Captain Marvel
Don’t let internet trolls rewrite history—Captain Marvel kicks a lot of MCU movies’ asses. Brie Larson has the perfect blend of snarky defiance with a smile and duty-bound stoicism needed to play someone like Carol Danvers, a cosmic-powered demigod brainwashed by an alien species to be a sleeper cell on a universal level. The origin story is surprisingly fleshed out for the MCU, which usually opts for the “show and not tell” (more like “blow up and then sorta tell”) approach. Also, her snapping the inhibitor chip out of her head to unlock her full powers (powers that almost had Thanos shitting Infinity Stones in Endgame) is one of the best awakening moments in MCU history. Sure, some of the dialogue tries to force Danvers’ wit a bit too hard. Still, Captain Marvel is essential viewing for any and all MCU fans. —Keith Nelson Jr
