The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the biggest franchises of all time, making it hard to position the Marvel movies in order to watch. At this stage, rewatching the franchise in full requires some serious homework, so some may choose instead to stick to the best MCU movies and TV shows instead. That is particularly true when you consider how much Marvel Studios’ creatives have tinkered with the timeline, retconning things along the way. Luckily though, anyone looking for how to watch the Marvel movies in order do have a road map provided by the films themselves.

Success in Hollywood leads to longevity, and as the billions trickled in, Marvel Studios went from a bold idea to a multi-stranded goliath. Inevitably, that expansion led to more complexity in the timeline, as Kevin Feige’s team sought to keep hold of the unprecedented size of the shared universe. The scale of the franchise is awesome: the MCU has 6 Phases, planned right up to 2027, with numerous future MCU movies and TV shows yet to be revealed, and even before that, there are tens of movies and Disney+ shows to watch.

Marvel Movies In Order Of Release Date

Back when the MCU was still young, Kevin Feige announced his plans for multiple Phases of stories, introducing new characters and stories after the first run of Marvel movies up to The Avengers in 2012. Here’s every Marvel movie in order within that plan, broken down into Phases and the two Sagas – the Infinity Saga and the Multiverse Saga. This is the best way to watch Marvel movies in order of release date…

The Infinity Saga

The Multiverse Saga

Upcoming MCU Movies After Phase 6

How To Watch Marvel Movies In Timeline Order

While the MCU timeline kicked off officially with Iron Man‘s release in 2008, the actual order of events has been the subject of furious debate over the years. Thanks in part to Marvel Studios making mistakes (like Spider-Man: Homecoming‘s notorious “8 years later” mistake and other conscious decisions to mess with the timeline, the actual order of events wasn’t approved until Marvel’s own official explanation came in 2023.

This order is confirmed by Marvel’s official timelines book, released in 2023.

1940s – 1990s

Captain America: The First Avenger (1943-1945)

The US army develops the super soldier serum to help fight the war with the Nazis, creating Steve Roger’s Captain America (Chris Evans), and pitting him off against ᴅᴇᴀᴅly HYDRA villain Red Skull. The first Infinity Stone, the Tesseract, debuts.

Captain Marvel (1989-1995)

Decades later, in 1989, Carol Danvers crashes her fighter jet before gaining superpowers, losing her memory, and entering the Kree/Skrull war that brings her back to Earth in 1995. 50 years after Peggy Carter helped create SHIELD, field agent Nick Fury investigates the alien invasion and teams up with the hero who becomes the inspiration for the Avengers Initiative.

Key Event: 1999 – Iron Man meets Aldrich Killian for the first time

2000s & 2010s

Iron Man (2008)

Billionaire tech mogul and problem child Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is kidnapped and creates the ultimate superhero armor, taking down terrorists and a threat to his family business. Nick Fury turns up to recruit him as an Avenger.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Struggling with the toll the arc reactor in his chest is taking on his body, Tony Stark begins his almost decade-long struggle to keep his technlogy out of the wrong hands, as another rival tries to take him down.

Key Event: Mid-2000s – Bruce Banner is involved in a laboratory accident that transforms him into the Hulk.

The Incredible Hulk (2010)

While it came out second, The Incredible Hulk – a new reset for the character after Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003) – actually comes after the first Iron Man movies in the timeline. Brilliant scientist Bruce Banner (Ed Norton) is drawn back to the US after exiling himself, to find himself hunted by the military hell-bent on using his genetics as a weapon.

Thor (2010)

The MCU’s first introduction to ancient civilization the Asgardians sees heir-apparent to Odin’s throne, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), banished to Earth to work on his worthiness, as his brother Loki causes chaos at home.

The Avengers (2012)

Loki returns to wage war on Earth, with a Chitauri army borrowed from Thanos in tow. Nick Fury revives the Avengers Initiative (after scrapping it off-screen) to bring together Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The second Infinity Stone debuts, in Loki’s scepter

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

In Fall 2013, reunited with his brother Loki (despite his universal crimes), Thor faces down another threat to the Nine Realms, as the Dark Elves seek to regain control of the third Infinity Stone (within their ancient weapon the Aether) which infects Jane Foster.

Iron Man 3 (2013-2014)

Tony Stark struggles to come to terms with the Battle of New York, developing PTSD just as an old business ᴀssociate, Aldrich Killian re-emerges at the same time as a terrorist, The Mandarin vows to kill Iron Man after launching a series of attacks in Winter 2013.

Key Event: Early 2014 – Iron Man’s arc reactor is removed.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Steve Rogers is confronted with an unexpected face from his past as he battles mysterious HYDRA ᴀssᴀssin The Winter Soldier and investigates a huge SHIELD betrayal. Sam Wilson debuts, becoming side-kick Falcon.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

In the Summer of 2014, immediately after the events of The Winter Soldier, the universe’s other premium superhero team – the far more grubby, far less morally perfect Guardians of the Galaxy – are thrown together. The fourth Infinity Stone, the Power Stone, plays a key part in bringing the anti-heroes together.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014)

Almost immediately after the end of the first movie (in Fall 2024), the Guardians are once more faced with a universe-threatening villain, this time in the shape of Kurt Russell’s charming Ego. Baby Groot dances.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Back on Earth, Tony Stark’s obsession with saving Earth from every conceivable threat leads to the accidental creation of his own nemesis, warmongering robot Ultron (James Spader). The Avengers gain some new members, including Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch.

Ant-Man (2015)

Still set in Marvel’s Phase 2, but after the events of Age Of Ultron, Ant-Man sees Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang recruited for a heist by the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). The smallest (and biggest) Avenger’s origin story.

Key Event: February 2016 – Doctor Stephen Strange survives a car crash that irreparably damages his hands, ending his career as a surgeon.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Don’t call it an Avengers movie, but Captain America: Civil War is notable for including basically the whole Avengers cast, and bulking it out with the recruitment of both Ant-Man and Tom Holland’s brand new Spider-Man. The Avengers struggle with superhero registration, taking sides and ultimately fighting it out as dark secrets from the past threaten the oldest alliance.

Black Widow (2016)

Set in part in 1995 when Natasha is a child, Black Widow picks up after Captain America: Civil War, with Nat on the run and hunted. At the same time, she confronts her past and her dark origin story. Though released after Avengers: Endgame, it precedes its events by several years (apart from Black Widow‘s post-credits scene).

Black Panther (2016)

After being introduced in Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa returns home to Wakanda to face his destiny and duty as king, unaware that a challenge from a familiar face greets him.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)

Spider-Man’s MCU origin begins, skipping the usual part about the spider bite and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ uncle. Homecoming kicks off immediately after the events of Civil War’s big battle in Germany.

Doctor Strange (2016-2017)

Prodigious surgeon Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) seeks to overcome the effects of a devastating car crash, desperately turning to the Masters of the Mystic Arts. The fifth Infinity Stone, the Time Stone, debuts.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

4 years after the critical disappointment of The Dark World, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor returns for a somewhat unexpected third solo outing. With Odin’s reign ending, Thor and Loki must prevent the destruction of Asgard after Loki’s mischief threatened everything.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Rudd’s Ant-Man and newly ascended hero Hope Van Dyne (the Wasp, played by Evangeline Lily) team up to rescue Hope’s mother Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) from the Quantum Realm. Though released after Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp precedes it (not just with its 1980s flashbacks), before the two crossover at the end.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

After the slow build of the Infinity Stones’ introduction across the Infinity Saga, Thanos dials things up, looking to combine the Stones to wipe out half of the universe’s living life. The shortest MCU movie in terms of time pᴀssing, Infinity War happens over only a matter of days. The final Infinity Stone – the Soul Stone – completes the collection.

2020s

Avengers: Endgame (2018-2023)

Picking up almost immediately after the events of Infinity War‘s ending, Endgame is the second half of the culmination event, showing the aftermath of Thanos’ plan. Not long into the movie, the timeline jumps 5 years, skipping the MCU ahead of real-life by several years.

Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings (2024)

After Endgame‘s Blip, a new hero emerges. Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi faces his past and his destiny – both of which are told through flashbacks to 1996 – in an origin story introducing new dimensions to the MCU.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2024)

Possibly set at exactly the same time as Shang-Chi, Spider-Man: Far From Home deals with the fallout from Endgame‘s explosive ending as Peter Parker tries to rebuid his life. A new mentor emerges in the form of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio.

Eternals (2024)

Roughly eight months after the events of Avengers: Endgame (in Fall 2024), Earth’s oldest superheroes debut, revealing why they don’t interfere in any actual threat to the planet. Actually set over a timeline of thousands of years, Eternals is technically the longest of all MCU properties.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2024)

The Multiverse Saga kicks off for real, as No Way Home brings variants to the main timeline. Originally intended to be set immediately after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, No Way Home was shifted early, because of the real world pandemic.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2024)

As No Way Home‘s ending comes at the end of 2024, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness kicks off around in Fall 2024. While it was supposed to take place prior to No Way Home, Multiverse of Madness‘ events logically contradict Doctor Strange’s willing participation in No Way Home‘s multiverse chaos. Unless he learns nothing.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine (2024)

Though it takes place outside of the sacred timeline for the most part, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine is confirmed to be set in the year 2024, as it explores Wade Wilson alongside a variant of Logan as they are whisked away to the Void after a confrontation with the TVA.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2024-2025)

Though it kicks off with the tragic death of T’Challa in 2024, Wakanda Forever is set one year later in 2025, telling the story of the succession of Black Panther and the rise of a new threat from the seas, Namor the Submariner.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2025)

While Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the last movie of Phase 4, Thor: Love and Thunder potentially comes after it, as confirmed by a detail in Ms Marvel, dating it to some time in 2025. Until Marvel officially confirms the actual date, this one’s arguably the most complex one to place.

The Marvels (2025)

The Marvels picks up immediately after the events of Ms. Marvel, which is set in Fall 2025. It sees Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan brought together on a mission to thwart new villain Dar-Benn.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2025 or Early 2026)

Confirmed to be set after Wakanda Forever (which mentions Scott Lang’s book tour as confirmation), the third Ant-Man movie has to be set some time in late 2025 or 2026. In it, Scott Lang returns to the Quantum Realm to take on a formidable new threat: Kang the Conqueror.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 (2026)

Set after the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which is set in December 2025, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 closes out the MCU story of the team of anti-heroes somewhere in the MCU’s present day of 2026.

Captain America: Brave New World (2027)

Set in 2027, Captain America: Brave New World sees Sam Wilson fully operating as Captain America, and attempting to work with President Ross to eventually rebuild the Avengers. The movie ends with a brief Red Hulk showdown before Sam Wilson hopes to ᴀssemble a new team, with a looming multiversal threat on the horizon.

Thunderbolts* (2027)

Following Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* is also set in 2027 as the Multiverse Saga inches closer and closer to Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. The group of outcasts and misfits come together for an emotionally resonant film while also introducing a brand-new character that tips the balance of power in the entire MCU.

The Best Order To Watch The MCU Movies & TV Shows

The best MCU movie viewing order is more creative than watching them in order of release. Several MCU releases have jumped around the timeline, with settings on the Marvel timeline before or after their year of release. As such, the most logical and best way to watch the MCU’s 33 movies and 10 TV shows is to watch their events in order, chronologically.

While the movies are typically considered the “main” timeline, Disney+’s TV shows, which started with WandaVision in January 2021, include key events that inform what happens in the movies. As such, it’s important not to skip the shows, so the best order to watch the MCU timeline includes the small-screen releases:

I Am Groot is set between Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2’s ending and the post-credit scenes.

Loki season 1 and 2 exist outside of the traditional concept of time, but the first episode immediately follows Loki’s escape from the 2012 branched reality from Avengers: Endgame‘s time heist.

Marvel’s What If…? seasons 1, 2, and 3 are anthology shows that are spread throughout the MCU multiverse timeline, stretching across centuries. Watching each episode in order would be jarring, so watching What If…? in order should be prioritized, and could logically be done at any point during an MCU rewatch.

Every Marvel Disney Plus TV Show In Order (By Release Date)

The majority of Disney+’s MCU TV shows tie into or spin off from the mainline Marvel movie timeline, with events on the big screen shaping reactions in the shows. Marvel have also used the TV shows to introduce new characters like She-Hulk, Ms Marvel and Moon Knight, who could all step up to the movies, and any Avengers-level crossovers in future.

Do you need to watch the Disney+ MCU TV shows to understand the movies? Not entirely. Though the MCU’s TV shows tie in to the movies, most can be enjoyed separately, with limited or no impact on upcoming Marvel movies. It’s therefore possible to watch the MCU TV shows in order separately: here’s how to do so in order of release date.

Phase 4

Phase 5

Upcoming MCU TV Shows After Phase 5

Where To Watch The Marvel Cinematic Universe On Streaming

The majority of the MCU’s Marvel movies are on Disney+ as part of a subscription. There is currently 1 Marvel movie not on Disney+, thanks to Sony owning Spider-Man’s movie rights:

• Spider-Man: No Way Home (Currently Available On Starz)

You can watch every other Marvel Cinematic Universe movie on Disney+.

How To Watch MCU TV Shows & Marvel Movies In Order On Disney Plus

• Iron Man
• The Incredible Hulk
• Iron Man 2
• Thor
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• The Avengers
• Iron Man 3
• Thor: The Dark World
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Ant-Man
• Captain America: Civil War
• Doctor Strange
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• Thor: Ragnarok
• Black Panther
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Captain Marvel
• Ant-Man and the Wasp
• Avengers: Endgame
• Spider-Man: Far From Home
• WandaVision
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
• Loki
• Black Widow
• What If…?
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Eternals
• Hawkeye
• Moon Knight
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
• Ms. Marvel
• Thor: Love and Thunder
• I Am Groot Season 1
• She-Hulk
• Werewolf By Night
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Echo
• The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
• Secret Invasion
• I Am Groot season 2
• The Marvels
• ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine
• Agatha All Along
• Captain America: Brave New World
• Daredevil: Born Again Season 1
• Thunderbolts*

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday

  Release Date

  
  May 1, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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