The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has grown into one of the most beloved franchises in film history. Whether you’re a first-time viewer or a seasoned fan preparing for a rewatch, knowing the correct viewing order helps maximize your Marvel experience. In this guide, we’ll list all Marvel movies in order, both chronological and release order, so you can choose the journey that suits you best.
Why Watch Marvel Movies in Order?
With interconnected storylines, cross-over events, and evolving character arcs, the Marvel movies in order make a lot more sense when viewed properly. Watching them in chronological order enhances the narrative flow, while watching in release order preserves the original cinematic experience.
Marvel Movies in Chronological Order
Here’s how to watch the Marvel movies in chronological order, based on the timeline of events within the MCU.
Phase 1 to Phase 4 – Chronological Timeline:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (World War II)
- Captain Marvel (1995)
- Iron Man (2010)
- Iron Man 2 (2011)
- The Incredible Hulk (Around 2011)
- Thor (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Iron Man 3 (2012)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Black Widow (2016)
- Black Panther (2016–2017)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016–2017)
- Doctor Strange (2016–2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2018–2023)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2023)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2023)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2023–Multiverse)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Post-Endgame)
- Eternals (Spans Thousands of Years – Post-Endgame)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Post-Endgame)
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (Multiverse Saga)
- The Marvels (Post–Secret Invasion)
Marvel Movies in Release Order
If you’re a traditionalist or want to experience the franchise as the world did, here’s how to view Marvel movies in release order:
Phase 1
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
Phase 2
- 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)
Phase 3
- 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)
Phase 4
- 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)
Phase 5 (So Far)
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- The Marvels (2023)
Which Order Should You Watch Marvel Movies In?
It depends on your goal:
- Chronological order is perfect for fans wanting a smooth narrative timeline.
- Release order lets you experience the same buildup and surprises audiences felt in real time.
Most fans start with chronological Marvel movies list after their first watch-through in release order. It gives fresh perspective on how the MCU connects.
Conclusion
Now that you have the complete list of Marvel movies in order, you’re ready to binge-watch the entire MCU! Whether you prefer the chronological Marvel movies list or the original release order, both options offer an incredible journey through one of cinema’s most expansive universes.
Bookmark this post and share it with your friends who are diving into the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline for the first time.