How To Watch The Marvel Movies In Order: MCU Chronological & Release Order

Alright, fellow Marvel enthusiasts, buckle up your seats and grab your popcorn because we're about to embark on a cinematic journey like no other. For those who have yet to delve into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), or for those seasoned fans craving a recap, we've got you covered. Whether you're a die-hard Iron Man fan or a fanatic of The Avengers, there's no denying the sheer awesomeness of the Marvel universe. But with a plethora of movies spanning over a decade, figuring out where to start can be as daunting as facing Thanos himself. Fear not, for we're here to guide you through the labyrinth of Marvel movies, both chronologically and by release date, ensuring you experience the MCU in all its glory.

Watch MCU in Chronological Order

Some Marvel enthusiasts believe the best way to watch the MCU movies is in chronological order, that way elements unfold organically alongside characters’ experiences within the storyline. This approach offers fresh insights into the unfolding events and ensures you won’t get bored of rewatching it in the same order over and over.

But here's the thing: going the chronological route can get a bit messy when it comes to the MCU timeline. Take, for example, Captain America: The First Avenger from 2010. Most of it goes down during World War II, but then it wraps up in 2010, with Steve Rogers waking up in modern-day New York and meeting Nick Fury. Problem is, we're supposed to meet Fury first in Iron Man from 2008. So, if you're following the timeline, you're shaking hands with Fury in Cap's first flick before you've even seen him in Iron Man. Confusing, right?

That's why, if you're just starting out on your Marvel journey, sticking to the release date order is probably your best bet. It's a smoother ride and helps you get a feel for how the whole universe unfolds. 

However, here’s the chronological order anyway for those who want the official MCU timeline:

• Captain America: The First Avenger (Set in 1943–2015) - Set during World War II, witness the birth of the iconic Captain America as Steve Rogers takes on Hydra and becomes the ultimate symbol of heroism.

• The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Set in 1964) - In the alternate universe Earth-828, four astronauts gain superhuman abilities from exposure to space’s cosmic rays. But after peace on Earth is obtained, an alien horror descends. They must choose between their own personal lives and the safety of the planet. 

• Captain Marvel (Set in 1995) - Travel back to the 1990s and witness the rise of Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, as she discovers her extraordinary powers and battles extraterrestrial threats.
• Iron Man (Set in 2010) - Kickstart your journey with the movie that launched the entire MCU, as Tony Stark dons the suit of iron and transforms into the armoured Avenger.
• Iron Man 2 (Set in 2011) - Follow Tony Stark as he grapples with the consequences of revealing his identity as Iron Man while facing off against new adversaries.
• The Incredible Hulk (Set in 2011) - Join Bruce Banner on the run as he seeks a cure for his gamma-radiation-induced condition while evading the military and confronting his monstrous alter ego.
• Thor (Set in 2011) - Enter the realm of Asgard as Thor, the God of Thunder, is banished to Earth and learns what it truly means to be worthy of Mjolnir.
• The Avengers (Set in 2012) - Witness the epic team-up of Earth's mightiest heroes as they assemble to defend humanity against the villainous Loki and his Chitauri army.
• Thor: The Dark World (Set in 2013) - Journey to the nine realms as Thor battles to save Asgard and Earth from the malevolent forces of darkness.
• Iron Man 3 (Set in 2013) - Follow Tony Stark as he faces his greatest challenge yet, both mentally and physically, while confronting the mysterious terrorist known as the Mandarin.
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Set in 2014) - Join Captain America and Black Widow as they uncover a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D. and face off against the enigmatic Winter Soldier.
• Guardians of the Galaxy (Set in 2014) - Blast off into space with a ragtag group of intergalactic misfits as they band together to stop the power-hungry Ronan the Accuser.
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Set in 2014) - Reunite with Star-Lord and the gang as they embark on a cosmic adventure filled with humour, heart, and family ties.
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (Set in 2015) - Witness the Avengers' struggle against the sentient AI Ultron as they confront their past and forge a new path forward.
• Ant-Man (Set in 2015) - Shrink down to size with Scott Lang as he becomes the Ant-Man and joins forces with Hank Pym to pull off a daring heist.
• Captain America: Civil War (Set in 2016) - Choose your side as the Avengers are torn apart by ideological differences, leading to an epic showdown between friends turned foes.
• Black Widow (Set in 2016) - Dive into Natasha Romanoff's past as she confronts her former life as a Russian spy and battles a dangerous conspiracy.
• Black Panther (Set in 2016) - T'Challa, the newly crowned king and Black Panther, must defend his homeland from internal and external threats, including the formidable Killmonger who challenges his claim to the throne.
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (Set in 2016) - Follow Peter Parker as he navigates the challenges of high school life while balancing his newfound identity as Spider-Man and facing off against the villainous Vulture.
• Doctor Strange (Set in 2016-7) - Open your mind to the mystic arts as Doctor Strange embarks on a journey of self-discovery and becomes the Sorcerer Supreme.
• Thor: Ragnarok (Set in 2017) - Brace yourself for cosmic chaos as Thor teams up with old and new allies to prevent the destruction of Asgard at the hands of the ruthless Hela.
• Ant-Man and The Wasp (Set in 2018) - Get ready for a pint-sized adventure as Ant-Man teams up with the Wasp to rescue Janet van Dyne from the quantum realm.
• Avengers: Infinity War (Set in 2018) - Prepare for the ultimate showdown as the Avengers and their allies unite to stop the mad titan Thanos from wiping out half of all life in the universe.
• Avengers: Endgame (Set in 2023) - Experience the epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga as the Avengers embark on a time-travelling mission to undo Thanos' devastating snap and restore balance to the universe.

• Deadpool & Wolverine  (Set in 2024) - Lounging around as a used car salesman, Wade Wilson is then pulled from his retired life by a mysterious organisation. There, he must travel through the multiverse to find a variant of Wolverine for the sake of his world.

• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Set in 2024) - After retiring from life as an assassin, Shang-Chi becomes forced to face off against his father, a leader of a terrorist organisation, to save the world.

• Spider-Man: Far from Home (Set in 2024) - Join Peter Parker as he grapples with life after the events of "Endgame" and faces a new threat while on vacation.

• Eternals (Set in 2024) - Meet a new team of immortal heroes. Witness their epic journey through history as they reunite to protect humanity from ancient threats.
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (Set in 2024) - Peter Parker's life is turned upside down when his secret identity is exposed, leading to a desperate plea for magical help from Doctor Strange. Together, they face villains from alternate realities, including familiar foes from Peter's past.
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Set in 2024) - Doctor Strange, along with Scarlet Witch, dives into the uncharted depths of the multiverse to confront dark and mystical forces threatening reality itself.
• Thor: Love and Thunder (Set in 2025) - As Thor grapples with his own worthiness and identity, he teams up with Jane Foster, who becomes the mighty Thor herself. With the Guardians of the Galaxy by their side, they face cosmic threats that shake the very foundations of the universe.
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Set in 2025) - Explore the legacy of T'Challa and the nation of Wakanda as they navigate challenges and honour the mantle of the Black Panther.
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Set in 2026) - Are you ready for a time-travelling foe that threatens reality? Join Scott, Hope, and Hank as they navigate the Quantum Realm, and race against time to protect the very fabric of existence.
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Set in 2026) - Join Star-Lord and his crew as they face new challenges and uncover mysteries of the cosmos.
• The Marvels (Set in 2026) - A new team of heroes rises in "The Marvels." Join Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau as they come together to defend the Earth against powerful threats.

• Captain America: Brave New World (Set in 2027) - After officially accepting his new role as Captain America, Sam Wilson meets newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross. Watch as he finds himself in an international conspiracy of mind-controlled world leaders and a mysteriously red Hulk.

• Thunderbolts (Set in 2027) - Outcasts, antiheroes, unconventional. A team of antiheroes are trapped in a death trap. Forced to work together, they carry through a mission full of internal strife, dilemmas & secrets from their traumatic pasts.
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Set in 2028) - Lonely and forgotten, nobody remembers Peter Parker beyond his eternal responsibility as Spiderman. But amidst this, a mysterious and dangerous enemy emerges from the consequences of his forgotten past.  
• Avengers: Doomsday (Set in 2028) - Three universes are set on a deadly collision course. They face an existential danger unforeseen in their worlds as Doctor Doom looms over, seemingly at the centre of it all. 

Marvel Movies In Release Order

If the whole chronological order feels like trying to untangle Spider-Man’s web, fear not! You can swing into action by watching the Marvel movies in release date order. The MCU story can neatly be organised into distinct ‘phases’. As True Believers, we recommend that you watch the Marvel movies in this order if it’s your first time.

The Infinity Saga

Phase 1

• Iron Man (Released in 2008)
• The Incredible Hulk (Released in 2008)
• Iron Man 2 (Released in 2010)
• Thor (Released in 2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (Released in 2011)
• The Avengers (Released in 2012)

Phase 2

• Iron Man 3 (Released in 2013)
• Thor: The Dark World (Released in 2013)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Released in 2014)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (Released in 2014)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (Released in 2015)
• Ant-Man (Released in 2015)

Phase 3

• Captain America: Civil War (Released in 2016)
• Doctor Strange (Released in 2016)
• Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (Released in 2017)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (Released in 2017)
• Thor: Ragnarok (Released in 2017)
• Black Panther (Released in 2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (Released in 2018)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp (Released in 2018)
• Captain Marvel (Released in 2019)
• Avengers: Endgame (Released in 2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (Released in 2019)

The Multiverse Saga

Phase 4

• Black Widow (Released in 2021)
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Released in 2021)
• Eternals (Released in 2021)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (Released in 2021)
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Released in 2022)
• Thor: Love and Thunder (Released in 2022)
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Released in 2022)

Phase 5

• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Released in 2023)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Released in 2023)
• The Marvels (Released in 2023)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (Released in 2024)
• Captain America: Brave New World (Released in 2025)
• Thunderbolts (Released in 2025)

Phase 6

• Fantastic Four (Released in 2025)
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Released in 2026)
• Avengers: Doomsday (To be Released in December 2026)
• Avengers: Secret Wars (To be Released in December 2027)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a rollercoaster ride through a galaxy of superhero shenanigans. Whether you're tackling it chronologically or sticking to the release dates, get ready for more twists and turns than Loki's schemes.

And, hey, speaking of adventures, don't forget to swing by the Menkind movie merchandise section. Because let's be real, what's a Marvel marathon without some epic gear to complete the experience? So grab your snacks, cue up your favourite flick, and get ready to Hulk-smash your way through some seriously awesome entertainment. Excelsior, true believers!