Marvel Studios makes superhero movies. Only superhero movies. They currently happen to make the best superhero movies in the biz, but because of the singular focus of their production, it can be easy to underestimate the formative impact they've had on the state of contemporary cinema. We take the concept of a shared universe for granted now, but perhaps no other idea has more directly shaped the structure of modern blockbuster moviemaking over the last twenty years.

We see it widespread -- not just in the landscape of superhero cinema, though the X-Men and DCEU films were certainly the first adopters, but throughout blockbuster filmmaking at large with the new Universal Monsters universe and the magically insane MIB23 concept. A series of franchises interconnected to ultimately create something larger -- a brand, sure, but also an opportunity for long-form storytelling. An opportunity for long arcs that doesn't just lead to redundant sequels (though admittedly, Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World suffered a bit of the old sequelitis), but an evolving larger story told over decades.

However, it's not only the long-form approach that makes Marvel's universe so dynamic, but the genre's flexibility. "Universe" is the operative word in Marvel's "shared universe". It's not just an ingenious business model, but the groundwork for stories that can span galaxies, dimensions, and realms. Marvel's powers-that-be have by and large allowed their filmmakers to tell superhero stories through their own lens. The result is a back catalogue of films that reflect the sensibilities of their creators -- Kenneth Branagh's grand drama, Joss Whedon's poppy dialogue and unabashed comic bookishness, James Gunn's offbeat humor...hell, they even let Shane Black turn Iron Man 3 into a Shane Black movie. And yet, the overarching characters and tonality are handled with enough consistency that we can believe all these stories take place in the same universe. While that consistency is oft-derided as a "Marvel formula", it's also the "shared" part of shared universe. A bond that allows far-reaching films to feel cohesive.

With Captain America: Civil War arriving in theaters, we here on the Collider editorial staff are looking back and celebrating our favorite films in the MCU. When I put out the call to the staff for this article, it was with two understandings. 1) It was fine if our picks overlapped, but 2) we would scrap it if everyone picked the same film. I'm pleased as punch that there were ultimately no overlaps because it's a pretty cool representation of the widely diverse tastes of the staff here at Collider (Well, as diverse as you can get within the context of a single studio's output).

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, presented in no particular order.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Directors: Joe and Anthony Russo

Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely

Cast: Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson

I'm as big a fan of superhero slobberknockers as the next guy, and Marvel movies certainly deliver on the action front, but The Russo Brothers' entry into the world of comic book movies is arguably the smartest film of the bunch. Chris Evans previously played a propaganda tool for the U.S. military, a tragic war hero lost in time, and a rallying point for the Avengers team-up in earlier films, but Captain America: The Winter Soldier pushed Steve Rogers' loyalty and honor to the limits. Drawing inspiration equally from Ed Brubaker's comic book story arc and political thrillers/conspiracy fiction like the Robert Redford-starrer Three Days of the Condor, The Winter Soldier serves as the turning point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when cracks begin to show in both S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers.

Despite all of the major machinations concerning villainous moles embedded in a government organization, the balance between freedom and security, and respecting authority versus acting with autonomy, The Winter Soldier is at its heart about relationships. Rogers forms a new brotherly bond with veteran Sam Wilson, suffers heartbreak and betrayal at the hands of mentor figures Nick Fury and Alexander Pierce, and is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if it will bring his best friend Bucky Barnes back from the brink of madness and death. It's a film that works surprisingly well on a number of levels, all while delivering non-stop tension and action. It also acts as the lynchpin in the MCU between its first two phases and sets up the possible destruction of The Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. Can you ask for anything better? -Dave Trumbore

Iron Man 3

Director: Shane Black

Writers: Shane Black, Drew Pearce

Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley, Jon Favreau, James Badge Dale, Paul Bettany, Ty Simpkins

Iron Man 3 is my favorite Marvel movie because it’s all about subverting expectations. Marvel Studios’ ambitious experiment of using individual films as stepping stones to a giant crossover paid off enormously with The Avengers, but after the success of that film the question became, “What do you do next?” Now that The Avengers have been formed, how do you keep audiences from spending the entire runtime of subsequent standalones wondering why Superhero X doesn’t call his or her super buddies and fend off the baddie as a team? The answer: by making a movie so entertaining, audiences don’t really care.

Iron Man 3 begins in media res with a somber opening, evoking the serious tone of a post-Avengers world, before pulling what’s essentially a head fake and cutting to New Year’s Eve 1999, set to the glorious sounds of Aqua’s infamous “Blue.” This is one of many brilliant twists on traditional formula by co-writer/director Shane Black, whose handle on tone and character is heretofore unmatched in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Iron Man 3 is continuously taking familiar beats and situations and making them fresh, be it the camaraderie between Our Hero and Young Boy in Need of a Father Figure, the steadfastness (or, rather, lack thereof) of Tony Stark, and yes, even that pesky villain.

The Mandarin twist rubbed some comics purists the wrong way, but the truth is, there was no way of portraying this outright racist caricature of a character without some major changes, and the take on The Mandarin that Black and co-writer Drew Pearce imagined is a stroke of brilliance. It’s a hilarious disruption of what folks expect from a superhero movie, but also a darkly comedic commentary on the relationship between the modern media landscape and the War on Terror, as well as the nature of modern terrorism itself.

Iron Man 3 works because it’s a blast, it’s interested in diving deeper into the psyche of Tony Stark via a PTSD story arc, and it has something to say about the world we live in. This is a Shane Black film through and through, and in that sense is probably the most filmmaker-driven movie Marvel Studios has made thus far. In a post-Avengers world, how do the Marvel movies connect to one another, and what’s the relationship between the various characters now? Iron Man 3 has the gall to say, “It doesn’t really matter. Let’s tell a different kind of Tony Stark story and have some fun.” Now that’s the kind of moxie I can get behind. - Adam Chitwood

Thor

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Writers: Ashley Miller, Zach Stentz and Don Payne

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgard, Ray Stevenson, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Josh Dallas

In the summer of 2011, Marvel released the alien god Thor (Chris Hemsworth) onto moviegoers through the lens of the venerable Kenneth Branagh — Kenneth Branagh! — who unexpectedly directed it. Thor further distinguished itself by including a host of veteran actors (Anthony Hopkins, Ray Stevenson, Stellan Skarsgard, Idris Elba), while also introducing audiences and the MCU to one of its most important components: Tom Hiddleston as Loki.

The overarching story of Thor is one that loosely follows the idea of a prodigal son, although Thor is cast out from his home in Asgard rather than voluntarily leaving. Reuniting him with Mjolnir and returning to Asgard may be the frame, but the heart of the movie lies in the relationship between Thor and Loki, one that was so dynamic it ended up driving the events of my other favorite Marvel movie, The Avengers. Ultimately, Thor himself is only bested in magnitude by his scheming brother, who may not be the true king, but is the true breakout of the movie.

Thor isn’t perfect — the storyline with Jane (Natalie Portman) and the Earthlings leaves much to be desired. But Thor did set universal stakes for the budding MCU, created a visually dazzling realm in Asgard, and used a sly sense of humor to make one of Marvel’s most out-there stories feel accessible. Most impressively, it was not afraid to rely on the emotional complexities between the warring brothers in a way that still makes the film resonate. — Allison Keene

Captain America: The First Avenger

Director: Joe Johnston

Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely

Cast: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, Dominic Cooper, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones

I like the Marvel movies.  I like their tone.  I like the notion of an interconnected universe.  I think the casting has been top-notch on all of the movies.  But none of them has connected to be on an emotional level like Captain America: The First Avenger and made me a die-hard fan of not just a single character, but specifically the cinematic take on that character.  The movies haven’t sent me rushing out to buy loads of Captain America comics because I like their take on the character so much already, and I like how they’ve styled him not as a jingoistic symbol with an inflexible moral compass, but as a guy who simply states his ethos: “I don’t like bullies.”  It’s so pure and so good-hearted, and then it’s placed in a terrific kind of throwback film that director Joe Johnston excels at.  This movie isn’t just a joy to watch; it makes you feel warmhearted too in a way that other blockbusters just can’t. – Matt Goldberg

Avengers

Director: Joss Whedon

Writers: Joss Whedon, Zak Penn

Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgard, Clark Gregg

Here's an embarrassing story. The first time I saw The Avengers was in a sold out megaplex screening where I sat through the end credits with tears streaming down my face as that ridiculous Soundgarden song blasted in the background. It's stupid, but true. As a lifelong comic book fan, a diehard Whedonite, and a general genre enthusiast, The Avengers was the unabashedly gleeful on-screen incarnation pure comic book zeal I had always dreamed of and I was completely overwhelmed by delight. You hear the phrase "movie magic" a lot, but Avengers was the kind of spectacular show that reminded me just how powerful cinematic sorcery can be.

Thanks to Joss Whedon's gift as ensemble storyteller, each hero has their moment to shine, and they bounce off each other with an energy and dynamism that is only enhanced by Whedon's snappy and endlessly quotable dialogue. He also has such clear understanding of what makes each hero tick, and it's obvious that he doesn't just get them, he loves them (especially Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner, who is arguably the film highlight) . Each member of the team is introduced with care (again, except poor Hawkeye), their carefully-crafted debuts revealing the core of the character. In the climactic third act set piece, Whedon choreographs his set-pieces with zeal, translating that capacity for ensemble into action, staging an impeccably choreographed showcase of each heroes abilities and the awesome force they become when combined.

Likewise, the genius of Marvel's casting department is on full display. Every single member of the team pops off the screen, each actor bringing their ultimate A-game, sharing the screen gracefully. Tom Hiddleston's Loki returns from his career-making debut in Thor as one of the MCU's few truly great villains, bringing a delicious wickedness and consummate charm that is equal to the task of standing opposite a team of such charismatic talents. There's not a single weak link in the cast, and each actor's particular talents only further emphasizes the excellence of the cast as whole.

The film isn't without its flaws. Hawkeye definitely gets the short end, and I think we can all agree the first 15 minutes are a dud, but once Avengers gets going it blossoms into a joyful manifestation of nerd bliss; a series of escalating set-pieces and tet-a-tets that is, at its core, a staggering love letter to comics. -- Haleigh Foutch

Ant-Man

Director: Peyton Reed

Writers: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay, and Paul Rudd

Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena, Anny Ryder Forston, T.I., David Dastmalchian, and Martin Donovan

Though there’s plenty of technical skill, strong acting, and intricate writing to be gleaned in the MCU, there’s almost nothing in the way of personality. The first Captain America film has the warm glow of nostalgic wartime style, and Thor: The Dark World vaguely alludes to the regal familial strife of Shakespeare, but the films are structured in incredibly predictable ways, engineered to efficiently hit familiar plot turns. This has lead to a few enjoyable action flicks – Iron Man and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, most prominently – but the best of the MCU follow their own storytelling impulses and unique character nuances.

Iron Man 3 and Guardians of the Galaxy are both worthwhile and strikingly rich works in this mold, but nothing in the MCU plays by its own giddy rules the way Peyton Reed’s Ant-Man does. It remains impossible not to think of what might have been if Marvel Studios and Disney had acted with decency and let Edgar Wright be with his original script and direction, but Reed’s variation on the heist movie is nothing short of an exuberant gem. The dialogue edges on humor rather than plot, and the cast, led by Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, and Evangeline Lilly, respond with robust, theatrical energy in their performances, with a special nod to Stoll luxuriating in his villainous role.

The film revolves around Rudd’s heroic ex-con learning how to use the super-suit gifted to him by Douglas’ Dr. Hank Pym, but Reed gives the film a kick of substance through its focus on the grief and struggle of re-entering society after prison. There is a genuine reflection of where superpowers can affect change in modern society, and yet the film remains a joy to watch as a comedic heist-action film. Lensed wonderfully while also strewn with inventive physical gags and imaginative visions, Ant-Man is a rare, exhilarating oddity amongst a series of regimented, rigid entertainments, a singular experience in a line of familiar trope-heavy products.   - Chris Cabin

Guardians of the Galaxy

Director: James Gunn

Writers: James Gunn, Nicole Perlman

Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Benicio Del Toro, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Sean Gunn

I get hyped for all Marvel movies, but there was no doubt that we needed something to shake things up right around the time when Guardians of the Galaxy came out. When the first trailer hit, expectations went through the roof, but who knew director James Gunn would nail the distinct style, tone and visuals while also making the film feel like an appropriate part of the MCU?

I remember walking out of my first screening with a bunch of critics rambling on like giddy children as we tried to pick our favorite characters in the movie. Chris Pratt is a delight as Peter Quill and does an excellent job serving as the linchpin of the film, but my heart belongs to Drax and Groot. Thanks to Baby Groot my bank account hit rock bottom that summer and it didn’t matter how many times the movie played with Drax’s literal approach to the world. The comedic timing and Dave Bautista’s delivery was spot-on throughout the entire film. (And the same goes for Zoe Saldana’s Footloose comment. That line gets me every time!)

Overall, Guardians is a game-changing achievement that proves Gunn was the perfect choice to helm the film. Every single person involved could have been bringing his or her A game, but if there wasn’t a fearless leader with a clear vision and steadfast dedication to what makes the property so unique, there’s no way it would have turned out to be such a gem of a film that’s a pure joy to watch and re-watch time and time again. -- Perri Nemiroff