Your Ultimate Guide: What Avengers Movie Should I Watch First?
Hello there, Marvel enthusiast! You've found yourself at the perfect place to start your journey into the vast and exciting world of the Avengers. With so many epic films to choose from, you might be wondering, "What Avengers movie should I watch first?" Don't worry, we've got you covered! Let's dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and navigate this superhero-packed universe together. Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and what avengers movie should i watch first.
Understanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Before we jump into the Avengers films, let's quickly understand the MCU's structure. The MCU is a series of interconnected films, TV shows, and shorts that share a common universe and continuity. The storylines are organized into distinct phases, with each phase focusing on a particular set of characters or events.
The MCU currently consists of four phases, with Phase Four ongoing. Each phase culminates in a massive crossover event, starting with the Avengers films. So, when deciding "What Avengers movie should I watch first?", it's essential to consider the chronological order of the MCU, not just the release dates.
The Infinity Saga: Phases One to Three
The first three phases of the MCU are collectively known as the Infinity Saga, as they lead up to and conclude with the epic battle against Thanos, the Mad Titan. This saga is where the Avengers' story begins and ends. So, if you're asking, "What Avengers movie should I watch first?" the answer lies within the Infinity Saga.
Phase One: Establishing the Avengers
Phase One introduces us to the core Avengers team and sets the stage for their eventual assembly. It consists of six films released between 2008 and 2012.
1. Iron Man (2008) - Kickstarting the MCU, Iron Man introduces us to billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, who builds a suit of armor and becomes the invincible Iron Man.
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008) - While not an official part of the Avengers team yet, this film introduces Dr. Bruce Banner and his alter ego, the Hulk.
3. Iron Man 2 (2010) - Tony Stark faces new challenges and meets S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff, who will later become the Black Widow.
4. Thor (2011) - The God of Thunder, Thor, is banished to Earth and must learn to live among humans while trying to reclaim his hammer, Mjolnir.
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - Steve Rogers is transformed into the Super-Soldier, Captain America, and fights against the evil HYDRA organization during World War II.
6. The Avengers (2012) - Finally, the Avengers assemble! Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, and Black Widow join forces to battle the otherworldly threat of Loki and his Chitauri army.
Phase Two: Building the Team
Phase Two expands the Avengers' roster and explores the consequences of their actions in the first phase. It consists of seven films released between 2013 and 2015.
1. Iron Man 3 (2013) - Tony Stark faces post-traumatic stress disorder following the Battle of New York and must protect those he loves from a new threat.
2. Thor: The Dark World (2013) - Thor and Jane Foster must stop the dark elf Malekith from plunging the universe into eternal darkness.
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - Steve Rogers uncovers a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D. and teams up with Black Widow and Falcon to take down the Winter Soldier.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) - A group of misfits and outlaws come together to form the Guardians of the Galaxy, setting the stage for future crossovers with the Avengers.
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - The Avengers must stop the rogue AI Ultron from enacting his genocidal plan to save humanity.
6. Ant-Man (2015) - Scott Lang discovers the power of shrinking and becomes the hero Ant-Man, setting the stage for future collaborations with the Avengers.
7. Captain America: Civil War (2016) - The Avengers are divided following the implementation of the Sokovia Accords, leading to an epic showdown between Captain America and Iron Man.
Phase Three: The Infinity War and Beyond
Phase Three brings the Infinity Saga to a close with the epic battle against Thanos. It consists of ten films released between 2016 and 2019.
1. Doctor Strange (2016) - Stephen Strange discovers the world of magic and becomes the Sorcerer Supreme, joining the Avengers' ranks as their resident mystic.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) - The Guardians of the Galaxy face off against the celestial being Ego and discover new members of their team.
3. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) - Peter Parker balances his life as a high school student and his newfound responsibilities as Spider-Man, teaming up with the Avengers to take down the Vulture.
4. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - Thor must stop the goddess of death Hela and her plans to destroy Asgard, teaming up with the Hulk and Valkyrie along the way.
5. Black Panther (2018) - T'Challa becomes the new King of Wakanda and must defend his kingdom from those who seek to exploit its resources, joined by the Black Panther's Dora Milaje and the Avengers.
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - The Avengers and their allies face off against the Mad Titan Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones and wipe out half of all life in the universe.
7. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) - Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne team up as Ant-Man and the Wasp to take down the sinister Ghost, setting the stage for their role in the final battle against Thanos.
8. Captain Marvel (2019) - Carol Danvers becomes Captain Marvel and teams up with Nick Fury to take down the Skrulls and protect the galaxy from their invasion.
9. Avengers: Endgame (2019) - The surviving Avengers travel through time to collect the Infinity Stones and reverse Thanos' snap, culminating in a final battle to save the universe.
10. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) - Peter Parker goes on a school trip to Europe, where he faces off against the mysterious Mysterio and the Elementals, learning the true meaning of responsibility.
The Multiverse and Beyond: Phase Four and Beyond
With the Infinity Saga concluded, the MCU has entered Phase Four and beyond, exploring new corners of the universe and introducing fresh faces to the Avengers' roster. Phase Four consists of several films and TV shows released between 2021 and the present, focusing on the aftermath of Endgame and the introduction of the Multiverse.
1. WandaVision (2021) - Wanda Maximoff and Vision must deal with the consequences of their actions in Wanda's hex and confront the forces that seek to control them.
2. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) - Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes team up to take down the Flag-Smashers and the Power Broker, with Sam eventually taking up the mantle of Captain America.
3. Loki (2021) - Loki's adventures through the Multiverse lead him to confront the Time Variance Authority and the mysterious figure known as He Who Remains.
4. Black Widow (2021) - Natasha Romanoff confronts her past as a Black Widow trainee and teams up with her "sisters" to take down the Red Room and its leader, Taskmaster.
5. What If...? (2021) - An animated series exploring alternate realities and the Multiverse, featuring the voices of the MCU's original cast.
6. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) - Shang-Chi must confront his past and his father's criminal organization, the Ten Rings, while protecting the mystical village of Ta Lo.
7. Eternals (2021) - The Eternals, an ancient race of superhumans, reunite to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants.
8. Hawkeye (2021) - Clint Barton teams up with Kate Bishop to take down the Tracksuit Mafia and train his successor as the next Ronin.
9. Moon Knight (2022) - Marc Spector becomes the Moon Knight, a powerful vigilante with multiple personalities, as he battles against the god Ammit and Arthur Harrow.
10. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) - Doctor Strange delves into the Multiverse to protect America Chavez and stop the evil Scarlet Witch from destroying reality.
11. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) - Thor joins forces with the Mighty Thor, Jane Foster, to battle the god of chaos, Gorr the God Butcher, and his army of dark elves.
12. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) - The people of Wakanda must defend their kingdom from a new threat, led by the powerful and mysterious Namor.
13. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (TBA) - The Guardians of the Galaxy go on a mission to save Christmas, leading to unexpected consequences and new alliances.
14. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) - Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne face off against the powerful Kang the Conqueror in the Microverse.
15. Captain America: New World Order (TBA) - Sam Wilson takes up the mantle of Captain America once again, facing off against a new threat in the post-Endgame world.
16. Ironheart (TBA) - Riri Williams becomes the hero Ironheart, using her genius-level intellect and advanced technology to protect the world from evil.
17. Armor Wars (TBA) - Tony Stark's legacy is threatened when a powerful AI takes control of his advanced technology, leading to a war for the future of humanity.
18. Fantastic Four (TBA) - The Fantastic Four make their MCU debut, exploring the mysteries of the Multiverse and the powers that lie within.
As you can see, there are plenty of options when deciding "What Avengers movie should I watch first?" The answer ultimately depends on what aspects of the MCU you're most interested in. If you want to start with the core Avengers team, Phase One is the way to go. If you're interested in the consequences of their actions and the expansion of the team, Phase Two is perfect. And if you're eager to see the epic conclusion of the Infinity Saga and the introduction of the Multiverse, Phase Three is your best bet.
Watching the MCU in Chronological Order
While release dates can be a helpful