The Marvel Cinematic Universe in Chronological Order. Behance

MCU Timeline: Watch Marvel Movies & Shows In Order - From "The First Avenger" To Thunderbolts!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe in Chronological Order. Behance

By  Dr. Caroline Hill

Are you ready to embark on an epic journey through space, time, and the extraordinary? The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offers an unparalleled cinematic experience, a tapestry woven with threads of heroism, sacrifice, and the relentless battle between good and evil, all interconnected in a way that has redefined modern storytelling.

The MCU, a sprawling saga of interconnected films and television series, has captivated audiences worldwide. With its intricate web of narratives, character arcs, and shared universes, the MCU presents a unique viewing challenge. To fully appreciate the depth and complexity of this cinematic universe, viewers have two primary options: watching in release order or chronological order. Both approaches offer distinct benefits, each providing a different perspective on the unfolding narrative.

The idea of a "shared universe" in cinema was a bold concept that has now become the dominant approach to making movies. Marvel Studios took a massive gamble by interconnecting its film franchises, a move that paid off, creating one of the most successful entertainment properties ever. It's a strategy that's been copied and adapted by studios, but the MCU is still the gold standard of shared universes.

The MCU is more than just a collection of superhero movies. It is a narrative experiment, a sprawling story told across multiple films and television series, that is a testament to creative vision and long-term planning. Understanding the order in which to view the movies and shows is essential to fully appreciating the complexities of the shared universe, the character arcs, and the interconnected plot lines.

For those who want a simple overview of the timeline, here is a list of MCU titles, both movies and TV shows, in chronological order, providing a clear path through the Marvel Cinematic Universe:

This comprehensive guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from "Captain America: The First Avenger" to "Thunderbolts," aims to equip both seasoned fans and newcomers with the knowledge to navigate the ever-expanding narrative, revealing the release dates, plot summaries, and connections of every MCU project.

The complete Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline is now available to stream on Disney+, offering a readily accessible way to experience the saga from start to finish.

The first film in the MCU, "Iron Man," launched in 2008, was a gamble for Marvel Studios, but one that paid off spectacularly. The film introduced Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, the charismatic billionaire, genius, playboy, and philanthropist, and it set the tone for the entire franchise.

The early films carefully established the universe. "The Incredible Hulk" (2008) introduced the character of Bruce Banner and the gamma-powered Hulk. Then came "Iron Man 2" (2010), which expanded on the world and introduced the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), played by the actress.

The next film, "Thor" (2011), expanded the universe to include the Norse god Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the mystical world of Asgard, introducing concepts of cosmic threats.

The culmination of these early films came in 2012 with "The Avengers," the first team-up film, and a landmark moment in cinematic history. This film brought together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. The film's success was a watershed moment, confirming the viability of the shared universe concept and propelling the MCU to new heights.

The subsequent phases of the MCU have introduced new heroes, expanded the scope of the stories, and delved deeper into the themes of identity, sacrifice, and the consequences of power.

With the release of "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019, the MCU reached a climax. This film brought together all the heroes in a final battle against Thanos, a moment that brought together years of storytelling and set the stage for the future of the franchise.

Since "Endgame," the MCU has continued to evolve, with new phases introducing new characters, exploring the multiverse, and experimenting with new genres.

In its current form, the MCU is an ever-growing narrative, featuring multiple television series on Disney+, exploring corners of the universe.

Understanding the MCU's timeline allows viewers to witness how the narrative unfolds, from the early days of the franchise through the more recent additions.

Many fans choose to watch the MCU in the order of the events that occur within the universe, which can be a particularly rewarding approach. Watching in chronological order reveals the evolution of the characters, the building of relationships, and the development of the overarching storylines.

Here's what I propose to help you get started:

Here is a summary to easily watch the MCU by release date, broken up by phases:


Phase One

  • Iron Man (2008)
  • The Incredible Hulk (2008)
  • Iron Man 2 (2010)
  • Thor (2011)
  • Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
  • The Avengers (2012)


Phase Two

  • 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)


Phase Three

  • 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)


Phase Four

  • 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)


Phase Five

  • Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
  • Thunderbolts (TBA)

Now that you have a basic overview of the film by release order, here is the order to watch the MCU in chronological order:


Movies and Series in Chronological Order

  • Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
  • Captain Marvel (2019)
  • Iron Man (2008)
  • Iron Man 2 (2010)
  • The Incredible Hulk (2008)
  • Thor (2011)
  • The Avengers (2012)
  • Iron Man 3 (2013)
  • Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  • Ant-Man (2015)
  • Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  • Black Widow (2021)
  • Black Panther (2018)
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
  • Doctor Strange (2016)
  • Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
  • Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
  • Avengers: Endgame (2019)
  • Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
  • Eternals (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)
  • Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
  • Thunderbolts (TBA)

To fully dive into the MCU, the following table can help to watch the films and shows:

Title Release Date Phase Description
Captain America: The First Avenger July 22, 2011 Phase One Steve Rogers transforms into Captain America during World War II.
Captain Marvel March 8, 2019 Phase Three Carol Danvers becomes Captain Marvel, caught in the conflict between the Kree and the Skrulls.
Iron Man May 2, 2008 Phase One Tony Stark builds the Iron Man suit after being captured.
Iron Man 2 May 7, 2010 Phase One Tony Stark deals with his technology's consequences and faces new threats.
The Incredible Hulk June 13, 2008 Phase One Bruce Banner battles to control the Hulk.
Thor May 6, 2011 Phase One Thor is banished to Earth and must reclaim his power.
The Avengers May 4, 2012 Phase One The Avengers team up to save Earth from Loki and the Chitauri invasion.
Iron Man 3 May 3, 2013 Phase Two Tony Stark faces the Mandarin and overcomes personal challenges.
Thor: The Dark World November 8, 2013 Phase Two Thor battles Malekith and the Dark Elves to save the Nine Realms.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier April 4, 2014 Phase Two Captain America uncovers a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D.
Guardians of the Galaxy August 1, 2014 Phase Two A group of unlikely heroes team up to save the galaxy.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 May 5, 2017 Phase Three The Guardians face new challenges as they learn more about Star-Lord's past.
Avengers: Age of Ultron May 1, 2015 Phase Two The Avengers battle Ultron, a rogue A.I., and face internal conflicts.
Ant-Man July 17, 2015 Phase Two Scott Lang becomes Ant-Man and joins the fight.
Captain America: Civil War May 6, 2016 Phase Three The Avengers split over the Sokovia Accords, causing a civil war.
Black Widow July 9, 2021 Phase Four Natasha Romanoff confronts her past and faces new threats.
Black Panther February 16, 2018 Phase Three T'Challa becomes the Black Panther and defends Wakanda.
Spider-Man: Homecoming July 7, 2017 Phase Three Peter Parker juggles high school and his responsibilities as Spider-Man.
Doctor Strange November 4, 2016 Phase Three Dr. Stephen Strange becomes the Sorcerer Supreme.
Thor: Ragnarok November 3, 2017 Phase Three Thor battles Hela and the destruction of Asgard.
Ant-Man and the Wasp July 6, 2018 Phase Three Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne team up as Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Avengers: Infinity War April 27, 2018 Phase Three The Avengers fight Thanos to prevent him from collecting the Infinity Stones.
Avengers: Endgame April 26, 2019 Phase Three The remaining Avengers team up to undo Thanos' snap.
Spider-Man: Far From Home July 2, 2019 Phase Three Peter Parker deals with the aftermath of Endgame.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings September 3, 2021 Phase Four Shang-Chi confronts his past and battles his father, Wenwu.
Eternals November 5, 2021 Phase Four The Eternals, an immortal alien race, emerge to protect Earth.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness May 6, 2022 Phase Four Doctor Strange faces a new threat in the multiverse.
Thor: Love and Thunder July 8, 2022 Phase Four Thor reunites with Jane Foster and faces Gorr the God Butcher.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever November 11, 2022 Phase Four Wakanda mourns the loss of T'Challa and faces new threats.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania February 17, 2023 Phase Five Scott Lang, Hope Van Dyne and the Wasp journey into the Quantum Realm.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 May 5, 2023 Phase Five The Guardians embark on a mission to save Rocket's life.
The Marvels November 10, 2023 Phase Five Captain Marvel teams up with Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau.
Captain America: Brave New World February 14, 2025 Phase Five Sam Wilson takes on the mantle of Captain America
Thunderbolts TBA Phase Five A team of reformed villains is assembled for a new mission.

The creation of the MCU was a meticulously planned process. Marvel Studios, under the leadership of Kevin Feige, developed a cohesive vision for the franchise. They established a strong foundation with the early films, introducing individual heroes and their origins.

The studio carefully coordinated the narratives, ensuring that the storylines of individual films and television series would intertwine, creating a shared universe where events in one project could impact others. This process required a high degree of planning, coordination, and a long-term vision that few studios had attempted before.

Netflix entered the MCU with the intent of creating shows that were part of the greater world. The shows would be darker, more gritty, and aimed towards an adult audience. These shows were initially intended to build the wider MCU, but ultimately, this idea was abandoned. The Netflix series, while initially integrated into the MCU, became increasingly separate.

The introduction of the Multiverse has expanded the possibilities of the MCU, creating alternate realities and timelines, allowing for endless storytelling opportunities and the inclusion of various versions of characters.

The Marvel brand page on Disney+ provides an all-encompassing resource for fans, offering easy access to the MCU movie timeline and the complete timeline. Fans can explore the different phases, track their favorite characters, and even view the films and series broken down by season, ensuring a seamless and comprehensive viewing experience.

Watching the MCU in chronological order deepens appreciation of the narrative, allowing viewers to experience the story in a coherent flow. The connections between the different storylines become more apparent, characters develop in a logical sequence, and the overarching themes of the MCU resonate more profoundly.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline is an expansive undertaking. It provides a guide for anyone looking to understand the order of events in the MCU, from the films to the television shows. It helps to understand the complete order of everything in the MCU.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe in Chronological Order. Behance
The Marvel Cinematic Universe in Chronological Order. Behance

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe in Chronological Order. Behance
The Marvel Cinematic Universe in Chronological Order. Behance

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The Ultimate Guide To MCU Timeline Order Unraveling The Marvel
The Ultimate Guide To MCU Timeline Order Unraveling The Marvel

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