Introducing the Marvel Curriculum: A look at film history via the MCU

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One of the biggest criticisms leveled against the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that the films are too similar—that they, for example, too frequently end with the hero battling some (usually) forgettable supervillain or army in an orgy of CGI destruction. There’s some validity to this, but it overlooks how varied these movies have become in other ways. Over its 20 entries—the latest of which, Ant-Man And The Wasp, opens July 6—the MCU has grown to encompass a huge variety of tones, genres, and visual styles, with the studio growing ever more confident about hiring directors with unique points of view, who in turn have drawn from a remarkably diverse set of influences. In fact, were one to explore film through the lens of the works that went on to inspire earth’s mightiest blockbusters, you’d have a worthwhile little syllabus.

Enter the “Marvel Curriculum,” a way to further examine today’s most dominant pop culture. This is hardly a comprehensive look at cinematic history, and it isn’t a comprehensive list of Marvel influences—it omits the work of comic artists like Jack Kirby or Steve Ditko, and I’m generally skipping film touchstones like Star Wars, Batman, and James Bond. But if you’ve grown up on Marvel movies, here’s a road map for what else you may grow into liking.