Summary

• The MCU has changed drastically since Phase 1, with increased output and budgets, new formats, and a different structure in each new Phase.
• Within the MCU's narrative, the stakes have become much higher, new characters from different universes have ed the franchise, and new stories have dived deeper into Marvel Comics lore.
• As the original Avengers are phased out, new and more diverse characters have been introduced in stories that touch upon a wider variety of genres and tones.

The every MCU Disney+ series had focused on one or more characters with more available screentime than any project before Phase 4 could have ever had.

Naturally, Marvel's plans for the MCU have constantly changed throughout the years, adapting to criticisms, logistical obstacles, and unforeseen events, as well as unlikely strokes of good luck and favorable deals with actors and other companies. For instance, the Infinity Saga and the Multiverse Saga would be quite different had Sony not agreed to work with Disney to bring Spider-Man to the MCU, and some of the MCU's movies and shows could go in a totally different direction had Disney failed to buy 20th Century Fox. Looking back, the current Marvel Cinematic Universe looks extremely different from what it was back in Phase 1.

10 The MCU's Yearly Output Has Increased Dramatically After The Infinity Saga

Up To Nine Projects In A Single Year (2022)

The MCU's Phases 1 and 2 were composed of six movies each, and Phase 3 increased Marvel's output to 11 movies in the span of three years. Then, after a nearly 2-year hiatus, Phase 4 included seven movies, eight shows, and two Disney+ Special Presentations — the equivalent of two Infinity Saga Phases within one Phase of the Multiverse Saga. 2022 alone broke an MCU record with nine projects released within the same year. However, Marvel Studios now looks to decrease the MCU's yearly releases and shift its focus from quantity to quality, not by canceling projects but by spreading them out more evenly. Still, the MCU's Phase 5 is composed of 15 projects.

9 Marvel Studios Has Increased The Budget Of MCU Projects

Up To $115 Million For She-Hulk: Attorney At Law And $270 Million For The Marvels

Besides the effects of inflation, MCU projects have received a massive boost from Disney. Iron Man and The Avengers had a budget of $140 million and $220 million, respectively, and Phase 2's Avengers: Age of Ultron still stands as the MCU's most expensive movie at around $365 million alongside Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame's combined budget upwards of $800 million. However, those were all essential landmarks of the Infinity Saga, unlike Multiverse Saga projects such as She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Secret Invasion, and The Marvels, whose $225 million, $212 million, and $270 million budgets seem bold compared to their role in the wider franchise and the MCU's current output.

8 The MCU's Stakes Have Reached Multiversal Levels

In Loki, What If...?, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Deadpool 3

The MCU has undeniably raised the stakes in every Phase. Back in Phase 1, the biggest threat the MCU's Earth faced used to be the Asgardians, but Phase 2 put the world on the verge of destruction with Ultron and almost saw the whole universe be consumed by Ego the Living Planet and Dormammu. By the end of Phase 3, Thanos wiped out half of all life in the universe. And by Phases 4 and 5, the world is constantly threatened by entities like the Celestials and Dweller-In-Darkness. What's more, Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange, Loki, Kang, and their respective variants toy with the multiverse constantly. Compared to the dangers of the MCU's multiverse, The Avengers' alien invasion is child's play.

7 Marvel Studios Has Integrated Franchises Outside The MCU's Main Timeline

Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, Fox's X-Men and Elektra, Netflix's Daredevil, and ABC's Inhumans

One of Marvel Studios' most unlikely achievements after assembling the Avengers for the first time on the big screen has been incorporating characters and movies from outside the MCU. Beginning with Spider-Man, the MCU has accomplished crossovers that would have been legally and logistically impossible back in Phase 1. With ambition and sheer luck, Marvel Studios took advantage of each project's timing and other studios' business decisions to expand the franchise. Characters like all three Spider-Men, Charlie Cox's Daredevil, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Patrick Stewart's Professor X, and Anson Mount's Black Bolt bring into MCU canon movies and shows outside the MCU's main timeline.

6 The MCU's Format Has Expanded To Streaming TV And Animation

Marvel Studios' Disney+ Limited Series, Animated Shows, Short Films, And Special Presentations

With Disney+ miniseries and Special Presentations, the MCU has been able to devote much more time to individual characters and their own corner of the universe. Shows like WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki have allowed their stars to get much more screentime than the original Avengers did in multiple appearances throughout the Infinity Saga. Besides, Special Presentations make it possible to follow certain characters without the need to give them an entire movie or show of their own, and short films like I Am Groot, as well as Marvel's What If...? and Spider-Man: Freshman Year, provide a breath of fresh air from the MCU's tight-knit interconnectivity.

5 The Multiverse Saga's Structure Is Very Different From The Infinity Saga's

Less Defined Phases And More Varied Crossovers

Marvel Studios has continued to divide the MCU into Phases after the Infinity Saga's conclusion, but Phases 4, 5, and 6 seem much less defined than Phases 1, 2, and 3. Whereas each section of the Infinity Saga culminated in an Avengers crossover, Phases 4 and 5 had no climactic MCU team-up or crossover event whatsoever. However, smaller crossovers have been more frequent, with a variety of heroes and villains making surprise appearances in the solo titles of other characters. Movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, while focused on a single hero, have been even more ambitious in scope than early crossover movies like The Avengers.

4 The MCU Has Explored Many Different Genres And Tones

Horror, Comedy, Sitcom, Sci-Fi, Coming of Age, Procedural

Every MCU movie from Phase 1 to Phase 3 took its own approach to the superhero genre with different genre inspirations and artistic choices by the filmmakers. For instance, Thor set the foundations for the MCU's cosmic and fantastical side, while Captain America: The First Avenger was the MCU's first period movie and Captain America: The Winter Soldier clearly drew inspiration from spy thrillers. But the MCU's focus on unique genres has only increased throughout the years.

For instance, WandaVision was more of a sitcom-horror series than a superhero show at the beginning, Loki has more in common with hard sci-fi shows like Doctor Who than with Marvel movies like Thor, and Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, and Werewolf By Night more than double down on their respective genre inspirations. The MCU's overall tone has become more lighthearted and comedic, but titles like Avengers: Infinity War, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, Moon Knight, and Loki have delivered seriously dark and tragic moments as well, and the MCU's flexibility on blood and explicit violence has opened the door for R-rated Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.

3 The MCU's Original Cast Is Being Phased Out

Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg

Each of the MCU Phase 1 movies build up to the unprecedented crossover team-up of The Avengers, establishing the original Avengers team, Nick Fury, Agent Coulson, and Maria Hill as the MCU's main characters. By Phase 5, however, most of these heroes already exited the franchise or seem to be on their way out. Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff concluded their MCU journey in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, while Phil Coulson had his final appearance in the Agents of Shield series finale and Maria Hill died in Secret Invasion episode 1. Hawkeye has already trained Kate Bishop to be his successor, leaving Thor and Hulk as the only active MCU Avengers.

2 The MCU Is Diving Deeper Into Marvel Comics Lore

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Thor: Love And Thunder, Werewolf By Night

Assembling the Avengers to defend Earth from Loki was the most ambitious task the superhero genre faced before 2012. A decade later, similar team-ups have become the standard, and the biggest challenges the MCU faces involve reality-bending concepts like the multiverse, fourth wall breaks, and the introduction of rather obscure comic book characters. Featuring the TVA, Ta Lo, Eternity, Man-Thing, the Council of Kangs, the multiversal Illuminati, and the Darkhold would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. Now, each MCU project dives deeper and deeper into the pages of Marvel Comics for inspiration.

1 Marvel Studios Has Improved The MCU's Diversity

Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, Eternals, Echo

Phases 1 and 2 of the MCU weren't nearly as diverse as Phases 3, 4 and 5. Characters like Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Echo, Shang-Chi, and the Eternals have expanded the MCU's diversity and explored new kinds of stories that Phase 1 couldn't have explored with just the original Avengers. This isn't entirely Phase 1's fault, though, as the limited inclusion of female and POC characters has its roots in Marvel Comics' classic stories and line-ups movies like The Avengers are based on. Not only is the MCU allowing new voices to come to the forefront, but the franchise is also making full use of every character's culture and background to make every project more interesting.