Looking for the complete Marvel movies in order? Whether you want to watch the MCU chronologically or by release date, this guide breaks down the full Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, updated for 2026.
Below is the complete list of Marvel movies in order, including both chronological timeline order and release order, so you can follow the Infinity Saga and Multiverse Saga the right way.
The chronological order to watch Marvel movies begins with Captain America: The First Avenger, followed by Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and continues through Avengers: Endgame and the Multiverse Saga.
How to Watch the MCU
- Chronological Order – Follow the timeline of events in the Marvel universe
- Release Order – Watch the films as they were originally released in theaters
Explore More Marvel Coverage
For a deeper dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, check out our additional guides and coverage:
- 👉 Complete MCU timeline breakdown: https://seat42f.com/loki-timeline-explained/
- 👉 More Marvel news, updates, and features: https://seat42f.com/tag/marvel/
- 👉 Disney+ Marvel series coverage: https://seat42f.com/tag/disney-plus/
Which Order Should You Watch Marvel Movies?
Before diving in, there are two main ways to watch the MCU:
Release Order (Recommended for most viewers)
- Matches how audiences originally experienced the story
- Preserves reveals, character arcs, and post-credit setups
- Best for first-time viewers
Chronological Order (Story timeline)
- Follows events in-universe
- Great for rewatches
- Helps clarify timeline connections
Marvel Movies in Order – Release
Watching Marvel movies in order of release is the easiest and most rewarding way to experience the MCU.
Phase 1 (The Beginning)
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
This phase builds the foundation and introduces the core Avengers team.
Phase 2 (Expanding the Universe)
- Iron Man 3
- Thor: The Dark World
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
The MCU expands beyond Earth and introduces cosmic storytelling.
Phase 3 (Infinity Saga Climax)
- Captain America: Civil War
- Doctor Strange
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Captain Marvel
- Avengers: Endgame
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
This phase concludes the Infinity Saga.
Phase 4–5 (Multiverse Saga Begins)
- Black Widow
- 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 MCU shifts into multiverse storytelling and new heroes.
Marvel Movies in Order – Chronological
If you want to follow the story in timeline order:
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Captain Marvel
- 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
- Black Panther
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Doctor Strange
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Eternals
- 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
👉 “This list reflects the MCU timeline based on in-universe events, though some films overlap slightly in time.”
Marvel Studios continues to expand the MCU.
The MCU doesn’t stop with movies—Disney+ shows like Loki and WandaVision play a major role in the timeline (see full breakdown below).
Best Marvel Movies to Watch First (Quick Start)
If you don’t want to watch everything, start with:
- Iron Man
- The Avengers
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
This gives you the core MCU experience.
Understanding Marvel Phases
The MCU is divided into phases:
- Phase 1–3: The Infinity Saga
- Phase 4–6: The Multiverse Saga
Each phase introduces:
- New heroes
- New threats
- Expanded storytelling
Where to Watch Marvel Movies
Most Marvel movies are available on Disney+, with some titles occasionally rotating to other platforms.
Always check:
- Disney+
- Amazon rentals
- Apple TV
Tips for Watching the MCU
- Watch post-credit scenes (they matter)
- Stick to release order if you’re new
- Use chronological order for rewatches
- Don’t skip key Avengers films
Now that you’ve seen how the Marvel movies fit together, here’s where the Disney+ shows fall in the MCU timeline.
Marvel Disney+ Shows in Timeline Order (How They Fit Into the MCU)
As the MCU expands, Marvel’s Disney+ shows have become essential to the overall story. These series introduce major characters, expand the multiverse, and directly connect to the movies.
If you want the complete Marvel timeline, here’s how the Disney+ shows fit into the MCU.
Disney+ Shows in Chronological Order
- WandaVision
👉 Set shortly after Avengers: Endgame
👉 Explores Wanda’s grief and sets up the multiverse
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
👉 Also post-Endgame
👉 Focuses on Sam Wilson becoming Captain America
- Loki
👉 Begins during Avengers: Endgame (time heist timeline split)
👉 Introduces the multiverse and timeline chaos
- What If…?
👉 Explores alternate realities
👉 Best watched after Loki
- Hawkeye
👉 Takes place after Endgame during the holidays
👉 Introduces Kate Bishop
- Moon Knight
👉 Mostly standalone
👉 Expands the supernatural side of the MCU
- Ms. Marvel
👉 Introduces Kamala Khan
👉 Leads directly into The Marvels
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
👉 Set after Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
👉 Connects multiple MCU characters
- Secret Invasion
👉 Focuses on Nick Fury
👉 Deals with Skrull infiltration on Earth
- Loki
👉 Continues multiverse storyline
👉 Critical to the future of the MCU
Where the Shows Fit Into the Timeline
After Avengers: Endgame
Most Disney+ shows take place here:
- WandaVision
- Falcon and the Winter Soldier
- Hawkeye
- Ms. Marvel
- She-Hulk
- Secret Invasion
Multiverse Timeline (Parallel Events)
- Loki (Season 1 & 2)
- What If…?
These shows operate outside normal time, making them essential for understanding the MCU’s multiverse.
Do You Need to Watch the Shows?
Short answer: Yes—more than ever
Marvel shows now:
- Introduce major characters
- Set up future movies
- Expand the multiverse storyline
Examples:
- WandaVision → leads into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Ms. Marvel → leads into The Marvels
- Loki → drives the entire multiverse saga
Best Disney+ Shows to Watch First
If you don’t want to watch everything, start with:
- WandaVision
- Loki
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
These have the biggest impact on the MCU storyline.
More Marvel Coverage
For more Marvel news, previews, and guides:
https://seat42f.com/tag/marvel/
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