This is the counterpart to the previous "Rank 'Em" list I put together for the MCU Phase Four Disney+ series. From best to least, here are the post-"Endgame" MCU movies released over the past three years. I haven't had the chance to see the most recent one yet. Spoilers ahead.
1. Joker - My take has always been that "Joker" is an excellent Scorsese homage and a terrible "Batman" movie. No matter what you want to say about what the film does with the comic book elements, it is great as an operatically over-the-top crime drama, and Joaquin Phoenix is fantastic as the instantly iconic Arthur Fleck. So much of this film worked for me in ways I wasn't expecting, and the hand-wringing over its antisocial elements only made its appeal more evident. No riots or mayhem happened as a direct result. So, I say bring on Harley and "Folie a Deux."
2. The Suicide Squad - This is so much better than the first "Suicide Squad" movie, I'm astounded that it didn't make more money at the box office, pandemic or not. However, it did result in the universally beloved "Peacemaker" spinoff, and it did get James Gunn a new job, so clearly the right people were paying attention. I just adore these versions of these characters so much - Harley Quinn as the unkillable badass, David Dastmalchian perfectly cast as the unstable Polka Dot Man, and live action King Shark! Heck, even the Taika Waititi cameo was a nice surprise!
3. The Batman - What I like least about Matt Reeves' "The Batman" is the titular Batman. That's okay, however, because we're working with a version of the character who is still very much in flux. The real achievement here is the Gotham City that has been brought to screen - a nightmarish world of urban blight, constantly beset by all manner of disasters. And we don't just get Batman as a detective here, but Batman as the detective in a David Fincher-esque crime film, up against a radically reimagined Riddler. Everything is unexpected, and I'm so glad to see it.
4. Birds of Prey - This was my last theater trip pre-pandemic, and I'm so glad I got to see these ladies on the big screen. And it's nice to have a comic book movie that is operating on its own, very distinct wavelength. The timeline is chaotic, the colors are bright, and the breakfast sandwich is doomed. Yes, it's a glorified girl's night out episode, but there's so much packed in here to enjoy. Awkward Mary Elizabeth Winstead! Scummy Ewan MacGregor! Margot Robbie on fire! We may have to say goodbye to her Harley Quinn soon, and I'll miss her terribly.
5. Wonder Woman 1984 - I clearly liked this movie better than most. Yes, it's cheesy and the plot doesn't make much sense, but the film is designed to be a throwback to the "Superman" movies of the 1970s and 1980s, which were similarly ridiculous. Quibble all you like with how they brought back Chris Pine, but the important part is that we got Chris Pine, and we got him in terrible '80s clothing. We also got Pedro Pascal and Kristen Wiig hamming it up for all they were worth, and it was glorious. If this movie had been released in theaters, I feel the discourse would have been very different.
6. DC League of Super-Pets - This is "The Secret Life of Pets" with superpowers, and perfectly fine for what it is. Kate McKinnon is the only one giving a remotely memorable performance as a spurned, hairless guinea pig, but the whole star-studded cast is clearly trying. For the nerdiest viewers, there's also a fair amount of comic book lore worked into the film in some interesting ways. I suspect that the film will end up having a long shelf life, and if this is the comic book film that Dwayne Johnson ends up being better known for in the long run, it will definitely serve him right. Speaking of which…
7. Black Adam - Well… at least it looked very expensive. I understand why Johnson would want to play an anti-hero like Black Adam, but I don't understand why anyone thought it was a good idea to make him the star of his own movie, and to tilt the entire franchise in his direction. I mean, he should have played the villain in the "Shazam!" sequel first to see if there was even any interest. At least we got decent Hawkman and Doctor Fate appearances. My biggest peeve, however, is the waste of Sarah Shahi, who got stuck in the role of human bystander and exposition machine.
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