How Many Marvel Movies Are There? A Comprehensive Guide in Order
Hello, Marvel enthusiasts! Buckle up as we embark on an exciting journey to answer the question that's been on every superhero fan's mind: how many Marvel movies are there, and in what order should I watch them? We've got you covered with a well-organized list, perfect for both seasoned fans and new recruits. So, grab your popcorn, and let's dive right in! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and how many marvel movies are there in order.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Timeline
Before we start counting, let's briefly discuss the Marvel Cinematic Universe's timeline. The MCU is a shared universe that interconnects all Marvel movies and TV shows, creating an overarching storyline. The movies are primarily divided into phases, with each phase focusing on specific story arcs and character developments.
How Many Marvel Movies Are There? A Phase-by-Phase Breakdown
Phase One: The Foundation (2008-2012)
Kicking off the MCU, Phase One introduces us to the core Avengers team and sets the stage for an epic showdown. There are six movies in this phase, starting with:
1. Iron Man (2008) - The movie that started it all, introducing us to the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, Tony Stark.
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008) - While not part of the MCU's main continuity, this film is still considered canon and features the jade giant, Hulk.
3. Iron Man 2 (2010) - Tony Stark faces new challenges and sets the stage for the Avengers Initiative.
4. Thor (2011) - The God of Thunder, Thor, crash-lands on Earth and becomes entangled in a human drama.
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - Steve Rogers transforms from a scrawny kid into the peak human, Captain America, during World War II.
6. The Avengers (2012) - Earth's mightiest heroes assemble for the first time to protect the planet from an otherworldly threat.
Phase Two: The Expansion (2013-2015)
Phase Two introduces new heroes, explores the cosmic side of the MCU, and sets the stage for the Infinity Saga's climax. There are seven movies in this phase:
1. Iron Man 3 (2013) - Tony Stark faces post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and must protect Pepper Potts from a new enemy.
2. Thor: The Dark World (2013) - Thor and Jane Foster battle against the dark elf, Malekith, who seeks to plunge the universe into darkness.
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - Steve Rogers uncovers a sinister plot within S.H.I.E.L.D. and must confront his thought-to-be-dead friend, Bucky Barnes.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) - A ragtag group of heroes forms to protect a powerful artifact from a villainous warlord, and along the way, they become the Guardians of the Galaxy.
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - The Avengers face their greatest challenge yet when Tony Stark's peacekeeping program, Ultron, goes rogue.
6. Ant-Man (2015) - Scott Lang, a reformed thief, becomes the hero Ant-Man and must pull off a heist to save his daughter's future.
7. Captain America: Civil War (2016) - The Avengers are divided when a UN accord threatens to dismantle the team, leading to an epic showdown between Captain America and Iron Man.
Phase Three: The Conclusion (2016-2019)
Phase Three brings the Infinity Saga to a close, with a total of ten movies:
1. Captain America: Civil War (2016) - See above
2. Doctor Strange (2016) - Stephen Strange, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon, becomes the Master of the Mystic Arts and learns to harness the power of magic.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) - The Guardians travel to the outer reaches of the cosmos, where they face off against a powerful enemy and uncover Peter Quill's true parentage.
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) - Peter Parker balances his life as a high school student with his responsibilities as Spider-Man, and must face the Vulture, a dangerous criminal mastermind.
5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - Thor must fight against his sister, Hela, who aims to bring about Ragnarok, the end of Asgard. Along the way, he forms an unlikely friendship with the Hulk and competes in a gladiatorial contest against his former ally, the Grandmaster.
6. Black Panther (2018) - T'Challa, the newly crowned King of Wakanda, must defend his country from those who seek to exploit its resources and challenge his rule.
7. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - The Avengers and their allies face their most powerful enemy yet, Thanos, who collects the Infinity Stones to carry out his genocidal plan.
8. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) - Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne team up as Ant-Man and the Wasp to retrieve powerful technology from the Quantum Realm, while also dealing with the fallout from the events of "Civil War."
9. Captain Marvel (2019) - Carol Danvers, a former Air Force pilot, becomes the hero Captain Marvel and must confront her past while battling against the Skrulls, a shape-shifting alien race.
10. Avengers: Endgame (2019) - The surviving Avengers must find a way to reverse Thanos' snap and restore balance to the universe, leading to an epic showdown against the Mad Titan and his army.
Phase Four and Beyond: The Multiverse Saga (2021-present)
Phase Four introduces new heroes, explores the multiverse, and expands the MCU into new territories. As of now, there are seven movies in this phase:
1. Black Widow (2021) - Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, confronts her past and faces off against the Taskmaster, a formidable assassin with the ability to mimic any fighting style.
2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) - Shang-Chi, a skilled martial artist, must confront his father, the leader of the mysterious Ten Rings organization, and protect the world from an ancient evil.
3. Eternals (2021) - The Eternals, an ancient alien race, reunite to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants.
4. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) - Peter Parker's identity is revealed, leading to the return of familiar faces from past Spider-Man movies and a battle against the Sinister Six.
5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) - Doctor Strange travels through the multiverse to protect a young girl from a powerful and mysterious villain.
6. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) - Thor teams up with the Mighty Thor, a female version of himself, to battle against the god of chaos, Gorr the God Butcher.
7. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) - The people of Wakanda must defend their country from a new enemy and honor the legacy of their fallen king, T'Challa.
How Many Marvel Movies Are There in Total?
As of now, there are 32 Marvel movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This includes all the movies from Phase One to Phase Four, as well as the upcoming movies in the pipeline.
What Order Should I Watch Marvel Movies?
Watching Marvel movies in release order is the most straightforward way to experience the story as it unfolded in theaters. However, if you're looking for the best viewing experience, we recommend watching them in chronological order. This order follows the in-universe timeline, allowing you to experience the story as it unfolds across the MCU.
Here's a list of Marvel movies in chronological order, based on their in-universe events:
- 1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1940s)
- 2. Captain Marvel (1995)
- 3. Iron Man 2 (1970)
- 4. The Incredible Hulk (1960s-1970s)
- 5. Iron Man (2008)
- 6. Iron Man 2 (2010)
- 7. The Avengers (2012)
- 8. Thor (2013)
- 9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- 10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- 11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- 12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014)
- 13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- 14. Ant-Man (2015)
- 15. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)
- 17. Doctor Strange (2016)
- 18. Black Panther (2017)
- 19. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- 20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2017)
- 21. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 22. Captain Marvel (2018)
- 23. Avengers: Endgame (2018)
- 24. Black Widow (2021)
- 25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- 26. Eternals (2021)
- 27. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- 29. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- 30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Honorable Mentions: Marvel Movies Not in the MCU
While the movies we've discussed are part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are a few other Marvel movies that are worth mentioning, even though they're not part of the MCU:
- 1. X-Men (2000) - The first movie in the X-Men franchise, which follows the mutant heroes as they battle against the Brotherhood of Mutants.
- 2. Spider-Man (2002) - The first movie in the Sam Raimi-directed Spider-Man trilogy, which follows Peter Parker as he becomes the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
- 3. X2: X-Men United (2003) - The second movie in the X-Men franchise, which sees the X-Men teaming up with the Brotherhood of Mut