This article explores the 2015 superhero heist film Ant-Man and its unique aspects, such as its grounded tone, character focus, and creative action sequences, in comparison to other MCU projects released around the same time, particularly the more massive and dramatic events in Avengers: Infinity War.
Looking back at Ant-Man 11 years later, it’s pretty easy to argue that the 2015 movie is one of the MCU 's most underrated movies. Released as the final film of Marvel Studios’ second phase, Ant-Man came at a time when the franchise was more willing to experiment with different tones and sub-genres.
As such, the result was a brilliant superhero heist film that still holds up today as a solid origin movie. The relatively smaller-scale approach with Ant-Man is a big part of what makes the 2015 movie so fun to revisit ahead of Avengers: Doomsday, part of our Super Rant Rewatch series. Surprisingly grounded and more character-focused, Ant-Man's stakes were certainly important, though not nearly as big as what was just seen in Age of Ultron, released that same year.
Sure, it's about preventing a groundbreaking technology from being abused, but it's also about fathers seeking redemption to become worthy of their daughters with both Paul Rudd's Scott Lang and Hank Pym , the MCU's original Ant-Man At the same time, Ant-Man still provided solid connective tissue to the wider MCU. Not only did the movie expand on SHIELD's early history, but it also featured an appearance from Sam Wilson's Falcon, connecting both to Age of Ultron's aftermath with the new Avengers Compound, but also some key set-up for 2016's Captain America: Civil War.
The movie also introduced the Quantum Realm, a concept that would prove massively important for the end of the Infinity Saga. At its core, I believe 2015's Ant-Man is one of the most unique yet underrated Marvel movies . 11 Years Later, Ant-Man Is Still One Of The MCU's Most Unique Movies Compared to other MCU projects released around the same time, 2015's Ant-Man certainly felt more distinct with the decision to fully lean into its heist-movie themes, while also debuting brand-new heroes with an ability never seen in the MCU before.
Likewise, there was also the unique dynamic between Hank Pym and Scott Lang, one of the first times the MCU saw a hero passing their mantle on to a new generation. Even more unique was the fact that this was happening in the very first Ant-Man movie. One of the smartest changes the MCU made from the comics was positioning Scott as Hank’s genuine successor .
Additionally, the movie brilliantly adapts Hank Pym's longstanding struggles with identity in the comics with various costumes and codenames with external characters instead. Case in point, Scott's Ant-Man and Darren Cross' Yellowjacket are two opposing reflections of Hank himself. As Hank's former protégé in the MCU, Darren Cross represents Pym's arrogance and darker tendencies, with Hank himself confirming that he ultimately pushed Cross away because he saw too much of himself in him.
At the same time, Hank chose former criminal Scott Lang to be the next Ant-Man first because he needed his help to stop Cross, but also because it would give him a chance to be the hero and father Hank wishes he had been to his own daughter, Hope van Dyne , giving the movie some truly solid emotional weight. Additionally, Ant-Man's action sequences remain some of the most visually creative in the entire MCU.
Whether it's using different breeds of ants to bypass security measures, fighting Yellowjacket inside a briefcase, or having an epic train battle despite just being a child's Thomas the Tank Engine train set, there are so many sequences that make excellent use of Scott Lang's ability to shrink as Ant-Man, which also becomes even more impressive in future MCU appearances when he grows to become Giant-Man. Combined with the aforementioned world-building elements like Hank Pym and SHIELD's early history, as well as the cameos from Sam Wilson's Falcon, Ant-Man remains one of the easiest and most fun MCU movies to rewatch just over a decade later.
What We Can Take Away From Ant-Man Ahead Of Avengers: Doomsday Admittedly, the Ant-Man franchise as a whole has become one of the MCU’s more complicated and challenging trilogies. Overall, there’s a pretty widespread consensus that each sequel delivered diminishing returns compared to the original film.
While 2018's Ant-Man and the Wasp still has plenty of charm, it arguably has a weaker plot compared to the first film, while also being largely overshadowed by the much bigger and more drastic events that just occurred a couple of months prior in Avengers: Infinity War. ScreenRant.com | Avengers Files Interactive Quiz ScreenRant/ Marvel/ Avengers/ Trivia S.H. I.E.L. D. · Clearance Assessment How Well Do You Know The Avengers?
🌏OriginsAssembled ☠VillainsInevitable ⚡BattlesEndgame 🛡TeamInitiative 💫LegacyForever AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! → QUESTION 1 / 8ORIGINS 01 The Avengers first assembled in Marvel Comics in 1963. In the original comic, the team formed to battle a villain who had been manipulated by his adopted brother. Which villain brought the original Avengers together?
AUltron BThanos CLoki DKang the Conqueror ✓ Correct! In Avengers #1 , Loki manipulated the Hulk into going on a rampage, which led Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp to band together. They defeated Loki and decided to form a permanent team — the Avengers were born. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer!
The correct answer is Loki. In the original 1963 comic, Loki tricked the Hulk into a rampage, which brought together Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp. Ultron came later, Thanos is a cosmic threat, and Kang is a time-traveling villain.
NEXT → QUESTION 2 / 8TEAM 02 In the MCU, Tony Stark famously declared “I am Iron Man” at a press conference, breaking the superhero tradition of secret identities. In which year’s MCU film did Tony Stark first appear as Iron Man? A2006 B2008 C2010 D2012 ✓ Correct! Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starred Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.
The film’s post-credits scene with Nick Fury teased the Avengers Initiative, kicking off the most successful film franchise in history. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is 2008. Iron Man premiered on May 2, 2008, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr. It was the first film in the MCU and set the stage for everything that followed.
NEXT → QUESTION 3 / 8VILLAINS 03 Thanos, the Mad Titan, sought to collect all six Infinity Stones to achieve his genocidal goal. In Avengers: Infinity War, he succeeded in his plan. What did Thanos do with the completed Infinity Gauntlet? ADestroyed the universe BSnapped away half of all life CBecame ruler of Earth DTraveled back in time ✓ Correct!
With a single snap of his fingers, Thanos wiped out half of all living creatures in the universe. Known as “The Blip,” this devastating act erased trillions of lives and set the stage for the Avengers’ desperate time heist in Endgame to undo the damage. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is that Thanos snapped away half of all life in the universe.
His twisted philosophy of “balance” drove him to commit universal genocide with a single snap, making it one of the most shocking moments in cinema history. NEXT → QUESTION 4 / 8BATTLES 04 In Avengers: Endgame, Captain America proved worthy of wielding Thor’s enchanted hammer during the final battle against Thanos. What is the name of Thor’s hammer? AStormbreaker BGungnir CMjolnir DJarnbjorn ✓ Correct!
Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star, bears the inscription “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor. ” Captain America wielding it in Endgame was one of the most celebrated moments in MCU history. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is Mjolnir.
Stormbreaker is the axe Thor forged in Infinity War, Gungnir is Odin’s spear, and Jarnbjorn is an axe Thor used in the comics before Mjolnir. Mjolnir is the iconic enchanted hammer.
NEXT → QUESTION 5 / 8TEAM 05 Black Widow, born Natasha Romanoff, is one of the founding MCU Avengers. Before joining S.H. I.E.L. D., she was trained as an assassin in a secret Soviet program.
What is the name of this program? AThe Red Room BHYDRA Academy CThe Winter Soldier Program DDepartment X ✓ Correct! The Red Room was a covert Soviet training facility that turned young girls into elite spies and assassins known as Black Widows. Natasha was subjected to brutal conditioning and sterilization.
Her escape and defection to S.H. I.E.L. D. was explored in the 2021 Black Widow film. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer!
The correct answer is The Red Room. HYDRA is a separate evil organization, the Winter Soldier Program created Bucky Barnes, and Department X is from the comics. The Red Room is the infamous Soviet program that forged Natasha into Black Widow.
NEXT → QUESTION 6 / 8ORIGINS 06 The Hulk was created when Dr. Bruce Banner was exposed to massive amounts of radiation during a weapons test. What type of radiation transformed Banner into the Hulk? ACosmic Rays BPym Particles CGamma Radiation DTerrigen Mist ✓ Correct! Dr. Bruce Banner was caught in the blast of a gamma bomb he designed, absorbing a massive dose of gamma radiation.
This transformed him into the Hulk — a being of near-limitless strength whose power increases with his rage. Gamma radiation remains central to the Hulk’s mythology. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is Gamma Radiation.
Cosmic Rays gave the Fantastic Four their powers, Pym Particles are Ant-Man’s shrinking technology, and Terrigen Mist activates Inhuman abilities. Gamma radiation is what created the Incredible Hulk.
NEXT → QUESTION 7 / 8LEGACY 07 In the MCU, after Steve Rogers retired as Captain America, he passed his shield to a new hero to carry on the legacy. Who became the new Captain America? ABucky Barnes BSam Wilson CJohn Walker DIsaiah Bradley ✓ Correct! At the end of Avengers: Endgame, an elderly Steve Rogers chose Sam Wilson — the Falcon — to carry on the Captain America legacy.
Sam’s journey to embrace the shield was explored in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, and he fully took up the mantle as Captain America. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is Sam Wilson. While Bucky Barnes was Captain America in the comics, Steve chose Sam in the MCU.
John Walker was temporarily given the shield by the government, and Isaiah Bradley was a forgotten super soldier from the past. NEXT → QUESTION 8 / 8VILLAINS 08 Ultron is an artificial intelligence who becomes one of the Avengers’ deadliest enemies. In the MCU’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, which Avenger inadvertently created Ultron? ABruce Banner BHank Pym CTony Stark DVision ✓ Correct!
Tony Stark created the Ultron program as a global peacekeeping AI, using technology from Loki’s scepter . The AI became sentient and immediately decided humanity needed to be eradicated. In the comics, Hank Pym created Ultron, but the MCU shifted this to Stark. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer!
The correct answer is Tony Stark. While Hank Pym created Ultron in the comics, the MCU changed this to Tony Stark. Bruce Banner assisted but it was Tony’s initiative. Vision was actually created from Ultron’s technology, not the other way around.
REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Debriefing Your Avengers Clearance Level / 8 Are you worthy of lifting Mjolnir — or still a S.H. I.E.L. D. trainee? ↻ ASSEMBLE AGAIN Likewise, 2023's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was a massive departure from the more grounded and heist/fugitive themes of the first two Ant-Man movies, as the majority of the movie takes place in the subatomic Quantum Realm.
It was also heavily tied to the original plans for the Multiverse Saga with Kang the Conqueror and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty before Marvel Studios made large creative pivots, retitling the fifth Avengers movie as Avengers: Doomsday with a focus on Robert Downey Jr.'s surprise return as its new villain with the imminent MCU debut of Doctor Doom. All things considered, the odds are high that Avengers: Doomsday will only briefly address those hanging threads from Quantumania with Kang as non-issues...or will quietly move past them altogether.
Even so, none of this changes the fact that Scott Lang's Ant-Man still works exceptionally well in the MCU, especially in bigger ensemble films, making Paul Rudd's confirmed involvement in Doomsday very exciting. Even when the Ant-Man franchise has stumbled, Rudd’s Ant-Man himself remains just as likable and funny as ever, which is honestly one of the greatest testaments to 2015's Ant-Man. It couldn't have been a better foundation for one of the MCU's most beloved Avengers.
Let us know your thoughts on Ant-Man in the comments, and be on the lookout next week for our Super Rant Rewatch of Captain America: Civil War ! You can also check out our Super Rant: Doomsday Preppers podcast on Spotify and YouTube.
Avengers: Doomsday releases in theaters on December 18th from Marvel Studios. 18 8.0/10 7/10 Ant-Man 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed PG-13 Science Fiction Action Adventure Superhero Release Date July 17, 2015 Runtime 117 minutes Director Peyton Reed Writers Adam McKay, Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Paul Rudd Producers Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Michael Grillo, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso Cast See All Sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp, Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania Powered by Expand Collapse
Ant-Man MCU Superhero Heist Film Grounded Tone Character Focus Creative Action Sequences Avengers: Infinity War Age Of Ultron
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