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There are currently 30Marvel Cinematic Universemovies and counting, all of them taking place in the same universe and connected by characters, events, and settings. So you’d be forgiven for being a little confused as to how, exactly, they all fit together and which order to watch them in. Marvel broke new ground with 2012’sMarvel’s The Avengers, which brought together disparate heroes from their own individual movies (Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man,Chris Evans’ Captain America, andChris Hemsworth’s Thor) into one team-up movie, before then splitting them off again into their own sequels. Of course, this way of telling stories had been done in comics, but telling a serialized story across many, many films with diverse tones and characters was brand new, and continues to be a gold mine of compelling stories and characters.
But as the MCU has grown in quantity, it’s also grown in complexity. Some films take place worlds away but at the same time as events that are occurring on Earth. And some films take place in the far past. If you’re wondering how to watch the Marvel movies in order, we’ve got you covered. Below we’re offering two viewing options: the Marvel movies in order of chronological events, and the Marvel movies in order of when each film was released in theaters. Both are highly recommended and are the ideal ways to view this series if you’re in the mood to binge-watch a franchise. And below that, we’ve got a rundown of how to watch the Marvel Disney Plus shows in order. The order of these lists also pulls heavily from our owncomprehensive MCU timeline, which gets into the nitty-gritty of when everyeventhappens in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel Movies in Order of Release
Here are all the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies in order of when they were released, broken up into “phases” that Marvel Studios uses to denote smaller story arcs within the larger MCU arc.
The Infinity Saga
Phase Three
The Multiverse Saga
Phase Four
Phase Five
Beyond Phase Six
Marvel Movies in Chronological Order of Events
‘Captain America: The First Avenger’
Chronologically speaking, the film that is set the earliest in the Marvel timeline isCaptain America: The First Avenger. The Steve Rogers origin storybegins in the year 1940 with Steve (Evans) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) enlisting and ends in 1945 with Steve’s plane crashing and him being frozen for the next half-century.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Steve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a “Super-Soldier serum”. But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization.
‘Captain Marvel’
Next up we haveCaptain Marvel, which is actually one of the most recent Marvel movies but whose events precede those of the main MCU timeline. Brie Larson’s pilot charactercrashes her plane in the year 1989 and is subsequently trained as a Kree before returning to Earth in 1995, which is the year in which most ofCaptain Marveltakes place.
Captain Marvel
Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.
‘Iron Man’
The first Marvel movie released is third in chronological order, and believe it or not—according to Marvel’s own timeline—it actually takes place in the year 2010 and not 2008 when it was released.
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
‘Iron Man 2’
TheIron Mansequel is set in the year 2011.
Iron Man 2
With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father’s legacy.
‘The Incredible Hulk’
The events of the Edward Norton Hulk movie take place shortly after the events of the firstIron Man.
The Incredible Hulk
Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.
The events ofThoralso take place in 2011, around the same time as the events inIron Man 2, although there are flashback to events that go back centuries.
The powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.
‘The Avengers’
The team-up finally occurs in the year 2012.
The Avengers
‘Iron Man 3’
The underratedIron Man 3, which deals heavily with Tony Starks’ PTSD from the events ofThe Avengers, take place in the year 2012.
Iron Man 3
When Tony Stark’s world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
‘Thor: The Dark World’
The forgettable sequel is set in the year 2013.
Thor: The Dark World
When the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster.
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’
The big fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. is set a couple of years after the organization helped form The Avengers, set in 2014.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
As Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’
The events ofGuardians of the Galaxyalso take place in 2014, around the same time asThe Winter Soldier.
Guardians of the Galaxy
A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
TheGuardianssequel takes place a couple of months after the events of the first film.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord’s encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.
‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’
The second Avengers team-up film takes place in the wake of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s dismantling, in the year 2015.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Earth’s mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.
While the Avengers are fighting off ol’ Ultron, Scott Lang is busy becoming Ant-Man in 2015.
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.
‘Captain America: Civil War’
The Captain America sequel that’s also kinda-sorta an Avengers movie takes place in 2016, bringing additional characters into the fold to set the table forInfinityWar andEndgame. But it also contains flashbacks that take place betweenThe First AvengerandIron Man, revealing the circumstances that surrounded the death of Tony Stark’s parents.
Captain America: Civil War
Political involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
‘Black Widow’
TheBlack Widowmovie takes place in the immediate wake of the events ofCaptain America: Civil Warand finds Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff on the run. It ends before the events ofAvengers: Infinity Warbegin.
Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.
‘Black Panther’
2016 is a busy year in the MCU, as it’s also whenBlack Panthertakes place over in Wakanda.
Black Panther
T’Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country’s past.
‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’
The first MCU Spider-Man movie takes place the fall after the events ofCaptain America: Civil War, with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker struggling to become his own hero.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.
‘Doctor Strange’
Doctor Strangebridges the gap between 2016 and 2017, as Stephen Strange’s transformation into a superhero takes a bit of time.
Doctor Strange
While on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.
‘Thor: Ragnarok’
Thor: Ragnaroktakes place in 2017 shortly after the events ofDoctor Strange, as we see Thor visit Doctor Strange on Earth to try and track down his father.
Thor: Ragnarok
Imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’
Despite being released afterAvengers: Infinity War, the events ofAnt-Man and the Wasptake place in 2018 right before Thanos arrives on Earth and the film ends with the infamous Thanos Snap. Although there are flashbacks to Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) in the late 1980s.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
As Scott Lang balances being both a superhero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.
‘Avengers: Infinity War’
The events ofAvengers: Infinity Wartake place over a very compressed time period—just 24-48 hours—in 2018.
Avengers: Infinity War
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
‘Avengers: Endgame’
The second half of the Infinity Gauntlet storyline begins shortly after the Thanos snap in 2018, but after Thor cuts Thanos’ head off, the film flashes forward and is set primarily in the year 2023—although it also sees the characters traveling back in time to events in the years 1970, 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Avengers: Endgame
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’
WhileShang-Chi and the Legend of the TenRingsbegins with a prologue that takes place hundreds of years in the past and also features extensive flashbacks to the year 1996, the bulk of the film takes place in the year 2023 not too long after the events ofAvengers: Endgame.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.
Watch on Disney+
‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’
Spider-Man: Far From Home, takes place shortly after the events ofAvengers: Endgame.
Spider-Man: Far from Home
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.
‘Eternals’
Although the Eternals have been around for over 7,000 years on planet earth, the main conflict of the movie is set sometime afterShang-Chi, around eight months after the events ofEndgame.
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
Of course, as we enter into the multiverse (and because of COVID), the timelines are going to be a little wonky. TechnicallyDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessis supposed to be set beforeSpider-Man: No Way Home, but release dates have to be shifted around.No Way Hometakes place in the latter half of 2024, and because of the snap, time in the MCU is no longer parallel to our own world.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
With Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’
While it makes stray references to Spider-Man, it’s clear that this story was meant to take place beforeNo Way Home, and while the official timeline might put this now shortly after No Way Home in Spring of 2025 – consider this one a gimme. Feel free to switch the order of this andSpider-Manaround if you want to spend some time in the multiverse timeline where we got this movie first.
Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange teams up with a mysterious teenage girl from his dreams who can travel across multiverses, to battle multiple threats, including other-universe versions of himself, which threaten to wipe out millions across the multiverse. They seek help from Wanda the Scarlet Witch, Wong and others.
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’
Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverbegins with the death of T’Challa, which takes place in 2024. But the bulk of the story is set one year later, in 2025. It’s possible that there’s some overlap between the events of this movie andDoctor Strange 2, but there’s nothing specified, so it does seem like it happens after the events of that film. In any case, as the conclusion of Phase Six, it does make sense to watch this movie after all the other films in this particular phase.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T’Challa.
‘Thor: Love and Thunder’
The fourth entry of Thor seems to go somewhere in 2024, even though it was released afterMultiverse of Madness. We can calculate this based on Jane and Thor’s breakup which is likely around late 2015 to 2016 before Thor left Earth. InLove and Thunder, Thor corrects Jane saying that they’ve been broken up for eight years, seven months, and six days. Jane only thinks it’s been 3 or 4 years but seeing as she disappeared after the blip, that loss in time makes sense.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor’s quest for inner peace is interrupted by the arrival of Gorr the God Butcher, a vengeful enemy targeting deities across the cosmos. Teaming up with King Valkyrie, Korg, and his former love Jane Foster, who now possesses the power of Thor, they must confront this formidable threat.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
Not much ofDeadpool & Wolverinetakes place on Earth-616, so it’s hard to say when the latest MCU movie is set. However, Wade does travel to the universe at the beginning of the film in 2018, where he has an interview with Happy Hogan to be an Avenger, shortly before the events ofInfinity War. However, the movie does jump forward 6 years, meaning that the movie would be set in 2024.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Wolverine joins the “merc with a mouth” in the third installment of the Deadpool film franchise.
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’
While the Quantum realm usually makes time a bit more wibbly-wobbly than usual, we do know thatAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniatakes place afterBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, which places it sometime within the first half of 2026.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’
Like the other films in the series,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3is also mostly unaffected by the events that take place in other films. However, we do know that it takes place afterThor: Love and Thunderand possibly afterWakanda Foreveras well. That would place the story sometime in 2026 or late 2025 at the earliest. We’re leaning towards the former as the film does seem to be the furthest along on the MCU timeline so far.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.
‘The Marvels’
According to the official MCU timeline on Disney+,The Marvelstakes place after the events ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Since we’re assuming that film is set in 2026, it seems safe to assume that Carol Danvers' team-up with Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau was also set in that same year.
The Marvels
The Marvels sees the long-awaited team-up of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) as the trio work together to find out how their powers have become inextricably linked. Acting as a sequel to both Captain Marvel (2019) and the Ms. Marvel television show, The Marvels is the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Where to Watch the Marvel Movies Online
The following Marvel movies are all currently available to stream on Disney+:
Not on Disney+
Therese Lacson, Remus Noronha, Michael Thomas, and Nate Richard contributed to this article.
