Working out how to watch the Marvel movies in order doesn't required a PhD in superhero film studies. In fact, with our resident Marvel expert's help – that's the author of this article, FYI – you'll soon be able to traverse the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) without our help.
That's because this guide is full of the biggest and latest information on every Marvel movie and Disney+ show to date. So, whether you want to know where they fit on the MCU timeline, which plan you should follow to stream them all for the first time, and/or get the lowdown on all of the Marvel Phase 6 projects currently in the works, we've got you covered.
What's the best order to watch the Marvel movies in for the first time?
For first-timers, the best way to watch the Marvel movies is by their release dates.
Sure, streaming some of the best superhero movies and best Disney+ shows chronologically – i.e. watching them based on the year they take place in-universe – is a great alternative. However, it's best used by franchise veterans wanting a new perspective on how the Marvel timeline plays out.
The reason? Watching the MCU movies in order of chronology can be confusing for newcomers. For example, Captain America: The First Avenger is primarily set during World War II. But, its final scene, which sees Steve Rogers wake up in New York before he meets Nick Fury, takes place in 2010. This isn't the first time we're supposed to meet Fury, though, because he cameos in 2008's Iron Man.
If you watch the Marvel movies in chronological order, you'll meet Fury in The First Avenger before Iron Man. That makes sense from a timeline standpoint, but meeting Fury in Iron Man first means his latter appearance in Cap's first solo film will make more sense to newcomers. So, if you fall into the 'first-time viewer' demographic, make sure you pick the release date method first.
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? Here's how. You'll start with Eyes of Wakanda, whose first episode is set in 1260 B.C, and end with Thunderbolts*, which is set in the MCU's present day, aka mid-2027.
Okay, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is Marvel's most recent theatrical release. However, it's a '60s-era flick that also takes place in an alternate universe, so it technically doesn't have a concrete position on the MCU timeline. The same is true of some animated TV shows, which also exist in parallel realities to the MCU.
Really, the MCU timeline has been much harder to follow since Avengers: Endgame, which came out in 2018 but whose story is set in 2023.
Thanks to the 'Official Marvel Timeline' book and three Marvel timelines on Disney+, though, we can definitively state (for the most part!) where each project sits on the Marvel timeline:
Eyes of Wakanda
Aside from its final episode's time-travel shenanigans, this show is set between 1260 B.C. and 1896 A.D, so it's the first MCU project you need to watch.
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 Marvel movie on this list.
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.
The only multiverse-centric MCU project that appears on this list (for now, anyway), Loki is best watched after Avengers: Endgame because it follows the God of Mischief after the aforementioned movie's events.
Set immediately after its predecessor, so stream it straight after the show's first season.
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.
According to the complete Marvel timeline on Disney+, this show sits between Thor 4 and Werewolf by Night. Given it takes place in the weeks and months after Black Panther 2, that places it sometime in mid- to late 2025.
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 Ironheart 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.
MCU-adjacent projects
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Set in an alternate universe to the MCU. Ordinarily, a period piece film like this would sit between The First Avenger and Captain Marvel. However, as it takes place in a different reality, it can be watched at any time (NB: the titular group will cross over into the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday, so I'll move it into the above timeline once the aforementioned film arrives next December).
What If...? is also a multiversal affair. Its three seasons aren't set in a particular year, so they can be watched at your leisure.
A continuation of the story told in What If...? season 1 episode 4, titled 'What If... Zombies!?', this four-part, R-rated series is also set in a parallel dimension and can be streamed at any time.
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 whenever 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.
Watching the Marvel movies in release date order is a much easier blueprint to follow. You'll kick things off with 2008's Iron Man and end with Marvel Zombies, which made its streaming debut in September 2025.
Here's a quick but full rundown of every Marvel movie and TV series in order of the year they launched:
- 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)
- Ironheart (TV show, 2025)
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
- Eyes of Wakanda (TV show, 2025)
- Marvel Zombies (TV show, 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.
With every Netflix Marvel TV show available to stream on Disney+ and, more importantly, confirmed to be canon in the MCU, now's as good a time as any to stream them if you missed them on Netflix.
If you'd prefer to watch these shows without any MCU baggage, here's how to do so:
- 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 2026?
Marvel won't release any more projects in 2025 but, fear not, there are plenty coming next year and beyond.
As of November 2025, these are the confirmed dates/launch windows for every MCU film and TV show in development. Be aware, though, that some might be subject to change:
- Wonder Man (TV show, January 27, 2026)
- Daredevil: Born Again season 2 (TV show, March 4, 2026)
- X-Men 97 season 2 (animated TV show, mid-2026)
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Movie, July 31, 2026)
- VisionQuest (TV show, mid- to late 2026)
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2 (animated TV show, late 2026)
- Avengers: Doomsday (Movie, December 18, 2026)
- Avengers: Secret Wars (Movie, December 17, 2027)
- Armor Wars (Movie, TBC)
- Blade (Movie, TBC)
- Nova (TV show, TBC)
How many Marvel movies are there?
37 MCU movies have been released so far. By the end of 2027, there'll be 40 in this Marvel movies in order guide.
If you want to watch all of the Marvel movies in order, you'll need to set aside 4,837 minutes – that's 80.6 hours or 3.35 total days. Add in every MCU TV show and specials, and it'll take a mammoth 9,630 minutes (160.5 hours or 6.68 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 321.5 hours, or a monstrous 13.4 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+.
In fact, the only ones you can't watch on the streamer are the Spider-Man films. Indeed, none of the MCU-set Tom Holland movies, or any of the other live-action or animated flicks, are currently available on the platform. So, you'll have to look elsewhere to check them out.
Every Marvel movie and TV show 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 Rotten Tomatoes critical score. 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%
- Eyes of Wakanda (2025) – 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%
- Doctor Strange (2016) – 89%
- I Am Groot (2022 - 2023) – 89%
- Thunderbolts* (2025) – 88%
- Daredevil: Born Again (2025) – 87%
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) – 87%
- Loki (2021 - 2023) – 87%
- Luke Cage (2016 - 2018) – 87%
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) – 86%
- 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%
- Ironheart (2025) – 77%
- 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%
- Marvel Zombies (2025) – 66%
- 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%
- Eternals (2021) – 47%
- Captain America: Brave new World (2025) – 46%
- 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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