The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become one of the most successful film franchises in history. With dozens of films spanning over a decade, diving into the Marvel Comics movies can be overwhelming for new fans. Whether you’re just starting or looking to revisit the saga, this complete guide will help you watch every Marvel movie in the correct order.
Why Watch Marvel Movies in Order?
Marvel Studios has carefully crafted a shared universe where each film connects to a larger storyline. Watching the movies in order allows you to follow character arcs, understand plot twists, and fully appreciate the interconnected world. From Iron Man’s origin to multiverse madness, each installment adds depth to the narrative.
Two Ways to Watch: Release Order vs. Chronological Order
There are two popular ways to watch Marvel Comics movies: by release order or chronological order.
1. Marvel Movies in Release Order
Watching in the order they were released helps you experience the MCU as longtime fans did. Here’s the list:
Phase One
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
Phase Two
- 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 Three
- 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 Four and Beyond
- 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)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- The Marvels (2023)
(MCU continues to expand in 2025 and beyond.)
2. Marvel Movies in Chronological Order
If you want the timeline to flow based on the story’s events, chronological order is for you. For example, Captain America: The First Avenger takes place during WWII, making it the first in the timeline. Chronological viewing gives clarity to major events and timelines across the MCU.
Some notable changes include:
- Start with Captain America: The First Avenger
- Then Captain Marvel
- Followed by Iron Man
- Continue through to Avengers: Endgame and beyond
Where to Watch Marvel Comics Movies
Most Marvel movies are available to stream on Disney+, with some Spider-Man titles hosted on other platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime, due to Sony’s distribution rights. Keeping a watchlist helps you stay on track.
Upcoming Marvel Comics Movies
The MCU is far from over. New releases expected in 2025 and 2026 include:
- Blade
- Fantastic Four
- Avengers: Secret Wars
- Deadpool & Wolverine
Marvel is also expanding its multiverse and integrating new heroes, making this the perfect time to catch up.
For new fans, watching Marvel Comics movies in order unlocks a deeper understanding of the Marvel Universe. Whether you follow the release order or chronological timeline, the journey is filled with action, emotion, and legendary storytelling. As the MCU continues to evolve, staying up to date has never been more exciting.
