How to watch all 33 Marvel movies in order based on the MCU timeline   (2024)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the most expansive superhero property ever made, with box office hits in abundance. While Disney has decided to slow things down, with fears of audience fatigue, the MCU still has its legions of fans re-watching the movies over and over again.

While most agree that the best way to watch the Marvel movies is in the order that they were released, for those die-hard Marvel fans out there who’ve already seen all 33 superhero films, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as experiencing the MCU in chronological order.

But with so many Marvel movies, it’s difficult to know where to start and where to go next. That’s where we step in. We’ve compiled this handy guide to help you watch the Marvel movies in order, starting withCaptain America: The First Avenger, which is set in the 1940s and ending with (for now) The Marvels, which is set in 2026. Note: We haven’t included the Marvel TV shows in this guide, though they do intersect with the overall MCU.

If you’re new to the Marvel cinematic universe, we highly recommend that you watch the Marvel movies in the order they were released – that’s the way the filmmakers intended them to be consumed, and you won’t get spoiled by end credit scenes.

Without further ado, buckle in – this is how and where you can watch every Marvel movie in chronological order. And, if you’d like to watch the films in the order they were released, scroll right to the bottom. We’ve got you covered.

Subscribe to Disney+ for £4.99 per month

If you’re looking to stream the Marvel movies, nearly all of them (barring theSpider-Manmovies) are on Disney+.The ad-based plan costs £4.99 per month,the standard plan costs £7.99 per month or £79.90 per year and the premium plan costs £10.99 per month or £109.90 per year.

How to watch all the Marvel movies in chronological order

Watching the Marvel movies in the MCU chronological timeline is a really fun way to watch the films. You’ll encounter characters in the same sequence as they appear within the story's timeline. In Infinity War, there's a post-credit scene featuring Nick Fury that becomes more satisfying for anyone who has already watched Captain Marvel, which comes before Infinity War in the chronological timeline.

The only real issue you’ll face when watching it in chronological order are those post-credit scenes, which sometimes spoil events far in the future.

1. ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’

Set during World War II in the 1940s, Captain America: The First Avenger is the earliest story in the timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It sees Steve Rogers’ origin story as he’s transformed into a super soldier.

2. ‘Captain Marvel’

WhileCaptain Marvelwasn’t released until Phase 3,Carol Danvers’sorigin story, in which shebecomesone of the universe’s most powerfulsuperheroes, is set in the mid-1990s. We won’t see her again for a long while after her introduction.

3. ‘Iron Man’

While Iron Man was the first film released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, kicking off what would one day be an enormous entertainment property, it’s actually the third film chronologically, taking place in 2008. It sees billionaire Tony Stark build a high-tech suit of armour and become Iron Man.

4. ‘Iron Man 2’

Introducing us to Black Widow for the first time,Iron Man 2is the next MCU movie chronologically, picking up shortly after the events of the first movie.

5. ‘The Incredible Hulk’

Released after the firstIron Manmovie,The Incredible Hulkfollows Iron Man 2 chronologically. It’s the first and only standalone Hulk film, seeing Bruce Banner search for a cure for his transformation. Stark appears in a post-credits scene.

6. ‘Thor’

The sixth film based on the MCU timeline introduces us to the Norse God Thor, who’s been banished to Earth from Asgard. It was released around the same time asIron Man 2,The Incredible Hulkand we meet Hawkeye for the first time.

7. ‘The Avengers’

With all four superheroes introduced, the gang is assembled together for the first time to formThe Avengers. The movie broke several box office records worldwide. The MCU stage is set.

8. ‘Thor: The Dark World’

Set in late 2013, the secondThormovie introduces us to the first Infinity Stone – the Aether and sees Thor battle to save the Nine Realms from the dark elf Malekith.

9. ‘Iron Man 3’

Iron Man 3 takes place around Christmas 2013 and sees Tony Stark struggle after the events ofThe Avengerswhile battling the Mandarin. It’s Stark’s last solo film.

10.‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’

Cap adjusts to modern life in theWinter Soldier but then has to team up with Black Widow and Falcon to take down his best friend. It’s set in 2014.

11.‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

Star-Lord and his motley crew of intergalactic misfits band together to stop Ronan the Accuser, from using a mysterious orb to destroy planets – later known as the Power Infinity Stone. It’s set in 2014.

12. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2’

The second Guardians of the Galaxy movie was released in 2017, but the film is actually set a few months after the first, in 2014. In the sequel, the guardians try to figure out where Star-Lord came from.

13. ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’

The Avengers are back together againto take downUltron, anAIcreated by Tony Stark and Bruce Bannerthat’s gone rogue. Set inMay2015,it’s the first time we meetScarlet Witch, Quicksilver and Vision.

14. ‘Ant-Man’

Set in 2015, Scott Langisrecruited by Dr. Hank Pymand becomes Ant-Man for the first time, letting him shrink really small and get super strong. It’s the first time we’re introduced to the concept of the Quantum Realm.

15.‘Captain America: Civil War’

Set after the events ofThe Avengers: Age of Ultron,Civil Waris basically anotherAvengersmovie, pitting two teams of superheroes against each other, led by Captain America and Iron Man. It takes place between May and June 2016, and it introduces us to Black Panther and Spider-Man.

16. ‘Black Widow’

Released in 2021,Black Widowis the first Marvel movie in Phase 4. The film actually takes place five years prior in 2016, following the events of theCivil War(barring the post-credits scene, which is set in 2021).

17. ‘Black Panther’

Having been introduced to the superhero inCivil War,Black Panthertakes place at the same time as both the third Captain America film andBlack Widow. Set in 2016, the movie introduces us to Wakanda. It’s also the first time a Marvel movie has been nominated for a Best Picture Oscar

18. ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

Set in September 2016, Peter Parker’s first outing as Spider-Man follows the events ofCivil War, balancing high school and mentored by Tony Stark. You’ll need a Netflix account to stream this one.

19.‘Doctor Strange’

Set between February 2016 and early 2017, Doctor Strange introduces us to the Sorcerer Supreme, the multiverse and alternate dimensions for the first time.

20.‘Thor:Ragnarök’

Set in 2017, Thor: Ragnarök is the final film before that cataclysmic event inInfinity War. It sees Thor imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, racing to get home to stop Ragnarök from destroying Asgard.

21. ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

Taking place in early 2018, Infinity War is the film that ends with Thanos snapping his fingers and completely changing the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

22. ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’

Ant-Man and the Wasp takes place at the exact same time as Infinity War. Scott Lang is sent into the quantum realm as Thanos snaps his fingers.

23.‘Avengers: Endgame’

The timeline starts to get a little messy withEndgame. The post-snap movie takes place over the course of six years, starting in 2018 and ending in October 2023. The movies continue after this point.

24.‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’

Shang-Chiis set in early 2024, though there are some earlier flashbacks that are set thousands of years earlier. In the movie, the superhero confronts his father Xu Wenwu, the leader of the Ten Rings organization.

25.‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’

Set eight months after the end ofEndgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home takes place in the summer of 2024 on a school trip to Europe, where Nick Fury asks Parker to help fight the Elementals. You’ll need a Netflix subscription to watch this one.

26. ‘Eternals’

While Eternals begins thousands of years before the events ofCaptain America, the bulk of the story takes place in late 2024, afterFar From Home. It sees ancient heroes reunite to protect Earth from Deviants.

27. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

No Way Hometakes place in the same year asFar From Home but towards the end of the year after Spider-Man’s identity is revealed. Things go horribly wrong after Peter Parker seeks help from Dr Strange to make people forget, letting villains in from the multiverse. No Way Home will begin streaming on Netflix in October, but you can currently rent it from Prime Video.

28. ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

The mind-bendingMultiverse of Madnesstakes place directly after the events ofNo Way Home –things are getting a little more linear in the timeline now, even if it’s getting less linear in the story. It takes place in November 2024.

29. ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Confusingly,Disney+ says thatBlack Panther 2is set between MCU TV showsMoon KnightandShe-Hulk: Attorney At Law, putting it somewhere around spring 2025. That’s despite the events of the film taking place a year afterT’Challa dies inEndgamein 2023.

30. ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

According to Marvel’s official timeline, Thor’s fourth filmLove and Thundertakes place afterWakanda Forever. Using that information and our own deduction, we believe it still takes place in 2025. InRagnarök,Thor tells Loki that he and Jane Foster recently broke up in 2017, and in Love and Thunder, he tells Foster that it’s been eight years since they broke up.

31. ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

According to theofficial Marvel timeline, the third Ant-Man film takes place after Thor: Love and Thunder, but before the TV seriesSecret Invasion, which is set in 2025. That means Quantumania also takes place in 2025. It sees the family exploring the quantum realm.

32. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3’

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is set after the events of the holiday special, which takes place at Christmas in 2025. That meansVolume 3likely takes place in early 2026. The ragtag bunch of misfits rally around to save Rocket.

33. ‘The Marvels’

And finally,The Marvels. Confirmed to take place after the events ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol3 and Secret Invasion, The Marvels most likely takes place in 2026. It will see the return of Carol Danvers, someone chronological viewers will have last seen 31 films ago.

How to watch all 33 Marvel movies in order of release date

If that’s too much to follow, just watching the Marvel movies in the order they were released is also a great idea. That’s how the filmmakers intended them to be watched, and they’re all split neatly into different phases, making them easier to keep track of. It’s nice to binge each phase as if they were a boxset. Here’s the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe in release order, including both Marvel movies and TV shows.

Phase One

Phase Two

Phase Three

Phase Four

Phase Five

Phase Six

Voucher codes

For the latest discounts on TVs and other tech offers, try the links below:

Your TV doesn’t support apps? Give it a new lease of life with one of thebest streaming devices