3) Captain America: Civil War
Thirteen films in and the Marvel Cinematic Universe pulled off the impossible with this eminently re-watchable landmark. Captain America: Civil War – which marks the triumphant return of Captain America: The Winter Soldier directors Joe and Anthony Russo – delivers an energetic, thoughtful adaptation of the titular Mark Millar/Steve McNiven comic book.
Pitting Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) against each other and dividing the Avengers, the film left audiences the world over debating which superhero was in the right (“Team Cap!” “Team Iron Man!”). Moreover, it managed to usher both Black Panther and Spider-Man into the MCU in one fell swoop through memorable performances by Chadwick Boseman and Tom Holland, respectively.
That epic airport smackdown has already been christened as a classic, but what truly makes Civil War so memorable (and one of the best MCU efforts to date) is the way in which it subverts the character dynamics and tantalizes us with the possibility of what the future may hold. Certainly, fans can rest easy knowing that the Russos are shepherding both Avengers: Infinity War and its untitled sequel.
