caliber. But the post-credit scene builds up a good hype for the next movie coming up in the Phase 5, Blade.

#15. Ms. Marvel – Season 1

Ms. Marvel remained one of the most underrated projects of Marvel Studios in the Phase 4. It was not one of the best Marvel Studios series but it surely was not the worst. The places where the show lacked was keeping up the pace of the entire series, adapting and showing the actual culture of Pakistan as they mixed it up with a lot of Indian culture, and also building up a better plot for the Kree Bands. Also, it was disappointing to see the show runner not actually shooting in Pakistan and instead shooting in sets and made-up places to resemble like Pakistani streets.
Although the show builds up a good American young-teenage show and builds up the plot for mutations and mutants which leaves a vast story yet to be explored in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Acting of Kamala Khan / Miss Marvel (Iman Vellani), Aisha (Mehwish Hayat), Yusuf Khan (Mohan Kapur), and many more.

#16. Thor: Love and Thunder

After a great revival of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder disappoints almost everyone who expected Thor’s character arc to get even better after winning against Thanos. Lazy and disappointing writing successfully makes the entire movie watching experience like a cringe-fest and seemed like the executive producer has lost his way of movie narration and making his viewers come back for more content.
Even though the movie picks the plots from the comics of Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) becoming worthy of Thor’s powers after the gods know that she has cancer. Jane Foster quickly adapts the powers and becomes the hero of the world without any specific training. The dialogue writing and screenplay remains one of the worst till now in the history of the MCU. Marvel has been nerfing it two most powerful heroes, Hulk / Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and Thor, to the extreme extent and have caused the original fans to dislike the story arc.
Every Marvel fan expected more from the director of the movie, Taika Waititi who made an amazing movie as Thor: Ragnarok but instead got so disappointed that many fans wanted to get Taika banned from ever being involved in the Marvel Studios ever again. They even failed to use the talent of an actor like Christian Bale who played the character of Gorr, the God Butcher

#17. She-Hulk – Season 1

Check out the detailed review of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Season 1.
She-Hulk remains the worst writing display ever Marvel Studios has come up till now. After having casted Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk, I was really excited to see Tatiana showcase her acting talent in the MCU but the bad writing of the Phase 4 continued in this series as well. The lazy script writing, bad CGI in building up the Hulk look of Tatiana, depending solely on Matt Murdock / Daredevil (Charlie Cox) for the entire season, and even tormenting the character of Daredevil which was wonderful built by Netflix made the fans even more enraged about the entire Phase 4.
Marvel Studios needs to give better story arcs to their characters like they did before. Fans want to see their heroes struggle and slowly rise up to the responsibilities and their actions after the powers they got, instead of watching the heroes claiming the powers and then playing a victim card for the rest of series or movie.
Irrespective of a character’s gender, the character needs to have a better story arc, and the project needs to have better characters to support the entire series or movie so that we see the hero rising and floursing. And as Uncle Ben and Aunt May said- “With Great Powers comes Great Responsibilites”, people want to see their heroes standing up to those responsibilites.