Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a rollercoaster—at times thrilling, at times perplexing, and sometimes downright underwhelming. From multiverse madness to earthy character development, Phase Five of Marvel has been anything but predictable. It’s provided lofty gambles, unbalanced results, and undeniable evidence that even superheroes feel burnout. Here’s a retro review of the seven most discussed Phase Five films, from misfires to Marvel magic.
6. Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion had all the makings of a hit—Nick Fury’s long-overdue comeback, a high-roller plot involving Skrulls in the government, and an all-star cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Olivia Colman, and Emilia Clarke.
5. Echo
With Maya Lopez leading the charge—and the return of Kingpin and Daredevil—Echo had all the ingredients to be something special.
4. The Marvels
On paper, The Marvels was a recipe for a good cosmic team-up movie. Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau teaming up galaxies apart should have been a blast. But the movie got bogged down in MCU continuity issues. For general viewers, the film was confusing without context from several Disney+ shows. The movie wasn’t doing enough to advance the big picture for die-hard fans either. Despite some lovely performances—particularly from Iman Vellani as Kamala—the movie played it too cautiously to fly.
3. Loki – Season 2
One of the most reliable successes for Phase Five, Loki Season 2 leaned into the strange and produced a visually striking, emotionally complex tour through time and identity. Tom Hiddleston gave some of his most multifaceted work as the God of Mischief, and the show’s daring narrative swings paid off hugely. With its blend of sci-fi spectacle and philosophical resonance, Loki demonstrated that when Marvel believes in its characters and isn’t afraid to be a bit weird, it can still surprise and enchant.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
James Gunn’s last installment with the Guardians was just right: emotional goodbyes, crisp humor, and one of the most tear-jerking plotlines in recent MCU history. Untethered from multiverse complications, Vol. 3 was character-driven storytelling, specifically Rocket’s origin story, which was where some of the franchise’s most gut-punching scenes transpired. It was a flashback to why people fell in love with this oddball team in the beginning—and why heart-based storytelling always prevails. The movie not only reminded us why we adore this motley crew of losers—it showed that Marvel still knows what makes a great story when it puts heart above hype.
1. Deadpool & Wolverine
Phase Five’s crown gem teamed Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in a fourth-wall-shattering, R-rated extravaganza that met the hype. Deadpool & Wolverine not only provided laugh-out-louds and violent action—it employed its meta humor to bash the MCU’s recent missteps, while still respecting what makes these characters so popular. Filled with cameos, twists, and real emotional investment, it was a welcome reminder of how much superhero movies can be fun when they don’t insist on themselves so much.
Bonus Round: Phase Five’s Everything Else
Not everything landed big, but there were still solid entries:
- Ironheart finally arrived after delays, introducing a promising (if not revolutionary) new hero into the fold.
- Agatha All Along surprised expectations with a crisp mix of humor and horror, ranking as one of the more well-reviewed Disney+ series.
- Daredevil: Born Again demonstrated that the MCU can still present grounded, adult content when it needs to.
- Thunderbolts: won over critics with its daring direction and character complexity, but fell short of appealing to a large audience.
- Captain America: Brave New World was marred by a troubled production and failed to quite connect with critics and audiences.
On the animation side, What If? and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man varied things but didn’t create quite the same excitement as their live-action counterparts. And then there’s Blade—continuing to languish in development hell. After several delays, Marvel’s vampire hunter didn’t make it out for Phase Five and now seems poised to debut in Phase Six, or beyond. At this point, Blade is perhaps the MCU’s largest “what if?”
A Phase of Growing Pains
Phase Five has been a mixed bag, an indication of the MCU’s continued evolution—and its pains. The highs were thrilling, the lows forgettable, and the middle confusing with too much setup and too little payoff. Yet there are glimpses of life and moments of brilliance that indicate Marvel’s next chapter can be one of return to form.