The Complete Lineup: What Are Marvel Movies in Order
The sheer volume of Marvel films confuses many fans. So, what are marvel movies in order? It depends entirely on how you want to experience them. Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and what are marvel movies in order.
You have two main paths. One follows the fictional timeline within the universe. The other respects the real-world release schedule when audiences actually saw them.
Release Order: The Original Viewing Experience
Watching films in release order preserves the shock of the original marketing campaigns. You relive the confusion surrounding The Avengers and the shock of the Snap.
- 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)
The Russo Brothers era represents a peak. The stakes felt massive, and the character dynamics were perfectly balanced. Wikipedia's MCU page tracks these entries exhaustively.
Chronological Order: The Story Timeline
When you ask what are marvel movies in order by story, the timeline shifts drastically. Characters age differently. Events happen out of sequence.
This approach starts in the depths of World War II and jumps around wildly.
- 1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1943)
- 2. Agent Carter (1946)
- 3. Iron Man (2010)
- 4. The Incredible Hulk (2010)
- 5. Thor (2011)
- 6. Captain America: The First Avenger (1942-1945)
- 7. The Avengers (2012)
- 8. Iron Man 3 (2012-2013)
- 9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- 10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- 11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- 12. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- 13. Ant-Man (2015)
- 14. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 15. Black Widow (2016)
- 16. Doctor Strange (2016-2017)
- 17. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- 18. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- 19. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- 20. Black Panther (2017-2018)
- 21. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 22. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- 23. Captain Marvel (1995)
- 24. Avengers: Endgame (2023)
- 25. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2024)
Phase Four and Beyond
The MCU evolved significantly after Endgame. Phase Four introduced multiverse chaos and television crossover complexity.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Eternals - Spider-Man: No Way Home - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - Thor: Love and Thunder - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - The Marvels - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The Multiverse Saga
The current phase merges phases four, five, and six into a single overarching narrative. It deals with alternate timelines and variant characters.
This saga includes the X-Men and Fantastic Four properties joining the fold. The timeline becomes a tangled web of alternate realities. Keeping track requires a dedicated flowchart.
Choosing Your Path
There is no wrong answer to how you watch these films. Purists love release order for the historical buildup. Story nerds prefer chronological consistency.
Release order offers the classic hero origin arc. Chronological order streamlines the plot twists. Pick the one that matches your mood.