Want to learn how to watch the Marvel movies in order? You've come to the right place.
In this guide, I'll go through the two best ways to stream the Marvel films and Disney+ shows in order. One is better than the other for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) newcomers, so be sure to read on to learn which one you should stick to if you're a first-time viewer.
There's plenty more to read about, too. I'll provide more information on all of the Marvel Phase 5 and Marvel Phase 6 productions you need to know, which movies and TV series are considered the best among critics, and so much more. So, throw on your favorite cosplay and let's stick the superhero landing together.
What's the best order to watch the Marvel movies in for the first time?
The best way to watch the Marvel movies in order as a first-timer is via their actual release dates.
Streaming some of the best superhero movies and best Disney+ shows chronologically – i.e., the order they take place in the MCU itself – is a terrific alternative for franchise veterans. Indeed, when viewed this way, you get a new perspective on how the Marvel timeline plays out.
However, watching the Marvel movies in order of chronology can be confusing for newcomers.
For starters, Captain America: The First Avenger is primarily set during World War II. However, its final scene takes place in 2010, which sees Steve Rogers wake up in New York before he meets Nick Fury, isn't the first time we're supposed to meet Fury. Indeed, his initial introduction is in 2008's Iron Man.
If you watch the Marvel movies in chronological order, you'll meet Fury in Cap's maiden film before Iron Man, which can make things tricky to follow for new MCU fans. It's for this reason (and many others like it) that I recommend first-time viewers stick to the release date method, which you can read more about later.
How to watch the Marvel movies in chronological order
Best for: MCU fans who want to try something new.
Want to to watch the Marvel movies and TV shows in order of chronology? Below, I've listed them in the order that they sit on the official Marvel timeline. You'll start the first Captain America movie, which begins in 1942, and end with Thunderbolts* – the latest Marvel film to land in theaters and one set in the MCU's present.
The Marvel timeline has become more difficult to follow since Avengers: Endgame. That film starts in 2018, but is mostly set in 2023, so we've been playing catch-up (time-wise, anyway) with the MCU ever since.
Thankfully, the Marvel movies timeline is now easier to follow, with the official Marvel Timeline book and the addition of three new Marvel timelines on Disney+ confirming when most projects take place. Armed with this vital information, we can definitively state when they're all set. Well, except for a couple of animated Disney+ shows, which exists in alternate realities to the MCU.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Cap's first adventure was the fifth Marvel movie released in theaters. However, it's set in the 1940s, so it's actually the first MCU film you need to watch.
Captain Marvel
Carol Danvers didn't burst onto the scene until MCU Phase 3, but her origins story is set in 1995.
The film that kickstarted the MCU is technically the third Marvel movie in order of chronology. Tony Stark's transformation from weapons expert to superhero takes place between February and May 2008.
Stark's second solo flick occurs between May and June 2010.
The Stark MCU appearances keep coming – this time, he cameos at the end of the Hulk's first (and only) solo MCU movie, which also takes place in mid-2010.
The god of thunder stormed his way into the MCU in mid-2010, with his first solo flick set at the same time as The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2.
With the MCU's original major players established, we finally got the superhero movie of our dreams when the iconic superhero team officially formed (on the big screen) in May 2012.
Thor's second cinematic adventure is set in late 2013.
Iron Man's third and final solo movie takes place around Christmas 2013.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Set in early 2014, Cap's second solo flick was the first Marvel film to explore genres outside of the superhero field.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 1
Star-Lord's lovable ragtag crew were first introduced to a wider audience in late 2014.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2
Takes place a few months after its predecessor.
I Am Groot seasons 1 and 2
The first Marvel Disney+ show to appear in this list, I Am Groot is set around Guardians Volume 2.
Daredevil
According to Disney+'s complete MCU timeline, the first of Netflix's Marvel TV shows is set in early 2015.
Jessica Jones
This Krysten Ritter-starring Netflix MCU TV series also takes place in 2015.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
The superhero ensemble reunited for another tentpole offering in May 2015 – this time, taking down the menacing AI/super-bot known as Ultron.
Earth's mightiest miniature hero made his in-universe debut in July 2015.
Luke Cage
The third Netflix Marvel show occurs after Ant-Man but before Captain America 3, which puts it anywhere between August 2015 and early 2016.
Iron Fist
The fourth Netflix MCU series is set around the same time as Luke Cage.
The Defenders
Netflix's small-screen Avengers-like team-up show also precedes Captain America: Civil War.
The third Captain America film was a mini-Avengers movie in all but name, and is set between May and June 2016.
The first Marvel Phase 4 flick, Black Widow was released in 2021 but is actually set just after Civil War.
Marvel's first Best Picture Oscar nominee takes place alongside Civil War and Black Widow in mid-2016.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
After confusing fans for years with its "eight years later" timecard, Spidey's first MCU solo movie is actually set in September 2016.
The Punisher
The only Netflix Marvel TV series whose first season doesn't take place before Captain America 3, this show's events occure in late 2016, according to Disney+'s complete MCU timeline.
Occurring in early 2017, this film introduced audiences to the Sorcerer Supreme. Or, rather, the former Sorcerer Supreme – Strange being replaced by Wong due to Infinity War's events, but more on that later.
Thor: Ragnarok
The last movie to launch in theaters before that Thanos moment, Thor: Ragnarok takes place in late 2017.
Avengers: Infinity War
The Marvel movie that, without spoiling anything, changed the MCU. The third Avengers movie occurs in early 2018.
Events in Ant-Man's second film run concurrent to Infinity War.
Avengers: Endgame
This is where things get messy from a Marvel movies in chronological order perspective. Endgame begins in 2018 but ends in October 2023.
One of two Marvel TV shows to span the entire Marvel multiverse, Loki is best watched after Avengers: Endgame.
Set immediately after its predecessor, so stream it after its forebear.
What If...? is also a multiversal affair. Its three seasons aren't set in a particular year, so they're best streamed after Endgame.
Per Marvel's Official Timeline book, it takes place in November 2023.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi's MCU debut contains flashbacks to his childhood, so it could be listed earlier. However, the bulk of the film is set in early 2024, hence its position on the MCU timeline.
Marvel's Official Timeline book confirms this show takes place in May 2024.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Sam Wilson and Buck Barnes' team up series is set in mid-2024.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Occurs eight months after Endgame, aka around June and July 2024.
Takes place six years after 2018's Deadpool 2, which is part of Fox's X-Men universe (designated Earth-10005), so it seems to be set sometime in 2024. Deadpool and Wolverine takes place in and around the MCU so, while it's not technically an MCU-set film, it still deserves a spot on this list.
The official MCU Timeline book confirms it begins in mid-2024 and runs through to early 2025.
This one could technically be the first entry in our Marvel movies in chronological order list as it begins 7,000 years before 2010's Captain America. However, it's mostly set in late 2024.
Thanks to the Halloween and Christmas/Holiday season decorations seen throughout, this one is set in late 2024.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Strange's multiverse-spanning sequel takes place after Spider-Man: No Way Home. Marvel's official timeline places it in November 2024, preceding what happens in Hawkeye.
Hawkeye's first solo adventure occurs around Christmas 2024.
Set five months after Hawkeye's ending, aka around May 2025.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
You'd think this one is set in 2024, given its main events take place a year after T'Challa dies. T'Challa appeared in 2023's Endgame, so that would make sense. However, it's set in May 2025.
The official Marvel timeline book places the Kamala Khan-starring series in October 2025.
Thor's fourth solo movie is set in October 2025. We know this as he tells former flame Jane Foster that it's been over eight years since they split up. Meanwhile, in 2017's Ragnarok, he tells Loki that the pair recently and mutually broke up. Add eight years to 2017 and you get 2025. Simple.
The first MCU Special Presentation is the most difficult production to pin down in this Marvel movies in chronological order list. My best guess? It's set in late 2025 because it follows Love and Thunder on Marvel's chronological timeline on Disney+.
Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
As it takes place prior to Guardians of the Galaxy 3, it's set around Christmas 2025.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
We originally thought this one ran concurrent to Black Panther 2, but the complete MCU timeline on Disney+ places it between the Guardians' Christmas special and the group's third movie. Therefore, it must take place in late 2025.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3
Guardians Vol. 3 is set a few months after the group's festive special.
This show's first episode suggests that Nick Fury's standalone series takes place in 2025. However, it takes place after Guardians 3, so it actually seems to occur in early 2026.
The Marvels
Takes place soon after the end of Secret Invasion.
Agatha All Along
Begins three years after WandaVision's finale, so it must take place in 2026.
Captain America: Brave New World
This movie states that it takes place three years after Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which would pin it as taking place sometime in 2027.
The latest MCU TV show to debut on Disney+, this takes place in and around Captain America 4, which places it in 2027.
The most recent Marvel movie to land in theaters, the titular team of anti-heroes and reformed villains also occurs in 2027 because it follows on from events depicted in Brave New World.
The long overdue sequel to beloved show X-Men: The Animated Series sits independent of the MCU. As it's a Marvel Television production, though, it's worth including. We've stuck it at the end of this guide for now, but you can watch it any time you like.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
If it had been set in the MCU, this would've predated Civil War as it's a Spider-Man origins story of sorts. Like X-Men 97, this series' story transpires in a different universe, so you can stream it when you want.
How to watch the Marvel movies in release date order
Best for: first-time viewers.
Curious to learn how you can watch the Marvel movies in release date order? Here's how. You'll kick things off with 2008's Iron Man and end with Thunderbolts*, which was released in May 2025.
As you'll be watching each film and TV show by the years they were released, it's an easier blueprint for newcomers to follow.
- 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)
- WandaVision (TV show, 2021)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV show, 2021)
- Loki season 1 (TV show, 2021)
- Black Widow (2021)
- What If...? season 1 (TV show, 2021)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- Eternals (2021)
- Hawkeye (TV show, 2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Moon Knight (TV show, 2022)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- Ms Marvel (TV show, 2022)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- I Am Groot (TV show, 2022)
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (TV show, 2022)
- Werewolf by Night (TV special, 2022)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (TV special, 2022)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- Secret Invasion (TV show, 2023)
- Loki season 2 (TV show, 2023)
- The Marvels (2023)
- What If...? season 2 (TV show, 2023)
- Echo (TV show, 2024)
- X-Men 97 season 1 (TV show, 2024)
- Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)
- Agatha All Along (TV show, 2024)
- What If...? season 3 (TV show, 2024)
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (TV show, 2025)
- Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
- Daredevil: Born Again season 1 (TV show, 2025)
- Thunderbolts* (2025)
How to watch the Avengers movies in order
Best for: fans who only want to watch the Avengers movies.
We already covered the best way to stream the Avengers films in the sections above. If you only want to stream these specific Marvel movies in order, though, here's how to do so.
- The Avengers (2012) – set in the year it was released, aka 2012
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – also takes place in the year it launched, i.e. 2015
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – the final Avengers film to occur in the year it's set, which is 2018
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – opens in 2018, but ends in late 2023
How to watch the Netflix Marvel TV shows in order
Best for: viewers who want to watch Netflix's Marvel TV shows independent of the MCU.
She-Hulk episode 8 seemingly revealed Netflix's Daredevil TV show is canon in the MCU in September 2022, but Marvel's Head of Television Brad Winderbaum has since confirmed that all Marvel Netflix programs are officially part of the MCU. With every Netflix Marvel TV show available to stream on Disney+, now's as good a time as any to stream them if you missed them first time around on Netflix.
If you'd prefer to watch these shows without any MCU baggage, here's how to do so via the years they were released:
- Daredevil season 1 (April 2015)
- Jessica Jones season 1 (November 2015)
- Daredevil season 2 (March 2016)
- Luke Cage season 1 (September 2016)
- Iron Fist season 1 (March 2017)
- The Defenders (August 2017)
- The Punisher season 1 (November 2017)
- Jessica Jones season 2 (March 2018)
- Luke Cage season 2 (June 2018)
- Iron Fist season 2 (September 2018)
- Daredevil season 3 (October 2018)
- The Punisher season 2 (January 2019)
- Jessica Jones season 3 (June 2019)
How to watch the X-Men movies and TV shows in order
Best for: diehard X-Men fans and/or those wanting to catch up on the mutants' numerous movies and TV shows.
We already have a dedicated, in-depth guide on how to watch the X-Men movies in order. But, if you want a quick rundown of all 14 films and TV shows, here you go:
- X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 – 1997)
- X-Men (2000)
- X-2: X-Men United (2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- X-Men: First Class (2011)
- The Wolverine (2013)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- Deadpool (2016)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
- Logan (2017)
- Legion (2017 – 2019)
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- Dark Phoenix (2019)
- The New Mutants (2020)
- X-Men 97 season 1 (2024)
- Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)
What Marvel movies and TV shows are coming out in 2025?
Here's every Marvel movie and TV show set to arrive from June onwards. Bear in mind, though, that any confirmed release dates, aside from projects launching in the near future, are subject to change.
- Ironheart (TV show, June 24, 2025)
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025)
- Eyes of Wakanda (animated TV show, August 6, 2025)
- Marvel Zombies (animated TV show, October 2025 (date TBC))
- Wonder Man (TV show, December 2025 (date TBC))
- Avengers: Doomsday (May 1, 2026)
- Spider-Man 4 (July 26, 2026)
- Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027)
- Armor Wars (TBC)
- Blade (TBC)
- Nova (TV show, TBC)
- Untitled Vision project (TV show, TBC)
- X-Men 97 season 2 (animated TV show, TBC)
How many Marvel movies are there?
36 MCU movies have been released so far. By the end of 2027, there could be 42 movies (if the above group isn't delayed further) to add to this Marvel movies in order guide, too.
If you want to watch all of the Marvel movies in order, you'll need to set aside 4,723 minutes – that's 78.7 hours or 3.27 total days. Add in every MCU TV show and specials, and it'll take a mammoth 8,949 minutes (149.2 hours or 6.21 days) to watch everything.
Now that Netflix's Marvel TV shows are also canon in the MCU, you can even add in its six shows' near-161-hour total runtime into the equation. Do that and you'll have to set aside around 310 hours, or a monstrous 12.9 days, to stream every single piece of Marvel content. Phew!
Where to watch the Marvel movies
You can stream nearly all of the Marvel movies in order, as well as the TV shows, on Disney+ (read our Disney+ review while you're here).
The only ones you can't watch at home are Captain America: Brave New World, which only took flight in cinemas in February (read my Captain America 4 on Disney Plus guide to see when I think it'll be available to stream), various Spider-Man movies, and the recently-released Thunderbolts* movie.
I'm not kidding about the Spider-Man films, either. Because Sony Pictures owns the live-action rights to the webslinger's movies, plus films starring some of his most notorious villains (the on-hiatus universe known as the Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU), it dictates where they're available to stream.
You can find out more about where these movies (ones set in the MCU, as well as those in adjacent universes) are currently available to watch at home via my Spider-Man movies in order piece, or check out the lists below:
Live-action Spider-Man movies
- Spider-Man (2002) – Disney+/Fubo (US); Sky/Now TV (UK); Binge/Foxtel/Stan (Australia)
- Spider-Man 2 (2004) – Disney+/Fubo (US); Sky/Now TV (UK); Binge/Foxtel/Stan (Australia)
- Spider-Man 3 (2007) – Disney+/Fubo (US); Sky/Now TV (UK); Binge/Foxtel/Stan (Australia)
- The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) – Disney+/Fubo/Starz (US); Sky/Now TV (UK); Netflix/Foxtel/Stan (Australia)
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) – Disney+ /Fubo/Starz (US); Sky/Now TV (UK); Netflix/Foxtel/Stan (Australia)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – Disney+/Fubo/FX Now (US); Netflix (UK); Foxtel/Stan/Binge (Australia)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) – Disney+/Fubo/FX Now (US); rent or buy only (UK); Foxtel/Stan/Binge (Australia)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – Starz/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Foxtel/Binge/Prime Video (Australia)
Sony Spider-Man Universe spin-off films
- Venom (2018) – Disney+/Fubo (US); Prime Video (UK); Netflix/Prime Video/Stan/Foxtel/Binge (Australia)
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – Starz/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Binge/Foxtel/Prime Video (Australia)
- Morbius (2022) – Disney+/Fubo/Prime Video/Max (US); Prime Video (UK); Binge/Foxtel/Prime Video (Australia)
- Madame Web (2024) – Netflix/Prime Video (US); Sky/Now TV/Prime Video (UK); Binge/Prime Video/Foxtel (Australia)
- Venom: The Last Dance (2024) – Netflix/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Foxtel/Binge/Prime Video (Australia)
- Kraven the Hunter (2024) – Netflix/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Prime Video/Foxtel (Australia)
The Spider-Verse franchise
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2017) – Fubo/Prime Video (US); Netflix/Prime Video (UK); Foxtel/Binge/Stan/Prime Video (Australia)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) – Prime Video (US); Netflix/Prime Video (UK); Prime Video (Australia)
Marvel movies in order: all MCU films and TV shows ranked
For me, the two most recent Avengers movies are the best MCU films, but the whole thing is subjective. You can check our best Marvel movies piece to see how I've ranked them.
Additionally, I've listed the Marvel movies and TV shows in order based on their critical scores on Rotten Tomatoes. So, if you want to know what journalists think of each MCU film and series, Sony's Spider-Man Universe flicks, and Netflix's Marvel TV shows, read on.
- X-Men 97 (2024) – 99%
- Ms Marvel (2022) – 98%
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025) – 97%
- Black Panther (2018) – 96%
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – 94%
- Iron Man (2008) – 94%
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) – 94%
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – 93%
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – 93%
- Daredevil (2015 - 2018) – 92%
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – 92%
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1 (2014) – 92%
- WandaVision (2021) – 92%
- Hawkeye (2021) – 92%
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) – 92%
- The Avengers (2012) – 91%
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) – 91%
- Captain America: Civil War (2016) – 90%
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – 90%
- Werewolf by Night (2022) – 90%
- Thunderbolts* (2025) – 89%
- Doctor Strange (2016) – 89%
- I Am Groot (2022 - 2023) – 89%
- Daredevil: Born Again (2025) – 87%
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) – 87%
- Loki (2021 - 2023) – 87%
- Luke Cage (2016 - 2018) – 87%
- Agent Carter (2015 - 2016) – 86%
- Moon Knight (2022) – 86%
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – 85%
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – 85%
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) – 85%
- What If...? (2021 - 2024) – 85%
- Agatha All Along (2024) – 84%
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) – 84%
- Ant-Man (2015) – 83%
- Jessica Jones (2015 - 2019) – 83%
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) – 82%
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – 80%
- Captain Marvel (2019) – 79%
- Black Widow (2021) – 79%
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – 79%
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) – 79%
- Deadpool and Wolverine (2024) – 78%
- The Defenders (2017) – 78%
- Thor (2011) – 77%
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – 76%
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) – 74%
- Iron Man 2 (2010) – 72%
- Echo (2024) – 70%
- The Incredible Hulk (2008) – 68%
- Thor: The Dark World (2013) – 67%
- The Punisher (2017 - 2019) – 64%
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) – 63%
- The Marvels (2023) – 62%
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – 58%
- Secret Invasion (2023) – 53%
- Captain America: Brave new World (2025) – 48%
- Eternals (2021) – 47%
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) – 46%
- Venom: The Last Dance (2024) – 40%
- Iron Fist (2017 - 2018) – 37%
- Venom (2018) – 30%
- Kraven the Hunter (2024) – 15%
- Morbius (2022) – 15%
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