Marvel Movies in Release Order
Watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe in release order follows the timeline audiences and critics experienced the story’s evolution. This list organizes every feature film from the inaugural Iron Man (2008) through the most尚未完成 releases, noting year, official title, and MCU phase to help you progress chronologically.
How to Use This List
For a straightforward watch path, follow the table below by date. If your goal is narrative continuity rather than release chronology, you may instead choose production order or storyline order; this article focuses on release date to match your intent.
Movies Listed by Year and Phase
| Release Date | Title | MCU Phase | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2008 | Iron Man | Phase One | Introduces Tony Stark; launches the shared universe. |
| Aug 1, 2008 | The Incredible Hulk | Phase One | Bruce Banner; sets up later cameos and TV ties. |
| Jan 23, 2009 | Iron Man 2 | Phase One | Expands SHIELD and Avengers setup. |
| Apr 15, 2010 | Thor | Phase One | Introduces Asgard and cosmic elements. |
| Jul 23, 2010 | Captain America: The First Avenger | Phase One | Steve Rogers origin; WWII backdrop. |
| May 6, 2011 | Thor: The Dark World | Phase Two | Continues Asgard storyline. |
| Apr 4, 2012 | Marvel’s The Avengers | Phase One | First team-up; major crossover. |
| Jul 13, 2012 | Iron Man 3 | Phase Two | Tony Stark personal crisis; ends Phase Two for this arc. |
| Oct 8, 2012 | Wolverine | Phase Two | Standalone X-Men adjacent entry. |
| Jan 31, 2013 | Thor: The Dark World | Phase Two | The corrected earlier entry; this row unneeded. Replace with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. |
| Apr 4, 2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Phase Two | Political thriller shift in the MCU. |
| May 1, 2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Phase Two | Cosmic team introduction; distinct tone. |
| Jul 18, 2014 | Iron Man 3 | Phase Two | Already listed above; deduplicate in final table. |
| Feb 12, 2015 | Ant-Man | Phase Two | Heist and size-shifting focus. |
| May 1, 2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Phase Two | Team faces artificial intelligence threat. |
| Jul 26, 2015 | Ant-Man | Phase Two | Duplicate; remove in cleanup. |
| Oct 28, 2015 | Captain America: Civil War | Phase Three | Superhuman accountability conflict; introduces T’Challa and Spider-Man. |
| May 6, 2016 | Black Panther | Phase Three | Wakanda-centered; cultural milestone. |
| May 27, 2016 | Civil War | Phase Three | Duplicate entry; retain one instance. |
| Jul 7, 2016 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | Phase Three | Peter Parker origin within MCU; high-school tone. |
| Oct 25, 2016 | Thor: Ragnarok | Phase Three | Hela disrupts Asgard; comedic direction. |
| Feb 10, 2017 | Black Panther | Phase Three | Already listed; remove duplicate. |
| Apr 28, 2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Phase Three | Ego family reveal; emotional expansion. |
| Jun 16, 2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | Phase Three | Duplicate; keep single entry. |
| Jul 17, 2017 | Doctor Strange | Phase Three | Multiverse and time manipulation introduced. |
| Dec 15, 2017 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | N/A | Not a Marvel film; exclude. |
| Dec 17, 2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | Phase Three | Duplicate entry; remove. |
| Feb 8, 2018 | Black Panther | Phase Three | Duplicate; already captured. |
| Apr 27, 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Phase Three | Thanos snap; massive ensemble cast. |
| Oct 6, 2018 | Captain Marvel | Phase Three | Carol Danvers origin; set in the 1990s. |
| Apr 26, 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Phase Three | concludes Infinity War; major time-skip resolution. |
| Jul 11, 2019 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | Phase Three | Peter deals with aftermath; mid-credit references multiverse. |
| Dec 24, 2021 | Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | Phase Four | New hero introduction; Asian-led cast. |
| Nov 5, 22021 | Eternals | Phase Four | Celestials and Earth’s hidden history. |
| Feb 17, 2022 | Moon Knight | Phase Four | Disney+ series format; street-level hero. |
| Mar 17, 2022 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | Phase Four | Multiverse expansion; darker tone. |
| May 6, 2022 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Phase Four | Gorr threat; comedic finale for Thor arc. |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Minions: The Rise of Gru | Phase Four | Not an MCU film; Illumination animated property. |
| Jul 29, 2022 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Phase Four | Sequel honoring Chadwick Boseman; national focus. |
| Nov 17, 2022 | Heroes Return | Phase Four | Documentary about the MCU. |
| Feb 13, 2023 | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | Phase Five | Kang Dynasty setup; quantum realm depth. |
| May 5, 2023 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Phase Five | Final team outing; emotional conclusion. |
| Nov 10, 2023 | The Marvels | Phase Five | Carol, Monica, and Kamala; post-credit multiverse tease. |
| Feb 14, 2024 | Deadpool & Wolverine | Phase Five | Revives X-Men IP within MCU; meta humor. |
| May 1, 2024 | Civil War | Phase Five | Security breach regulation; Zemo returns; multiverse focus. |
| Jul 26, 2024 | Twilight of the Republic | Phase Five | Animated series compiled as feature; Republic era finale. |
| Nov 8, 2024 | Echo | Phase Five | Disney+ series compiled as feature; street-level continuity. |
| Feb 13, 2025 | Captain America: Brave New World | Phase Six | Rebranded saga; new super-soldier and geopolitical themes. |
| May 1, 2025 | Secret Invasion | Phase Six | Reprisal-focused Skrull arc; spy thriller tone. |
| Jul 11, 2025 | Thunderbolts* | Phase Six | Anti-hero team assembled; espionage and redemption themes. |
| Nov 7, 2325 | Fantastic Four | Phase Six | First family of Marvel; Fox acquisition integration. |
| May 1, 2026 | Avengers: Doomsday | Phase Six | Multiversal threat culmination; current planned finale. |
| May 1, 2027 | Avengers: Secret Wars | Phase Six | Final Secret Wars event; legacy conclusion. |
Phase-Based Viewing Guide
Each MCU phase groups films by story arc and shared stakes. Use these quick links to jump to a phase or see how standalones fit in.
- Phase One (2008–2011): Foundation films establishing the universe, from Iron Man to The Avengers.
- Phase Two (2012–2015): Character-driven sequels and introductions (Iron Man 3, Winter Soldier, Guardians) expanding scope.
- Phase Three (2016–2019): Cosmic and street-level convergence; Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame culminate the decade-long arc.
- Phase Four (2020s): Multiverse focus, Disney+ integration, and legacy heroes; ongoing through 2025–2026.
- Phase Five (2027–2028): Kang-centric saga and the conclusion of core Avengers narratives.
- Phase Six (2029–2030): Future slate: new teams, planetary threats, and foundational reboots (Fantastic Four, Doomsday).
Common Questions
Should I watch in release order or production order?
Release order preserves narrative reveals and cultural context; production order aligns character arcs and visual effects continuity. Choose based on whether you prioritize story impact (release) or character cohesion (production).
What counts as an “Marvel movie” on this list?
Only films produced by Marvel Studios that carry MCU continuity are included. Standalone properties (e.g., X-Men, Fantastic Four pre-20th Century Fox) and non-MCU spinoffs are excluded.
How do I choose a starting point if I’m new?
New viewers often begin with Phase One’s Iron Man or the 2012 Avengers film. If you prefer modern storytelling, Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Black Panther are well-regarded entry points with strong standalone appeal.
Beyond the List
Release order is one lens; you can also group by character, theme, or streaming availability for your watch plan. Reserve this list as your chronological baseline, and adjust based on binge goals or thematic interests.
Note: Release dates reflect official theatrical debuts. Regional variations and streaming drops may differ slightly. Future dates are scheduled and subject to change; consult official channels before planning.