The Ultimate Guide to Watching The Avengers Movies in Order of Story
Hey there, Marvel fans! We know you're dying to dive into the epic world of the Avengers, but with so many movies and tie-ins, it can get a bit confusing. Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this ultimate guide, we're going to break down the Avengers movies in order of story, so you can follow the action-packed narrative from start to finish. Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and the avengers movies in order of story.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: A Brief Overview
Before we jump into the Avengers movies, let's quickly recap the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The MCU is a sprawling universe of interconnected films, TV shows, and specials that span over a decade. The story is divided into phases, with each phase focusing on a specific set of characters and storylines. So far, we've got four phases under our belt, with more on the way!
Phase One: The Foundation
Phase one of the MCU laid the groundwork for the Avengers, introducing us to our favorite heroes and setting the stage for their eventual team-up.
Iron Man (2008)
Kickstarting the MCU, Iron Man follows the story of billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, who builds a suit of powered armor to escape from captivity. Directed by Jon Favreau, this film introduced us to Robert Downey Jr.'s iconic performance as Tony Stark, the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist who would go on to become a founding member of the Avengers.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
While not a direct sequel to Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk is an important piece of the puzzle. Directed by Louis Leterrier, this film introduces us to Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner, the brilliant scientist cursed with the Hulk's rage. Although Edward Norton portrayed the character in this film, Ruffalo would later take over the role and become a key member of the Avengers.
Iron Man 2 (2010)
In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark faces off against Ivan Vanko, a.k.a. Whiplash, while also dealing with the consequences of his actions from the first film. This movie also introduces us to S.H.I.E.L.D., the secretive organization that would go on to play a significant role in the Avengers' story.
Thor (2011)
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor tells the story of the god of thunder, banished to Earth after a reckless decision leads to war in his home realm of Asgard. This film introduces us to Chris Hemsworth's Thor and Tom Hiddleston's Loki, the trickster god who would become the Avengers' arch-nemesis.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Captain America: The First Avenger takes us back to the 1940s, where Steve Rogers, a scrawny but brave young man, is transformed into the peak of human potential by an experimental serum. Directed by Joe Johnston, this film introduces us to Chris Evans' Captain America and sets the stage for his eventual team-up with the Avengers.
The Avengers (2012)
Finally, all the pieces come together in The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon. When Loki steals the Tesseract, an powerful energy source, Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., assembles a team of heroes to stop him. The Avengers – Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye – must learn to work together to save the world from Loki's alien invasion.
Phase Two: The Expansion
Phase two of the MCU saw the Avengers team grow and face new challenges, both from within and without.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark faces off against the mysterious Mandarin and the villainous Aldrich Killian. Directed by Shane Black, this film explores the psychological consequences of the Battle of New York, which took place in the first Avengers movie.
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Thor: The Dark World sees Thor and Loki team up to defeat Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves, who threatens to plunge the Nine Realms into darkness. Directed by Alan Taylor, this film also introduces us to the Reality Stone, one of the Infinity Stones that would later play a crucial role in the Avengers' story.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers and Black Widow battling against HYDRA, a secretive organization that has infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. Directed by the Russo brothers, this film introduces us to Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, and sets the stage for a major conflict within the Avengers.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
While not directly related to the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy is an important piece of the puzzle. Directed by James Gunn, this film introduces us to a ragtag group of heroes – Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Groot, and Rocket – who must come together to defeat the villainous Ronan. The Guardians would later play a crucial role in the Avengers' story, most notably in Infinity War and Endgame.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony Stark's attempt to create a peacekeeping AI named Ultron backfires, leading to a global threat that the Avengers must stop. Directed by Joss Whedon, this film introduces us to Vision, a powerful AI created from Ultron's code, and Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch, who would later become a key member of the Avengers.
Ant-Man (2015)
Ant-Man introduces us to Scott Lang, a thief with a heart of gold who becomes the size-changing hero of the same name. Directed by Peyton Reed, this film has a few connections to the Avengers, most notably the introduction of Paul Rudd's Ant-Man and the reveal of Hank Pym's history with S.H.I.E.L.D.
Phase Three: The Confrontation
Phase three of the MCU saw the Avengers confront the consequences of their actions and face their greatest challenge yet.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Captain America: Civil War sees the Avengers divided over the implementation of the Sokovia Accords, a government-mandated system of accountability for enhanced individuals. Directed by the Russo brothers, this film features an epic airport battle between the heroes and introduces us to Black Panther, who would later become a key member of the Avengers.
Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange introduces us to Stephen Strange, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon who becomes the Master of the Mystic Arts after a car accident leaves him with damaged hands. Directed by Scott Derrickson, this film explores the world of magic and the multiverse, which would later play a significant role in the Avengers' story.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 sees the Guardians protecting a group of alien creatures called the Sovereign from a powerful enemy. Directed by James Gunn, this film introduces us to Ego, the Living Planet, and explores the origins of Peter Quill's parentage.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man: Homecoming follows Peter Parker as he balances his life as a high school student with his responsibilities as a superhero. Directed by Jon Watts, this film features a memorable appearance by Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark and sets the stage for Spider-Man's eventual integration into the Avengers.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor: Ragnarok sees Thor battling his sister Hela, who seeks to bring about the destruction of Asgard. Directed by Taika Waititi, this film introduces us to the Hulk's gladiatorial alter ego, the Grandmaster, and features a memorable appearance by Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner.
Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther follows T'Challa, the new king of Wakanda, as he faces challenges from within and without. Directed by Ryan Coogler, this film introduces us to the advanced technology and culture of Wakanda and features a memorable performance by Chadwick Boseman as the titular hero.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Finally, all the pieces come together in Avengers: Infinity War. Directed by the Russo brothers, this film sees the Avengers and their allies team up to stop Thanos, a powerful warlord who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones and wipe out half of all life in the universe. This film features an epic battle on Titan and a shocking cliffhanger ending that left fans reeling.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Ant-Man and the Wasp takes place between the events of Civil War and Infinity War. Directed by Peyton Reed, this film sees Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne team up to rescue Janet van Dyne from the Quantum Realm. This film features a post-credits scene that ties into the events of Infinity War and sets the stage for Endgame.
Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel introduces us to Carol Danvers, a former Air Force pilot who becomes the powerful hero Captain Marvel. Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, this film explores the origins of the character and features a memorable appearance by Brie Larson's Carol Danvers.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The culmination of over a decade of storytelling, Avengers: Endgame sees the surviving Avengers travel through time to collect the Infinity Stones and reverse Thanos' snap. Directed by the Russo brothers, this film features an epic battle in the final act that brings together heroes from across the MCU and ties up many of the loose ends from the previous films.
Phase Four: The Future
Phase four of the MCU is just getting started, with several new films and TV shows on the way. While it's too early to say for sure, it's likely that these new stories will continue to build on the foundations laid by the Avengers movies and expand the MCU in exciting new directions.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! That's our ultimate guide to watching the Avengers movies in order of story. We hope this helps you make sense of the sprawling MCU and enjoy the epic journey of our favorite heroes. Until next time, stay heroic!