Summary

TheMarvel Cinematic Universehas developed into a diverse kitchen stove of cinematic styles , and as such , has amassed some very surprising source of inspiration . Numerous classic movies have influenced theentire MCU timeline , pull from various music genre in adapting the beloved Marvel Comics . While there have been some very obvious movies the MCU has drawn from , there are also some very surprising ones .

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has proffer science fable tale , horror story , and romp activity - dangerous undertaking plot . With some more exciting developments expected in the MCU ’s futurity , it should be no surprisal that a range of dear movie were considered while realize Marvel movies . Even thebest movies in the MCUwere inspired by some surprising moving-picture show .

Between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment , here is every upcoming Marvel film release date and what we know about the projects so far .

Custom image of Captain America and Rhodey from the MCU and Venom in The Last Dance

10Apocalypse Now Influenced Iron Man 3

The Mandarin Was Based On Colonel Kurtz

Cast

Iron Man 3took direct brainchild from the authoritative state of war movieApocalypse Now . The premier example is the depiction of Ben Kingsley ’s Mandarin , which was modeled after Colonel Kurtz ( viaY ! Entertainment ) . The high - contrast lighting and shadow picture of the Mandarin were straight inspired by the way Marlon Brando ’s Kurtz was lit during his infamousApocalypse Nowscene . Additionally , both movies explore themes of post - traumatic stress disorder , presented with a startling and gritty realness . The emotional andphysical journeying Tony Stark enduresis reminiscent ofApocalypse Now , presenting the narrative as a warfare picture show .

9Disney’s Fantasia Inspired Doctor Strange’s Visuals

The Psychedelic Visuals Set Doctor Strange Apart In The MCU

Doctor Strangewas very obviously influenced by the trippy visuals from the movieInception , but another surprising influence was Disney’sFantasia . Doctor Strange ’s cinematographerBen Davis made the comparing , suggest the movie was unlike anything Marvel had done before , explore very unlike and diverse artistic counsel . Fantasiaanimated fantastically inventive visuals to accompany various pieces of classical music , some of which are noted for their psychedelic sequences . The main comparability comes through the movie ’s Mirror Dimension , which blends kaleidoscopical visuals with the occult arts and the supernatural . Consequently , Doctor Strangestands out from other Marvel film as a psychedelic exploration of animated potential .

8The Right Stuff Guided Guardians Of The Galaxy

James Gunn Wanted To Recall Classic Space Movies And Their US Origins

While makingGuardians of the Galaxy , director James Gunn note that the movie that they cite the most while film was Phillip Kaufman ’s 1983 historical dramaThe Right Stuff(viaGizmodo).The Right Stuffadapted the true story of Project Mercury , the first human spaceflight by the United States . The Right Stuffwasused to hark back the Hellenic spaceship designsand , in turn of events , make the movie feel more real and grounded . This undoubtedly bring to the retro - futuristic tone deployed inGuardians of the Galaxy , help to bestow the movie with a singular flavour that seemed oddly conversant despite its cosmic scope .

7Raiders Of The Lost Ark Directly Inspired Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America’s Actions Were Modeled After Indiana Jones

Captain America : The First Avenger was straight off shape by the classic Indiana Jones movie , Raiders of the Lost Ark. Director Joe Johnson called the classic Spielberg moving-picture show a"template"while developingCaptain America , noting thatthey often based the hero ’s military action around what they thought Indiana Jones would do(viaFirstShowing ) . This arguably helped craft Steve Rogers into the quintessential hero , recall the most famed venturer in cinematic history . The influence can also be seen in the depiction of Red Skull and the Nazis , who , throughoutCaptain America : The First Avenger , are portrayed as sturdy movie villains , mirroring the illustrious antagonists fromRaiders of the Lost Ark.

6The Breakfast Club Shaped Spider-Man: Homecoming

Jon Watts Wanted To Emulate 1980s Teen Dramas

As the MCU reframed theirSpider - Manmovies around a adolescent rendition of the character , director Jon Watts decided to take inspiration from Greco-Roman teen movies from the 1980s . These includedPretty in Pink , Ferris Bueller ’s Day Off , and most notably , The Breakfast Club(viaIndieWire ) . The delineation ofSpider - Man : Homecoming ’s teenage main characters mirror the representation incur in the classic picture , with distinctive personality types and dynamics established between the gamy school scholar . Watts used the teenage angst narratives to muse Peter Parker ’s juvenile identity offspring , expanding the distinctive teenage story to admit superhero issuance .

5The Holy Mountain Influenced Thor Ragnarok

Taika Waititi’s Impressive Visuals Were Inspired By The Surrealist Cult Classic

Taika Waititi infused a startling new note into the MCU’sThormovies , include mood , bright colors , and some psychedelic visuals . The changes were obtrusive immediately and continue through toThor : Love and Thunder . In look for inspiration , Waititi explored Alejandro Jodorowsky ’s classic surrealist movieThe Holy Mountain(viaThe Independent ) . Waititi stated thatThe Holy Mountainwas cite throughoutRagnarok ’s pre - production , straight influencing the movie ’s design and color palette . The Holy Mountainclearly influencedRagnarok ’s habit of symmetry and the expressionist set design , which created an alien world unlike others depicted in the MCU .

4Flash Gordon Shaped Avengers: Endgame

Joe Russon Wanted To Emulate Flash Gordon’s Visual Style

One of the most surprising influences on the MCU ’s epicAvengers : Endgamewas the classic science fiction movieFlash Gordon . Director Joe Russo has stated thathe require torecreateFlash Gordon ’s over - the - top visual style and nonstop action(viaComicbook.com).Flash Gordonis cognise for its relentless action sequences , which perfectly meld into each other . This can be assure very evidently inAvengers : Endgame , which is sleek and packed with activity to a like degree . The final battle with Thanos is certainly reminiscent of the final struggle inFlash Gordon , in which the sky was filled with flying antagonists , set against a science fiction backdrop with fantasy component .

3The Dirty Dozen Inspired The Avengers

Joss Whedon Structured The Avengers Like The Dirty Dozen

Assembling Earth ’s Mightiest Heroes was never going to be an easy feat , so theatre director Joss Wheadon took inspiration from one of the greatest warfare movies of all time , The soiled 12 ( viaPopMatters ) . The Dirty twelve depicted a group of rabble soldier training to infiltrate Germany before D - Day . The team - up narrative inspired Whedon ’s body structure forThe Avengers , as a group of hero from disparate backgrounds learn how to solve as part of a squad to battle a great evil . The report of teamwork and the formation of an unlawful alliance aligns the two movies , showcasingThe Dirty Dozen ’s influence on the creation of the superhero ensemble dynamic .

2How To Train Your Dragon Influenced Black Widow

The Tone And Color Palette For Black Widow Was Inspired By How To Train Your Dragon

In a 2020 interview with Empire Magazine , Black Widowdirector Cate Shortland explained that she was inspired in part by the movieHow to Train Your Dragon . The quiet colouring palette is very exchangeable , offering a more grounded show in both moving-picture show despite their fantastical narratives . The familial themes are very obvious , search notion of unlikely class members reunite . While certainly a surprising option of aspiration , the parallels in aesthetics and intent are clear , show the transversal - genre influences that shapedBlack Widow . How to check Your Dragonwasn’t the only surprising intake forBlack Widowthough .

1Thelma & Louise Inspired Black Widow

Black Widow Recreated The Feminist Road Movie

Black Widow ’s exploration of female authorisation and improper partnerships was directly inspired by the classic women’s liberationist movieThelma & Louise . Shortland drew on the iconic road trip movie ’s themes of resilience and camaraderie , influencing the moral force between Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova . The spirit of independency and the complexities of distaff relationship evident inThelma & Louisecontributed to the nuanced delineation of sistership inBlack Widow , showcasing the endure impingement of the film on female - lead tale . This is particularly observable during the driving sequence , which center on Natasha and Yelena ’s human relationship . With theMCU ’s wide-ranging source of divine guidance , Thelma & Louisemight be the most surprising .

root : Y ! Entertainment , Gizmodo , FirstShowing , IndieWire , The Independent , Comicbook.com , PopMatters

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man upset and determined in No Way Home

Halle Berry as Catwoman crouching on a fire escape in Catwoman

Spider-Man from Captain America: Civil War in front of an image of The Breakfast Club

Ben Kingsley as the fake Mandarin in Iron Man 3

Headshot Of Robert Downey Jr. In The 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

Headshot Of Gwyneth Paltrow In The Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024

Headshot Of Don Cheadle In The 79th Venice Film Festival

Headshot Of Guy Pearce In The 77th annual Cannes

Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One in Doctor Strange

Headshot Of Benedict Cumberbatch In The Doctor Strange Premiere

Headshot Of Chiwetel Ejiofor In The UK Paramount+ Launch Event

Headshot Of Rachel McAdams In The Premiere of ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’

Headshot Of Benedict Wong In The 21st Annual Unforgettable Gala at the Beverly Hilton.

Guardians of the Galaxy Star-Lord wearing his Helmet and zipping up jacket

Headshot Of Chris Pratt In The European Gala Event of Marvel Studios' ‘Guardians of the Galaxy. Vol 3’

Headshot Of Zoe Saldana In The 2024 KERING Women In Motion Awards

Headshot Of Dave Bautista In The Glass Onion A Knives Out Mystery' Premiere, part of the London Film Festival

Headshot Of Vin Diesel In The European Gala Event of Marvel Studios' ‘Guardians of the Galaxy. Vol 3’

Headshot Of Chris Evans

Headshot Of Hayley Atwell In The Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2023

Headshot Of Sebastian Stan In The A Different Man at the 74th Berlin Film Festival.

Shot Of Tommy Lee Jones In The Los Angeles premiere of ‘Finestkind’

Ned, MJ and Peter leaning against the lockers in Spider-Man: Homecoming

Headshot Of Tom Holland In The 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards

Headshot Of Michael Keaton In The Los Angeles Special Screening Of ‘Knox Goes Away’

Headshot Of Marisa Tomei In The 90 Years Of Laughter + Love' Birthday Special

Headshot Of Cate Blanchett In The Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter

Headshot Of Anthony Hopkins In The 94th Academy Awards (Oscars)

Headshot Of Jeff Goldblum In The 2024 BAFTA Television Awards

Headshot Of Karl Urban In The Premiere Of Thor Ragnarok

Avengers and their allies enter the final battle with Thanos in Avenger: Endgame

Headshot Of Anthony Mackie

Headshot Of Paul Rudd In The  ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Premiere

Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova in the wreckage of the Red Room in Black Widow

Headshot Of Scarlett Johansson In The ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ Premiere

Headshot Of Florence Pugh In The Premiere Of Dune:Part 2

Headshot Of Rachel Weisz

Headshot Of David Harbour

Natasha and Yelena in a car in Black Widow

Marvel Cinematic Universe