The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Among MCU Phase Five’s six theatrical films, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ranks first for its focused emotional story and satisfying character payoff; Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ranks sixth. This is an editorial ranking based on story and character payoff, execution, distinctiveness, and rewatch appeal—not a conversion of review scores into places.
Which films are in MCU Phase Five?
This ranking covers the six theatrical films released in the United States during Phase Five, from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in February 2023 to Thunderbolts* in May 2025. Phase Five also includes television and other projects, but they are outside the scope here. Release order identifies the films; it does not determine their quality.
![Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled (Iron Man / The Incredible Hulk / Iron Man 2 / Thor / Captain America: The First Avenger / The Avengers) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qL8I5oMEL._SL160_.jpg)
![Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 1-3 Complete Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51lWJwxLqWL._SL160_.jpg)
| U.S. release date | Film | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2023 | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | 6 |
| May 5, 2023 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | 1 |
| November 10, 2023 | The Marvels | 4 |
| July 26, 2024 | Deadpool & Wolverine | 2 |
| February 14, 2025 | Captain America: Brave New World | 5 |
| May 2, 2025 | Thunderbolts* | 3 |
Dates and Phase Five slate membership are listed in the Phase Five film list.
The Phase Five movies, ranked
1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The strongest entry in this group is the one with the clearest emotional center: Peter Quill rallies the Guardians to protect one of their own. That gives the ensemble’s humor and action a personal stake, and lets the film’s character relationships carry the story rather than relying on scale alone. Its balance of team chemistry, feeling, and spectacle makes it the most rewarding choice to revisit.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
2. Deadpool & Wolverine
The pairing is the event: Deadpool’s irreverence meets Wolverine’s more guarded intensity in a deliberately outsized team-up. Marvel’s D23 page calls it a team-up, and the film stands apart from the phase’s more conventional ensemble and legacy stories. Its comedy-forward approach may not suit every viewer, but its distinctive energy and strong audience reception make it an easy second place.
3. Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts* brings together Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker—an ensemble built around characters whose uneasy alliances are part of the appeal. It has the highest displayed Rotten Tomatoes critics’ percentage among these six films, but the ranking gives more weight to the whole experience than to a single aggregate. Viewers who prize ensemble dynamics or critic reception over the comic pairing in Deadpool & Wolverine could reasonably put it second.
Rank #2
- 22 4K UltraHD Discs
- 3 Blu-Ray Discs
4. The Marvels
Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan make this the phase’s most overtly team-focused entry among its central heroes. Its lighter tone and shifting character interplay give it a different texture from the more emotionally heavy Guardians and the antihero lineup of Thunderbolts*. It lands in the middle: an appealing change of pace, though not as cohesive or memorable overall as the top three.
5. Captain America: Brave New World
Sam Wilson’s first Captain America feature has a meaningful legacy premise: the story follows him after he takes up the mantle. That character transition is a strong reason to watch, but the film’s place here reflects the comparison across story execution, distinctiveness, and rewatch appeal—not a judgment on the importance of Sam’s role in the franchise.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems6. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
The Phase Five opener takes Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne into the Quantum Realm, expanding the scale of the Ant-Man story. A larger setting, however, does not by itself create a more effective film. Against the others here, its premise and execution feel less satisfying as a complete story, leaving it at the bottom of this particular ranking.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the reception scores compare
Aggregates offer a useful check on the ranking, not a universal verdict. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics and audience percentages measure different groups, while Metacritic reports a separate score; these figures should not be treated as interchangeable. The following snapshot and review counts are displayed on the MCU film list and can change over time.
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes critics | Rotten Tomatoes audience | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | 82% (409 reviews) | 91% | 64 (63 reviews) |
| Deadpool & Wolverine | 77% (421 reviews) | 96% | 56 (58 reviews) |
| Thunderbolts* | 88% (382 reviews) | not displayed in the cited table | 68 (53 reviews) |
| The Marvels | 63% (377 reviews) | 73% | 50 (57 reviews) |
| Captain America: Brave New World | 46% (368 reviews) | not displayed in the cited table | 42 (56 reviews) |
| Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | 46% (414 reviews) | 75% | 48 (61 reviews) |
In this snapshot, Thunderbolts* leads the critics’ percentage, while Deadpool & Wolverine leads the audience percentages among films with a figure shown. That split helps explain why a ranking depends on what a viewer values: reception metrics can illuminate a choice, but they cannot settle questions of emotional payoff, tone, or rewatch appeal.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Captain Marvel / Thor: Love and Thunder [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray] Marvel Cinematic Universe Edition 2-Pack Collection](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51iU7OlYpsL._SL160_.jpg)
- captain marvel blu ray
- thor collection blu ray
- thor movie blu ray
- thor dvd movie
- thor saga 4k
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
