Ranking of all MCU productions from 2024

Another year of building the MCU, Marvel Cinematic Universe is behind us. The last twelve months have brought exceptionally few productions produced by Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige. Apart from one theatrical film, we were able to watch four streaming productions. How did they fare?

Perhaps thanks to the strong limitation of Marvel Studios premieres, it was possible to close this year with a positive balance and avoid any mishap, even if not all of this year’s titles fully captured my heart.

5th Place:  Echo

Was this series necessary? Definitely not. Was it an excessively successful series? I don’t think so. Echo remains, however, harmless entertainment, one that is forgotten moments after the screening but doesn’t hurt anyone. On the contrary, it quite interestingly places at the center of attention a person who is both disabled and represents Native Americans, while in the background – again, after Daredevil and Hawkeye – the role of Kingpin is played by the ever-reliable Vincent D’Onofrio. In the background of Echo, even Charlie Cox appears as Daredevil, which is always an attraction in itself.

4th Place: What If…? (Season 3)

It wasn’t a consistent season of What If…?, but in the case of this series, that’s a compliment, because the previous two (aside from a few exceptions) were rather simply weak. In the final installment, there are indeed a few missteps (e.g., the episode with Howard the Duck), but overall, it presents itself well, closing the series with a sense of having created a fairly thoughtful and satisfying parable about the value of our choices and learning lessons from even the most dramatic experiences.

3rd Place: Agatha All Along

The podium of this year opens with the first of the very positive surprises of this season. Because just a few months ago, I was certain that It’s Always Agatha would turn out to be an unnecessary filler based on the success of WandaVision. Today, I know that it’s one of the most interesting series in this universe. It cleverly plays with the convention, skillfully leads the viewer on a false trail, brilliantly develops the storylines of the aforementioned series about Wanda Maximoff, and at the same time introduces characters and motifs that I would happily see in future Marvel productions, including those theatrical ones.

2nd Place: Deadpool & Wolverine

The biggest hit of Phase 5 of the MCU and the only warmly received theatrical comic book adaptation this year. A lot could have gone wrong in Deadpool & Wolverine – from pulling Wade Wilson into the universe, to capturing the spirit of the previous installments, to resurrecting Hugh Jackman’s Logan – fortunately, everything worked out and with interest. Shawn Levy’s film is, on one hand, a hilarious, satisfying rollercoaster for fans of older Marvel comic adaptations, and on the other, an emotional buddy movie about two losers who want to prove to the world that they still have something to offer.

1st Place: X-Men ’97 (Season 1)

At the top of the ranking, another great surprise. The sudden, unprepared introduction of the animated series about the X-Men – and moreover, a continuation of the 90s animation – was a very risky move. Fortunately, it was a successful one. X-Men ’97 is an impressive blend of sentimental tones with an exciting epic that stays true to the spirit of the well-known comic team. Each successive episode brought full satisfaction, and the most dramatic events of the first season will stay in my memory for a long time.

Another year at Marvel Studios is shaping up to be much more packed with premieres. We will get three theatrical films, live-action series, and animated series. In total, nine titles will compete for the hearts of fans, including, finally, a new theatrical version of The Fantastic Four and Daredevil returning to the small screen.