The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) brings superheroes to life from comic book pages. Over time, Marvel released numerous superhero movies. While some have seen them all, many don’t know the best order to watch Marvel movies.
In this article, I’ll guide new Marvel fans or those confused about the MCU chronology on the ideal viewing sequence for both movies and TV shows – by chronological and release date order. Let’s jump into the fantastical world of the MCU!
Marvel Movies in Release Date Order
1. Iron Man (2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The second film in the MCU chronology is The Incredible Hulk, introducing us to a fan-favorite character, portrayed commendably by Edward Norton. It briefly explores The Hulk’s origin.
The main plot follows Bruce’s attempt to cure himself while evading General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who aims to weaponize the monster. Ross experiments on Blonsky, transforming him into the Abomination, the movie’s primary antagonist.
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
Iron Man’s success led swiftly to a sequel. Set six months after the original, the story reveals playboy billionaire Tony Stark’s dual identity as Iron Man, now public knowledge.
4. Thor (2011)
Thor, born a god, experiences a remarkable change in attitude and character as he is banished by Odin for arrogance. He learns about love through Jane Foster, an astrophysicist on Earth, while contending with Loki’s deceit to keep him away from Asgard.
- Release Date: May 2, 2011
- Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Antony Hopkins
- Director: Kenneth Branagh
- Runtime: 1 Hour 54 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 7 / 77%
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Release Date:July 19, 2011
- Cast:Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving
- Director:Joe Johnston
- Runtime:2 Hours 4 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating:6.9 / 80%
6. The Avengers (2012)
The Avengers resurrects Loki as the primary antagonist attempting to conquer Earth. He begins by pilfering the Tesseract from S.H.I.E.L.D.’s base and subsequently subjugates some agents through mind control. A series of events unfold, culminating in the assembly of various superheroes under the Avengers Initiative to thwart Loki’s scheme.
7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
The movie delves into Tony’s mental health as a new villain emerges to wreak havoc on the world. He realizes the villain is the repercussion of his past sins. These events prompt him to reconsider his actions and change his life.
- Release Date:May 3, 2013
- Cast:Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Don Cheadle
- Director:Shane Black
- Runtime: 2 hours 11 minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 7.1/79%
8. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013)
Despite not being part of the MCU, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. stands as one of Marvel Studios’ finest web series to date. If you appreciated Agent Coulson in The Avengers (2012), this series provides deeper insight into his character.
- Release Date:September 24, 2013
- Cast:Clark Gregg, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Ming-Na Wen, Elizabeth Henstridge
- Director:Joss Whedon
- Runtime:15 Hours 46 Minutes (22 Episodes)
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 7.5/ 88%
9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Thor: The Dark World continues from the events of Avengers. Loki is imprisoned in Asgard, paying for his deeds, while Thor resolves conflicts among realms under Asgard’s rule. Meanwhile, astrophysicist Jane Foster discovers anomalies in Earth’s gravity. During her investigation, she is exposed to the Aether and falls ill. Thor brings Jane to Asgard for treatment upon learning of her condition.
- Release Date:November 8, 2013
- Cast:Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Christopher Eccleston
- Director:Alan Taylor
- Runtime:1 Hour 52 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 6.8 / 66%
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Bucky Barnes, Steve’s old friend presumed dead, resurfaces in this film. Thought to have perished in Captain America (2011), Bucky was actually captured by HYDRA, who brainwashed and augmented him into the Winter Soldier, a lethal HYDRA operative conducting assassinations for decades.
Steve uncovers HYDRA’s continued infiltration within S.H.I.E.L.D. through Arnim Zola’s A.I., revealing their plot to eliminate potential threats using S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Triskelion. With Maria Hill’s assistance, Steve foils their scheme, dismantling their weapons and exposing HYDRA’s agenda to the world.
- Release Date: April 4, 2014
- Cast:Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson
- Director:Anthony Russo
- Runtime:2 Hours 16 Minutes
- Rating:IMDB: 7.8/ Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1 (2014)
- Release Date:August 1, 2014
- Cast:Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillian
- Director:James Gunn
- Runtime:2 Hours 2 Minutes
- Rating:IMDB: 8/ Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
12. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Avengers: Age of Ultron opens with our heroes destroying all known Hydra bases. They discover Loki’s scepter from the previous Avenger movie and retrieve it. Tony believes it’s a great opportunity to create an A.I. to construct an army of robots for protecting humanity.
13. Ant-Man (2015)
14. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The film explores internal conflicts among the superheroes regarding the Sokovia Accords. These legal rules require any enhanced individual to register with the government, forfeiting their free will. They will be obligated to respond when summoned by the U.N. or the U.S. government.
15. Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange depicts a brilliant neurosurgeon whose hands are irreparably damaged in an accident. Despite exhausting conventional treatments, he opts for alternative methods, leading him to Nepal.
- Release Date:November 4, 2016
- Cast:Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelson
- Director:Scott Derrickson
- Runtime: 2 Hours 6 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 7.5 / 89 %
16. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (2017)
17. Spiderman: Homecoming (2017)
After portraying Spiderman in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland returns as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Under Tony’s guidance, he must learn responsibility and aid people. He’s forbidden from intervening in Avengers-level threats, a rule he disregards due to his youth, leading to trouble.
18. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor sets out to locate other infinity stones but discovers chaos in the nine realms with Odin absent. Loki, posing as Odin, is revealed to be behind the deception.
- Release Date:November 3, 2017
- Cast:Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Taika Waititi, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett
- Director:Taika Waititi
- Runtime:2 Hours 1o Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 7.9 / 93%
19. Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther appeared in Captain America: Civil War before starring in his solo movie, which delves into Wakanda’s depth and technology. Wakanda has harbored Vibranium for centuries, the same metal used in Captain America’s shield.
T’Challa ascends to the throne after his father’s demise in Captain America: Civil War, opting to unveil Wakanda to the world. However, he encounters opposition from his estranged cousin, Killmonger, resulting in a duel for supremacy which T’Challa loses.
Killmonger assumes kingship and mandates the production of weapons for global distribution. The narrative culminates in a decisive demonstration of good triumphing over evil.
20. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Infinity War follows Thanos’ quest to gather all the infinity stones, spanning the cosmos, with the ultimate showdown occurring on Earth. The storyline introduces the enigmatic Soul stone as well.
21. Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)
22. Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel introduces the conflict between the Skrulls and the Kree empire, pivotal in Marvel comics. On a case, Carol Danvers finds herself on Earth, realizing she fought for the wrong side.
- Release Date: March 8, 2019
- Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gemma Chan, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law
- Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, Nia DaCosta
- Runtime: 2 Hours 4 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 6.8/79%
23. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The film begins five years after the cataclysmic events of Infinity War, as the world grapples with the sudden loss of countless lives. Amidst the collective struggle to come to terms with this tragedy, Spider-Man finds himself at a crossroads.
24. Spiderman: Far From Home (2019)
Set six to eight months post-Endgame, Spider-Man opts for a hiatus from his vigilantism, seeking solace in the routine of high school life. However, fate intervenes, thrusting him into a battle in London against adversaries unwittingly spawned by Tony Stark.
- Release Date:July 2, 2019
- Cast:Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal,Samuel L. Jackson, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau
- Director:Jon Watts
- Runtime:2 Hours 9 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 7.4/90%
25. WandaVision (2021)
In this Marvel series, Wanda copes with Vision’s death by creating an alternate reality where they lead a happy life together. Despite occasional confusion and slow pacing, WandaVision features intense fight sequences.
26. Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
This series follows Sam Wilson, known as the Falcon, who inherits the Captain America mantle after returning from the Blip. Overwhelmed by his new role, he eventually relinquishes the shield to Rhodey.
27. Loki – Season 1 (2021)
Delve into Loki’s depths in this series. Captured by the TVA for disrupting the timeline, he’s recruited by Mobius M. Mobius to tackle a greater threat.
28. Black Widow (2021)
29. What…If? (2021)
30. Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings (2021)
Shang Chi, touted as the MCU’s finest martial artist, seeks redemption from his past as a warrior and assassin trained by his father.
Enjoying their time in the city, he and his friend Katy are abruptly confronted by his father’s associates, prompting him to flee to Macau to protect his sister Xialing. In Macau, familiar faces resurface, including Wong and the Abomination from the Hulk movie.
31. Eternals (2021)
Eternals features a diverse international cast and explores the dawn of civilization and their role in its development, addressing why they abstained from intervening in the conflict with Thanos.
32. Hawkeye (2021)
33. Spiderman: No Way Home (2021)
No Way Home, the highly anticipated Marvel movie post-Endgame, introduced the multiverse to the MCU, featuring iconic Spidey villains like the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, and Electro.
34. Moon Knight (2022)
This series follows Steven Grant, a museum gift shop employee plagued by unexplainable blackouts and flashbacks from a forgotten past. He discovers he has Dissociative Identity Disorder, sharing his body with Marc Spector, a mercenary and avatar of Konshu, the Egyptian god of the Moon.
35. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
36. Ms. Marvel (2022)
Miss Marvel is a web series about Kamala Khan, a teenager who discovers an ancestral bangle granting her the power to materialize light. A devoted fan of Captain Marvel, she adopts the name Ms. Marvel when she decides to become a superhero. The series exudes a strong Gen-Z vibe without feeling excessive.
37. Thor Love and Thunder (2022)
38. I am Groot (2022)
39. She-Hulk (2022)
40. Werewolf by Night (2022)
41. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Following Black Panther’s demise, Queen Ramonda strives to maintain Wakanda’s order and shield it from external threats. Meanwhile, Shuri endeavors to reproduce the heart-shaped herb for her own consumption, aspiring to become the next Black Panther. The emergence of a new foe, Namor, imperils Wakanda, prompting Shuri and her newfound allies to combat this threat and safeguard their nation.
42. Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
43. Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania (2023)
The movie centers on Scott Lang’s family. Hope’s mother returns from the Quantum realm, concealing a secret. Scott’s daughter, Cassie, constructs a signal device for the Quantum realm, leading to an accidental journey for Scott, Hope, Hank, Cassie, and Hope’s mother.
44. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (2023)
45. Marvel’s Secret Invasion (2023)
Marvel’s Secret Invasion follows the Skrulls infiltrating our world with shapeshifting abilities. Gravik, a rogue Skrull, seeks to trigger World War 3 for Skrull dominance. Talos and Nick Fury, stationed on SABER, return to Earth upon learning of the invasion.
Marvel Movies Chronology
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Captain Marvel
- Iron Man
- Iron Man 2
- The Incredible Hulk
- Thor
- The Avengers
- Iron Man 3
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Thor: The Dark World
- Captain America: Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.
- I am Groot
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Spiderman: Homecoming
- Doctor Strange
- Black Panther
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Loki (Season 1)
- What…If?
- WandaVision
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Eternals
- Spiderman: Far From Home
- Spiderman: No Way Home
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Hawkeye
- Moon Knight
- She-Hulk Attorney at Law
- Ms. Marvel
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- Werewolf by Night
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
- Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3
- Secret Invasion
Upcoming Marvel Movies in Order
By the end of this article, selecting the order to watch these movies, whether by release date or chronologically, is up to you. However, all these major Marvel movies are released, so why miss out? Regardless of your choice, it will be equally exciting and enjoyable to watch. Happy binging!
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
