As a devoted Marvel fan, I often find myself contemplating the best way to experience the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned viewer, understanding the chronological order of Marvel movies and shows is crucial for fully grasping the intricate storyline. In this guide, I’ll take you through the MCU timeline, featuring all movies, TV shows, and special presentations. Get ready for an epic viewing journey!
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Overview
The MCU is a vast franchise that began with “Iron Man” in 2008 and has since expanded to include numerous films and television series. With interconnected stories and beloved characters, the MCU has become a cultural phenomenon. Watching in chronological order allows you to see character arcs develop in a coherent manner.
Why Watch in Chronological Order?
While some fans prefer the release order, watching in chronological order presents the story as it unfolds within the universe. This method provides context and enhances emotional connections between characters. For instance, seeing the origins of Captain America before the events of “The Avengers” deepens the viewer’s understanding of his character.
The Ultimate Chronological List of Marvel Movies and Shows
Here’s my recommended viewing order for the MCU:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Agent Carter (TV Series, 2015)
- Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter (2013)
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Iron Man (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Thor (2011)
- The Consultant (One-Shot, 2011)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (One-Shot, 2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Item 47 (One-Shot, 2012)
- Iron Man 3 (2013)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, 2013-2014)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 2, 2014-2015)
- Daredevil (Season 1, 2015)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- 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)
- WandaVision (TV Series, 2021)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV Series, 2021)
- Loki (TV Series, 2021)
- Black Widow (2021)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- Eternals (2021)
- Hawkeye (TV Series, 2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Moon Knight (TV Series, 2022)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- Ms. Marvel (TV Series, 2022)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (TV Series, 2022)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- Secret Invasion (TV Series, 2023)
- Loki (Season 2, 2023)
- The Marvels (2023)
- Agatha All Along (TV Series, 2024)
MCU course of events: How to watch the MCU in sequential request
This is a definitive watch request for MCU completists to watch occasions of the MCU work out in sequential request, yet there are a few standards we’ve needed to force to make it as direct as could really be expected.
In the event that something happens in various time spans, for example, Eternals, we’ve put it where the heft of the film or Program happens.
As referenced over, the most up to date discharge Agatha From the beginning is additionally the most recent trip sequentially, occurring in late 2026 in the MCU.
Deadpool and Wolverine actually happens before most of Stage 4 in Walk 2024, however considering that the film highlights gags about the Multiverse, you could likewise watch it after all the other things as there’s no genuine association with more extensive MCU occasions.
We’d likewise propose watching the two times of Loki after Vindicators: Final plan, not just in light of the fact that that is the point at which 2012’s Loki severs into his own timetable, yet additionally on the grounds that the occasions of the subsequent season lay out how the multiverse was made which is a significant piece of Stage 4 onwards.
What If…? likewise exists in its own space and could actually be observed any time given that it includes different universes and courses of events.
The equivalent goes for the subsequent season, so we’ve popped them close to one another on the sequential request, yet you could truly observe any of the episodes whenever during your long distance race MCU watch.
We’d propose watching What If…? after Loki however, as that is the show that acquaints the multiverse with the MCU.
Also, we could go on and on all day about Specialists of Safeguard’s last season, which for the most part occurred in a substitute timetable before in the end converging back with the primary MCU course of events. For ease, watch everything after season six, and it’ll check out.
X-Men ’97 was affirmed to be its “own thing” by showrunner Playmate DeMayo (who has since been given up by Wonder) so we’ve left it off the sequential request course of events as it doesn’t get over with the primary MCU (at any rate, not yet).
In any case, beside that, it’s for the most part lovely direct in any event, when the multiverse becomes an integral factor.
Likewise with the delivery request list, films are in striking sort, shorts are in italics and Programs and oddball specials are not one or the other.
1. Captain America: The First Avenger
2. Agent Carter (one-shot on Iron Man 3 DVD)
3. Agent Carter (season 1)
4. Agent Carter (season 2)
5. Captain Marvel (mid-credit scene set after Infinity War)
6. Iron Man
7. Iron Man 2
8. The Incredible Hulk
9. The Consultant (one-shot on the Thor DVD)
10. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (one-shot on the Captain America: The First Avenger DVD)
11. Thor
12. The Avengers (aka Avengers Assemble in some regions)
13. Item 47 (one-shot on the Avengers Assemble DVD)
14. Agents of SHIELD (season 1, eps 1-7)
15. Thor: The Dark World
16. Agents of SHIELD (season 1, eps 8-16)
17. Iron Man 3
18. All Hail the King (one-shot on the Thor: The Dark World DVD)
19. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
20. Agents of SHIELD (season 1, eps 17-22)
21. Guardians of the Galaxy
22. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
23. I Am Groot (season 1)
24. I Am Groot (season 2)
25. Daredevil (season 1)
26. Agents of SHIELD (season 2, eps 1-10)
27. Jessica Jones (season 1)
28. Agents of SHIELD (season 2, eps 11-19)
29. Avengers: Age of Ultron
30. Agents of SHIELD (season 2, eps 20-22)
31. Daredevil (season 2, eps 1-4)
32. Luke Cage (season 1, eps 1-4)
33. Daredevil (season 2, eps 5-11)
34. Luke Cage (season 1, eps 5-8)
35. Daredevil (season 2, eps 12-13)
36. Luke Cage (season 1, eps 9-13)
37. Ant-Man
38. Agents of SHIELD (season 3, eps 1-10)
39. Agents of SHIELD (season 3, eps 11-19 – split due to new story arc)
40. Iron Fist (season 1)
41. Captain America: Civil War
42. Team Thor (one-shot on the Captain America: Civil War DVD)
43. Team Thor: Part 2 (one-shot on the Doctor Strange DVD)
44. Black Widow (watch credits scene after Avengers: Endgame)
45. Agents of SHIELD (season 3, eps 20-22)
46. The Defenders (season 1)
47. Agents of SHIELD (season 4, eps 1-6)
48. Doctor Strange
49. Black Panther
50. Agents of SHIELD (season 4, eps 7-8)
51. Agents of SHIELD: Slingshot (season 1, eps 1-6)
52. Agents of SHIELD (season 4, eps 9-22)
53. Spider-Man: Homecoming
54. Thor: Ragnarok
55. Team Darryl (one-shot on the Thor: Ragnarok DVD)
56. Inhumans (season 1)
57. The Punisher (season 1)
58. Runaways (season 1)
59. Agents of SHIELD (season 5, eps 1-10) – allowing for time travel craziness
60. Jessica Jones (season 2)
61. Agents of SHIELD (season 5, eps 11-18)
62. Cloak & Dagger (season 1)
63. Cloak & Dagger (season 2)
64. Luke Cage (season 2)
65. Iron Fist (season 2)
66. Daredevil (season 3)
67. Runaways (season 2)
68. The Punisher (season 2)
69. Jessica Jones (season 3)
70. Ant-Man and the Wasp (watch credits scene after Infinity War)
71. Avengers: Infinity War
72. Agents of SHIELD (season 5, eps 19-22) – concurrent with Infinity War
73. Agents of SHIELD (season 6) – takes place in Endgame‘s five-year time jump
74. Agents of SHIELD (season 7) – takes place in Endgame‘s five-year time jump
75. Runaways (season 3) – seems to take place post-Snap mostly
76. Avengers: Endgame
77. Loki (season 1) (allowing for timey-wimey, alternate timeline weirdness)
78. Loki (season 2)
79. What If…? (season 1)
80. What If…? (season 2)
81. WandaVision
82. Deadpool & Wolverine
83. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
84. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
85. Eternals
86. Spider-Man: Far From Home
87. Spider-Man: No Way Home
88. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
89. Hawkeye
90. Moon Knight
91. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
92. Echo
93. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
94. Ms Marvel
95. Thor: Love and Thunder
96. Werewolf by Night
97. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
98. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
99. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
100. Secret Invasion
101. The Marvels
102. Agatha All Along
How to Watch Marvel Movies in Order
If you’re diving into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and want to focus solely on the movies, you’re in the right place. Here’s a straightforward list of all the MCU films in release order, perfect for newcomers who want to experience the franchise as audiences did originally.
Phase 1
- Iron Man (May 2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (June 2008)
- Iron Man 2 (April 2010)
- Thor (April 2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (July 2011)
- The Avengers (aka Avengers Assemble) (April 2012)
Phase 2
- Iron Man 3 (April 2013)
- Thor: The Dark World (November 2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (March 2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (July 2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (April 2015)
- Ant-Man (July 2015)
Phase 3
- Captain America: Civil War (April 2016)
- Doctor Strange (October 2016)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (April 2017)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok (October 2017)
- Black Panther (February 2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (April 2018)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 2018)
- Captain Marvel (March 2019)
- Avengers: Endgame (April 2019)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2019)
Phase 4
- Black Widow (July 2021)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 2021)
- Eternals (November 2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 2021)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 2022)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (July 2022)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 2022)
Phase 5
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (February 2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 (May 2023)
- The Marvels (November 2023)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (July 2024)
Upcoming MCU Movies
- Captain America: Brave New World – February 14, 2025
- Daredevil: Born Again – March 2025
- Thunderbolts – May 2, 2025
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps – July 25, 2025
- Blade – November 7, 2025
- Ironheart – 2025
- Vision Quest – 2026
- Avengers: Doomsday – May 1, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars – May 7, 2027
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – TBA
- Wonder Man – TBA
- X-Men – TBA
- Armor Wars – TBA
- Marvel Zombies – TBA
- Eyes of Wakanda – TBA
Quick Tips for Watching:
- Release Order vs. Chronological Order: If you’re new to the MCU, watching in release order helps you appreciate the evolution of the story and characters.
- Prepare for a Marathon: With over 30 films, you might want to plan your viewing sessions. It’s quite a commitment!
External Resources for Further Reading
For more details on the MCU timeline, check out Digital Spy’s guide and GamesRadar’s comprehensive timeline.
Whether you decide to binge-watch the entire MCU or revisit your favorites, watching in chronological order offers a fresh perspective on the interconnected stories. With the exciting new releases coming in 2024, now is the perfect time to dive into this cinematic universe. Enjoy your Marvel journey!
Feel free to explore other Marvel content or check for updates as new releases are announced. Happy viewing!
