You’ve got dozens of interconnected films, multiple sagas, and a timeline that jumps from World War II to the multiverse. Choosing the right sequence turns a scattered collection into one coherent story.
This guide gives you both the release order (how audiences originally experienced the films) and the chronological order (when the events happen inside the story). It covers every official Marvel Cinematic Universe film released, notes where newer entries such as The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Spider-Man: Brand New Day fit, and includes practical streaming and viewing advice.
Also Read:
How to watch Netflix in 4K on PC
Visual Story: Tap through our interactive breakdown of MCU Phase One
Why Watching Order Matters
The MCU builds character arcs, setups, and payoffs across films. Watching out of sequence can spoil major reveals or leave key relationships unexplained. Release order preserves the surprises and the gradual expansion of the universe. Chronological order creates a continuous narrative flow once you already know the big twists.
Both approaches work. The choice depends on whether this is your first time through or a rewatch ahead of Avengers: Doomsday.
MCU Movies in Release Order (By Phase)
This is the sequence the films arrived in theaters. It remains the recommended path for first-time viewers because it matches the intended reveals and the evolution of the storytelling.
The Infinity Saga
Phase One (2008–2012)
- Iron Man (May 2, 2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (June 13, 2008)
- Iron Man 2 (May 7, 2010)
- Thor (May 6, 2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22, 2011)
- The Avengers (May 4, 2012)
Phase Two (2013–2015)
- Iron Man 3 (May 3, 2013)
- Thor: The Dark World (November 8, 2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (April 4, 2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (August 1, 2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1, 2015)
- Ant-Man (July 17, 2015)
Phase Three (2016–2019)
- Captain America: Civil War (May 6, 2016)
- Doctor Strange (November 4, 2016)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (May 5, 2017)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7, 2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok (November 3, 2017)
- Black Panther (February 16, 2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (April 27, 2018)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6, 2018)
- Captain Marvel (March 8, 2019)
- Avengers: Endgame (April 26, 2019)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2, 2019)
The Multiverse Saga
Phase Four (2021–2022)
- Black Widow (July 9, 2021)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 3, 2021)
- Eternals (November 5, 2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 17, 2021)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 6, 2022)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8, 2022)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 11, 2022)
Phase Five (2023–2025)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17, 2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5, 2023)
- The Marvels (November 10, 2023)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26, 2024)
- Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)
- Thunderbolts* (May 2, 2025)
Phase Six (2025–2027)
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025)
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026)
- Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026)
- Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027) — upcoming
Release order keeps the original theatrical experience intact. The phases group the films into clear story blocks that build toward major team-up events.
MCU Movies in Chronological Order
This sequence follows the internal timeline of events. It starts earlier in the story’s history and rearranges a few titles for narrative continuity. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set on an alternate Earth in a retro-futuristic 1960s setting, so placement varies across official and fan guides; many current lists put it near the end of the current slate because the team crosses into the main timeline later.
A practical chronological movie-only order used by major guides:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (1940s)
- Captain Marvel (1995)
- Iron Man
- Iron Man 2
- The Incredible Hulk
- Thor
- The Avengers
- Iron Man 3
- Thor: The Dark World
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Black Widow
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Black Panther
- Doctor Strange
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Eternals
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
- The Marvels
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Captain America: Brave New World
- Thunderbolts*
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Disney+ maintains an official “MCU Complete Timeline” that also includes series and specials. The movie portion largely follows the pattern above, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps appearing later in the list once it joined the service. Exact placement of multiversal entries can shift as new films arrive.
Which Order Should You Choose?
First-time viewers: Start with release order. You experience the universe the same way audiences did from 2008 onward. The character introductions, post-credit scenes, and escalating stakes land with maximum impact.
Rewatchers or timeline completists: Use chronological order. It highlights cause-and-effect relationships more clearly and makes the larger saga feel continuous.
A hybrid approach also works well: watch the Infinity Saga (Phases One–Three) in release order, then switch to chronological for the Multiverse Saga if desired.
Where to Stream the Marvel Movies?
The majority of MCU films stream on Disney+. Most titles from Phases One through Six currently sit on the service in the United States. Certain Spider-Man films have had limited theatrical-to-streaming windows or regional variations due to distribution agreements, but they cycle back. Deadpool & Wolverine and recent Phase Five/Six entries joined Disney+ after their theatrical runs.
Check the Marvel brand page on Disney+ for the official timeline collection. Digital purchase or rental options remain available on major platforms for titles not currently streaming.
Upcoming MCU Movies to Watch For
- Avengers: Doomsday — December 18, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars — December 17, 2027
These two films conclude the Multiverse Saga. Additional projects such as Black Panther 3 and Ghost Rider are further out. Watching the current slate in either order above positions you for the events leading into Doomsday.
Practical Tips for Your Marvel Marathon
- Pace yourself. A full run exceeds 60 hours of runtime. Break it into phases or weekend blocks.
- Watch the post-credit scenes. They often contain important setup for later films.
- Note concurrent stories. Several Phase One and Two films overlap in time (for example, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor).
- For The Fantastic Four: First Steps, many viewers prefer release order because the film functions as a Phase Six entry that feeds into later crossovers.
- Keep a simple checklist. Marking films as you go prevents accidental skips.
- If time is limited, prioritize the Avengers films plus the major origin stories (Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, Black Panther, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Captain Marvel).
These tips come from repeated full viewings and tracking how new releases shift the overall experience.
Do I need to watch the Disney+ series?
No. The films stand alone as a complete story. The series add depth and connect certain characters, but they are optional for a movie-only run.
Where does Deadpool & Wolverine fit?
It is a Phase Five film in release order and sits late in most chronological lists because of its multiversal nature.
Is The Incredible Hulk essential?
It is part of the official MCU and introduces elements that appear later, though some viewers skip it on a first pass without major loss of continuity.
How many MCU movies are there as of August 2026?
Thirty-eight films have been released through Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with Avengers: Doomsday next.
Are the Marvel TV shows like “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” essential to the MCU storyline?
While some shows connect to the films, they’re not essential for understanding the main movie plot. They offer expanded lore and character development for dedicated fans.
Should I rewatch before Avengers: Doomsday?
A focused rewatch of Phase Five and the early Phase Six films (Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Spider-Man: Brand New Day) will refresh the setup.
Pick the order that matches your goal, queue the films, and start. The story rewards the time you invest.
