As the MCU expands into its 16th year of operation on the big screen, the time has come to revisit the best watch order for first-time viewers.
Opinions vary heavily on the best MCU watch order for both first-timers and veterans, with veterans often picking the chronological timeline order once they are familiar with the franchise's history.
However, most agree the best way to jump into the MCU timeline for the first time is with the order in which the films were initially released starting in 2008. As of 2024, that canon now includes a whopping 34 movies between Marvel Studios' Phase 1 and Phase 5 slates, and plenty more are still on the way.
For MCU viewers new and old, the exact release order of the 16-year, 34-film franchise is detailed below:
Every MCU Movie In Order of Release
1. Iron Man
Release Date: May 2, 2008
Tony Stark's first solo film, Iron Man, kicked off the MCU in exciting fashion, showing off his evolution from playboy billionaire to superhero as he built his original Iron Man suits.
Robert Downey Jr.'s hero finds himself entrenched in a difficult internal struggle, coming to terms with the consequences of his actions as a weapons maker while discovering a new way to do good in the world.
Iron Man is now streaming on Disney+.
2. The Incredible Hulk
Release Date: June 13, 2008
Edward Norton brings a new version of Bruce Banner to life in The Incredible Hulk, in which he is on the run from General Thaddeus Ross and the United States Army.
As Banner looks for a way to rid himself of his gamma-induced situation, he has to adjust his goals and learn how to control the angry green rage monster inside of him.
The Incredible Hulk is now streaming on Disney+.
[ Incredible Hulk 2: New Details on Cancelled MCU Sequel Revealed (And It Sounds Amazing) ]
3. Iron Man 2
Release Date: May 7, 2010
Six months after the events of Iron Man, Tony Stark is in search of a new element to power the arc reactor in his chest, which is killing him via palladium poisoning in Iron Man 2.
As Don Cheadle replaces Terrance Howard as Colonel James Rhodes and Scarlett Johansson is introduced as "Natalie Rushman," Tony quickly finds out what lies in the new world now that he's brought new dangerous technology into the equation.
Iron Man 2 is now streaming on Disney+.
4. Thor
Release Date: May 6, 2011
The MCU goes cosmic for the first time in 2011's Thor by introducing Chris Hemsworth's Thor, who finds himself banished to Earth after starting a war with the Frost Giants.
Tom Hiddleston's Loki becomes a breakout star alongside Hemsworth and Natalie Portman's Jane Foster, with the God of Thunder coming to grips with his humanity as he tries to retake his place alongside his family in Asgard.
Thor is now streaming on Disney+.
5. Captain America: The First Avenger
Release Date: July 22, 2011
Steve Rogers/Captain America's origin takes place before any other movie in the MCU timeline, sending him out as a mascot for the U.S. Army during World War II before he takes control of his own destiny in Captain America: The First Avenger.
Learning how to become a superhero, he leads the Howling Commandos into battle against the Red Skull, who uses an incredibly powerful weapon known as the Tesseract to accomplish goals even far beyond those of Nazi Germany.
Captain America: The First Avenger is now streaming on Disney+.
6. The Avengers
Release Date: May 4, 2012
After five MCU solo movies, Phase 1 comes to an epic end as Earth's Mightiest Heroes assemble for the first time against Loki, who seeks to take over Earth after feeling cheated out of ruling Asgard in The Avengers.
This forces the four leading heroes from the rest of Phase 1, along with Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton, to join forces as the Avengers to stop the first hostile alien invasion that Earth has ever seen.
The Avengers is now streaming on Disney+.
7. Iron Man 3
Release Date: May 3, 2013
After the Avengers' first team-up effort, Tony Stark/Iron Man has to come back to reality and face his own demons in Iron Man 3, grappling with his place in the universe while also revisiting his past with former colleague Aldrich Killian.
Uncovering the mystery of the Mandarin, a new supervillain looking to inflict terror on the world while reviving the Ten Rings organization, Tony has to come to terms with his new reality while continuing to grow as Iron Man.
Iron Man 3 is now streaming on Disney+.
[ First Look at Iron Man 3 Star’s Return In MCU Wonder Man (Set Photos) ]
8. Thor: The Dark World
Release Date: November 8, 2013
Reuniting with Jane Foster in Thor: The Dark World, Thor finds a new enemy in Malekith and the Dark Elves, who are trying to plunge the world into eternal darkness with the Aether, "an ancient force of infinite destruction."
The God of Thunder experiences further loss and sacrifice in his next battle after dealing with his brother, Loki, balancing his life as an Asgardian God and an Avenger on Earth.
Thor: The Dark World is now streaming on Disney+.
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Release Date: April 4, 2014
Steve Rogers is thrown into the middle of a major political conspiracy in Joe and Anthony Russo's first MCU outing as directors, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, with Cap learning what the 21st century has to offer.
Teaming up with SHIELD agent Natasha Romanoff and meeting former pararescue soldier Sam Wilson, Captain America comes across a dangerous but familiar enemy in the Winter Soldier while also confronting a bigger foe from his past.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is now streaming on Disney+.
[ Captain America 4 Star Reveals the Sequel's Key 'Winter Soldier' Connection ]
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
Release Date: August 1, 2014
Guardians of the Galaxy shows Peter Quill/Star-Lord gaining possession of a mysterious orb before being thrown into prison alongside Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Drax the Destroyer as they decide to team up to gain their freedom.
Starring in the MCU's first movie taking place almost completely off-Earth, Star-Lord and the Guardians have to work out massive personality differences while getting a taste of the cosmic power they'll have to face for years to come.
Guardians of the Galaxy is now streaming on Disney+.
11. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Release Date: May 1, 2015
Reuning to stop Hydra, Earth's Mightiest Heroes find themselves facing a new potentially world-ending threat, the Tony Stark/Bruce Banner-created artificial intelligence program known as Ultron, in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The team later learns of two new powered individuals in the Maximoff twins, Wanda and Pietro, who only add to the trouble that Ultron delivers when he seeks to annihilate the planet.
Avengers: Age of Ultron is now streaming on Disney+.
[ MCU Rumor Sets Up Ultron’s Live-Action Return After Phase 4 ]
12. Ant-Man
Release Date: July 15, 2015
Closing out Phase 2 is Paul Rudd's first solo movie as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, showing the character's origin story being released from prison and teaming up with Hank Pym and Hope Van Dyne in Ant-Man.
Lang learns how to use the Ant-Man suit to steal dangerous technology from Darren Cross/Yellowjacket in a movie that explores the Quantum Realm for the first time, all while Scott gets a tease of how big the Avengers' world really is.
Ant-Man is now streaming on Disney+.
13. Captain America: Civil War
Release Date: May 6, 2016
After years' worth of collateral damage, the Avengers are changed fundamentally when the United Nations approves the Sokovia Accords, splitting Earth's Mightiest Heroes into teams led by Captain America and Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War.
In a movie that introduces Black Panther and Spider-Man into the MCU, this story throws the entire group into an epic duel, putting them in danger of breaking apart for good.
Captain America: Civil War is now streaming on Disney+.
14. Doctor Strange
Release Date: November 4, 2016
Benedict Cumberbatch made his long-awaited MCU debut as Doctor Stephen Strange, a brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon who loses the use of his hands before diving into the ways of the Mystic Arts in Doctor Strange.
This solo story opens the door to all things supernatural and magical in the MCU as Strange learns how to unlock his potential as a hero while moving past his devastating injury.
Doctor Strange is now streaming on Disney+.
15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Release Date: May 5, 2017
Taking place only months after their first solo movie, the Guardians find themselves on the run from the Sovereign in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This drives them towards a meeting with Mantis and Peter Quill's father, Ego the Living Planet.
This sequel shows Peter Quill the truth about his true heritage, although the Guardians have to go through yet another emotional journey as they learn what being a family truly means.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is now streaming on Disney+.
16. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Release Date: July 7, 2017
Tom Holland's first solo Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Homecoming sets him back in Queens only two months after Civil War, allowing him to take on the local crime scene as he finds out about bigger dangers in his neighborhood.
Going through his normal high school life while trying to earn Tony Stark's respect, Peter eventually has to stop the efforts of the Vulture as he learns what it truly takes to be an Avenger.
Spider-Man: Homecoming is now streaming on Disney+.
[ Marvel Studios’ 2nd Choice for MCU Vulture Actor Revealed ]
17. Thor: Ragnarok
Release Date: November 3, 2017
Two years after Thor leaves Earth in Age of Ultron, the God of Thunder learns about the prophesied fall of Asgard as he hopes to save his world in Thor: Ragnarok.
Stranded on Sakaar and thrown into a reunion with the Hulk, Thor has to navigate through a hoard of hilarity and adventure in Taika Waititi's first MCU film, all leading to a battle with the Goddess of Death, Hela, with Asgard in the balance.
Thor: Ragnarok is now streaming on Disney+.
18. Black Panther
Release Date: February 16, 2018
Moving only slightly forward in the MCU timeline after Civil War, Chadwick Boseman's King T'Challa returns to his home country of Wakanda as he looks to settle new turmoil in his country in 2018's Black Panther.
Eventually, this leads to an incredible duel with Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger, bringing one of the MCU's deepest hero vs. villain battles ever with T'Challa navigating his new responsibilities as King of Wakanda.
Black Panther is now streaming on Disney+.
19. Avengers: Infinity War
Release Date: April 27, 2018
The third Avengers movie, Avengers: Infinity War, pulls together nearly every hero across the galaxy with one goal in mind - stopping Thanos from collecting all six Infinity Stones and completing the Infinity Gauntlet.
This brings more MCU characters into one movie than any of its predecessors, pitting the best heroes from Earth and the cosmos against the Infinity Saga's biggest villain in a fight to save the universe.
Avengers: Infinity War is now streaming on Disney+.
[ Only 2 Avengers Actors Were Allowed to Read Infinity War's Full Script ]
20. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Release Date: July 6, 2018
Scott Lang is paying the consequences for his actions in Civil War before Hank Pym and Hope Van Dyne seek out his help for their next mission in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
The story also fully introduces Michelle Pfeiffer's Janet Van Dyne as the family goes up against both Sonny Burch and the super-powered Ghost, bringing more Ant-power to this tiny sequel that helps set up the end of the Infinity Saga.
Ant-Man and the Wasp is now streaming on Disney+.
21. Captain Marvel
Release Date: March 8, 2019
Taking the second jump back in time in the MCU, Brie Larson's first solo movie, Captain Marvel, introduces arguably the MCU's most powerful hero in a '90s-set adventure.
This movie throws Carol Danvers into an Earth-based adventure alongside a young Nick Fury and Phil Coulson, highlighting SHIELD's early MCU days while shaking things up in the MCU watch order.
Captain Marvel is now streaming on Disney+.
22. Avengers: Endgame
Release Date: April 26, 2019
Avengers: Endgame, the penultimate movie of the Infinity Saga puts the Avengers on their most emotional and difficult journey to date in a movie shrouded in more secrecy than any of its predecessors.
After the team's battle with Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, this sequel challenged to be the highest-grossing movie of all time and brought one heartstopping moment after another in its three-hour-two-minute runtime.
Avengers: Endgame is now streaming on Disney+.
[ Robert Downey Jr. Had 1 Extreme Demand for Avengers: Endgame's Set ]
23. Spider-Man: Far From Home
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Phase 3 and the Infinity Saga as a whole comes to an end with Spider-Man's second solo MCU film, Spider-Man: Far From Home, which sees him on vacation to Europe while Nick Fury attempts to recruit him to fight the Elementals.
This story also sees Peter come face-to-face with Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio, one of the web-slinger's classic villains from the comics, although he doesn't come across as a bad guy from Jump Street.
Spider-Man: Far From Home is now streaming on Disney+.
24. Black Widow
Release Date: July 9, 2021
After an 18-month delay, Marvel Studios went back in the MCU timeline to give Scarlett Johansson her own Black Widow solo movie in Phase 4, showing her on the run from the United Nations shortly after Civil War.
She goes on an exciting journey alongside Yelena Belova and her Black Widow family as she encounters the skilled villain Taskmaster, with later stages of the story also showing off deep connections to the Hawkeye series on Disney+.
Black Widow is now streaming on Disney+.
[ Black Widow: 10 Things Fans Should Know Before Watching the Scarlett Johansson Movie ]
25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Release Date: September 3, 2021
Phase 4's first new character is Simu Liu's Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, going up against an MCU legacy enemy in the Ten Rings organization led by his father, the real Mandarin.
Discovering his heritage and moving into a collision course with his father, even encountering some already-established MCU characters on the way, Shang-Chi uses his martial arts mastery to answer questions about his place in the world.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now streaming on Disney+.
26. Eternals
Release Date: November 5, 2021
Chloé Zhao's epic MCU outing, Eternals, brought thousands of years of history to the forefront, largely taking place after Avengers: Endgame in the MCU timeline the Eternals make their new home on Earth.
Delivering a great deal of representation while introducing a dozen new heroes, these millennia-old characters have to band together to learn the truth about their very existence as the Deviants rise to power and threaten life on a global scale.
Eternals is now streaming on Disney+.
27. Spider-Man: No Way Home
Release Date: December 17, 2021
The Multiverse is unleashed in Spider-Man: No Way Home as Peter Parker deals with the immediate aftermath of his identity being revealed, all before multiple villains from past Spider-Man movies find their way into Earth-616.
Forced to team up with Doctor Strange in order to fix this problem, all while dealing with his own life problems crumbling down on top of him, Spidey is put through challenges that no 17-year-old kid could imagine.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.
[ Sony Prevented 1 Spider-Man Villain from Appearing In No Way Home ]
28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Release Date: May 6, 2022
Following Wanda Maximoff's solo story in Disney+'s WandaVision, she finds herself meeting up with Doctor Stephen Strange as the fate of the Multiverse is put into jeopardy in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Jumping through alternate realities alongside America Chavez, Doctor Strange discovers just how vast and expansive the Multiverse truly is as he grows as a sorcerer and faces threats that could be even more powerful than him.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now streaming on Disney+.
29. Thor: Love and Thunder
Release Date: July 8, 2022
After years of fighting solo and with the Avengers, the God of Thunder goes on a quest for inner peace in Thor: Love and Thunder as he tries to figure out who he truly is and where he fits in the galaxy.
Teaming up with the Guardians of the Galaxy and reuniting with Natalie Portman's revamped Jane Foster, Gorr the God Butcher then puts Thor's plans on hold as he threatens the existence of all Gods across the universe.
Thor: Love and Thunder is now streaming on Disney+.
[ Was Thor 4 a Flop? New Data Reveals the Truth ]
30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Release Date: November 11, 2022
The second Black Panther movie, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, largely serves as an emotional tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa as Phase 4 comes to an end. Wakanda does its best to mourn and recover from this loss as the fans do the same in the real world.
This sequel ties heavily to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+ as Wakanda finds itself entrenched in a battle with Namor the Sub-Mariner and his nation of Talokan, marking Namor's long-awaited first Marvel Studios adventure.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now streaming on Disney+.
31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Release Date: February 17, 2023
Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off with the end of the Ant-Man trilogy, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, as the Ant-Family get sucked into the Quantum Realm and take on their biggest challenge yet, Kang the Conquerer.
Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly return as the titular Ant-Man and the Wasp, with Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Douglas also starring as Kang hopes to enact his reign over the Multiverse
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is now streaming on Disney+.
32.) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release Date: May 5, 2023
DC Studios' new co-CEO James Gunn had his final go-round with Marvel Studios with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. As one of their own's life hangs in the balance, the Guardians are taken on a galactic adventure where they take on the High Evolutionary and uncover the backstory of the infamous Rocket.
The trilogy-ending flick brings back the familiar cast of Guardians including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, and Pom Klementieff, with Chukwudi Iwuji also starring.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now streaming on Disney+.
33.) The Marvels
Release Date: November 10, 2023
The MCU brings together plot threads and characters from both the big screen and its Disney+ series with The Marvels. The ensemble blockbuster sees the return of Captain Marvel as she teams up with young hero Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) and a now-superpowered Monica Rambeau - whom she met as a child in the '90s.
The Marvels is headed up by the all-female superhero trio of Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani, with Zawe Ashton taking on villain duties as the core trio learns to work as a team and save the universe.
The Marvels is now streaming on Disney+.
34.) Deadpool & Wolverine
Release Date: July 26, 2024
Deadpool & Wolverine brings Ryan Reynolds' Wade Wilson into the MCU for the first time, tying closely back to the Loki Disney+ series as he encounters the Time Variance Authority and is sent on a special mission.
This mission brings him face-to-face with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in the MCU's first-ever R-rated movie, which brings mutants into their Marvel Studios debut as two classic characters figure out how to work together.
Deadpool & Wolverine is now playing in theaters.
35.) Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Marvel Studios' next movie will be Captain America: Brave New World, which will feature Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson in his first solo movie as new US President Thunderbolt Ross (Harrison Ford) hopes to make the Avengers legitimate again.
Sam will have his work cut out for him as he faces the Red Hulk, Tim Blake Nelson's Leader, and the Serpent Society, all while still figuring out how to build his own legacy as Captain America.
Captain America: New World Order debuts in theaters on February 14, 2025.
Finished watching all 34 movies released so far? Find out how to experience the MCU in chronological timeline order instead here.
