Marvel movies have become one of the most successful and influential franchises in cinematic history. With interconnected characters, storylines, and epic crossovers, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offers fans an immersive superhero experience like no other. Watching the Marvel movies in order, whether by release date or chronological timeline, helps audiences appreciate the continuity and subtle details that link the films together. Understanding the best viewing order can enhance the experience, especially for new fans entering this vast universe of heroes, villains, and unforgettable moments.
Release Order vs. Chronological Order
Understanding the Differences
There are two primary ways to watch the Marvel movies: by release order or chronological order. Watching in release order allows viewers to experience the story as audiences did when the films first came out. Chronological order, on the other hand, arranges the events according to the MCU timeline, beginning with the earliest in-universe events. Both approaches have their merits, depending on whether you’re revisiting the series or watching it for the first time.
Marvel Movies in Chronological Order
Below is the list of Marvel movies arranged according to the in-universe chronology of events, starting from World War II with Captain America to the multiverse chaos in recent releases.
- Captain America: The First Avenger(takes place during WWII)
- Captain Marvel(set in 1995)
- Iron Man(set in 2010)
- Iron Man 2(follows shortly after Iron Man)
- The Incredible Hulk(same time as Iron Man 2)
- Thor(occurs around the same time)
- The Avengers(brings characters together in 2012)
- Iron Man 3(set six months after Avengers)
- Thor: The Dark World(post-Avengers)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier(set in 2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy(set in 2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2(shortly after Vol. 1)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron(set in 2015)
- Ant-Man(set in 2015)
- Captain America: Civil War(set in 2016)
- Black Widow(set after Civil War)
- Black Panther(follows Civil War)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming(after Civil War, 2016)
- Doctor Strange(spans 2016-2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok(set in 2017)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp(just before Infinity War)
- Avengers: Infinity War(set in 2017)
- Avengers: Endgame(starts in 2018, jumps to 2023)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home(post-Endgame)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings(post-Endgame)
- Eternals(spans thousands of years, ends post-Endgame)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home(immediately after Far From Home)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness(follows No Way Home)
- Thor: Love and Thunder(post-Endgame)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever(post-Endgame)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania(post-Endgame)
- The Marvels(continuation of Captain Marvel storyline)
Marvel Movies in Release Order
Watching by release date follows the journey as fans experienced it in real time. This method also reflects the growth of the MCU and the evolution of character arcs.
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Iron Man 3 (2013)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
- Black Widow (2021)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- Eternals (2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- The Marvels (2023)
Why Order Matters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Building the Bigger Picture
The MCU is known for its interconnectivity. Events from one film often affect another, and characters frequently appear across multiple titles. Watching in the correct order whether by release or timeline helps in following character development and major plotlines like the Infinity Saga or Multiverse Saga.
Post-Credit Scenes
Each Marvel movie includes mid- or post-credit scenes that tease future storylines. These scenes often build anticipation for upcoming films, connect characters, or introduce new villains. Watching the movies in the correct order enhances the impact and context of these moments.
Tips for New Viewers
- Start with the chronological or release order depending on your preference.
- Take breaks between phases to digest the story arcs.
- Watch post-credit scenes for bonus story details.
- Consider watching related MCU series (like Loki, WandaVision) to fill in more story.
Marvel Phases Breakdown
Phase One
Introduced core Avengers: Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Hulk, ending with the team-up in The Avengers (2012).
Phase Two
Expanded the universe with new characters like the Guardians and Ant-Man, and set up more personal conflicts.
Phase Three
Built toward and concluded the Infinity Saga with major titles like Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame.
Phase Four
Introduced the Multiverse concept and characters like Shang-Chi, the Eternals, and explored aftermaths of Endgame.
Phase Five and Beyond
Continues expanding the multiverse and setting up new team-ups and threats.
The Marvel movies in order offer a rich and layered viewing experience. Whether you’re a new fan or rewatching the entire saga, understanding the release and chronological order enhances your appreciation of the overarching stories and detailed character development. With more titles coming, staying up to date with the MCU’s structure is essential for enjoying this cinematic universe to its fullest. Dive in, and enjoy the adventure across time, space, and multiple realities that Marvel has built over the years.