Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 might not be as critically reviled as some other entries on our list, but it has to be said that it’s routinely ranked as one of the weakest MCU outings ever. We suppose that’s true, but that’s only because of how tough the competition is.
Sure, the sequel doesn’t live up to the smash-hit 2008 opener of the franchise as it loses sight of telling a solid solo story amidst all the planning ahead for the Avengers. Still, all of that S.H.I.E.L.D. stuff is a lot of fun, introducing Nick Fury and Black Widow to us for the first time. In particular, Scarlet Johansson is immediately awesome as Natasha Romanoff, even if the film gets a little carried away with how attractive she is.
Apart from being a fun ride, Iron Man 2 also gives Robert Downey Jr. the chance to dig a little bit deeper into the less quip-happy side of Tony Stark, paving the way for future dramatic takes on the character such as in Captain America: Civil War.