Scoring
We polled our entire team and ranked every MCU film across six categories. We weighted each category based on their overall value to the success of the movie.
Plot - 25%
Character Development - 20%
Villain - 20%
Action - 12.5%
Intangibles - 12.5%
Supporting Cast - 10%
Overview
Film: Ant-Man
Release Date: July 17, 2015
Reception
IMDB: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomato - TOMATOMETER: 82%
Rotten Tomato - Audience: 86%
Box Office
Budget: $130,000,000
Opening Weekend: $57,225,526
Gross US: $180,202,163
Gross Worldwide: $519,445,163
Trailer:
Plot
Synopsis: Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Analysis: This movie exists to get us to buy into the idea of Ant-Man and to provide an explanation of all the shrinkage technology and Quantum Realm gibberish that makes us think we kind of get it. Maybe. We think it works, just don't think too hard.
Grade: 6.2/10
Character Development
Analysis: Turning a reformed criminal into a superhero sounds like the foundation of a great story. The problem is that Scott's "crime" was stealing from a greedy corporation and giving the money to honest, hard-working people. As a result, the audience doesn't ever view him as a criminal in the first place and there isn't much development for Scott as a character throughout the movie. Thanks a lot, Disney.
Grade: 6.5/10
Villain
Name: Darren Cross/Yellowjacket
Bio: Hank Pym took Darren under his wing at Pym Technologies and taught Darren everything he knew, except for the Pym Particles. Hank was eventually voted out of his own company and Darren took over as the new CEO, renaming it Cross Technologies.
Evil Plan: Discover the secret of the Pym Particle that Hank was keeping from him, militarize it, and sell it to the highest bidding terrorist organization.
Analysis: Cross had to be extremely intelligent to be the only other person to solve the riddle of the Pym Particle, but all he wanted to do with it was sell it and make money? Dream bigger, Darren.
Grade: 5.25/10
Supporting Cast
I Love You, (Ant) Man
The Ant of Wall Street
MCU Wars: Episode 12 - A New Hope
Smoothie King
Best Fake Russian Accent In The MCU
Rubber B-Ant Man
Cray Cray Adorbz
Say Goodbye to THESE
The Other Guy
Analysis: Paul Rudd was the perfect choice for the lead and Hank and Hope added two great new functional members to the MCU roster. But Scott's crew of Luis, Kurt, Dave, and his daughter Cassie is what gives this movie its soul.
Grade: 7.7/10
Action
Best Fight:
Analysis: Ant-Man does a great job of playing with the shrinking and growing possibilities for the character which makes the train fight the perfect climax for this movie. Up close, it looks like a classic thrilling train sequence, but the periodic shots showing how this looks from Cassie's perspective are hilarious. The giant Thomas the Tank Engine is epic.
Grade: 7/10
Intangibles
Analysis: Michael Peña caught us all off guard with Luis' storytelling scenes. They are possibly the most memorable scenes in the movie and made Luis an instant fan favorite side character in the MCU. We also had to give a shoutout to our favorite ant, Ant-thony. RIP.
Grade: 7/10
Best Moments
Luis Sees The Glass Half-Full
Baskin Robbins Always Finds Out
Avengers Audition Tape
Final Score
Analysis: How do you make an Ant-Man movie work? Cast Paul Rudd and don't take yourself too seriously. Perhaps it isn't the most impactful film in the MCU, but it's fun, different, and the perfect way to bring this classic comic book character to the big screen.
Grade: 6.42/10
Image Credits: Disney
