Although Avengers: Endgame was a highlight of the MCU and a perfect culmination of everything leading up to it, that was not the end of what made the Marvel Cinematic Universe an immersive and exciting franchise. Avengers: Endgame may have been a goodbye to Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, but there is still so much life to come out of the MCU since Thanos' defeat. Had the MCU concluded with Avengers: Endgame, then viewers never would have been gifted an understanding of what it meant to come back from "the Blip", which gets a significant reference in Spider-Man: Far From Home, WandaVision, and Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Ending it earlier would have meant never seeing the record-breaking Spider-Man: No Way Home and how it delivered closure to two previous Spider-Man variants.
Update August 24, 2023: This article has been updated with even more great things about the MCU since the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame.
The aftermath of Avengers: Endgame offered a look at how the world looks following one of the most massive changes in the universe and how people are affected by it, whether it be the personal reaction to the five-year time jump or what it means that Iron Man and Steve Rogers' Captain America are no longer in the picture. While the MCU may not have gotten everything right following Avengers: Endgame, it understood enough to make some solid choices. These are the 15 best things about the MCU since Avengers: Endgame and why the franchise should not have ended there.
15 Kate Bishop And Yelena Belova's Banter
Kate Bishop quickly joined Marvel's group of witty and charismatic young heroes. Her back-and-forth with Clint Barton gave Hawkeye an added layer of humor the show needed, given Barton's more often serious demeanor. However, Kate Bishop's arguably more exciting dynamic occurred with the opposition, Yelena Belova, who was attempting to kill Clint.
Kate and Yelena's scenes together in Hawkeye encourage both characters in their humorous dialogue and behavior to a degree where it is practically effortless. Given that Hawkeye and Black Widow had such a great dynamic, it makes sense that their successors would as well but in a different way. Their charm and chemistry are enough to hope that Marvel takes advantage of their relationship in the future.
14 Embracing the Supernatural
The Infinity Saga slowly teased the supernatural elements of the Marvel Universe. To connect a character like Thor with the more sci-fi-based heroes like Iron Man and the Hulk, the Asgardians were explained as being aliens who were perceived as magical. Doctor Strange allowed the MCU to dip its toe into the supernatural, but it would be following the Infinity Saga, where they would fully embrace the darkness.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Moon Knight really embraced the franchise's magic roots. Werewolf by Night introduced a whole new side to the Marvel Universe with the titular hero as well as Man-Thing and Elsa Bloodstone. This trend will continue with the introduction of Blade in his own solo film and the Disney+ series Agatha: Coven of Choas. The idea of science vs. magic will also be at the heart of the upcoming Disney+ series, Ironheart. There is an untapped corner of the franchise that the MCU is just barely getting to that they never got to explore before Avengers: Endgame.
13 Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Return
Rumors were circling about Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their roles as Spider-Man. Still, no one could have prepared the audience for how perfectly the characters were brought into Spider-Man: No Way Home and how brilliantly they were used. Peter 2 (Tobey Maguire) and Peter 3 (Andrew Garfield) jump into the plot at just the right time to help Peter 1 (Tom Holland) deal with the Multiverse villains and help him through May's death.
The movie also offers up small reveals explaining how Peter 2 and Peter 3's lives turned out after their franchises concluded, as well as offering Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker much-needed redemption when he saves MJ in a moment far too similar to the fall that killed Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. It allowed for some closure to Spider-Man franchises that were never given a proper ending.
12 Spotlight Supporting Characters
MCU Phase 4 first projects all were projects focusing on fan-favorite characters that had never gotten the spotlight. WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, and Black Widow were all projects that put emphasis on characters that had been supporting players but were never given the spotlight of their own. Now audiences got to learn more about them and flesh them out in ways that Phases 1 through 3 never could.
With the sole exception of Black Widow, these characters owe this extra spotlight to Disney+, as it provided a format to allow these characters' stories that spanned multiple hours to allow audiences to know them. While characters like Scarlet Witch, Vision, Hawkeye, Black Widow, The Falcon, and Winter Soldier were popular before, they are now even more popular thanks to being upgraded from supporting players to leads in the MCU.
11 More Great Villains
Phases 1 and 2 of the MCU were often criticized for their villains being undeveloped. Phase 3 corrected this due to great villains like Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Kilmonger in Black Panther, and of course, Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. There were some pretty big shoes to fill for the Multiverse Saga, and they have more than lived up to it with great villains.
From Wenwu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the MCU has continued to make great villains that manage to have depth while also being menacing. The franchise also brought back old favorites like Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin for Spider-Man: No Way Home and Vincent D'Onofrio in Hawkeye and will return in Echo and Daredevil: Born Again. Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness has become a fan favorite just like Loki, and will get her own spin-off series like the God of Mischief did.
Phase 5 might be just beginning, but thanks to Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the MCU's villains are just as good if not better than ever before.
10 Super Villain Rehabilitation
An interesting development that has taken place over the last few years is the arrival of new CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). To the surprise of many fans, she is actually the ex-wife of CIA agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). She has appeared in MCU across various projects such as Black Widow, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and in many ways, is a reverse Nick Fury, recruiting a team of people for her own team but one made of anti-heroes and villains know as The Thunderbolts. Dreyfus plays the role with great humor, a fun reversal of how serious Nick Fury was when he first showed up.
Yet the arrival of the Thunderbolts hints that the MCU is looking at some of their characters and finding a new place for them. Ghost and Taskmaster were previously villains in the MCU, yet their role in the Thunderbolts alongside characters like Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes suggests that these characters will find redemption. These were two villains that were not evil and were victims of circumstance, so the MCU is looking at rehabilitating some of their iconic villains. This was already shown with Abomination in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, who has become a better person since the events of The Incredible Hulk. It is a refreshing take on the superhero genre that believes in rehabilitation.
9 She-Hulk's Fourth Wall Breaks
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law deciding to break the fourth wall and completely demolish the standard Marvel formula is an excellent shift in storytelling if Marvel follows through on it. Regardless of how fun or emotional Marvel movies can be, they are also pretty predictable. Marvel films and shows always end with a big battle, and She-Hulk's decision to break the fourth wall throughout the show and call out the formula of a massive war is a decision that allows the show to offer an alternative type of ending. If the MCU is looking to freshen up or change its narrative structure in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, this would be a great avenue to go.
8 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
In the aftermath of Chadwick Boseman's tragic death, the Marvel Cinematic Universe created a story that honored him, and King T'Challa, by revealing T'Challa had died off-screen and devising the story around Shuri and her slow rise to becoming the next Black Panther. As Wakanda mourns their King, Shuri mourns her brother. A new potential threat to Wakanda rises, as does the world's desire for Vibranium.
It is a different type of origin story, as Shuri had not anticipated becoming the Black Panther, nor had she trained to. However, delivering a movie as emotional as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever proved that Marvel still has the potential to create such a moving tribute and story and like it's predecessor was nominated for multiple Academy Awards.
7 Heroes Moving on From Their Own Trauma
Part of being a hero is being able to overcome the pain of one's own life. Since Phase 4 began, many of the projects focused on the characters letting go of heartbreak and trauma. Projects like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Hawkeye, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever all saw the heroes overcome great sadness and heartbreak, only to emerge as stronger heroes.
After the events of Avengers: Endgame saw the heroes of the MCU save the entire world, now the question these heroes have to ask is what is next for them. Hawkeye exacted brutal acts of vengeance as Ronin, can he ever come back from that? Can Doctor Strange truly be happy after letting go of the woman he loves? After living for so long, what does Thor have to fight for? Does letting go of the sadness mean Shuri has forgotten her brother? These are all deep questions the MCU heroes have had to reckon with and were faced with where their place is in a world they helped save.
6 A New Take On The Hulk
One of the most interesting developments of the MCU since Avengers: Endgame is the characterization of the Hulk. In comics and in most media, Bruce Banner and the Hulk are tragic figures. Often traveling from town to town, Bruce Banner is often looking for a cure for the Hulk and controlling his anger. The two sides are often at war with one another, never finding peace.
Yet since Avengers: Endgame, Bruce and the Hulk are no longer at war with one another. Instead, they are one, and Bruce Banner has the powers of the Hulk and the intelligence of Bruce Banner. While the comics have done this storyline before, it is only temporary, and Banner and the Hulk always revert back to their original dynamic. Yet because the MCU is not a weekly comic book, it can allow Bruce Banner to have something his comic book version cannot: a happy ending.
Sure She-Hulk: Attorney at Law hinted that Banner is still sad, living alone on his island as most of his friends are dead or gone. Yet he is no longer on the run and is embraced by the world as a hero. The Hulk does not need to be a monster anymore. The character has progressed and grown in a way that his comic book version can only ever attain momentarily.
5 Heroes Become Mentors
People find success in life by learning. They learn from those who came before them. Those who were in very similar situations. Since the MCU has been around for 15 years, it only makes sense that the franchise would be transitioning the old heroes to a new generation. While the comics can always bring back Tony Stark and Captain America, the films do not have the same luxury since the actors age and also must be paid for their work. It forces the MCU to embrace the new characters.
While Ant-Man introduced a hero/mentor dynamic with Hank Pym and Scott Lang, audiences did not know Hank Pym prior. Now audiences get to see the heroes they've been watching for over a decade teach and train a new generation of heroes. Hawkeye and Bruce Banner have trained Kate Bishop and Jennifer Walters, respectively. Doctor Strange has helped guide America Chavez. Even Scott Lang has found himself a mentor to his daughter Cassie, teaching her to be a superhero the way Hank Pym taught him. It is a nice meta-commentary on how the heroes are passing down to a new era of heroes, as the franchise will soon pass into a new generation of fans. This is an extremely exciting development for fans who are closely following this next phase of the MCU.
4 Sam Wilson Becomes Captain America
In the case of Sam Wilson, he is accepting a promotion to Steve Rogers' previous front-and-center role as Captain America. Sam does not initially decide to keep Steve's shield or take on his vacated role, which leads others to create a new Captain America instead. Falcon and the Winter Solider is a story about Sam Wilson accepting the role and responsibility that comes with it.
Although Sam has been involved in world-saving stories since his introduction to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, he has never had the same focus as Steve. Yet his series proves what makes him worthy to be the new Captain America. Audiences will see his story continue with Captain America: Brave New World.
3 Expanding Lore
The MCU, much like the comic books, is expanding the lore of its universe with each new entry. Part of the charm in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is exploring Shang-Chi's backstory and seeing how his origin ties into the wider MCU. The Ten Rings and his father, Wenwu, have connections across the MCU that can tie back to Iron Man.
Eternals introduces plenty of new elements to the MCU, from the cosmic side to the history of Earth. Ms. Marvel's mythology ties in with the multiverse and is an entry point for mutants. Namor and his people in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduces an entire new civilization that could become power players in the MCU. Expanding on the Marvel lore offers different directions for the franchise to go and intersect with one another, creating exciting new possibilities.
2 New Character Origin Stories
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law are just some of the origin stories that have appeared since Avengers: Endgame. Each has offered a new look at lore, characters, and story potential. Kamala Khan brings a similar charismatic energy to the franchise that Peter Parker has, and her hero-worship of Captain Marvel, mixed with her status as a new hero and backstory, has offered an easy chance to slip right into the Marvel world.
Creating origin stories for new characters will help the MCU continue for years as the world, characters, and villains expand. Many were wondering where the MCU could go as all of the major heroes appeared during the Multiverse Saga, but this goes to show there are still plenty of heroes whose stories are worth telling.
1 New Era of Diversity in the MCU
The MCU is in a completely new age. Yes, plenty of the beloved characters from the first few phases of the MCU are gone. But what needs to be talked about more is the inclusion that has been pushed and the diversity that has been introduced in recent years. The Infinity Saga was mainly defined by white heroes, with Black Panther not being introduced until Phase 3, while a female superhero did not get a lead role until right before the end of the Infinity Saga.
Now the MCU is committing to making the franchise better reflect the world of the audience, an inclusive one where anyone can be a hero. The MCU changed Namor's home from Atlantis to Talokan, made him and his people an ancient Mayan civilization, and cast Latino actors. Stories like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Ms. Marvel, and the upcoming Echo put a spotlight on heroes from different cultural backgrounds. Various MCU projects like She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and The Marvels have put women heroes from and center, while projects like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever continue to discuss themes of race and privilege within the context of the MCU.
Everyone deserves to see themselves represented on screen, and since Avengers: Endgame, the MCU is committed to making sure it looks like the real world in terms of who can be a hero. A young Muslim girl from Jersey City, a single female lawyer, or a young boy raised to be an assassin can be just as worthy of heroes as Iron Man, Thor, or Captain America.