How to Watch Marvel Movies in Order

Now, Avengers: Endgame is a year old. For Marvel movies, 2020 will be a quieter year. Black Widow will be released in November, making this the first year with just a single Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie since The Avengers in 2012. However, you can watch other Marvel movies to pass the time.

Now, I guess you might have the following question:

“In what order should I watch the Marvel movies?”

The MCU spans decades, phases, and even multiverses. Thus, knowing how to watch the Marvel movies in order has become a great difficulty for most users, easily newcomers to the blockbuster series.

How to Watch Marvel Movies in Chronological Order

The Marvel Cinematic Universe not only shows a huge story that spans multiverses and deep space and quantum dimensions but also shows an epic spread over a wide expanse of time. Now, you can watch the Marvel movies in chronological order.

You can watch Marvel films from Captain America: The First Avenger, set during World War II. to Spider-Man: Far From Home. Follow the next watch list to experience all the superhero and world-saving theatrics as they occur in-story.

Below is the chronological viewing order of the Marvel movies:

#1. Captain America: The First Avenger (takes place during WWII)

This film focuses on the early days of the Marvel Universe. This film is a solidly old-fashioned blockbuster entertainment with plenty of pulpy action, a pleasantly retro vibe, and a handful of fine performances.

Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program, and then he becomes the Super Soldier known as Captain America.

#2. Captain Marvel (takes place in 1995)

Captain Marvel is the Marvel Studios’ first female-led superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Carol Danvers. Captain Marvel introduces MCU’s latest hero with action, humor, and visual thrills.

#3. Iron Man (takes place in 2010)

Iron Man is a 2008 American superhero film. In the film, Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, builds a high-tech suit of armor that helps him escape from captivity by a terrorist group. And, Tony Stark becomes the superhero, Iron Man.

#4. Iron Man 2 (takes place after Iron Man)

In this film, the billionaire inventor Tony Stark fears the technology with the military will slip into the wrong hands, so he forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.

#5. The Incredible Hulk (time unspecified, pre-Avengers)

Although some fans of Marvel’s think the Incredible Hulk isn’t a big success, this film offers more than enough big green action to make up for its occasionally puny narrative.

Bruce has been living for years under the shadow of fear and has been traveling the globe in search of the antidote to break free from his primal alter ego.

The Hulk may be a formidable force of nature, but the Abomination is more powerful and wants to destroy Bruce Banner. The two powerful creatures will walk the earth clash in a massive, no-holds-barred fight to the finish. Eventually, Bruce returns to civilization.

#6. Thor (takes place six months before Avengers)

Thor is a dazzling blockbuster, and it is mighty Marvel entertainment. This film uses humor, and human drama to temper its sweeping scope.

Odin banishes Thor to Earth, strips of his powers and his hammer Mjölnir. Thor must prove himself worthy. Finally, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero.

#7. The Avengers (takes place in 2012)

Marvel Studios presents Marvel’s The Avengers, a Super Hero team. When an unexpected enemy emerges, The Avengers (Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow) will pull the world back from the brink of disaster.

The Avengers not only lives up to its hype but also raises the bar for Marvel at the movies.

#8. Iron Man 3 (takes place six months after The Avengers)

Iron Man 3 is a witty, entertaining adventure. This journey, at every turn, will test Tony’s mettle. In this film, you can see some impressive action sequences and even a few surprises.

#9. Thor: Dark World (post-Avengers, pre-Ultron)

The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, and offers humor and high-stakes action. Thor saves Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy.

#10. Captain America: Winter Soldier (post-Avengers, pre-Ultron)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America. This film is a superior entry in the Avengers canon.

Steve Rogers volunteers for a top-secret research project. He joins forces with the Black Widow and Falcon to expose an ever-widening conspiracy, and they come up against a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

#11. Guardians of the Galaxy (sometime in 2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy is a 2014 American superhero film packed with visual splendor.

Marvel Studios presents a new team-the Guardians of the Galaxy and this team expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos.

#12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (after Guardians)

Based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, this film continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. It is a fun film with dazzling visuals and irreverent humor.

#13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (takes place in 2015)

Avengers: Age of Ultron serves as an overstuffed, and reunites its predecessor’s unwieldy cast with a few new additions and a worthy foe.

#14. Ant-Man (takes place in 2015)

Ant-Man offers Marvel thrills on an appropriately smaller scale – albeit. Master thief Scott Lang has the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength. Scott and his mentor save the world in this film.

#15. Captain America: Civil War (post-Ultron, pre-Infinity War)

Captain America: Civil War shows an action-packed superhero blockbuster boasting and the courage to explore thought-provoking themes, beginning the next wave of Marvel movies.

#16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (post-Civil War, pre-Infinity War)

Spider-Man: Homecoming focus on Parker’s high school life and the performances of Holland and Keaton. Parker begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero.

This film received praise for the light tone.

#17. Doctor Strange (takes place in 2016)

Under the tutelage of a mystic known as the Ancient One, a disgraced former surgeon becomes a powerful sorcerer. Doctor Strange shows a thoroughly entertaining superhero origin story.

#18. Black Panther (takes place in 2017)

Black Panther tells one of the MCU’s most absorbing stories and introduces some of its most fully realized characters, elevating superhero cinema to thrilling new heights.

#19. Thor: Ragnarok (post-Ultron, pre-Infinity War)

Thor: Ragnarok is a colorful cosmic adventure. This exciting and funny film sets a new standard for its franchise -and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

#20. Avengers: Infinity War (takes place in 2017)

Avengers: Infinity War is a thrilling, emotionally resonant blockbuster. In the film, to prevent Thanos from collecting the six all-powerful Infinity Stones, the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy have to sacrifice everything.

#21. Ant-Man and The Wasp (ambiguous, but fits nicely between IW and Endgame)

Ant-Man and The Wasp, lighter, brighter superhero, offers a much-needed MCU palate cleanser. This film receives praise for its levity, humor and performances.

#22. Avengers: Endgame (starts in 2017, finishes in 2022)

Avengers: Endgame delivers a satisfying finale to Marvel’s epic Infinity Saga.

#23. Spider-Man: Far From Home (post-Endgame)

In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter Parker returns. This film breezily unpredictable blend of teen romance and superhero action, and it is the next chapter of the Spider-Man: Homecoming series!

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How to Watch Marvel Movies in Order of Release Date

Fans of Marvel movies notice that Marvel movies are split into Phases. Thus, we watch Marvel movies in order of release. Next, we will go through Phases 1 to 3, as well as what’s coming up in Phase 4.

Marvel Movies Phase One

• 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 Avengers (May 4, 2012)

Marvel Movies Phase Two

• 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)

Marvel Movies Phase Three

• 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)

Marvel Movies Phase Four (and Upcoming)

Black Widow’s release date has been pushed back, thus Phase four is slightly delayed and has yet to start. Here’s what we know about Phase Four so far.

• Black Widow (November 6, 2020)
• The Eternals (February 12, 2021)
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (May 7, 2021)
• Untitled third Spider-Man movie (November 5, 2021)
• Thor: Love and Thunder (February 11, 2022)
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (March 25, 2022)
• Black Panther 2 (May 6, 2022)
• Captain Marvel 2 (July 8, 2022)
• Untitled Marvel movie (likely Ant-Man 3, October 7, 2022)
• Blade (TBD)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (TBD)
• Untitled Fantastic Four film (TBD)

You can watch most Marvel movies on Disney Plus since Marvel is owned by Disney. However, you cannot watch The Incredible Hulk as it belongs to Universal, or Spider-Man as it belongs to Sony.

What are you waiting for? Now, it’s your time to watch Marvel movies in order. If you are an MCU newbie, you should avoid viewing the film chronologically. Otherwise, you have to remember the background of certain characters, and you might have spent too much on other superheroes.

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Further Tips – How to Edit and Merge Movies

After watching Marvel movies, someone takes a bunch of old movie clips and mashes them up to create a new one. However, how to edit and merge movies?

MiniTool MovieMaker, a free video editor without watermark, is recommended here. This free video tool lets you apply video transitions, video filters, and animated text to videos, allows you to combine videos, split video, trim video, change video speed, etc. to make a new movie.

MiniTool MovieMakerClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

By using this free video editor, I created a new video with some clips from Marvel movies.

Bottom Line

As we know, Marvel movies are split into Phases. You can watch the Marvel movies in order of release, from Phases 1 to 3 – plus the upcoming Phase 4 (though these release dates may change). Of course, you can experience the MCU in a more complicated as long as you watch the Marvel movies in chronological order.

Marvel Movies in Order FAQ