Every MCU Phase 5 Movie Ranked by CGI, From Dazzling to Disappointing

Marvel has been catching heat for its CG for a while now. The grumbling really picked up after that Hulk tag around Avengers: Endgame, and it only got louder as the studio tried to juggle movies, Disney+ shows, and holiday specials on tight schedules. By Phase 5, the strain was showing. Now that Phase 6 is underway with the MCU's first family stepping in via 'Fantastic Four: First Steps', here is how Phase 5's movies looked on the effects front — the good, the bad, and the very Spy Kids.

#6 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Phase 5 started here, and yeah, it also bottomed out here. Expectations were high, especially with Jonathan Majors making his big-screen debut as Kang the Conqueror and teasing a new dynasty. Instead, the story felt thin, Kang's introduction landed soft for a supposed Big Bad, and the visuals were often unintentionally funny. M.O.D.O.K. was the poster child for the problem: a stretched-face gag on a flying contraption that was more meme than menace. The overall vibe and costuming drew comparisons to Spy Kids, which... is not the goal. The movie made decent money, but as a showcase for Marvel's CG, it was a whiff. (IMDb: 6/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 46% critics, 81% audience)

#5 The Marvels

There are things to like about the Carol/Monica/Kamala team-up, but the finale leans hard on CG cats and the effect just does not land. The sequence mixes real kittens with digital work that mimics octopus-like tentacles, and the compositing is off enough that some shots look like the kittens are gliding across the floor instead of, you know, touching it. The whole bit feels jammed in and overcooked, which is a shame because the trio dynamic has spark. (IMDb: 5.5/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 63% critics, 79% audience)

#4 Thunderbolts*

The most recent Phase 5 movie and the closer of the phase also feels like Marvel actually listened. The production leans into practical effects and real stunts, which gives it a grounded, throwback energy and takes pressure off the CG. The visual effects are focused where needed — mainly around The Void — and otherwise stay out of the way. Fun tidbit: Florence Pugh reportedly pulled off a gutsy stunt herself, jumping from the 120th floor of Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka 118. As for the CG, there is not much to ding. (IMDb: 7.1/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 88% critics, 93% audience)

#3 Captain America: Brave New World

It is nice to see a full-on Hulk back in the mix (red or green, take your pick), and that part plays. The problem is a run of explosions and big beats that look half-baked — like shots that made it into the cut a pass or two before they were ready. The result is a movie that has the right pieces but too many moments that do not quite sell the reality. (IMDb: 5.6/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 46% critics, 75% audience)

#2 Deadpool & Wolverine

This is the one Phase 5 film that actually brought in serious money for Marvel, even if it is basically a parade of cameos stitched together with quips. The CG, though, is surprisingly smooth. Baby Deadpool, Headpool — yes, both — and the rest of the weirdness blend in better than you would expect. The villain's finger-based torture gag is gnarly in exactly the way the rendering needs to be. There is a mountain of face replacement and digital doubles throughout, and almost nobody complained. Maybe we were all too busy staring at Wolverine's suit. Either way, the work holds up. (IMDb: 7.5/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 78% critics, 94% audience)

#1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Easily the heaviest VFX lift of the bunch and also the one that feels the most tactile. Rocket's origin and the menagerie of characters around him require wall-to-wall digital work, but it is precise and purposeful. The CG supports the emotion instead of smothering it, which is why this is the rare effects-heavy blockbuster that actually makes people cry. This is the standard Phase 5 did not hit often enough. (IMDb: 7.9/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 82% critics, 94% audience)

Big picture: the CG headaches that flared post-Endgame — tight deadlines and too many projects at once — were all over Phase 5. A couple of films found their way by dialing back and getting practical; a couple leaned in and made it work anyway. Which Phase 5 movie had the roughest CG for you? All of these are streaming on Disney+ if you want to rewatch and re-litigate.