Your Ultimate Guide: What Order to Watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Hello, fellow Marvel enthusiasts! If you're here, it means you're ready to dive into the vast and thrilling world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With over 20 movies and counting, it can be overwhelming to figure out what order to watch the Marvel movies. Fret not, we've got you covered! In this guide, we'll explore different viewing orders to suit every fan's preference. So, grab your popcorn and let's get started! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and what order to watch the marvel.
Chronological Order: The Story as it Unfolds
If you're a purist who wants to experience the MCU story as it unfolds in the timeline, then the chronological order is for you. This order starts with the first MCU movie, "Iron Man" (2008), and proceeds in the order the events occur within the MCU timeline.
Here's the chronological order list:
- 1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1942)
- 2. Iron Man (2008)
- 3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
- 4. Thor (2011)
- 5. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- 6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- 7. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- 8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014)
- 9. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- 10. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 11. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)
- 12. Black Panther (2018)
- 13. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 14. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- 15. Captain Marvel (2019)
- 16. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 17. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Pros: - Experience the story as it happens in the MCU timeline. - Understand the context and references in later movies.
Cons: - Some movies might not make sense without the backstory provided in the release order. - The order may feel disjointed due to the time gaps between movies.
Release Order: The Classic Movie Marathon
The release order is the order in which the movies were released in theaters. This order is great for those who want to follow the hype and experience the MCU as it unfolded for the rest of the world.
Here's the release order list:
- 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. 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)
- 22. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Pros: - Follow the hype and experience the MCU as it was released. - Understand the cultural impact and references to real-world events.
Cons: - Some movies might not make sense without the backstory provided in later movies. - The order may feel disjointed due to the time gaps between movies.
Connected Characters: The Phase-based Order
Marvel Studios has organized their movies into phases, with each phase focusing on specific storylines and character arcs. The connected characters order follows the phases and is a great way to understand the connections between characters and storylines.
Here's the connected characters order list:
- 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. 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)
- 22. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Pros: - Understand the connections between characters and storylines. - Experience the character arcs and growth throughout the phases.
Cons: - Some movies might not make sense without the backstory provided in later movies. - The order may feel disjointed due to the time gaps between movies.
The Infinity Saga: The Big Picture
If you want to understand the overarching story of the MCU, then the Infinity Saga order is for you. This order follows the story of Thanos and the Infinity Stones, providing a clear narrative from start to finish.
Here's the Infinity Saga order list:
- 1. Iron Man (2008)
- 2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- 3. Thor (2011)
- 4. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- 5. The Avengers (2012)
- 6. Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 7. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- 8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- 9. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- 10. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- 11. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 12. Doctor Strange (2016)
- 13. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- 14. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- 15. Black Panther (2018)
- 16. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 17. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- 18. Captain Marvel (2019)
- 19. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 20. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Pros: - Understand the overarching story of the MCU. - Experience the narrative from start to finish.
Cons: - Some movies might not make sense without the backstory provided in later movies. - The order may feel disjointed due to the time gaps between movies.
The Phase-based Saga: The Best of Both Worlds
If you want the best of both worlds, then the phase-based saga order is for you. This order combines the phase-based approach with the Infinity Saga narrative, providing a clear story with character connections.
Here's the phase-based saga order list:
- 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. 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)
- 22. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Pros: - Understand the connections between characters and storylines. - Experience the overarching story of the MCU.
Cons: - Some movies might not make sense without the backstory provided in later movies. - The order may feel disjointed due to the time gaps between movies.
The Marvel Method: The MCU Your Way
Ultimately, the best way to watch the MCU is the way that brings you the most enjoyment. Whether you prefer to follow the story chronologically