Whenan unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins! Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
If you want to see the Marvel and Avengers movies in order as they happened, starting with the World War II-set Captain America The First Avenger, we’ve listed all the MCU movies and series in chronological order, in one guide! But first, if you just want an overview of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by release date, we have that right here, as split up by the separate Phases The Infinity Saga Phase One 2008-2012 Iron Man May 2, 2008 The Incredible Hulk June 13, 2008 Iron Man 2 May 7, 2010 Thor May 6, 2011 Captain America The First Avenger July 22, 2011 Marvel’s The First Avengers May 4, 2012 Phase Two 2013-2015 Iron Man 3 May 3, 2013 Thor The Dark World November 8, 2013 Captain America The Winter Soldier April 4, 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy August 1, 2014 Avengers Age of Ultron May 1, 2015 Ant-Man July 17, 2015 Phase Three 2016-2019 Captain America Civil War May 6, 2016 Doctor Strange November 4, 2016 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 May 5, 2017 Spider-Man Homecoming July 7, 2017 Thor Ragnarok November 3, 2017 Black Panther February 16, 2018 Avengers Infinity War April 27, 2018 Ant-Man and the Wasp July 6, 2018 Captain Marvel March 8, 2019 Avengers Endgame April 26, 2019 Spider-Man Far From Home July 2, 2019 The Multiverse Saga Phase Four 2021-2022 Black Widow July 9, 2021 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings September 3, 2021 Eternals November 5, 2021 Spider-Man No Way Home December 17, 2021 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness May 6, 2021 Thor Love and Thunder July 8, 2022 Black Panther Wakanda Forever November 11, 2022 Phase Five 2023-2024 Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania February 17, 2023 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 May 5, 2023 The Marvels November 11, 2023 Captain America New World Order May 3, 2024 Thunderbolts July 26, 2024 Blade September 6, 2024 Phase Six 2024-2026 Deadpool 3 November 8, 2024 Fantastic Four February 14, 2025 Avengers The Kang Dynasty May 2, 2025 Avengers Secret Wars May 1, 2026 You can check out our regular feature on all upcoming Marvel movies with key details! Now, on to if you want to watch the MCU chronologically in-universe. So while Iron Man, set and released in 2008, can claim the banner as the first of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, within its story, Chris Evans has got Robert Downey Jr. beat. That’s because Evans’ origin story as Captain America in The First Avenger takes action in 1942. There, we’re also first fully introduced to the Tessarect, an energy cube that initializes the Infinity Saga, climaxing in 2019’s Avengers Endgame. The next movie set in the timeline is Captain Marvel, the blockbuster with a Blockbuster, set in 1995 with Brie Larson starring as the cosmic Carol Danvers. And then it’s time to hit the start with Iron Man and RDJ’s world-making turn as Tony Stark. The movies can be seen in release order after that, except for 2021’s Black Widow, which is set in the aftermath of 2016’s Captain America Civil War. Through the epic finale of Endgame which essentially completed the first 3 phases of the MCU, there was a forward time jump of 5 years, placing most everything in Phase 4 and onward in the near future. Phase 4 started at the movies with Shang-Chi, and has been inviting its lineup of series to really do some heavy lifting, with Loki, Wandavision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Hawkeye pushing the story forward. Then there was the gigantic one-two Spider-Man punch with Far From Home and No Way Home. Moon Knight, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and now Thor Love and Thunder are all set chronologically by release after that. And now, we’ve added She-Hulk. So if you want to watch the MCU by release order, the list above is your guide. But if you want to take an alternate route and see the movies chronologically within its own timeline including the TV shows, check out our guide below! MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE MOVIES AND SHOWS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER 1 Adjusted Score 90097% Critics Consensus With plenty of pulpy action, a pleasantly retro vibe, and a handful of fine performances, Captain America is solidly old-fashioned blockbuster entertainment. Synopsis It is 1941 and the world is in the throes of war. Steve Rogers Chris Evans wants to do his... [More] 2 Adjusted Score -1% Critics Consensus No consensus yet. Synopsis British operative Peggy Carter joins the nascent organization in search of the "Zodiac" key. Agent Carter also battles her... [More] 3 Adjusted Score 111122% Critics Consensus Packed with action, humor, and visual thrills, Captain Marvel introduces the MCU's latest hero with an origin story that makes effective use of the franchise's signature formula. Synopsis Captain Marvel is an extraterrestrial Kree warrior who finds herself caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her... [More] 4 Adjusted Score 104752% Critics Consensus Powered by Robert Downey Jr.'s vibrant charm, Iron Man turbo-charges the superhero genre with a deft intelligence and infectious sense of fun. Synopsis A billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, Tony Stark Robert Downey Jr., is conducting weapons tests overseas, but terrorists kidnap him... [More] 5 Adjusted Score 82350% Critics Consensus It isn't quite the breath of fresh air that Iron Man was, but this sequel comes close with solid performances and an action-packed plot. Synopsis With the world now aware that he is Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark Robert Downey Jr. faces pressure from... [More] 6 Adjusted Score -1% Critics Consensus No consensus yet. Synopsis Agent Coulson stops at a convenience store and deals with a robbery during his visit.... [More] 7 Adjusted Score 75918% Critics Consensus The Incredible Hulk may not be quite the smashing success that fans of Marvel's raging behemoth might hope for, but it offers more than enough big green action to make up for its occasionally puny narrative. Synopsis Scientist Bruce Banner Edward Norton desperately seeks a cure for the gamma radiation that contaminated his cells and turned him... [More] 8 Adjusted Score 87863% Critics Consensus A dazzling blockbuster that tempers its sweeping scope with wit, humor, and human drama, Thor is mighty Marvel entertainment. Synopsis As the son of Odin Anthony Hopkins, king of the Norse gods, Thor Chris Hemsworth will soon inherit the throne... [More] 9 Adjusted Score -1% Critics Consensus No consensus yet. Synopsis Agents Coulson and Sitwell plan to derail General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross from interfering with affairs with a special person.... [More] 10 Adjusted Score 105967% Critics Consensus Thanks to a script that emphasizes its heroes' humanity and a wealth of superpowered set pieces, The Avengers lives up to its hype and raises the bar for Marvel at the movies. Synopsis When Thor's evil brother, Loki Tom Hiddleston, gains access to the unlimited power of the energy cube called the Tesseract,... [More] 11 Adjusted Score -1% Critics Consensus No consensus yet. Synopsis SHIELD agent Sitwell is assigned to recover an abandoned Chitauri weapon being used by a couple robbing a bank.... [More] 12 Adjusted Score 77159% Critics Consensus It may not be the finest film to come from the Marvel Universe, but Thor The Dark World still offers plenty of the humor and high-stakes action that fans have come to expect. Synopsis In ancient times, the gods of Asgard fought and won a war against an evil race known as the Dark... [More] 13 Adjusted Score 91974% Critics Consensus With the help of its charismatic lead, some impressive action sequences, and even a few surprises, Iron Man 3 is a witty, entertaining adventure and a strong addition to the Marvel canon. Synopsis Plagued with worry and insomnia since saving New York from destruction, Tony Stark Robert Downey Jr., now, is more dependent... [More] 14 Adjusted Score 102490% Critics Consensus Suspenseful and politically astute, Captain America The Winter Soldier is a superior entry in the Avengers canon and is sure to thrill Marvel diehards. Synopsis After the cataclysmic events in New York with his fellow Avengers, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America Chris Evans, lives in... [More] 15 Adjusted Score 105568% Critics Consensus Guardians of the Galaxy is just as irreverent as fans of the frequently zany Marvel comic would expect - as well as funny, thrilling, full of heart, and packed with visual splendor. Synopsis Brash space adventurer Peter Quill Chris Pratt finds himself the quarry of relentless bounty hunters after he steals an orb... [More] Synopsis Baby Groot is a mischievous toddler who is growing up and getting into trouble among the stars as a member... [More] 17 Adjusted Score 115000% Critics Consensus Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's action-packed plot, dazzling visuals, and irreverent humor add up to a sequel that's almost as fun - if not quite as thrillingly fresh - as its predecessor. Synopsis Peter Quill and his fellow Guardians are hired by a powerful alien race, the Sovereign, to protect their precious batteries... [More] 18 Adjusted Score 90730% Critics Consensus Exuberant and eye-popping, Avengers Age of Ultron serves as an overstuffed but mostly satisfying sequel, reuniting its predecessor's unwieldy cast with a few new additions and a worthy foe. Synopsis When Tony Stark Robert Downey Jr. jump-starts a dormant peacekeeping program, things go terribly awry, forcing him, Thor Chris Hemsworth,... [More] 19 Adjusted Score 96111% Critics Consensus Led by a charming performance from Paul Rudd, Ant-Man offers Marvel thrills on an appropriately smaller scale - albeit not as smoothly as its most successful predecessors. Synopsis Forced out of his own company by former protégé Darren Cross, Dr. Hank Pym Michael Douglas recruits the talents of... [More] 20 Adjusted Score 114734% Critics Consensus Captain America Civil War begins the next wave of Marvel movies with an action-packed superhero blockbuster boasting a decidedly non-cartoonish plot and the courage to explore thought-provoking themes. Synopsis Political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability when the actions of the Avengers lead to collateral damage. The... [More] 21 Adjusted Score 101029% Critics Consensus Black Widow's deeper themes are drowned out in all the action, but it remains a solidly entertaining standalone adventure that's rounded out by a stellar supporting cast. Synopsis In Marvel Studios' action-packed spy thriller "Black Widow," Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger... [More] 22 Adjusted Score 123005% Critics Consensus Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU's most absorbing stories - and introducing some of its most fully realized characters. Synopsis After the death of his father, T'Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place... [More] 23 Adjusted Score 120108% Critics Consensus Spider-Man Homecoming does whatever a second reboot can, delivering a colorful, fun adventure that fits snugly in the sprawling MCU without getting bogged down in franchise-building. Synopsis Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the... [More] 24 Adjusted Score 111275% Critics Consensus Doctor Strange artfully balances its outré source material against the blockbuster constraints of the MCU, delivering a thoroughly entertaining superhero origin story in the bargain. Synopsis Dr. Stephen Strange's Benedict Cumberbatch life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When... [More] 25 Adjusted Score 124091% Critics Consensus Exciting, funny, and above all fun, Thor Ragnarok is a colorful cosmic adventure that sets a new standard for its franchise - and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Synopsis Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits... [More] 26 Adjusted Score 104469% Critics Consensus A lighter, brighter superhero movie powered by the effortless charisma of Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, Ant-Man and The Wasp offers a much-needed MCU palate cleanser. Synopsis Scott Lang is grappling with the consequences of his choices as both a superhero and a father. Approached by Hope... [More] 27 Adjusted Score 109847% Critics Consensus Avengers Infinity War ably juggles a dizzying array of MCU heroes in the fight against their gravest threat yet, and the result is a thrilling, emotionally resonant blockbuster that mostly realizes its gargantuan ambitions. Synopsis Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet -... [More] 28 Adjusted Score 126302% Critics Consensus Exciting, entertaining, and emotionally impactful, Avengers Endgame does whatever it takes to deliver a satisfying finale to Marvel's epic Infinity Saga. Synopsis Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply... [More] 29 Adjusted Score 116421% Critics Consensus A breezily unpredictable blend of teen romance and superhero action, Spider-Man Far from Home stylishly sets the stage for the next era of the MCU. Synopsis Peter Parker's relaxing European vacation takes an unexpected turn when Nick Fury shows up in his hotel room to recruit... [More] 30 Adjusted Score 113558% Critics Consensus A bigger, bolder Spider-Man sequel, No Way Home expands the franchise's scope and stakes without losing sight of its humor and heart. Synopsis For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero's identity is revealed, bringing his Super... [More] Synopsis Loki, the God of Mischief, steps out of his brother's shadow to embark on an adventure that takes place after... [More] Synopsis Reimagining noteworthy events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and creating a multiverse of infinite possibilities.... [More] Synopsis Living idealized suburban lives, super-powered beings Wanda and Vision begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.... [More] Synopsis Falcon and the Winter Soldier are a mismatched duo who team up for a global adventure that will test their... [More] 35 Adjusted Score 107246% Critics Consensus Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings isn't entirely free of Marvel's familiar formula, but this exciting origin story expands the MCU in more ways than one. Synopsis Marvel Studios' "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past... [More] 36 Adjusted Score 66594% Critics Consensus An ambitious superhero epic that soars as often as it strains, Eternals takes the MCU in intriguing - and occasionally confounding - new directions. Synopsis Marvel Studios' Eternals features an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ancient aliens who have... [More] Synopsis Clint Barton and Kate Bishop shoot a few arrows and try to avoid becoming the target themselves.... [More] Synopsis Steven Grant and mercenary Marc Spector investigate the mysteries of the Egyptian gods from inside the same body.... [More] 39 Adjusted Score 104185% Critics Consensus A poignant tribute that satisfyingly moves the franchise forward, Black Panther Wakanda Forever marks an ambitious and emotionally rewarding triumph for the MCU. Synopsis In Marvel Studios' "Black Panther Wakanda Forever," Queen Ramonda Angela Bassett, Shuri Letitia Wright, M'Baku Winston Duke, Okoye Danai Gurira... [More] Synopsis Jennifer Walters has a complicated life as a single, 30-something attorney who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered... [More] Synopsis Kamala is a superhero fan with an imagination, particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel; Kamala feels like she doesn't... [More] 42 Adjusted Score 83333% Critics Consensus In some ways, Thor Love and Thunder feels like Ragnarok redux - but overall, it offers enough fast-paced fun to make this a worthy addition to the MCU. Synopsis "Thor Love and Thunder" finds Thor Chris Hemsworth on a journey unlike anything he's ever faced - a quest for... [More] 43 Adjusted Score 95119% Critics Consensus Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness labors under the weight of the sprawling MCU, but Sam Raimi's distinctive direction casts an entertaining spell. Synopsis In Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further... [More] 44 Adjusted Score 94309% Critics Consensus A spooky yarn told with taut economy, Werewolf by Night is a standout Marvel entry that proves Michael Giacchino as atmospheric and skilled a director as he is a composer. Synopsis On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding... [More] 45 Adjusted Score 94898% Critics Consensus More of a stocking stuffer than a fully-rounded parcel, this yuletide excursion is a delightful showcase for Drax, Mantis, and a very game Kevin Bacon. Synopsis Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans.... [More] 46 Adjusted Score 104168% Critics Consensus A galactic group hug that might squeeze a little too tight on the heartstrings, the final Guardians of the Galaxy is a loving last hurrah for the MCU's most ragtag family. Synopsis In Marvel Studios "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these... [More] 47 Adjusted Score 69653% Critics Consensus Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania mostly lacks the spark of fun that elevated earlier adventures, but Jonathan Majors' Kang is a thrilling villain poised to alter the course of the MCU. Synopsis Super-Hero partners Scott Lang Paul Rudd and Hope van Dyne Evangeline Lilly return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and... [More]