Ranking The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Readers, assemble!

The massive Marvel Cinematic Universe has recently released its latest film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Interested to see how this movie ranks among other MCU movies? Read this list to find out!

A note to readers: 2008's The Incredible Hulk has been left out since it is debatable whether it is canon and an actual part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Other than that, all films of the universe are ranked below!

27. Black Widow (2021)

"You good?"

"I'm clearly injured"

Here's the crazy thing - out of the twenty-seven films that have been released in this cinematic universe, there is only one that I would flat-out call a 'bad movie'. There are many subpar ones, many flawed ones and many woefully average ones, but there's enough brilliance in Marvel's never-ending comic book source material and enough creative ideas in their teams of writers that even the worse films always have some cool twist to them in order to make them not-terrible.

Except, unfortunately, for Black Widow.

This one really hurts to admit, because Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) is one of my favorite characters in the MCU. She is a carrying force throughout the Avengers films, and I had waited a long time for her to get a proper solo film. But there's no escaping it - Black Widow just isn't good. Johansson does her best with the script she's given, but somehow this is the only MCU film that just doesn't have anything resembling a hook to keep the viewer invested. The story is boring as hell, the action scenes are generic, and the whole thing just feels very forced. You deserved better, Scarlett.

26. Iron Man 2 (2010)

"Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to exit the donut"

Yep - excluding Black Widow, I sincerely find every MCU film to have a bunch of elements to enjoy and respect, even if they don't quite make the cut for 'great cinema'. Iron Man 2 is at the bottom of the barrel because it doesn't quite hold up compared to most others - the plot is at times very boring and lazy, the villains aren't particularly interesting and the MCU writers hadn't yet begun their ongoing streak of creativeness and new, fresh twists for each film.

This movie is still an adequate sequel to the first Iron Man, with a lot to like: Robert Downey Jr. is solid in the role, and the larger world of Marvel starts to build up with the introduction of new important characters, such as Black Widow herself.

25. Eternals (2021)

"If this is what the end of the world looks like, at least we'll have front-row seats"

Now, bear with me here - Eternals isn't exactly a bad movie. It's actually a really well-made one, when looking at Chloé Zhao's quality directing, the spectacular visuals and the talented cast. The thing is that I just don't like the film. I respect the film for its aesthetic, ambition and production values, but that doesn't change the fact that I felt bored out of my skull when watching it.

I've always enjoyed the MCU as a whole first and foremost, as the sum of its parts is in many ways greater than the individual parts - I love how the films and characters figure into each other like pieces in an ingeniously built puzzle. And in that sense, Eternals sticks out like a sore thumb, because it simply doesn't feel like it fits in. It doesn't bring anything particularly interesting into the universe, rather feeling like it's being crammed with new and rushed characters that the viewer doesn't have the time to get invested in. Could've done without this one.

24. Thor (2011)

"This drink. I like it"

"I know, it's great, right?"

"ANOTHER!"

Another decent-but-not-amazing film from the early era of the MCU as the studio was still finding its footing, Thor is a fine origin story for the Asgardian superhero played by Chris Hemsworth. He is brilliant in the main role, as is Tom Hiddleston as the villain Loki. The story is just a bit simple and predictable, and the film's style is quite inconsistent - director Kenneth Branagh's attempt to make a Shakespearean comic book movie wasn't realized all the way through, leading to a fairly clumsy mix of campy superhero fun and more dramatic elements. Still, the movie does some things right and serves as a memorable introduction to one of the most important Avengers!

23. Iron Man 3 (2013)

"Is that all you've got? A cheap trick and a cheesy one-liner?"

"Sweetheart, that could be the name of my autobiography"

This is one of those films that blew me away, but watching it for a second time made me realize it wasn't quite as great as my initial reaction made it out to be (also known as the Avatar (2009) effect). At its best, Iron Man 3 is quite awesome - the dramatic scope of the plot is befitting of the hero's final solo outing, and the final minutes are genuinely emotional.

But it's easy to forget that in between these excellent moments there is a lot of messiness as well; the big villain twist halfway through the film falls flat, many action sequences go on for too long, and director Shane Black's style here isn't a favorite of mine as the film doesn't really feel like the first Iron Man movies (where was the AC/DC music??), but also isn't distinctively different in a very interesting way.

22. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

"Yes! I'm gonna call you ANT-onio Banderas!"

Had a movie of this exact quality been released 15 years ago, it would've absolutely amazed the world by being a superhero movie with so much well-directed action, impressive visuals and top notch entertainment. However, in the past decade Marvel had upped the quality of the genre so much that Ant-Man And The Wasp felt a bit like just another addition that isn't one of the best. But that tells more about how excellent the MCU is than about how this movie may not be the greatest.

Sure, it isn't the most groundbreaking Marvel movie, but it makes for a perfectly fine addition to the universe: Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly are entertaining as the main duo, the subtle setup for Ant-Man's role in Avengers: Endgame makes this film important for the franchise's larger narrative, and the action sequences are fun as hell. Ant-Man And The Wasp may be a bit run-of-the-mill for the MCU, but it's still very decent in its own way.

21. Thor: The Dark World (2013)

"I thought you said you knew how to fly this thing"

"I said, 'how hard could it be?'"

This Thor sequel is once again one of those Marvel movies that isn't quite cinematic gold, but is an adequate piece of the puzzle that is loads of fun to watch. Hemsworth is better than ever in the title role, as is Natalie Portman as Thor's love interest Jane. Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) makes for an entertaining (if not very fleshed-out) villain, and the various sci-fi and fantasy elements make for many cool story developments and moments. Tom Hiddleston really steals the show as Loki; he's not the main villain anymore, but becomes an even more interesting character as the viewer isn't quite sure what he's playing at and whose side he's really on.

20. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (2017)

"I am Groot"

I quite often have problems with sequels that are just more of the same as the original. But in the case of the movie where Chris Pratt, a talking raccoon, a lovable tree creature, a badass green alien and a hilarious warrior go on rogue missions in space, one film was simply not enough!

The first Guardians Of The Galaxy left Marvel fans begging for more, and they thankfully got their money's worth with this sequel. The humor, charm, weirdness and fascinating worldbuilding of the first film are back, and while they don't impress with as much positive shock as the first film (this phenomenon is also known as Deadpool 2 syndrome), they certainly make for an entertaining movie. And it's not all copying the original - towards the end the film gets surprisingly emotional, and you realize just how much you care about these silly characters.

19. Captain Marvel (2019)

"You have three names. What do people call you?"

"Fury"

"Just Fury?"

"Yep. Not Nicholas. Not Joseph. Just Fury"

"What does your mother call you then?"

"Fury"

Having made 19 comic book movies before this one, many of which were origin stories, I was amazed about how the MCU was still able to make an origin story that felt this fresh. The film's writers employed many tricks to make sure that the film wouldn't become too repetitive or cliché - a 90's setting making it into a prequel to the rest of the MCU, a stand on war culture that looks on the motivations of both sides instead of a black-and-white heroes-and-villains narrative, and of course being the first MCU film to have a female lead (say what you will about the film's flaws, sexism most definitely played a huge part in the film's over-negative reception and that's a hill I'm willing to die on).

Brie Larson is marvelous in the lead role, and her on-screen chemistry with Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury is delightful, making for an all-in-all enjoyable entry into the Marvel universe.

18. Ant-Man (2015)

"My days of breaking into places and stealing shit are over. What do you need me to do?"

"...I want you to break into a place and steal some shit"

The most beautiful thing about Ant-Man is how perfectly self-aware it is about the silliness of its concept. It doesn't get all over-the-top and meta about it, but the film simply doesn't take itself too seriously - as is appropriate for a movie about a superhero who can shrink to a very small size or occasionally become very large. The second-best thing about the film is Paul Rudd, who is a delight in the title role, playing a charming and likable guy who feels very Marvel but also very Paul Rudd.

The supporting cast is awesome; Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly and Michael Pena all bring their own talent and humor to the table. The film's villain Yellowjacket (Corey Stoll) isn't very well-written, but Stoll's acting more or less makes up for it, making him a good-enough antagonist for Ant-Man to go up against.

17. Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

"There's gotta be someone else you can use. What about Thor?"

"Off-world"

"Doctor Strange?"

"Unavailable"

"Captain Marvel."

"Don't you invoke her name!"

As I have mentioned in a previous entry, I was quite cynical of the MCU's decision to keep making movies after the climactic Avengers: Endgame; why continue after such a great conclusion instead of ending on a high note? But then I saw Spider-Man: Far From Home, the first MCU film to be released after Endgame, and this changed my attitude: as they are adapting from a nearly endless supply of comic books and making entertaining movies from them, why not keep up the good work?

Far From Home is, quite simply, a blast. Tom Holland continues to be the best Spider-Man actor ever, Jake Gyllenhaal makes for a solid villain as Mysterio, and Peter Parker's love story with MJ (Zendaya) tugs at my heartstrings every time. Add some thrilling action sequences and a chaotic post-credit sequence, and you've got yourself quite an addition to this ever-growing franchise.

16. Iron Man (2008)

"The truth is...I am Iron Man"

Ah, the one that started it all. If you're wondering why the by-now iconic film that started the MCU is this low on my list, it's simply because the universe has kept improving upon itself through the years, and has outdone its initial achievement multiple times. That being said, Iron Man is one hell of a beginning to the franchise. Downey Jr. as Tony Stark is a genius casting decision, and Jon Favreau's directing makes for a superhero film that was (for its time) quite revolutionary: not as campy as the mainstream wing of the genre, but also not dark and down-to-earth like Chris Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, but rather a perfect mix of these that would be a theme throughout the MCU: movies that are well-made and dramatic enough to be considered good cinema, but also fun and entertaining at their core, not taking themselves too seriously.

Also, the film's ending is one of the most memorable endings in superhero cinema. And the post-credit scene, which would begin the franchise's long tradition of such scenes, manages to be even better; it makes the viewer realize that this wasn't merely a fun superhero flick, but the beginning of something much larger.

15. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

"Can I ask a question?"

"Just one?"

"Why me?"

Sure, it's not the most cinematic or well-directed MCU film, but damn it if doesn't have more heart than any other film of the franchise. While the first Captain America film is flawed in many aspects, it has such a great feel to it that it succeeds with grace on its own level. The glorious soundtrack and upbeat atmosphere make for a film filled with heart-pounding fist-pumping moments - later movies like Captain Marvel are respectable for their blurring of moral lines, but this one works wonders as a simple black-and-white piece where a likable hero punches a bunch of Nazis.

Hugo Weaving is delightfully hammy as the main villain Red Skull, and Chris Evans is pitch perfect as the film's title hero, who along with Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson would go on to do the biggest job in carrying the MCU for the following several years.

14. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

"Just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn't mean they're lost forever"

If you're wondering why Marvel's latest large-scale blockbuster isn't even higher on my list, it's because the Doctor Strange sequel has its share of individual factors that I didn't particularly like. The horror element, for example, felt a bit half-assed: it would be cool as hell if Marvel made a proper horror-themed superhero film, but in this one the horror element felt like an afterthought that wasn't properly woven into the film. Also, the villain's story arch was something we've seen a few too many times in modern cinema.

Yet still, a film with such flaws makes it higher on my list than Iron Man or Captain America: The First Avenger, which really speaks to how much Multiverse of Madness does right! Its primary function was to be our introduction to Marvel's multiverse - a narrative that had been teased and slightly visited in many projects throughout 2021, yet we hadn't dived into the deep end of this fascinating concept until now. And in that, the film succeeds phenomenally: the Multiverse is just as delightful, intriguing and full of neat new storytelling opportunities as one would've hoped. I also really liked the way that certain new characters (or new versions of famous Marvel characters) were brought into the story, as their introductions weren't built up too heavily but also contained the proper gravitas for such a moment. The future of the MCU looks exciting!

13. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

"I choose to run toward my problems, and not away from them. Because that's what heroes do"

Director Taika Waititi must have considered all possible viewpoints on how to make a proper Thor film to end the trilogy, and then decided to put all of these ideas into the final product. This crazy, adrenaline-pumping circus show of a movie is full of everything one could imagine seeing in a Thor movie and a lot more - and it's amazing.

A dramatic villain played by Cate Blanchett? Sure. Jeff Goldblum playing another villain who is basically Jeff Goldblum? Why not. Waititi himself voicing a strange rock creature? Absolutely. The Hulk appearing and fighting Thor in an arena? Of course. Add a Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) cameo, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it Matt Damon cameo, a new superhero group called the Revengers, a final fight to the backdrop of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song, a post-credit cliffhanger setting up Avengers: Infinity War and a bunch of other things, and you'll start to get an idea of just how insanely wonderful (and wonderfully insane) this film is.

12. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

"We have nowhere else to go"

"Everyone we know is trying to kill us"

"Not everyone..."

The aforementioned balance of well-produced cinema and not-taking-itself-too-seriously entertainment that the MCU is known for hits its ultimate sweet spot in the second Captain America film. Much less campy and more cinematic than its predecessor, while still being a fun superhero movie at its heart, this thrilling sequel is quite fantastic. It was the first MCU film to be directer by the Russo brothers (also known for their work on television masterpiece Community (2009-2015)), who would go on to direct three other MCU films, all of which are even higher on this list.

Chris Evans continues to shine in the lead role, the complex moral dynamics of the film make for a spy-thriller atmosphere, and the plot of Captain America going rogue makes for some exciting high-stakes situations. The Russos do an especially great job directing the action sequences, which are some of the best of their kind throughout the superhero genre.

11. Doctor Strange (2016)

"Dormammu, I've come to bargain!"

What really gets me about this particular flick is the sheer psychedelia. Doctor Strange is more fantasy than sci-fi, tapping into a strange part of Marvel lore, and they really go places with it. Between the mesmerizing visuals and cool fantasy concepts, this is definitely the trippiest superhero movie I've seen (or at least was at the time, before a certain sequel outdid it). The film gets added points for Benedict Cumberbatch fitting the lead role wonderfully, as well as the film's final act averting the "big CGI battle" cliché of the genre by having the main hero go up against the main villain in a very out-of-the-box manner.

10. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

"I know you don't like to talk about your life, but a guy with a freaking MACHETE FOR AN ARM just chopped our bus in half!"

I've gone back and forth a few times on my opinions of post-Endgame MCU. My initial reaction was skepticism, my views after Spider-Man: Far from Home were along the lines of "Actually, I'm excited to see what's in store!", but my attitudes shifted back to skepticism after Black Widow and the trailer for The Eternals. However, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings proved for once and for all that Marvel can at any given time surpass one's expectations and prove that there's more cool stuff to be uncovered.

Once again, the MCU writers and producers faced the tough job of making a superhero origin story that feels fresh and exciting, and they somehow pulled it off. Shang-Chi is especially notable for the absolutely beautiful aesthetic throughout the film, as well as the extremely well-choreographed action sequences that are thrilling to follow. Definitely want to see more of this guy in future films!

9. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

"But if you put the hammer in an elevator?"

"It'll still go up"

"Elevator's not worthy"

The second Avengers film was a point of division for viewers. For people who didn't have the time and energy to keep up with the Marvel universe and who just wanted entertaining individual movies, it was frustrating to have a film filled with characters and plotlines that only make sense if you've seen all of the previous Marvel films. And I do get why the film would be annoying for such a viewer. But, for viewers like me, who were in for the long haul and all fired up about the whole cinematic universe thing, it was amazing to see such long-term storytelling that felt like a season finale to a movie franchise. Many long-built elements across the Marvel universe came together, and many more got set up for the future as the universe got even bigger.

Age of Ultron is filled to the brim with the things you'd expect from an Avengers movie, such as entertaining banter and exciting action sequences. James Spader is brilliant as the voice of Ultron, the artificial intelligence -type villain who makes for a formidable opponent.

8. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

"I'm sick of Mr. Stark treating me like a kid"

"...But you are a kid"

Forget superheroes and cinematic universes - Spider-Man: Homecoming is one of the best coming-of-age high school comedies I've seen. Seriously, it really zeroes in on the "ordinary teen from Queens" side of Peter Parker, and the results are wonderful. The film is entertaining and hilarious, as it doesn't take itself too seriously and has a lot of fun with its cast and setting.

Then there's the film's villain, Adrian Toomes a.k.a. The Vulture, played by Michael Keaton. When he's in his CGI super-villain suit of armor, fighting good guys, he's a pretty run-of-the-mill supervillain and not particularly threatening. But when he's just Michael Keaton, being Michael Keaton, in scenes like the one where he talks with Peter Parker in a car on the way to the homecoming dance, he's downright terrifying. That's Keaton for you.

7. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

"I am Groot"

"Well that's just as fascinating as the first 89 times you told me that. What is wrong with Giving Tree here?"

I'm guessing that this was pretty much the point where the good people at Marvel realized that they can pull a blockbuster out of anything. After playing it safe with movies based on conventional and safe characters like Captain America and Iron Man, they decided to adapt one of their most obscure comic books into a film for the MCU's next entry. And so it came to be that we all went to see a space adventure about an unlikely group of rag-tag heroes - and when I say "unlikely", I mean it in a very literal, "One of them is green, while another is a talking raccoon and then there's a tree who can only say one sentence and the rest of them are also pretty weird" sense.

The movie works so well because it's so bizarre. There are really no barriers on its humor, from the inexplicable casting of Vin Diesel as Groot to the Howard the Duck post-credit scene. Chris Pratt is nothing short of brilliant in the main role, and the main cast have wonderful chemistry together. Guardians of the Galaxy is a hilarious and immensely entertaining space adventure, and just one of the most pure-fun movies I've ever encountered.

6. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

"Happy?"

"No, I'm incredibly annoyed"

Unfortunately, the main character is called Spider-Man and not Spoiler-Man, so I reckon I shouldn't give away some of the big plot turns from the tail end of this fantastic film. Let's just say that I really liked what goes down, and the things I don't want to spoil for people who haven't seen No Way Home yet are perhaps the main reasons for why I enjoyed the movie so much.

But it's not only about that! The film's greatness is boosted by the well-built sense of panic and intensity throughout the first act, the trippy and wonderfully created fight sequence between Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, and the fact that Tom Holland provides some of the best acting in the entire superhero genre in the lead role. Basically, No Way Home manages to be the ultimate Spider-Man film and the ultimate MCU film at the same time, which is pretty neat.

5. Black Panther (2018)

"Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows. We can not. We must not. We will work to be an example of how we, as brothers and sisters on this earth, should treat each other"

First of all, Black Panther is a cultural landmark. Some of you may argue that such factors aren't what makes a movie good, but I fully disagree. Representation matters, and seeing the sheer joy that people of African descent all over the world experienced due to this blockbuster film filled with people who look like them was extremely powerful and moving. It's not just the fact that almost the entire cast are people of color, but that the whole movie feels like celebration of African culture - the beautiful landscapes, Ludwig Göransson's Africa-inspired soundtrack, and all sorts of factors come together to build the film's culturally intriguing and beautiful atmosphere.

It also helps that Black Panther is a kick-ass superhero flick, in addition to its cultural significance. Director Ryan Coogler does a great job putting the various action sequences together, Michael B. Jordan is nothing short of mesmerizing as the film's well-written villain Killmonger, and the dynamic between the hero and the villain feels quite Shakeseparean for a Marvel film. Speaking of the hero, T'Challa a.k.a. the Black Panther is played by the late great Chadwick Boseman, who was just as inspiring and majestic in real life as he certainly managed to be in this movie. Rest in Power, King.

4. The Avengers (2012)

"I have an army"

"We have a Hulk"

Sure, the original Avengers film might seem a bit 'small-scale' after the likes of Infinity War and Endgame. But take your mind back to 2012, and this was the most epic thing to have happened in superhero cinema - the main heroes from multiple different Marvel films were all teaming up? It seemed ambitious and crazy, and it worked like a charm.

After various pieces of build-up in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, it all came together. The first half of the film is a slow-burning build-up to bring Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, The Hulk and Hawkeye together, while the second half is a series of payoffs as it is an absolute joy to follow this team interacting with one another while banding together to fight Loki and his army. Simply glorious.

3. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

"He's my friend!"

"So was I."

Captain America: Civil War manages to juggle an impressive amount of threads that really only the Russo brothers could accomplish in the context of a comic book film. It's a continuation to the Captain America story, just as it is an expansion of the MCU as we're introduced to the universe's versions of Black Panther and Spider-Man for the first time, while also being a pseudo-Avengers film as most of the MCU's main heroes appear in it and larger storylines are taken forward. The rift between Captain America and Iron Man is gripping and well-built, and watching the heroes take sides and fight against each other is as dramatic as it is entertaining.

The film's villain, Zemo (Daniel Brühl), is also one of the MCU's best, as he manages to convey a tragic backstory, gripping motivations and a complex plan with very little screen time. From the fun and thrilling airport fight to the heartbreaking final act, this film delivers on every front and proved that the Russo brothers were the MCU's best filmmakers and the right people to eventually take on the gargantuan challenge of the final two Avengers films. Speaking of which...

2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

"I am Groot"

"I am Steve Rogers"

When it came out, Infinity War was in many ways the most ambitious superhero film ever made. Its job was essentially to do what The Avengers did, but to a staggeringly larger degree: while the first Avengers was the result of four films of build-up and it brought six different superheroes together, by 2018 the MCU had grown so much that this film was tasked with answering to 17 films of build-up, and bringing together more than twenty superheroes. It would've been so easy to do a poor job with this balance, thus making the film feel messy and over-stuffed - yet somehow it doesn't. Each hero gets the right amount of screen time, each arch is paced just right, and the viewer can keep up without over-stretching their brain even if they haven't seen every single MCU film made before this one (naturally, the more you have seen, the more you'll get out of this).

Infinity War's greatest accomplishment is that it managed to answer the expectations of both the comic book fans who simply wanted to see all of the MCU heroes uniting to fight Thanos (Josh Brolin) in an epic battle, and the cinema enthusiasts who wanted the film to challenge the viewers and not go for easy solutions. The film answers expectations with its payoffs, but also defies expectations with its twists. In short, there's something for everyone in this massive cinematic production.

How could an accomplishment like that possibly be outdone? Well...

1. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

"Avengers! Assemble"

I know, I know. While Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame are the two highest-rated MCU films on IMDB, and have gotten more praise and acclaim than any of their counterparts, no one ever cites them as their two favorites, as that would sound boring and basic. But I'm not making my ranking based on what makes for a narratively interesting list - I'm simply being honest and telling what are my favorites. And there's no getting around it - the two last Avengers movies are, quite clearly, the two best movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to my movie taste. I'm sorry if that makes my ranking less sexy and interesting, but that's just the way of it. No other MCU films have reached quite the same cinematic heights as these two giants.

As much as I loved Infinity War, the follow-up managed to somehow be even better. Expectations were sky-high, but they were met, as Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely's script and the Russo brothers' directing elevate the MCU into unforeseen greatness. It's so tragic that Marvel comics mastermind Stan Lee passed away just two years before this film came out - it's great that he lived long enough to see the characters and storylines envisioned by him being turned into a massive franchise grabbing the world's attention, but it does break my heart that he didn't quite live long enough to witness this epic conclusion.

While Endgame is first and foremost an ending - an ending to the 21-film Infinity Saga, to the Avengers movies, and to many central characters - I do appreciate that it isn't only that. Before we get to the climactic set of payoffs and moments of closure, we're treated to a standalone movie's worth of time travel, exciting action sequences and character development. Of course, because this was the conclusion to it all, those storylines are absolutely riddled with nostalgic callbacks and clever references that really tie everything together.

But as a climax to twenty feature films worth of build-up, it works on a whole other level. The 'Portals' scene, with the story turning around in a heart-pumping fashion as Alan Silvestri's magnificent score reaches unforeseen heights, is honestly one of my favorite movie moments of all time. Having followed this cinematic universe carefully and with great emotional investment, movie by movie, up to that point, it just felt like the best possible way of everything coming together - certainly not an easy job for the filmmakers, but they got it done.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next week as I rank the Top 10 greatest episodes of my all-time second-favorite sitcom, How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014).