The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of heroes, villains and explosions -- and some confusing continuity. Show
While the MCU officially started in 2008 with the release of Iron Man, that doesn't mean that's the first film that you should watch. In fact, now the MCU encompasses over 20 movies and more than 10 TV shows (including the ill-fated Inhumans), with even more of both still coming. Instead of watching the multitude of Marvel movies in the order they were released, we've created our own handy guide to viewing the MCU the right way, along with where you can stream them all online, be it on Netflix or elsewhere. Let's start with the Infinity Saga. (And a warning: spoilers ahead.) Originally published July 2, 2017. Note that CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale or rental of the movies featured in this story.
We all need a refresher on how to watch the Marvel movies in order from time to time. But when a new release rolls around, as is the case with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, that feeling intensifies tenfold. Whether you’re dipping into the MCU for a quick recap or are going for a full-blown chronological order marathon before the Black Panther sequel, it helps to keep a full list handy. You’ll need it, too. What was once a simple A-to-B watch order has morphed into a months-long endeavor packed with sprawling stories, movies, and TV shows. Need help with that? That’s where we come in. Below, we’ve put together the full list for how to watch the Marvel movies in order. There’s the simplified release order, starting from Iron Man and ending with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Then, there’s the more complex chronological order that, honestly, we can only really recommend to MCU veterans or those on their second time through. We’ve even gone a little deeper in our Marvel watch order guides, exploring which movies and shows are available on Disney Plus, as well as the thorny question of whether you should slide Netflix’s Defenders Saga into your Marvel marathons. Ready? Let’s hope you can do this all day. You’ll need as long as you can get. How to watch the Marvel movies in order – release orderBest for: Newcomers to the Marvel movies. First up, here's how to watch the Marvel movies in release order. Marvel films, we should note, are split into Phases, with the end of a Phase typically indicating a natural end to a story arc. The beginning of a Phase, therefore, signals the introduction of new, important characters. Below, we go through Phases 1 to 4 in release order. Yes, that includes WandaVision/Falcon and The Winter Soldier/Loki/Moon Knight. They're not movies, but the Disney Plus series are just as important to the overarching story. Phase One:
Phase Two:
Phase Three:
Phase Four:
Want to dive in right now? The majority of the Marvel movies are available on Disney Plus. If you want to check out the best deals for the streaming service, head over to our Disney Plus bundles page. We also know a fair amount of what's coming up in the future, with Marvel having laid out plans for Phase 5 and beyond. Out of the current list, Deadpool 3 is the only one not explicitly tied to a Phase, though we're comfortable putting it alongside Blade for now as Fantastic Four is going to kick off Marvel's Phase 6. Phase 4, meanwhile, has an epilogue-of-sorts with James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special later in November. Here's a taste of the Marvel movies coming out over the next few years – and for a full deep-dive, check out our explainer on all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows heading your way soon. Phase Four continued (unreleased):
Phase 5 (unreleased):
Phase 6 (unreleased):
TBA (unreleased):
How to watch the Marvel movies in order – chronological orderBest for: MCU veterans looking for a new way to watch. Want to experience the MCU in a more complicated fashion? Then you'll perhaps want to know how to watch the Marvel movies in chronological order. This one's a little less straightforward than the above list. Luckily, Marvel has revealed most of the official years in which each movie takes place. That goes right up to Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which fits snugly in-between Endgame and Far From Home and the likes of Hawkeye, which takes place around No Way Home. We've now reached 2025, with She-Hulk and Thor: Love and Thunder seemingly all taking place in that not-so-far-flung future year. But be warned: Marvel occasionally takes creative liberties with the timeline order of some of these entries. Our list uses Marvel's own official order on Disney Plus as a guide, but some things might feel a little out of sorts if you think about it too hard. Looking at you, Werewolf by Night. And also for the completionists among you – the I Am Groot short 'First Steps' takes place before Guardians 2, while the rest of the shorts happen after that sequel. Marvel producer Nate Moore has also (roughly) revealed Wakanda Forever's place on the MCU timeline in an interview with CinemaBlend (opens in new tab). It's, give or take, in 2025 and takes place around the same time as Love and Thunder. We'll likely know for sure about its proper place in the coming weeks and months.
Non-MCU Marvel movies and shows in the MCUBest for: Anyone who wants to fully appreciate No Way Home Now we're getting to the confusing bit: the multiverse. Thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home, we have had various Spider-Man villains from through the multiverse in the MCU, and to fully understand everyone's motives and intentions in No Way Home, you need to have watched a fair few older Spider-Man movies. These take place on three alternative timelines: one where Tobey Maguire is Spider-Man, another where Andrew Garfield is Spidey, and a third where Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock becomes the villain Venom. For a full deep dive into watching these movies, then check out our guide to how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order.
Then there's The Defenders, which are sort of part of the MCU, but also sort of not. They start very much linked to the movies, and then gradually lose all connection – thanks mainly to originally being Netflix products. Now, though, they are all on Disney Plus, and if you want to tackle Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and The Punisher, then you're going to want to know the watch order. Luckily, we have exactly the piece you're after: how to watch The Defenders Saga in order. Daredevil's story, which started in She-Hulk and will continue in Born Again in 2024, loosely picks up where the Netflix series left off. Those three seasons on Netflix haven't been declared officially canon, but Charlie Cox's return is about as close as we'll get to confirmation that The Defenders Saga semi-existed in the MCU. How to watch the Marvel movies on Disney Plus?Best for: People with a Disney Plus subscription Disney Plus has changed the streaming game. A huge competitor to Netflix and Amazon Prime, Disney's entry into the online content wars has made a huge impact, bringing all of the Mouse's classic movies into one place. There are also original series, plus the majority of the Marvel movies. Below, find all the Marvel movies on and coming to Disney Plus. Note: You will not find The Incredible Hulk or most of the Spider-Man movies on Disney Plus. This is because the rights to Hulk belong to Universal, while the rights to Spider-Man are with Sony. Homecoming is available, however, in some regions, such as the UK. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is available on Disney Plus from June 22. She-Hulk is also now streaming on the service.
That's how to watch the Marvel movies in order. So, what are you waiting for? If you haven't got Disney Plus, then here are the latest Disney Plus sign-up deals around the world. Now that the Disney Plus free trial is no more, it's the best way of getting maximum value for money. For more on movie watch orders, check out our expansive piece on how the watch the DC movies in order, how to watch the Star Wars movies in order, and how to watch the X-Men movies in order. I'm the Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution. What movie comes after Captain America The First Avenger?Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) Marvel's The Avengers (2012) Iron Man 3 (2013) Thor: The Dark World (2013)
What is the correct order to watch Marvel films in?MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE MOVIES AND SHOWS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. #1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) 79% 75% ... . #2. Captain Marvel (2019) 79% 45% ... . #3. Iron Man (2008) 94% 91% ... . #4. Iron Man 2 (2010) 71% 71% ... . #5. The Incredible Hulk (2008) ... . #6. Thor (2011) ... . #7. Marvel's the Avengers (2012) ... . #8. Thor: The Dark World (2013). Is there a movie after Captain America?Black Widow
The Black Widow movie takes place in the immediate wake of the events of Captain America: Civil War and finds Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff on the run.
What order should I watch The Avengers movies on Disney plus?Find the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Timeline Order for Disney+ — as of today!. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Captain Marvel (2019). Iron Man (2008). Iron Man 2 (2010). Thor (2011). The Avengers (2012). Thor: The Dark World (2013). Iron Man 3 (2013). |