Your Ultimate Guide to the Order of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Hey there, true believers! Are you ready to dive into the sprawling, epic tale that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)? With so many movies and shows, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out the best order to watch them in. Fret not, for we've crafted the ultimate guide to help you navigate the order of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and order of marvel cinematic universe.
Why Watch the MCU in Order?
Before we dive in, let's talk about why you might want to watch the MCU in order. For starters, it's an epic, interconnected saga with a massive overarching story. Watching them in order helps you appreciate the subtle callbacks, character developments, and plot threads that weave throughout the universe.
Plus, it's just more fun that way! You'll get to experience the surprises and shocks alongside the characters, and you'll have a deeper understanding of the universe's rich history and mythology.
The Phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The MCU is divided into phases, each representing a distinct era in the universe's history. Here's a breakdown of the phases and their respective release orders:
- Phase One (2008-2012): The Origin - Phase Two (2013-2015): The Chaos - Phase Three (2016-2019): The Infinity Saga - Phase Four (2021-Present): The Multiverse Saga
Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty – the actual order to watch the MCU!
The Chronological Order
If you're a stickler for timelines and want to watch the MCU in the order the events actually happen, this is the order for you. Keep in mind, this isn't the release order, so you'll be jumping around a bit.
- 1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1942-1945)
- 2. Agent Carter (TV Series, 1946-1953)
- 3. Captain Marvel (1989-1995)
- 4. Iron Man (2010)
- 5. Iron Man 2 (2011)
- 6. Thor (2011)
- 7. The Incredible Hulk (2011)
- 8. The Avengers (2012)
- 9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- 10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- 11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014)
- 12. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- 13. Ant-Man (2015)
- 14. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 15. Doctor Strange (2016)
- 16. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- 18. Black Panther (2018)
- 19. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- 21. Captain Marvel (2019)
- 22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The Release Order
If you're more interested in following the story as it was told to us, the release order is the way to go. This is the order in which the movies and shows were released in theaters or on streaming platforms.
- 1. Iron Man (2008)
- 2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- 3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
- 4. Thor (2011)
- 5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- 6. Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
- 7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- 9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- 10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- 11. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- 12. Ant-Man (2015)
- 13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 14. Doctor Strange (2016)
- 15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- 16. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- 17. Black Panther (2018)
- 18. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 19. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- 20. Captain Marvel (2019)
- 21. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The Disney+ Release Order
If you're binge-watching the MCU on Disney+, this is the order for you. It's based on the release order, but with the TV shows and specials thrown in.
- 1. Iron Man (2008)
- 2. Iron Man 2 (2010)
- 3. Thor (2011)
- 4. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- 5. The Avengers (2012)
- 6. Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 7. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- 8. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- 9. Agent Carter (TV Series, 2015)
- 10. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- 11. Ant-Man (2015)
- 12. Jessica Jones (TV Series, 2015)
- 13. Daredevil (TV Series, 2015)
- 14. Luke Cage (TV Series, 2016)
- 15. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 16. Doctor Strange (2016)
- 17. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- 18. The Defenders (TV Series, 2017)
- 19. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- 20. Black Panther (2018)
- 21. The Punisher (TV Series, 2017)
- 22. Jessica Jones (TV Series, 2018)
- 23. Luke Cage (TV Series, 2018)
- 24. Daredevil (TV Series, 2018)
- 25. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 26. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- 27. Runaways (TV Series, 2017)
- 28. Cloak & Dagger (TV Series, 2018)
- 29. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Series, 2013-Present)
- 30. Captain Marvel (2019)
- 31. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 32. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV Series, 2021)
- 33. WandaVision (TV Series, 2021)
- 34. Loki (TV Series, 2021)
- 35. What If...? (TV Series, 2021)
- 36. Hawkeye (TV Series, 2021)
- 37. Moon Knight (TV Series, 2022)
- 38. Ms. Marvel (TV Series, 2022)
- 39. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (TV Series, 2022)
- 40. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- 41. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
- 42. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
The Multiverse Saga Order
Finally, we have the order for Phase Four and beyond, which is often referred to as the Multiverse Saga. This order is based on the release order, but with the TV shows and specials thrown in, and with a focus on the multiverse and time travel elements.
- 1. WandaVision (TV Series, 2021)
- 2. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV Series, 2021)
- 3. Loki (TV Series, 2021)
- 4. What If...? (TV Series, 2021)
- 5. Hawkeye (TV Series, 2021)
- 6. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 7. Moon Knight (TV Series, 2022)
- 8. Ms. Marvel (TV Series, 2022)
- 9. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- 10. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (TV Series, 2022)
- 11. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- 12. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
- 13. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- 14. Secret Invasion (TV Series, 2023)
- 15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 16. Echo (TV Series, 2023)
- 17. Ironheart (TV Series, 2023)
- 18. Agents of Atlas (TV Series, TBA)
- 19. Daredevil: Born Again (TV Series, TBA)
- 20. Captain America: New World Order (2024)
- 21. Thunderbolts (2024)
- 22. Blade (2024)
- 23. Fantastic Four (2024)
- 24. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025)
- 25. Avengers: Secret Wars (2026)
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! Whether you're a seasoned MCU veteran or a new recruit, we hope this guide helps you navigate the sprawling, epic tale that is the Marvel Cinematic