How to watch the Marvel movies in order (release and chronological)

It’s time to refresh our knowledge on the proper way to watch the Marvel movies in chronological order once again. With the emergence of Secret Invasion lurking in the shadows, it’s time to retrieve our box sets and Disney Plus subscriptions to catch up on the ongoing storyline.

However, with a whopping 44 (!) MCU projects already released, accomplishing this task is easier said than done. That’s why we have done the heavy lifting for you and compiled everything into convenient watch order lists provided below.

Firstly, there’s the option to watch the Marvel movies and shows in the order of their release dates. This approach is straightforward, starting from Iron Man and progressing all the way to Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and Secret Invasion. It’s important to note that we have only included complete projects and omitted one-shots or those that don’t fit perfectly within the official canon, such as Agents of SHIELD.

Moving forward, we will delve deeper into the Marvel timeline by presenting a comprehensive guide on how to watch the MCU movies in chronological order. This journey will take us from the 1940s, traversing through various eras, and ultimately reaching the in-universe “present day” of 2026. Along the way, we will address additional inquiries, such as what is available (and what isn’t) on Disney Plus, and whether projects like Across the Spider-Verse and Netflix’s Daredevil align with the overarching narrative that Marvel Studios is crafting.

For more detailed information, be sure to consult our guide on upcoming Marvel movies, as well as our breakdown of the ending in Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

MCU order: all 44 Marvel movies and shows

How to watch the Marvel movies in order – release order

Best 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 5 in release order. Yes, that includes WandaVision/Falcon and The Winter Soldier/Loki/Moon Knight/She-Hulk and so on. They’re not movies, but the Disney Plus series are just as important to the overarching story.

Phase One:

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
4. Thor (2011)
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
6. The Avengers (2012)

Phase Two:

7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
11. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
12. Ant-Man (2015)

Phase Three:

13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
14. Doctor Strange (2016)
15. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2017)
16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
18. Black Panther (2017)
19. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
21. Captain Marvel (2019)
22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
23. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Phase Four:

24. WandaVision (Disney Plus series, 2021)
25. Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney Plus series, 2021)
26. Loki season 1 (Disney Plus series)
27. Black Widow (2021)
28. What If…? (Disney Plus series, 2021)
29. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
30. Eternals (2021)
31. Hawkeye (Disney Plus series, 2021)
32. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
33. Moon Knight (Disney Plus series, 2022)
34. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
35. Ms. Marvel (Disney Plus series, 2022)
36. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
37. I Am Groot (Disney Plus series, 2022)
38. She-Hulk (Disney Plus series, 2022)
39. Werewolf By Night (Disney Plus special, 2022)
40. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
41. Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special (Disney Plus special, 2022)

Phase Five:

42. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
43. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (2023)
44. Secret Invasion (2023)

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 – which has just begun – 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.

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.

Marvel Phase 5:

Loki season 2 – October 9, 2023 (Disney Plus series)
The Marvels (AKA Captain Marvel 2) – November 10, 2023
Echo – November 29, 2023 (Disney Plus series)
Ironheart – TBC 2023/2024 (Disney Plus series)
Agatha: Coven of Chaos – TBC 2023/2024 (Disney Plus series)
Daredevil: Born Again – Spring 2024 (Disney Plus series)
Deadpool 3 – May 3, 2024
Captain America: Brave New World – July 26, 2024
Thunderbolts – December 20, 2024
Blade – February 14, 2025

Marvel Phase 6:

Fantastic Four – May 2, 2025
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty – May 1, 2026
Avengers: Secret Wars – May 7, 2027

TBA (unreleased):

Shang-Chi 2 – TBA
Nova – TBA
Armor Wars – TBA
Wakanda/Okoye spin-off – TBA (Disney Plus series)
Wonder Man – TBA (Disney Plus series)
What If…? season 2 – TBA (Disney Plus series)
What If…? season 3 – TBA (Disney Plus series)
Spider-Man: Freshman Year – TBA (Disney Plus series)
Spider-Man: Sophomore Year – TBA (Disney Plus series)
Marvel Zombies – TBA (Disney Plus series)

How to watch the Marvel movies in order – chronological order

chronological order.

Unlike the previous straightforward list, this one is a bit more intricate. Fortunately, Marvel has disclosed the official years in which most of the movies occur. This includes events between “Endgame” and “Far From Home,” where “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” fits seamlessly, as well as “Hawkeye,” which takes place around “No Way Home.” Now, we’ve ventured into 2025 and 2026. “She-Hulk,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” all seemingly unfold in that not-so-distant future year. “Secret Invasion” and “Guardians 3,” more or less, follow in 2026.

However, it’s important to note that Marvel occasionally takes creative liberties with the timeline order of certain entries. While our list adheres to Marvel’s official order on Disney Plus, some aspects might seem slightly disarranged if scrutinized too closely. We’re pointing at you, “Werewolf by Night.” Additionally, for the completionists among you, the “I Am Groot” short film titled “First Steps” occurs prior to “Guardians 2,” whereas the remaining shorts happen after that sequel. For now, we’ve positioned “Secret Invasion” as the latest project in the timeline order.

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1942-1943)
2. Captain Marvel (1995)
3. Iron Man (2010)
4. Iron Man 2 (2011)
5. The Incredible Hulk (2011)
6. Thor (2011)
7. The Avengers (2012)
8. Iron Man 3 (2012)
9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
12. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2014)
13. I Am Groot (2014)
14. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
15. Ant-Man (2015)
16. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)
18. Doctor Strange (2016-2017)
19. Black Widow (2017)
20. Black Panther (2017)
21. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
22. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2017)
23. Avengers: Infinity War (2017)
24. Avengers: Endgame (2018-2023)
25. Loki (outside of our conception of time, but around here!)
26. What If…? (also outside of our conception of time!)
27. WandaVision (2023)
28. Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2023-2024)
29. Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings (2023-2024)
30. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2024)
31. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2024)
32. Eternals (2024)
33. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2024)
34. Hawkeye (Christmas 2024)
35. Moon Knight (2025)
36. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2025)
37. She-Hulk (2025)
38. Ms. Marvel (2025)
39. Thor: Love and Thunder (2025)
40. Werewolf By Night (2025)
41. Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2025)
42. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2025)
43. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (2026)
44. Secret Invasion (2026)

Non-MCU Marvel movies and shows in the MCU

Ideal for: Fans looking to fully appreciate “No Way Home” and understand the multiverse concept.

Now comes the perplexing part: the multiverse. Thanks to “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the MCU has introduced various Spider-Man villains from across the multiverse. To truly grasp the motivations and intentions of all characters in “No Way Home,” it becomes necessary to have watched several older Spider-Man movies.

These movies are set within three alternate timelines: one where Tobey Maguire portrays Spider-Man, another where Andrew Garfield takes on the role of Spidey, and a third timeline where Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock becomes the villainous Venom. For an immersive exploration of these films, be sure to consult our comprehensive guide on how to watch the Spider-Man movies in chronological order.

You might also be curious about “Across the Spider-Verse.” Technically, it exists as part of the expansive multiverse (in fact, “No Way Home” was referenced in the Spider-Verse sequel). However, it can be viewed independently within the framework of its own trilogy, without any specific order requirements.

Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Venom (2018)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
Morbius (2022)

Best for: Fans interested in exploring “The Defenders” saga within the MCU.

Then there’s “The Defenders,” which can be considered somewhat part of the MCU, yet also somewhat separate. Initially, they were closely linked to the movies, but gradually lost their connection, mainly due to their origins as Netflix productions. However, now all of these shows are available on Disney Plus. If you’re keen on delving into “Daredevil,” “Iron Fist,” “Jessica Jones,” “Luke Cage,” and “The Punisher,” you’ll want to know the optimal watch order. Fortunately, we have just the piece you need: a comprehensive guide on how to watch “The Defenders” saga in chronological order.

Daredevil’s storyline, which began in “She-Hulk” and will continue in “Born Again” in 2024, loosely carries on from where the Netflix series left off. Although the three seasons on Netflix haven’t been officially declared canon, the return of Charlie Cox and an intriguing connection to “Secret Invasion” are as close as we’ll get to confirmation that “The Defenders” saga semi-existed within the MCU.

How to watch the Marvel movies in order on Disney Plus

Ideal for: Individuals who have a Disney Plus subscription.

Disney Plus has revolutionized the streaming landscape, emerging as a significant competitor to platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Disney’s foray into the world of online content has had a profound impact, bringing together all of the Mouse’s timeless movies in one convenient location. Additionally, Disney Plus offers original series and the majority of the Marvel movies.

Below, you will find a comprehensive list of the Marvel movies currently available on Disney Plus, as well as those scheduled to arrive in the future. It’s worth noting that “The Incredible Hulk” and most of the Spider-Man movies are not included in Disney Plus’s catalog. This is because the rights to the Hulk character are held by Universal, while Sony possesses the rights to Spider-Man. However, “Far From Home” is accessible in the UK, and “Homecoming” has recently been added to the service.

Moreover, “Quantumania” has now become available on Disney Plus, and we anticipate that “Guardians of the Galaxy 3” will be released on the platform around July.

Iron Man
Thor
Iron Man 2
Captain America: The First Avenger
The Avengers
Iron Man 3
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Thor: The Dark World
Guardians of the Galaxy
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Ant-Man
Captain America: Civil War
Doctor Strange
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Thor: Ragnarok
Black Panther
Avengers: Infinity War
Captain Marvel
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Avengers: Endgame
Spider-Man: Far From Home
WandaVision
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Loki
Black Widow
What If…?
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Eternals
Hawkeye
Moon Knight
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Ms. Marvel
She-Hulk
Thor: Love and Thunder
Werewolf By Night
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Secret Invasion

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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.

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