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For a first viewing, watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies in release order. That preserves Marvel’s intended reveals, post-credit setups and crossover progression. Use the chronological, story-order list for a rewatch. This guide covers the 38 released Marvel Studios MCU films through August 18, 2026, including Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and keeps non-MCU Marvel films separate.
What counts as “all the Marvel movies”?
“Marvel movies” can mean two different things. This guide uses the practical definition most viewers want: all released Marvel Studios MCU films. Marvel’s official catalog separates those from “Other Movies,” which includes legacy X-Men, Spider-Man, Venom and related productions: Marvel’s movie catalog.
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- MCU films: the shared Marvel Studios continuity listed below.
- Legacy Marvel films: Fox’s X-Men and earlier Fantastic Four, Sony’s earlier Spider-Man and Venom films, and other separate continuities.
- Animated Marvel films: Sony’s Spider-Verse movies are not part of the core MCU movie run.
- Series and specials: WandaVision, Loki, Daredevil: Born Again, specials and other television projects are discussed separately.
Last updated: August 18, 2026. Release dates and catalogs can change.
MCU movies in release order (best for a first watch)
Watch through the credits of every film. Post-credit scenes frequently introduce characters, set up the next story or establish a crossover. The list follows the release sequence and Marvel’s phase groupings.
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| # | Film | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Phase One | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 31 | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | 2023 |
| 32 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | 2023 |
| 33 | The Marvels | 2023 |
| 34 | Deadpool & Wolverine | 2024 |
| 35 | Captain America: Brave New World | 2025 |
| 36 | Thunderbolts* | 2025 |
| 37 | The Fantastic Four: First Steps | 2025 |
| 38 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | 2026 |
Important release-order notes
- The Incredible Hulk belongs in the MCU list even though its distribution rights and availability have historically differed from other Marvel Studios films.
- Spider-Man: No Way Home goes after Eternals and before Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Sony distributes the film, so streaming availability varies by country.
- Deadpool & Wolverine is an MCU-connected multiverse film that draws on Fox’s Marvel history. You can watch it without every earlier X-Men film, but Deadpool, Deadpool 2 and Logan provide useful context.
- Marvel describes The Fantastic Four: First Steps as the team’s induction into the MCU. Its retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired setting is a separate-universe complication, not a simple prequel to Iron Man: Marvel’s explanation.
MCU movies in chronological story order
This movie-only adaptation follows Marvel’s official Disney+ timeline, filtered to remove series, shorts, specials and animation: Marvel’s complete MCU timeline. It is best for a rewatch, not a first introduction.
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Captain Marvel
- Iron Man
- Iron Man 2
- The Incredible Hulk
- Thor
- The 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 Widow
- Black Panther
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- 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
- 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
- The Marvels
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Captain America: Brave New World
- Thunderbolts*
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (placement remains provisional until Marvel’s official timeline explicitly incorporates it)
Why chronological order is not automatically better
It places the earliest historical events first, but it can spoil post-credit introductions, make time travel and alternate realities harder to interpret, and weaken the emotional buildup to Infinity War and Endgame. Black Widow, for example, is set after Civil War even though it was released much later; its character impact generally works best after that film.
Should you add the Marvel shows?
Not for a movie-only marathon. Marvel’s full timeline combines films with Disney+ seasons, Marvel Television seasons, specials, One-Shots and animated projects. Choose the level that matches your goal:
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- Movies only: Follow the 38-film list above.
- Movies plus useful context: Add WandaVision before Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Loki for multiverse background, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier for Captain America’s legacy, and Ms. Marvel before The Marvels. Hawkeye and Daredevil: Born Again are useful for later street-level stories.
- Completionist: Use Marvel’s official Complete MCU Timeline, accepting that it includes television, specials and animation rather than only films.
What If…? and Werewolf by Night are optional explorations, not prerequisites for understanding the core movie sequence.
What about non-MCU Marvel movies?
Do not insert these into the MCU table as though they share one continuous universe:
- Fox’s X-Men films and earlier Fantastic Four movies.
- Sam Raimi’s and Marc Webb’s Spider-Man films.
- Sony’s Venom and related Spider-Man-universe films.
- Sony’s animated Spider-Verse movies.
They become especially relevant when the MCU uses the multiverse, but a complete viewing of every legacy title is not required for a first MCU run.
Where to watch
There is no single worldwide subscription that guarantees every Marvel film. Disney+ is the main subscription destination for much of the MCU and its series (Disney+), while Sony-distributed Spider-Man titles may use separate licensing arrangements. Availability, rental prices and subscription catalogs vary by country and change over time.
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- Prime Video for title-by-title rental or purchase where offered; Prime membership does not necessarily include every film.
- Fandango at Home for US digital rentals and purchases.
Check your local Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video or other licensed storefront listing before starting a marathon.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What comes next?
Do not add unreleased films to the released-movie list. Marvel and Disney currently list Avengers: Doomsday for December 18, 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars for December 17, 2027; dates are scheduled and can move. Marvel’s movie page also lists Blade without a current release date: Disney’s announcement and Marvel’s current slate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is chronological order better than release order?
For a first watch, no. Release order preserves the intended reveals and post-credit setups. Chronological order is a good continuity-focused rewatch.
Do I need to watch The Incredible Hulk?
Include it if you want the complete MCU movie run. Marvel lists it in the MCU catalog, although availability and distribution rights can differ by region.
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Do I need the Marvel shows?
No. The 38 films stand alone as a movie marathon. Add selected series such as WandaVision or Loki only when you want extra context.
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Do I need the old X-Men movies before Deadpool & Wolverine?
No. Deadpool, Deadpool 2 and Logan are the most useful optional preparation; watching every Fox Marvel film is unnecessary.
Where does Spider-Man: No Way Home fit?
In release order it follows Eternals and precedes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Sony’s distribution means availability varies by country.
Is The Fantastic Four: First Steps part of the MCU?
Yes, Marvel presents it as the Fantastic Four’s introduction to the MCU, while its retro-futuristic setting represents a distinct universe rather than a conventional 1960s prequel.
How long does the full movie marathon take?
A reliable total runtime is not provided here; runtimes and listings can change. Plan for a substantial multi-day viewing project rather than a single sitting.
Can children watch the films in release order?
Release order is the clearest narrative path, but check each film’s local age rating and consider its intensity, violence and themes for the child watching.
Which movies are skippable?
“Skippable” is subjective. Skipping films can remove character introductions or post-credit setups, so use the complete release list for a first watch and reserve selective skipping for rewatches.
Quick Recap
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