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The Ultimate 2025 Guide: How To Watch ALL Marvel Movies In Order (Release Vs. Chronological)

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Are you ready to start the ultimate Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) marathon? As of December 2025, the MCU spans over 30 feature films and numerous Disney+ series, making the task of finding the "right" viewing order more daunting than ever. The good news is that the best way to watch depends entirely on your goal: are you a first-time viewer prioritizing the surprise reveals, or a veteran fan looking for the absolute narrative timeline? We've broken down the two essential viewing methods—the Release Order and the Chronological Order—complete with the latest Phase 5 and Phase 6 updates to ensure your marathon is perfectly structured.

The entire MCU narrative is currently segmented into two overarching storylines: the original Infinity Saga (Phases 1-3) and the current Multiverse Saga (Phases 4-6). Understanding these two sagas is the key to unlocking the entire superhero multiverse. Whether you're following the journey of the original Avengers or preparing for the new threats posed by Kang the Conqueror, this definitive 2025 guide has you covered.

The Definitive MCU Viewing Strategy: Release Order (The First-Timer’s Choice)

For anyone experiencing the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time, the Release Order is universally recommended by Marvel Studios and veteran fans. This order is how the original audience experienced the story, which means the narrative reveals, post-credit scenes, and major character introductions land exactly as intended. Crucial twists, like the identity of the Winter Soldier or the final moments of *Avengers: Infinity War*, are preserved in this viewing order.

The Release Order naturally builds the world, allowing you to meet characters like Iron Man and Captain America before the massive team-ups. It also avoids major chronological spoilers, such as the backstory revealed in *Captain Marvel* (2019), which would otherwise spoil the experience if watched early in the timeline.

The Infinity Saga (Phases 1-3: The Thanos Storyline)

The first three phases culminate in the battle against the Mad Titan, Thanos, for control of the six Infinity Stones. This is the foundation of the entire MCU.

  • Phase 1: Assembling the Avengers
    • 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 2: 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 3: 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)

The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4-6: The New Era)

The Multiverse Saga deals with the fallout from the Blip and introduces the concept of the multiverse, setting up the next major villain, Kang the Conqueror. Note that this list focuses on the theatrical films, though the Disney+ series (like *WandaVision* and *Loki*) are crucial to the overall timeline.

  • Phase 4: Post-Blip & Multiverse Foundations
    • 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 5: The Next Generation
    • 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)
  • Phase 6: The Ultimate Showdown (Starting 2025)
    • 37. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025)
    • *Upcoming Projects (Dates Subject to Change):* Blade, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avengers: Secret Wars.

The Deep Dive: MCU Movies in Chronological Timeline Order

For seasoned fans who want to experience the story as a seamless, continuous timeline, the Chronological Order is the definitive choice. This order ignores the film's release date and places the events based on when they occur in the MCU's history, starting with the 1940s and moving forward to the "present day" of 2027 (the current setting of Phase 5). This method offers the deepest understanding of character motivations and the linear progression of the universe.

The main difference in this viewing order is the early placement of two key films: *Captain America: The First Avenger* (set during World War II) and *Captain Marvel* (set in 1995). Watching them first provides immediate context for the Tesseract and the origin of Nick Fury’s Avengers initiative.

The Chronological Movie Timeline (Updated for 2025)

This list is structured by the in-universe timeline, not by the phases, for a true chronological viewing experience:

  1. Captain America: The First Avenger (Set in the 1940s)
  2. Captain Marvel (Set in 1995)
  3. Iron Man (The official start of the modern MCU timeline)
  4. Iron Man 2
  5. The Incredible Hulk
  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 Vol. 1)
  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. Doctor Strange
  19. Spider-Man: Homecoming
  20. Thor: Ragnarok
  21. Ant-Man and the Wasp
  22. Avengers: Infinity War
  23. Avengers: Endgame (Starts in 2018, jumps to 2023)
  24. Spider-Man: Far From Home (Set 8 months after *Endgame*)
  25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
  26. Eternals
  27. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
  28. Thor: Love and Thunder
  29. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
  30. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
  31. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
  32. The Marvels
  33. Deadpool & Wolverine
  34. Captain America: Brave New World
  35. Thunderbolts*
  36. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the MCU Timeline

The sheer scale of the MCU often leads to confusion, especially with new projects constantly being added to the timeline and the introduction of the superhero multiverse concept.

What is the difference between the Infinity Saga and the Multiverse Saga?

The Infinity Saga refers to Phases 1, 2, and 3, which focused on the six Infinity Stones and culminated in the battle against Thanos in *Avengers: Endgame*. The Multiverse Saga refers to the current Phases 4, 5, and 6, which focus on the aftermath of the Blip, the introduction of the multiverse, and the rise of Kang the Conqueror. Projects like *Loki*, *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*, and the upcoming *Avengers: Secret Wars* are central to the Multiverse Saga's storyline. This new saga introduces a host of new entities and characters, including the Fantastic Four and the X-Men.

Do I need to watch the Disney+ series?

For a complete understanding of the Multiverse Saga timeline, yes. Series like *WandaVision*, *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier*, and especially *Loki*, are essential viewing as they directly set up the plots for Phase 4 and 5 films. *Loki* is arguably the most critical series for understanding the new rules of the multiverse and the introduction of Kang. If you are aiming for the ultimate MCU watch guide, you should integrate the series into the chronological order.

What is Phase 6 leading up to?

Phase 6, which officially begins with *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* in 2025, is the final phase of the Multiverse Saga. It is currently slated to conclude with two massive crossover events: *Avengers: The Kang Dynasty* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*. These two films are expected to be the biggest events since *Avengers: Endgame*, bringing together heroes from across the main MCU timeline and the newly introduced multiverse.

What is the best order for a re-watch?

If you are re-watching the MCU, the Chronological Order offers the most satisfying narrative flow. It allows you to appreciate the subtle connections between characters and events without the distraction of release-date gaps. It's the ideal way to study the MCU timeline and track the development of key elements like the Infinity Stones, the rise of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the evolution of characters like Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch.

The Ultimate 2025 Guide: How to Watch ALL Marvel Movies in Order (Release vs. Chronological)
marvel movies in order to watch
marvel movies in order to watch

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