A top 10 ranking of the best Marvel Cinematic Universe films

“Avengers: Infinity War” opens this weekend, and it’s tracking for the biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe opening-week box office haul ever.

The opening-weekend record for an MCU film is 2011’s “Marvel’s The Avengers,” with $207 million. “Infinity War” is expected to take in $225 million — perhaps more — but is it the best MCU film to date? It’s close.

Since 2008’s “Iron Man,” there have been 19 MCU films, with many more on Marvel’s docket.

Here’s one man’s list of the 10 best MCU films to date (with an infinity stone meter from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest score):

1. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

The case >> A tale of a young boy (Peter Quill) kidnapped by aliens who grows up to befriend a tree (Groot), a raccoon (Rocket), a tattooed executioner (Drax) and the daughter (Gamora) of galaxy baddie Thanos should not have worked because on a super-hero scale before its release, they weren’t even in the Wonder Twins’ league. But it did because the chemistry of the characters if off charts.

Rewatchability >> The ’70s music, the quips, the action ... it all works here.

Best supporting character >> Dave Bautista as Drax stands out in an outstanding group. Rocket on Drax: “His people are entirely literal. Metaphors go right over his head.” Drax: “Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are excellent and I would catch it.”

Infinity stones meter >> 10

2. ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

The case >> Tobey Maguire was a great Peter Parker, but an average Spider-Man. Andrew Garfield was the opposite. Tom Holland is the perfect combination in “Homecoming.”

Rewatchability >> Like “Guardians,” it’s extremely high, but start from the beginning. The home-movie-style opening — “A Film by Peter Parker” — is can’t-miss. And Spidey’s neighborhood montage set to the Ramones’“Blitzkrieg Bop” is bonkers fun. That’s just the first 15 minutes.

Best supporting character >> Peter’s high school buddy Need Leeds (Jacob Batalon). “Can you spit venom?”

Infinity stones meter >> 9.75

3. ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

The case >> A round of applause to brothers and co-directors Anthony and Joe Russo, who pulled off an amazing feat of super-hero film making by squeezing more than 25 characters into a story, and making it all work.

Rewatchability >> On its own, incredibly rewatchable, but a bit incomplete in the grand scheme for now. No spoilers here, but — as many predicted — the film ends on a cliffhanger, so we won’t the full extent of “Infinity War” until the fourth untitled Avengers film, set for release May 2019. Stay tuned.

Best supporting character >> Thanos (a CG-enhanced Josh Brolin) would be the obvious choice, but he plays more like the film’s main character. It’s a tie between Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth).

Infinity stones meter >> 9.25

4. ‘Captain America: Winter Soldier’

The case >> The sequel to the first “Captain America” film plays like a political-conspiracy-espionage thriller but all the while still sprinkles reminders it’s a superhero film.

Rewatchability >> This is an intense film, so jumping in and out at various points might spoil the overall experience.

Best supporting character >> Robert Redford as SHIELD head honcho but really (spoiler!) Hydra baddie Alexander Pierce? Case closed.

Infinity stones meter >> 8.75

5. ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’

The case >> The Brie Larson-led “Captain Marvel” 2019 film will be set in the 1990s, but First Avenger is the MCU’s first period film. It’s set in World War II, and it’s Evans’ breakout role.

Rewatchability >> Very high. The Steve Rogers super-serum transformation scene is an all-timer.

Best supporting character >> Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull, arguably the MCU’s most underrated villain. Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter is a close second.

Infinity stones meter >> 8.25

6. ‘Captain America: Civil War’

The case >> Can you say Avengers 2.5?

Rewatchability >> Can you say airport fight scene?

Best supporting character >> Can you say Spider-Man?

Infinity stones meter >> 8

7. ‘Doctor Strange’

The case >> It’s bizarre. It’s mystical. It’s out there. It’s unlike any MCU film to date.

Rewatchability >> There’s some very cool, next-dimension stuff similar to director Christopher Nolan’s “Inception.”

Best supporting character >> Benedict Wong as, um, “Wong.”

Infinity stones meter >> 7.5

8. ‘Marvel’s The Avengers’

The case >> Many swear by this as the greatest MCU film, but it comes off a bit flat in the first two acts. The third act, however, and the New York battle scenes are spectacular and must-watch.

Rewatchability >> The last 45 minutes, and the Thanos cut-scene reveal suck me in every time.

Best supporting character >> Gotta love SHIELD agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg).

Infinity stones meter >> 7

9. ‘Black Panther’

The case >> A better title might have been “Wakanda” than “Black Panther.” The main character gets a bit of the short stick, but overall it’s a very good film.

Rewatchability >> The action scenes aren’t the greatest for MCU standards.

Best supporting character >> Michael B. Jordan’s N’Jadaka/Erik “Killmonger” Stevens far outshines Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa/Black Panther:

Infinity stones meter >> 6.5

10. ‘Ant-Man’

The case >> Paul Rudd’s quirky Scott Lang as the second Ant-Man (Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym was the first) is similar to “Guardians” in that it had no business being a success, but it’s strong cast made it so.

Rewatchability >> Thomas the Train, a giant bug, a key-chain tank, and a lip-syncing final scene that hints at a wall-crawler ... there’s plenty here.

Best supporting character >> A tie between Michael Pena as Luis (Lang’s former cell mate) and Douglas because he’s Michael freckin’ Douglas.

Infinity stones meter >> 6

Don’t miss