How to watch the Marvel movies in order

Fox July 5, 2022 Movies Leave a comment 178 Views

Working out how to watch the Marvel movies in order is no easy task – and it’s only getting harder as more and more movies and TV shows are added to the behemoth that is the MCU. There’s even Marvel stuff that isn’t in the MCU to consider now that the multiverse is in play, too. That’s where we come in. Below, we’ve got the whole Marvel universe in both release date and chronological order, so we’ll get you up to speed in no time. 

First up we have the Marvel movies in release order. This is the way to go if you’re a newcomer, or you’re just in the mood for a simple, no-nonsense marathon. After that, we’ve got chronological order, which is a little more complicated. We kick things off with Captain America: The First Avenger and go all the way up to the present day of Thor: Love and Thunder, so you’re up to date. Then, if you fancy factoring in the non-MCU movies, we’ve got the lowdown on those, too. We don’t just have the movies, either, but the lowdown on how all the Disney Plus shows fit in as well. 

So, whether you’re a Marvel newbie or an expert looking for a refresh as Marvel Phase 4 continues, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Scroll on to find out how to watch the Marvel movies in order. 

How to watch the Marvel movies in order – release order

Best for: Newcomers to the Marvel movies.

First up, here’s how to watch the Marvel movies in release order. Marvel films, we should note, are split into Phases, with the end of a Phase typically indicating a natural end to a story arc. The beginning of a Phase, therefore, signals the introduction of new, important characters. Below, we go through Phases 1 to 4 in release order. Yes, that includes WandaVision/Falcon and The Winter Soldier/Loki. No, they’re not technically movies, but the MCU is changing so rapidly that the Disney Plus shows are now just as important.

Phase One:

Phase Two:

Phase Three:

Phase Four:

Want to dive in right now? The majority of the Marvel movies are available on Disney Plus. If you want to check out the best deals for the streaming service, head over to our Disney Plus bundles page.

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 (opens in new tab)As you’ve probably heard, Disney Plus houses the biggest collection of Marvel movies of any streaming service, and it’s a super cheap way to watch without spending a small fortune on DVDs and Blu-rays. Prices start at $6.99 / £5.99 / AU$11.99 per month (or $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$119.99 per year).

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We also know a fair amount of what’s coming up in the future, with Marvel having laid out plans for Phase 4 and beyond. Here’s a taste of the Marvel movies coming our over the next few years – and you can find a comprehensive list of all the new Marvel TV shows through that link.

Phase Four (and beyond):

  • I Am Groot – August 10, 2022 (Disney Plus series)
  • She Hulk – August 17, 2022 (Disney Plus series)
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – November 11, 2022
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – February 17, 2023
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – May 5, 2023
  • The Marvels (AKA Captain Marvel 2) – July 28, 2023
  • Blade (TBA)
  • Captain America 4 (TBA)
  • Fantastic Four (TBA)
  • Untitled Mutants movie (TBA)
  • Deadpool 3 (TBA)
  • Secret Invasion (TBA)

How to watch the Marvel movies in order – chronological order

Best for: MCU veterans looking for a new way to watch. 

Want to experience the MCU in a more complicated fashion? Then you’ll perhaps want to know how to watch the Marvel movies in chronological order. 

This one’s a little less straightforward than the above list. Luckily, Marvel has revealed the official year in which each movie takes place. That goes right up to Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which fits snugly in-between Endgame and Far From Home and the likes of Hawkeye, which takes place around No Way Home.

  • 1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1942-1943)
  • 2. Captain Marvel (1995)
  • 3. Iron Man (2010)
  • 4. Iron Man 2 (2011)
  • 5. The Incredible Hulk (2011)
  • 6. Thor (2011)
  • 7. The Avengers (2012)
  • 8. Iron Man 3 (2012)
  • 9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  • 10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
  • 11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  • 12. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2014)
  • 13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  • 14. Ant-Man (2015)
  • 15. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  • 16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)
  • 17. Doctor Strange (2016-2017)
  • 18. Black Widow (2017)
  • 19. Black Panther (2017)
  • 20. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
  • 21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2017)
  • 22. Avengers: Infinity War (2017)
  • 23. Avengers: Endgame (2018-2023)
  • 24. Loki (outside of our conception of time, but around here!)
  • 25. What If…? (also outside of our conception of time!)
  • 26. WandaVision (2023)
  • 27. Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings (2023-2024)
  • 28. Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2023-2024)
  • 29. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2024)
  • 30. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2024)
  • 31. Eternals (2024)
  • 32. Hawkeye (Christmas 2024)
  • 33. Moon Knight (2025)
  • 34. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2025)
  • 35. Ms. Marvel (2025)
  • 36. Thor: Love and Thunder (2025)

Non-MCU Marvel movies and shows in the MCU

Alfred Molina in Spider-Man 2

(Image credit: Sony)

Best for: Anyone who wants to fully appreciate No Way Home

Now we’re getting to the confusing bit: the multiverse. Thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home, we have had various Spider-Man villains from through the multiverse in the MCU, and to fully understand everyone’s motives and intentions in No Way Home, you need to have watched a fair few older Spider-Man movies. 

These take place on three alternative timelines: one where Tobey Maguire is Spider-Man, another where Andrew Garfield is Spidey, and a third where Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock becomes the villain Venom. For a full deep dive into watching these movies, then check out our guide to how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order.

Then there’s The Defenders, which are sort-of part of the MCU, but also sort-of not. They start very much linked to the movies, and then gradually lose all connection – thanks mainly to originally being Netflix products. Now, though, they are all on Disney Plus, and if you want to tackle Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and The Punisher, then you’re going to want to know the watch order. Luckily, we have exactly the piece you’re after: how to watch The Defenders Saga in order.

How to watch the Marvel movies on Disney Plus?

marvel movies order on Disney Plus

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Best for: People with a Disney Plus subscription

Disney Plus has changed the streaming game. A huge competitor to Netflix and Amazon Prime, Disney’s entry into the online content wars has made a huge impact, bringing all of the Mouse’s classic movies into one place. There are also original series, plus the majority of the Marvel movies. 

Below, find all the Marvel movies on and coming to Disney Plus. Note: You will not find The Incredible Hulk or most of the Spider-Man movies on Disney Plus. This is because the rights to Hulk belong to Universal, while the rights to Spider-Man are with Sony. Homecoming is available, however, in some regions, such as the UK. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is available on Disney Plus from June 22.

  • Iron Man
  • Thor
  • Iron Man 2
  • Captain America: The First Avenger
  • The Avengers
  • Iron Man 3
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  • Thor: The Dark World
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Ant-Man
  • Captain America: Civil War
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming
  • Doctor Strange
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
  • Thor: Ragnarok
  • Black Panther
  • Avengers: Infinity War
  • Captain Marvel
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp
  • Avengers: Endgame
  • WandaVision
  • Falcon and the Winter Soldier
  • Loki
  • Black Widow
  • What If…?
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
  • Eternals
  • Hawkeye
  • Moon Knight
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

That’s how to watch the Marvel movies in order. So, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t got Disney Plus, then here are the latest Disney Plus sign-up deals around the world. Now that the Disney Plus free trial is no more, it’s the best way of getting maximum value for money.

For more on movie watch orders, check out our expansive piece on how the watch the DC movies in order, how to watch the Star Wars movies in order, and how to watch the X-Men movies in order.

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