I Rewatched Every Single Marvel Movie... And I Regret It

Rewatching the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a daunting task. With over 30 films (and counting), spanning multiple phases, interconnected storylines, and countless characters, it’s a cinematic universe unlike any other. The MCU has defined modern blockbuster cinema, but rewatching every single Marvel movie back-to-back is not for the faint-hearted. I embarked on this journey thinking it would be a nostalgic trip, but by the end, I was left questioning whether it was worth it. Here’s why.

The Ambitious Undertaking

The MCU kicked off in 2008 with Iron Man, a film that set the stage for what would become a cultural phenomenon. Over the years, the universe expanded, introducing new heroes, villains, and galaxies. The franchise is divided into phases, each culminating in a major crossover event, like The Avengers or Avengers: Endgame.

Rewatching all these films meant revisiting the highs of cinematic glory (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, anyone?) and the lows that we’d rather forget (Thor: The Dark World, looking at you). While I was excited to relive the moments that made the MCU great, I soon realized the enormity of this task.

The Good: Marvel’s Unparalleled Storytelling

Let’s start with the positives. Marvel’s storytelling, at its best, is a masterclass in long-form narrative. The way the MCU weaves character arcs over multiple films is nothing short of genius. For instance, Tony Stark’s journey from a self-absorbed billionaire to a self-sacrificing hero is one of the most compelling character developments in modern cinema.

The interconnectedness of the films is another strength. Watching them in order reveals subtle callbacks and foreshadowing that might be missed on a first viewing. Moments like Nick Fury’s post-credits scene in Iron Man or Thanos’s introduction in The Avengers take on new significance when seen in the context of the larger narrative.

And then there are the stand-out films. Black Panther isn’t just a superhero movie; it’s a cultural milestone. Guardians of the Galaxy brought humor and heart to the MCU in a way no one expected. And Avengers: Endgame delivered a climax that felt earned after 11 years of storytelling.

The Bad: Formula Fatigue

However, rewatching every Marvel movie also highlights their flaws, particularly the formulaic approach. Once you’ve seen a few MCU films, the structure becomes predictable:

• The hero is introduced, often with a tragic backstory.
• A villain appears, usually with a connection to the hero.
• There’s a climactic battle featuring lots of CGI.
• The hero learns a life lesson and emerges victorious.

While this formula works, it becomes repetitive when watching the movies back-to-back. Even some of the better entries, like Doctor Strange, follow this template so closely that they start to blur together.

The Ugly: The CGI Overload

Marvel movies are visually stunning, but they rely heavily on CGI, sometimes to a fault. Rewatching the films back-to-back makes it glaringly obvious how much the franchise leans on digital effects, often at the expense of practical effects or grounded storytelling. Films like Spider-Man: Homecoming strike a good balance, but others, like Captain Marvel, feel like they’re drowning in CGI set pieces.

This overreliance on CGI can make the action scenes—a key selling point of the MCU—feel monotonous. After the umpteenth aerial battle or exploding city, the spectacle loses its impact.

The Overlooked Gems

Not every Marvel movie gets the attention it deserves. Rewatching the series allowed me to appreciate some of the underrated gems:

• Ant-Man: A heist movie wrapped in a superhero package, with humor and heart to spare.
• Captain America: The First Avenger: A nostalgic throwback that sets the stage for Steve Rogers’ evolution.
• Thor: While not as polished as later entries, it’s a fascinating look at a character’s mythological roots.

These films often get overshadowed by the bigger blockbusters, but they’re worth revisiting for their unique contributions to the MCU.

The Time Commitment

One of the biggest challenges of rewatching the MCU is the sheer time investment. With each film averaging around two hours (and some, like Avengers: Endgame, stretching past three), you’re looking at over 60 hours of content. That’s before you even consider the Disney+ series like WandaVision or Loki that add even more depth to the universe.

Watching the movies in quick succession also means experiencing the tonal shifts between films more acutely. Going from the somber Avengers: Infinity War to the comedic Ant-Man and the Wasp can be jarring. The shifts are less noticeable when watching the films upon release, spaced months or years apart.

What I Regret

Rewatching every Marvel movie was an eye-opening experience, but it wasn’t without its regrets. The biggest one? Losing the magic of the first-time experience. Part of what made the MCU so special was the anticipation of what would come next. Watching them all in a compressed time frame felt like trying to recreate a spark that had already burned out.

Another regret was realizing how some films didn’t hold up. Movies like Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World feel like filler in hindsight, existing more to set up future films than to stand on their own. The lack of stakes or compelling narratives in these entries made them a slog to get through.

Final Thoughts

So, do I recommend rewatching every single Marvel movie? Not unless you’re a die-hard fan with a lot of time on your hands. While the experience offered some rewarding insights, it also highlighted the MCU’s flaws and left me feeling burned out.

Instead, I’d suggest revisiting your favorite Marvel films or those you haven’t seen in a while. The Winter Soldier, Black Panther, and Guardians of the Galaxy are great standalone watches that don’t require diving into the entire saga.

The MCU is a remarkable achievement, but it’s best enjoyed in moderation. Rewatching every movie back-to-back might not be the best way to appreciate what makes this cinematic universe so special.