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The Ultimate Guide: How To Watch All 33+ Marvel Movies In The Correct Order (3 Essential Viewing Lists)

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Are you ready to dive into the massive world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)? With over 33 films spanning three Sagas and heading into Phase 6, figuring out where to start—or how to rewatch—is a monumental task for both new fans and seasoned veterans. As of December 22, 2025, the MCU continues to expand, making a definitive viewing order more crucial than ever to follow the complex narrative threads of the Infinity Saga and the ongoing Multiverse Saga. This comprehensive guide breaks down the three most popular and correct ways to experience the entire cinematic universe.

The choice between watching the films in their theatrical release order or following the in-universe chronological timeline fundamentally changes the viewing experience. Whether you want the original, surprise-filled journey or a seamless story flow, we have the definitive, up-to-date lists for every single movie, including the latest Phase 5 releases like The Marvels and the highly anticipated upcoming films like Deadpool & Wolverine.

The Definitive MCU Movie List: Release Order (The Classic Experience)

The Release Order is the way the films were originally presented to the world. This is widely considered the best way for first-time viewers, as it preserves the original pacing, reveals, and post-credit scenes exactly as the filmmakers intended. You experience the story with the same gaps in knowledge and timeline jumps as the original audience, making the surprises—like the introduction of the Tesseract or the mystery of Nick Fury's recruitment—much more impactful. This list includes all films from the start of the Infinity Saga to the current projects in the Multiverse Saga.

Phase One: Iron Man to The Avengers (The Origin Story)

  • 1. Iron Man (2008)
  • 2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
  • 3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
  • 4. Thor (2011)
  • 5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
  • 6. The Avengers (2012)

Phase Two: Iron Man 3 to Ant-Man (The Expansion)

  • 7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
  • 8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  • 9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
  • 10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  • 11. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  • 12. Ant-Man (2015)

Phase Three: Captain America: Civil War to Spider-Man: Far From Home (The Climax)

  • 13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  • 14. Doctor Strange (2016)
  • 15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
  • 16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
  • 17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
  • 18. Black Panther (2018)
  • 19. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
  • 20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
  • 21. Captain Marvel (2019)
  • 22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
  • 23. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Phase Four: Black Widow to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (The Multiverse Begins)

  • 24. Black Widow (2021)
  • 25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
  • 26. Eternals (2021)
  • 27. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
  • 28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
  • 29. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
  • 30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Phase Five & Six: The Current and Future State of the MCU

Phase Five is currently in progress, building towards the next massive crossover event, while Phase Six has been announced with key titles. The next confirmed cinematic release is a major event for fans.

  • 31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
  • 32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
  • 33. The Marvels (2023)
  • 34. Deadpool & Wolverine (Upcoming July 26, 2024)
  • 35. Captain America: Brave New World (Upcoming February 14, 2025)
  • 36. Thunderbolts* (Upcoming May 2, 2025)
  • 37. Blade (Upcoming November 7, 2025)
  • 38. Fantastic Four: First Steps (Upcoming May 2, 2025)

The Official MCU Chronological Timeline (The Story Order)

For those seeking a seamless, in-universe narrative flow, the Chronological Order is the definitive choice. This order arranges the films by the time they take place within the MCU timeline, starting in the 1940s and moving forward. It offers a deeper understanding of the timeline's history and character backstories, particularly for Captain America and Captain Marvel.

Note on Placement: While most films occur shortly after their release, the MCU has officially confirmed certain films take place in the past. Viewing in this order provides maximum context for the overarching story of the Infinity Stones and the rise of the Avengers.

  1. Captain America: The First Avenger (Set in the 1940s)
  2. Captain Marvel (Set in 1995)
  3. Iron Man (Set in 2010)
  4. Iron Man 2
  5. The Incredible Hulk (Events occur concurrently with Iron Man 2)
  6. Thor
  7. The Avengers
  8. Thor: The Dark World
  9. Iron Man 3
  10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  11. Guardians of the Galaxy
  12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Immediately after GoTG)
  13. Avengers: Age of Ultron
  14. Ant-Man
  15. Captain America: Civil War
  16. Black Widow (Set immediately after Civil War)
  17. Black Panther
  18. Spider-Man: Homecoming
  19. Doctor Strange
  20. Thor: Ragnarok
  21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (Events leading up to Infinity War)
  22. Avengers: Infinity War
  23. Avengers: Endgame (The first 20 minutes before the five-year time jump)
  24. Avengers: Endgame (The rest of the film, set in 2023)
  25. Spider-Man: Far From Home (Set 8 months after Endgame)
  26. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
  27. Eternals
  28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
  29. Thor: Love and Thunder
  30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
  31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
  32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
  33. The Marvels

The Essential Viewing Order (The Core Story for Beginners)

If watching over 30 films feels too daunting, or if you only want to focus on the main narrative arc of the Infinity Saga and the introduction of the new Avengers, this curated "Essential Viewing" list cuts out most of the side stories. This is perfect for beginners who want to catch up quickly before the next major crossover event, focusing on the development of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the pursuit of the Infinity Stones.

This list prioritizes the core team-up films and the character introductions that are absolutely vital to the plot.

  1. The Foundation: Iron Man (The start of it all)
  2. The History: Captain America: The First Avenger (Crucial to the Tesseract and Cap’s story)
  3. The Team-Up: The Avengers (The first major crossover)
  4. The Political Thriller: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Major SHIELD/Hydra plot point)
  5. The Cosmic Side: Guardians of the Galaxy (Introduction to Thanos and the cosmic stones)
  6. The Second Team-Up: Avengers: Age of Ultron (Creation of Vision and the Sokovia Accords)
  7. The Dividing Line: Captain America: Civil War (Splits the team and introduces Spider-Man and Black Panther)
  8. The Time Stone: Doctor Strange (Introduction to magic and the Eye of Agamotto)
  9. The Prequel: Captain Marvel (Explains Nick Fury and the Tesseract)
  10. The World-Ender: Avengers: Infinity War (The climactic battle for the Stones)
  11. The Finale: Avengers: Endgame (The conclusion of the Infinity Saga)
  12. The Multiverse: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (The core of the new saga)
  13. The Next Generation: The Marvels (Sets up the new cosmic team-ups)

Why the Viewing Order Matters: Chronological vs. Release

Choosing the correct viewing order is more than just a preference; it affects your understanding of the MCU's complex lore and timeline. The entire franchise is built upon two massive arcs: The Infinity Saga (Phases 1-3) and The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4-6), each with its own central villain (Thanos and Kang the Conqueror, respectively).

Release Order (Theatrical Journey):

  • Pros: Preserves the mystery and surprise of post-credit scenes and reveals. You experience the evolution of the special effects and storytelling in real-time. This is how the original audience saw the story unfold.
  • Cons: The timeline jumps can be confusing. For example, Captain Marvel was released in 2019 but takes place in 1995, and Black Widow was released after Endgame but is set right after Civil War.

Chronological Order (Timeline Focus):

  • Pros: Offers a smooth, linear narrative flow, making it easier to track character development and the history of key elements like the Infinity Stones and SHIELD. You meet Captain Marvel before she appears in Endgame, providing context.
  • Cons: Some post-credit scenes, which are designed to tease the *next* released film, will not make sense when watched in chronological order. For instance, a scene in Captain Marvel is meant to be watched after Infinity War to be fully understood.

Ultimately, for the most satisfying experience, new viewers should stick to the Release Order to enjoy the intended surprises, while returning fans looking for a cohesive story should use the Chronological Order to see the timeline flow perfectly.

The Ultimate Guide: How to Watch All 33+ Marvel Movies in The Correct Order (3 Essential Viewing Lists)
how to watch all marvel movies in order
how to watch all marvel movies in order

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