Between multiverse madness and introducing countless new characters, the MCU's phase four has been full of neverending surprises, especially with the announcement of a rebooted Daredevil series on Disney+. And while it seems like phase four is only just getting off the ground, as there are still six movies and eight shows to come, there has already been plenty for fans to sink their teeth into.
Though several phase four releases have had some of the worst negative receptions the universe has seen, those films still have their fans on Reddit. And those Redditors' arguments for why they're great could even sway some of the movies' biggest critics.
WandaVision (2021)
WandaVision had a unique format, as each episode was based on a sitcom style of a different decade, which made for one of the most original MCU releases ever. And given that it was the very first Disney+ MCU series, Marvel Studios came out of the gate swinging. JJdaPK agrees, noting, "by a landslide, it's the best thing that Marvel Studios has ever made"
Not only did it have the broad brush strokes and feel of the MCU, but it also felt like a Lynchian, Hocus Pocus, and it features the first example of the multiverse. Somehow, it all worked perfectly together.
Eternals (2021)
Eternals was hyped up to be an Academy Award Best Picture nominee by Kevin Feige leading up to its release, but what audiences got instead was almost the exact opposite. The movie became the first MCU release to be rated "rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes, and it was criticized by fans for its length, bad pacing, and not being exciting.
However, the film still has its fans, and the most underrated MCU movies.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (2021)
Where Endgame, depicting him overcoming his trauma almost seems redundant.
But where the series fails in some narrative areas, it excels in introducing new characters and the action sequences. Mr628 puts it best, noting, "I like high action, serious tone, and real stakes. It had its low moments but it was some top quality stuff when it's good." It's easy to see how FATWS would be many MCU fans' favorite show in the universe, as it's the most similar of all the Disney+ shows to the movie, especially when it comes to the thrilling action.
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings pulled off several things fans haven't seen in an MCU movie before, and, incredibly, Marvel Studios are still able to show audiences something new after more than 20 movies.
For starters, Shang-Chi is full of wonderful and vibrant Chinese culture, and even when it becomes a CGI fest in the final act, it's still throwing new ideas and centuries-old fabled monsters at audiences. And while other movies like Captain America: Winter Soldier are notable for their jaw-dropping fight choreography, the martial arts in Shang-Chi is on another level.
Black Widow (2021)
2021 was a rocky year for Marvel Studios, as though the year saw the release of some of the MCU's most exciting movies, it also saw the release of some of the worst. Not only is Eternals the lowest-rated MCU movie on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb, but Black Widow is the second-worst too. But BackBy5 defends the movie, believing it's the very best of the phase four releases.
The Redditor argues, "I felt like it built and released tension so effectively and satisfyingly. I honestly felt like Dreykov (Ray Winstone) was the most terrifying villain in the MCU that seemed like he couldn’t be beaten." Dreykov might have seemed menacing, but Winstone's questionable Russian accent, along with his plot hole-filled plan, holds him back from being an all-time great MCU villain.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
Director Sam Raimi is a visionary auteur, especially when it comes to horror, and his style is so distinctive that even audiences not as clued up about filmmakers could spot a Raimi-directed movie from miles away. The director's style of comedy horror worked perfectly for Infinity War."
Evil Dead 2. However, that's also why it has been criticized by some, as fans of Raimi love it, but fans of the MCU have problems with it.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Though Marvel Studios didn't necessarily promise anything with Spider-Man No Way Home, fans would have been devastated if the movie didn't deliver the expectations they had. Audiences wanted to see the Spider-Verse in all its glory, with Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire showing up, along with all of the older and iconic villains from those separate film series. And, amazingly, that's exactly what audiences got, and more.
WassupSassySquatch notes, "I personally found that the nostalgia was done with tact and I thought it elevated the story." Many movies, including some in the MCU, are guilty of throwing in fan service where it isn't necessary, but as the Redditor notes, it was tastefully done in No Way Home and it didn't once feel like it was shoehorned in, not even when Matt Murdock showed up.
Hawkeye (2021)
Just as Shang-Chi is soaked in Chinese culture and Multiverse of Madness is a horror movie, Hawkeye has a theme of its own; Christmas. HugeMan06 is one of the few who thinks Hawkeye is the best phase four release. The Redditor posits, "The scenes where they just hung out were the best in the show. Also seeing Clint as his own character was nice, we’d only ever seen him as a sort of extension of Natasha."
While the show had fairly low stakes, as seeing a retired Avenger just live his life doesn't sound exciting, it's just what audiences needed. However, the series could have leaned more into the Christmas aesthetic that was promised in the trailers, but The Guardians Holiday Special could still deliver on that front.
Loki (2021)
Loki as the very best phase four release, and just like WandaVision, it has such a unique format and otherworldly premise that the riskiest thing that Marvel Studios can possibly do at this point. The Redditor simply calls the series, "Amazing. Looked forward to each episode."
Loki is a science fiction space odyssey, a buddy cop comedy, and full of mystery. No other MCU movie has looked so influenced by sci-fi, and some of the sets look almost internationally fake, such as 79AD Pompeii, which is part of its charm. Unlike all of the other Disney+ Marvel series, Loki is the one that was immediately confirmed to be getting a season 2. And so it should, as the series had one of the biggest and most exciting cliffhangers in a TV show in recent years.
