The MCU’s Most Consequential Film Turns 10 This Year, And It’s Not An Avengers Film

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In 2026, Captain America: Civil War will celebrate its 10th anniversary, and it remains the most important movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel had already planned another large-scale team-up movie. But unlike previous films, this one wouldn’t involve the Avengers fighting against a shared threat; instead, they’d be fighting each other.

In the movie Civil War, the Avengers divided into two sides after the Sokovia Accords were proposed. These Accords aimed to regulate the Avengers’ actions by putting them under the control of a United Nations committee. Tony Stark supported the idea, but Captain America opposed it, leading to a major conflict within the team.

The conflict remained unresolved by the film’s conclusion, and its impact was clearly felt when the Avengers assembled again. Though Civil War kicked off Phase 3, it had far-reaching consequences that shaped the entire Infinity Saga and continue to matter as the Marvel Cinematic Universe moves toward Avengers: Doomsday.

Thanos Would Not Have Won If Captain America: Civil War Didn’t Split Up The Avengers

The first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, known as the Infinity Saga, centered around Thanos as the primary villain. He sought to eliminate half of all life, and used the powerful Infinity Stones to achieve this goal. Even without the stones, Thanos was a formidable enemy, commanding a large army and the deadly Black Order. Interestingly, the events of Civil War inadvertently helped make his plan more achievable.

The Avengers were unable to unite and face Thanos because they were spread out across the globe. Bruce Banner attempted to warn Tony Stark and gather the team after returning to Earth, but the Black Order interfered, preventing him from reaching Steve Rogers. This lack of communication meant the Avengers weren’t operating at full power when Thanos arrived, leaving the world vulnerable.

Steve Rogers and other heroes like Falcon, Black Widow, and Scarlet Witch were labeled as criminals and couldn’t cooperate with the United Nations without risking arrest. Wakanda was the only country offering them refuge, but even there, they couldn’t prevent Thanos from killing Vision and obtaining the last Infinity Stone.

Even though the Avengers teamed up, Thanos would still have been a formidable opponent in Infinity War. He almost won again in Endgame before Tony Stark’s sacrifice, and facing the Avengers individually definitely gave him an advantage.

Civil War Introduced Spider-Man And Black Panther To The MCU

When Civil War came out in 2016, it was a huge hit, earning over $1.15 billion around the world. The movie’s interesting story – a fight between the Avengers – was boosted by the introduction of two now-iconic characters: Black Panther and Spider-Man, who quickly became fan favorites in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Spider-Man was already a popular hero, having appeared in comic books and earlier movies with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. But those films kept him separate from the wider Marvel Universe, focusing mainly on characters from his own comics.

Bringing Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside heroes like Iron Man and Captain America was a thrilling concept, and the partnership between Marvel Studios and Sony has proven incredibly successful. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies have earned over $3.9 billion globally, and his upcoming film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is expected to be another blockbuster.

Before appearing in Civil War, Black Panther wasn’t a widely known character. However, his first solo movie made him one of the most popular heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 2018 film Black Panther earned over $1.34 billion globally, and its 2022 sequel, Wakanda Forever, brought in $859.2 million.

Chadwick Boseman, the actor who famously played T’Challa, passed away in 2020. Now, Letitia Wright’s character, Shuri, is taking on the role of the new Black Panther. Wakanda and its people have become a vital part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and they may be key players in a future major conflict.

The MCU Is Still Recovering From Civil War

Zade Rosenthal/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Following the events of Endgame, the rules that limited superheroes – known as the Sokovia Accords – were removed, giving them back their freedom. But the original Avengers team hasn’t gotten back together, and a new group will need to form fast when Doctor Doom appears. The Marvel Cinematic Universe recently introduced a team called the New Avengers, but it’s unclear if they are the official new team.

In Captain America: Brave New World, President Ross asked Sam Wilson to help bring the Avengers back together. But he unexpectedly transformed into the Red Hulk and caused destruction in Washington, DC, which led to his capture and imprisonment. Despite this, Sam shared that he’s still planning to form a new Avengers team, although it might not be easy.

In the final moments of Thunderbolts, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine revealed that the Thunderbolts would be rebranded as the new Avengers. A scene after the credits showed the team operating as the official Avengers team 14 months later, even using the original Avengers’ tower as their base. However, Sam Wilson has legally claimed the ‘Avengers’ name, and it seems the general public isn’t sure who the true Avengers are now.

During a Disney event in Italy (as reported by @avengersupdated on X), Marvel indicated that the team led by Sam Wilson (Falcon) is now considered the main Avengers in the upcoming Doomsday project. This team includes Falcon, Ant-Man, Shang-Chi, Thor, and Loki. The next film will likely explore this new dynamic, but it’s clear the consequences of the events in Civil War are still being felt within the Marvel Cinematic Universe a decade later.

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2026-01-26 05:05