Want to catch up before the next release, or just revisit the universe for a refresher? Here’s the order to watch the entire MCU timeline.

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. Here’s every Marvel movie in order from 2008’s Iron Man to the Multiverse Saga…

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

MCU Phase One

Title

Release Date

Iron Man

May 2, 2008

The Incredible Hulk

June 13, 2008

Iron Man 2

May 7, 2010

Thor

May 6, 2011

Captain America: The First Avenger

July 22, 2011

Marvel’s The Avengers

May 4, 2012

MCU Phase Two

Title

Release Date

Iron Man 3

May 3, 2013

Thor: The Dark World

November 8, 2013

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

April 4, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy

August 1, 2014

Avengers: Age of Ultron

May 1, 2015

Ant-Man

July 17, 2015

MCU Phase Three

Title

Release Date

Captain America: Civil War

May 6, 2016

Doctor Strange

November 4, 2016

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

May 5, 2017

Spider-Man: Homecoming

July 7, 2017

Thor: Ragnarok

November 3, 2017

Black Panther

February 16, 2018

Avengers: Infinity War

April 27, 2018

Ant-Man and the Wasp

July 6, 2018

Captain Marvel

March 8, 2019

Avengers: Endgame

April 26, 2019

Spider-Man: Far From Home

July 2, 2019

The Multiverse Saga

MCU Phase Four

Title

Release Date

Black Widow

July 9, 2021

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

September 3, 2021

Eternals

November 5, 2021

Spider-Man: No Way Home

December 17, 2021

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

May 6, 2022

Thor: Love and Thunder

July 8, 2022

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

November 11, 2022

MCU Phase Five

Title

Release Date

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

February 17, 2023

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

May 5, 2023

The Marvels

November 10, 2023

Deadpool 3

July 26, 2024

Captain America: Brave New World

February 14, 2025

MCU Phase Six

Title

Release Date

Marvel’s Fantastic Four

May 2, 2025

Thunderbolts

July 25, 2025

Blade

November 7, 2025

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

May 1, 2026

Avengers: Secret Wars

May 7, 2027

Upcoming MCU Movies After Phase 6

Title

Release Date

Armor Wars

TBA

Shang-Chi 2

TBA

Untitled MCU mutants film

TBA

Spider-Man 4

TBA

How To Watch Marvel Movies In Timeline Order

Title

Years Set

Original Release Date

Captain America: The First Avenger

1943-1945

July 22, 2011

Captain Marvel

1989-1995

March 8, 2019

Iron Man

2008

May 2, 2008

The Incredible Hulk

2010

June 13, 2008

Iron Man 2

2010

May 7, 2010

Thor

2010

May 6, 2011

The Avengers

2012

May 4, 2012

Thor: The Dark World

2013

November 8, 2013

Iron Man 3

2013

May 3, 2013

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

2014

April 4, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy

2014

August 1, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

2014

May 5, 2017

Avengers: Age of Ultron

2015

May 1, 2015

Ant-Man

2015

July 17, 2015

Captain America: Civil War

2016

May 6, 2016

Black Widow

2016

July 9, 2021

Black Panther

2016

February 16, 2018

Spider-Man: Homecoming

2016

July 7, 2017

Doctor Strange

2016-17

November 4, 2016

Thor: Ragnarok

2017

November 3, 2017

Ant-Man and the Wasp

2018

July 6, 2018

Avengers: Infinity War

2018

April 27, 2018

Avengers: Endgame

2018-2023

April 26, 2019

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

2024

September 3, 2021

Spider-Man: Far From Home

2024

July 2, 2019

Eternals

2024

November 5, 2021

Spider-Man: No Way Home

2024

December 17, 2021

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

2024

May 6, 2022

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

2025

November 11, 2022

Thor: Love and Thunder

2025

July 8, 2022

The Marvels

2025

November 10, 2023

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

2025

February 17, 2023

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

2026

May 5, 2023

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 deadly 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.

Every Major MCU Movie Event In Order

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.

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 associate, 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.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Steve Rogers is confronted with an unexpected face from his past as he battles mysterious HYDRA assassin 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.

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 dead 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 passing, 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.

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.

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:

Title

Release Date

Captain America: The First Avenger

July 22, 2011

Captain Marvel

March 8, 2019

Iron Man

May 2, 2008

The Incredible Hulk

June 13, 2008

Iron Man 2

May 7, 2010

Thor

May 6, 2011

The Avengers

May 4, 2012

Thor: The Dark World

November 8, 2013

Iron Man 3

May 3, 2013

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

April 4, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy

August 1, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

May 5, 2017

I Am Groot Seasons 1 & 2

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

MCU Phase Four Disney+ Shows

Title

Release Date

WandaVision

January 15, 2021

The Falcon & The Winter Soldier

March 19, 2021

Loki

June 9, 2021

Marvel’s What If…

August 11, 2021

Hawkeye

November 24, 2021

Moon Knight

March 30, 2022

Ms. Marvel

June 8, 2022

I Am Groot Season 1

August 10, 2022

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

August 18, 2022

Werewolf by Night

October 7, 2022

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

November 25, 2022

Phase 4

MCU Phase Four Disney+ Shows

Title

Release Date

WandaVision

January 15, 2021

The Falcon & The Winter Soldier

March 19, 2021

Loki

June 9, 2021

Marvel’s What If…

August 11, 2021

Hawkeye

November 24, 2021

Moon Knight

March 30, 2022

Ms. Marvel

June 8, 2022

I Am Groot Season 1

August 10, 2022

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

August 18, 2022

Werewolf by Night

October 7, 2022

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

November 25, 2022

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 are currently 2 Marvel movies not on Disney+, thanks to Sony owning Spider-Man’s movie rights:

• Spider-Man: No Way Home (Watch 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
• 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