Finding The Perfect Marvel Order Of Movies For Your Next Watch
Are you feeling a bit lost trying to figure out the best way to watch all those amazing superhero stories? You are certainly not alone in that, you know. Figuring out the proper marvel order of movies can feel like a mission in itself, what with so many fantastic tales and characters to keep track of. Many people wonder what order to watch the MCU movies in, and honestly, there are some pretty good reasons for that confusion.
It's true, getting a handle on the marvel order of movies can be a bit of a puzzle. Some folks like to see the stories unfold just as they came out in theaters, which is one way to go about it. Others prefer to follow the characters' journeys as they happen in their own story time, which is quite a different experience, as a matter of fact. We're here to help you sort through it all, making your next rewatch or first-time viewing an absolute breeze.
Now, suit up, because we're bringing a list of the marvel movies in order to you, covering the main ways to approach an MCU rewatch if you want to have some sense of order. For your timekeeping benefit, here's a list of every single MCU title, both movies and TV shows, in chronological order and by release date, giving you all the options. Spoilers ahead for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, just so you know.
Table of Contents
- Understanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Different Ways to Watch the Marvel Order of Movies
- Frequently Asked Questions About Marvel Movie Order
Understanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, centers on a series of American superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. These movies are based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics, and they all connect in one big, sprawling story. It's a huge collection of tales, and it's quite something to behold. In short, all MCU movies are Marvel movies, but not all Marvel movies are part of the MCU, which is an important distinction to make, honestly.
This shared universe is a big part of what makes these films so special, allowing characters to cross paths and storylines to intertwine. So far, the MCU consists of 36 movies, 31 seasons of TV shows, two specials, and even eight one-shots, which are short films. That's a lot of content to get through, naturally. Understanding this connection is key to appreciating the marvel order of movies, whatever path you choose to take.
Different Ways to Watch the Marvel Order of Movies
There are a couple of main ways to approach an MCU rewatch, though, if you want to have some sense of order. You can either watch everything in the order they were released, or you can watch them chronologically in order of story. Each method offers a slightly different experience, and people often have their favorite, you know. We'll break down both for you, so you can pick the one that feels right for your viewing pleasure.
Watching in Release Date Order
Watching the films in the order they came out is how most people first experienced them, and it's a very straightforward way to go about it. This method lets you see the story unfold just as audiences did, with all the surprises and reveals happening in real-time. It's how the creators originally intended for the story to be discovered, which is a pretty good reason to try it, in some respects.
Here's how to watch the Marvel movies in release date order, which is generally a simple approach:
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) - Upcoming
This order helps you appreciate the growth of the universe as new characters and concepts are introduced over time. It's a very natural progression, you know, just as the audience experienced it. Seeing the visual effects improve and the scope expand is part of the fun with this approach, too, it's almost like watching film history unfold.
Watching in Chronological Story Order
If you prefer to watch events play out as they happen within the story's timeline, then the chronological order is for you. This way, you follow the narrative from its earliest points to its most recent, giving you a continuous flow of events. It can make certain plot points and character developments feel more connected, which is really cool, actually. Here's how to watch all 35 Marvel movies chronologically in order of story, as well as including TV shows and specials for the complete experience.
This is the ultimate watch order for MCU completists to watch events of the MCU play out in chronological order, but there are some rules we've had to impose to make it as coherent as possible. For instance, some scenes or flashbacks might occur earlier, but we place the entire film or show where its main action takes place, basically. This helps keep things tidy, you know.
Here is a comprehensive list, including movies, TV shows, and specials, arranged by the internal timeline of the stories:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (Movie, 2011) - This is where it all starts, with Steve Rogers.
- Captain Marvel (Movie, 2019) - Set in the 1990s, this film introduces a powerful hero.
- Iron Man (Movie, 2008) - The film that kicked off the entire cinematic universe, honestly.
- Iron Man 2 (Movie, 2010) - Tony Stark deals with new challenges and old enemies.
- The Incredible Hulk (Movie, 2008) - Bruce Banner's struggle with his alter ego continues here.
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (One-Shot, 2011)
- Thor (Movie, 2011) - The Norse god's first big screen adventure.
- The Consultant (One-Shot, 2011)
- The Avengers (Movie, 2012) - Earth's mightiest heroes assemble for the first time.
- Item 47 (One-Shot, 2012)
- Thor: The Dark World (Movie, 2013) - More cosmic threats for Thor and Loki.
- Iron Man 3 (Movie, 2013) - Tony Stark faces personal demons and a new villain.
- All Hail the King (One-Shot, 2014)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Movie, 2014) - A spy thriller with big implications for the MCU.
- Guardians of the Galaxy (Movie, 2014) - A quirky group of space misfits comes together.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Movie, 2017) - The team explores family ties in the cosmos.
- Daredevil (TV Show, Seasons 1-2, 2015-2016) - Gritty street-level heroism in New York City.
- Jessica Jones (TV Show, Seasons 1-2, 2015-2017) - A private investigator with special abilities.
- Luke Cage (TV Show, Seasons 1-2, 2016-2018) - A hero with unbreakable skin.
- Iron Fist (TV Show, Seasons 1-2, 2017-2018) - A martial artist with a glowing fist.
- The Defenders (TV Show, 2017) - These street-level heroes team up.
- The Punisher (TV Show, Seasons 1-2, 2017-2019) - Frank Castle's violent quest for justice.
- Ant-Man (Movie, 2015) - Scott Lang becomes the shrinking hero.
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (Movie, 2015) - The team faces an artificial intelligence threat.
- Captain America: Civil War (Movie, 2016) - Heroes take sides in a major conflict.
- Black Widow (Movie, 2021) - Natasha Romanoff's solo adventure, a bit of a look back.
- Black Panther (Movie, 2018) - The king of Wakanda defends his nation.
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (Movie, 2017) - Peter Parker learns what it means to be a hero.
- Doctor Strange (Movie, 2016) - A surgeon discovers the mystic arts.
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Show, Seasons 1-4, 2013-2017) - Following a team of agents dealing with super-powered threats.
- Thor: Ragnarok (Movie, 2017) - Thor's humorous and cosmic adventure.
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (Movie, 2018) - More shrinking fun and a rescue mission.
- Avengers: Infinity War (Movie, 2018) - The biggest threat the heroes have ever faced.
- Avengers: Endgame (Movie, 2019) - The culmination of years of storytelling, pretty much.
- Loki (TV Show, Season 1, 2021) - Following an alternate version of Loki after 'Endgame'.
- What If...? (TV Show, Season 1, 2021) - Exploring alternate realities, which is kind of neat.
- WandaVision (TV Show, 2021) - A unique and emotional story for Wanda Maximoff.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV Show, 2021) - Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes take on new roles.
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (Movie, 2019) - Peter Parker's European adventure after 'Endgame'.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Movie, 2021) - A new hero enters the scene with ancient powers.
- Eternals (Movie, 2021) - Ancient beings protecting Earth from hidden threats.
- Hawkeye (TV Show, 2021) - Clint Barton teams up with a new archer.
- Moon Knight (TV Show, 2022) - A hero with a dissociative identity disorder.
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Movie, 2022) - Strange explores the vast multiverse.
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (TV Show, 2022) - Jennifer Walters balances her legal career with her new powers.
- Ms. Marvel (TV Show, 2022) - Kamala Khan discovers her abilities and becomes a hero.
- Thor: Love and Thunder (Movie, 2022) - Thor and Jane Foster face a new cosmic villain.
- Werewolf by Night (Special, 2022) - A spooky monster tale, very different.
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Movie, 2022) - The nation of Wakanda mourns and finds a new protector.
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (Special, 2022) - A festive adventure with the Guardians.
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Movie, 2023) - The Ant-Family explores the Quantum Realm.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Movie, 2023) - The final journey for this beloved group.
- Secret Invasion (TV Show, 2023) - Nick Fury deals with a shapeshifting alien threat.
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (Movie, 2021) - Peter Parker faces consequences from across the multiverse.
- Echo (TV Show, 2024) - Maya Lopez's story continues, a very personal journey.
- The Marvels (Movie, 2023) - Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau team up.
- Deadpool & Wolverine (Movie, 2024) - Upcoming, and likely to shake things up quite a bit.
This approach gives you a truly continuous narrative, which some fans really enjoy. It's how to watch all 35 Marvel movies chronologically in order of story, giving you a full picture of the events as they unfold in the MCU's timeline. It can be quite a commitment, but it's very rewarding, you know.
A Look at the MCU Phases
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is also organized into "Phases," which group together films and shows that share overarching storylines or themes. This is another way to think about the marvel order of movies, as it helps break down the massive collection into more manageable chunks. Each phase usually builds up to a big crossover event, often involving the Avengers, and that's a pretty cool structure, honestly.
For instance, Phase Two comprises Iron Man 3 (2013), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), as a matter of fact. These phases help to show the progression of the universe, introducing new characters and expanding the cosmic scope. It's a useful way to track the overall story arc, and you can learn more about the different phases of the MCU on our site, if you like.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marvel Movie Order
What is the real order of Marvel movies?
Well, there isn't just one "real" order, honestly, as there are two main ways to watch. You can watch them in release date order, which is how they came out in theaters, or in chronological order, which follows the story's timeline. Both are valid ways to experience the MCU, and each offers a slightly different perspective, you know. It really depends on what kind of viewing experience you're looking for, in a way.
How many Marvel movies are there in order?
So far, the MCU consists of 36 movies, as well as many TV shows and specials. If you are looking for how to watch all 35 Marvel movies chronologically in order of story, we've listed them out for you above. The total count changes as new projects are released, so it's a constantly growing universe, which is pretty exciting, you know. We try to keep our lists updated to reflect the latest additions, too.
What is the first Marvel movie to watch?
If you're watching by release date, the first movie is Iron Man (2008), which introduces Tony Stark. If you prefer to watch chronologically, then the first Avenger, Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), is where you should start, as its story takes place earliest in the timeline. Both are great starting points, it just depends on your preference for the marvel order of movies, basically. You can find more details on how to start your Marvel journey right here.
As the words of Tony Stark say, "Part of the journey is the end." But for us, it's also about how you choose to experience the whole adventure. Whether you pick the release order or the chronological order, getting to see these heroes come together is truly special. So, pick your path, gather your snacks, and prepare for an incredible cinematic experience. You can find even more information about the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the official Marvel Studios website, if you want to dig deeper.
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