Fifteen years ago, the world was introduced to the brilliant mind of Tony Stark, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., in the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s first film, “Iron Man.” This began a cinematic universe that would take the world by storm and transform how we experience superhero movies.
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As of 2023, there have been 31 films released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, each building upon the last to create an interconnected and immersive storytelling experience that has captivated audiences worldwide. Beyond the feature films, there have also been numerous TV shows, short movies, and special presentations in the same massive universe.
From the action-packed battles in “Avengers: Endgame” to the powerful and emotional stories of “Black Panther” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought to life some of the most beloved superheroes and villains in comic book history. Along with the films’ impressive storytelling, the breathtaking special effects and action sequences have made each movie an unforgettable cinematic experience.
With over 30 films and TV shows, it can be overwhelming for new and long-time fans to decide on the best way to watch them all. The question of the best viewing order has been a hot debate among fans for years.
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Well, we’ve got you covered – read on as we show you three orders on how to watch Marvel movies in order and enjoy the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
How to watch Marvel movies in order Option 1: By chronological order (Marvel Movies بالترتيب)
The first order is to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe in chronological order. This order starts with “Captain America: The First Avenger” and continues chronologically through the rest of the movies. This method allows you to experience the events in the universe in the order they occurred, which can be a unique way to view the franchise. It can also be great for fans wanting to rewatch and experience the universe differently.
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Captain Marvel
- Iron Man
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- Thor
- Marvel’s Avengers
- Thor: The Dark World
- Iron Man 3
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Black Panther
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Black Widow
- Doctor Strange
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
- Eternals
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
How to watch Marvel movies in order Option 2: By release date
The second order is to watch Marvel movies in order of release date. This is the most straightforward and obvious way to watch the movies. It starts with “Iron Man” in 2008 and continues through the latest release. This order allows you to experience the movies in the order they were released, which means you’ll see the evolution of the universe as it unfolds. This method is excellent for first-time viewers who want to experience the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it was originally meant to be seen.
Phase 1: 2008 – 2012
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Marvel’s Avengers (2012)
Phase 2: 2013 – 2015
- 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 3: 2016 – 2019
- 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 4: 2021 – 2022
- 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)
Phase 5: Marvel Movies 2023 – Present
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- The Marvels (Releases on November 2023)
How to watch Marvel movies in order Option 3: By including the TV show timelines
The third and final order is a bit more complicated, but it can be fun to experience the universe. It’s called the timeline order. This method involves watching each movie and TV show in the order they appear on the official Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline.
This timeline order includes all the events in the universe and can help fans see the connections between the different Marvel movies and series in order. It’s a great way to experience the Marvel Cinematic Universe if you’re a die-hard fan.
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Agent Carter (Marvel One-Shot)
- Agent Carter (Season 1)
- Agent Carter (Season 2)
- Captain Marvel
- Iron Man
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- The Consultant (Marvel One-Shot)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (Marvel One-Shot)
- Thor
- Avengers
- Item 47 (Marvel One-Shot)
- Iron Man 3
- All Hail the King (Marvel One-Shot)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, Episodes 1 – 7)
- Thor: The Dark World
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, Episodes 8 – 16)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, Episodes 17 – 22)
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Daredevil (Season 1)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 2, Episodes 1 – 19)
- Jessica Jones (Season 1)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 2, Episodes 20 – 22)
- Daredevil (Season 2)
- Luke Cage (Season 1)
- Ant-Man
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 3, Episodes 1 – 14)
- Cloak and Dagger (Season 1)
- Iron Fist (Season 1)
- Cloak and Dagger (Season 2)
- The Defenders (Season 1)
- Runaways (Season 1)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 3, Episodes 15 – 19)
- The Punisher (Season 1)
- Captain America: Civil War
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 3, Episodes 20 – 22)
- Black Panther
- Black Widow
- Runaways (Season 2)
- Inhumans (Season 1)
- Jessica Jones (Season 2)
- Runaways (Season 3)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot (Season 1)
- Luke Cage (Season 2)
- Doctor Strange
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 4, Episodes 1 – 8)
- Iron Fist (Season 2)
- Daredevil (Season 3)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 4, Episodes 9 – 22)
- The Punisher (Season 2)
- Jessica Jones (Season 3)
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 5, Episodes 1 – 19)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 5, Episodes 20 – 22)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 6)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 7)
- Avengers: Endgame
- WandaVision (Season 1)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Season 1)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
- Eternals
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Hawkeye (Season 1)
- What If…? (Season 1)
- Loki (Season 1)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Moon Knight (Season 1)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Season 1)
- Ms. Marvel (Season 1)
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- Werewolf by Night
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (In cinemas)
- Secret Invasion (Releases June 2023)
Ultimately, the best way to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe is up to you. Each order has advantages and disadvantages, and choosing which is right is up to you. Now it’s time to get that popcorn and start watching!
