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The Ultimate MCU Guide: 47+ Marvel Movies & Shows In Theatrical And Chronological Order (Updated 2025)

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Navigating the sprawling landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a monumental task, especially with the constant stream of new films and Disney+ series. As of late 2025, the MCU encompasses over 47 major projects, and understanding the correct viewing order is essential for grasping the epic narrative that stretches from World War II to the Multiverse Saga. For first-time viewers, the original theatrical release order is universally recommended, but for those seeking a deeper, timeline-accurate experience, the chronological order is a must-have guide.

The entire saga is currently divided into two major arcs: The Infinity Saga (Phases 1-3) and The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4-6). This updated guide provides both definitive lists, including the latest confirmed release dates for Phase 5 and the groundbreaking start to Phase 6, ensuring you are perfectly prepared for the cosmic events leading up to Avengers: Secret Wars.

The Definitive MCU Theatrical Release Order (The Recommended First-Time Watch)

The simplest and most narratively satisfying way to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in the order the films and series were released in theaters and on Disney+. This order preserves the plot reveals, character introductions, and crucial post-credit scenes exactly as they were intended by Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige. This list is broken down by the major overarching "Sagas" and the individual "Phases."

The Infinity Saga (Phases 1–3)

This saga focuses on the six Infinity Stones and the ultimate confrontation with the villain Thanos.

Phase One: Assembly

  • Iron Man (2008)
  • The Incredible Hulk (2008)
  • Iron Man 2 (2010)
  • Thor (2011)
  • Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
  • The Avengers (2012)

Phase Two: Expansion

  • Iron Man 3 (2013)
  • Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  • Ant-Man (2015)

Phase Three: Civil War and Infinity War

  • Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  • Doctor Strange (2016)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
  • Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
  • Black Panther (2018)
  • Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
  • Captain Marvel (2019)
  • Avengers: Endgame (2019)
  • Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4–6)

This ongoing saga introduces the concept of the Multiverse and sets up the new overarching antagonist, Kang the Conqueror. Phase 4 was the first to fully integrate major Disney+ series into the core narrative.

Phase Four: New Beginnings (2021–2022)

Note: This phase heavily integrates Disney+ shows.

  • WandaVision (Disney+ Series)
  • The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney+ Series)
  • Loki (Season 1) (Disney+ Series)
  • Black Widow (Film)
  • What If...? (Season 1) (Disney+ Series)
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Film)
  • Eternals (Film)
  • Hawkeye (Disney+ Series)
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home (Film)
  • Moon Knight (Disney+ Series)
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Film)
  • Ms. Marvel (Disney+ Series)
  • Thor: Love and Thunder (Film)
  • She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Disney+ Series)
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Film)

Phase Five: Foundations and Fallout (2023–2025)

Phase Five solidifies the new teams and introduces key players like Blade and Ironheart, while dealing with the fallout of the Multiverse's expansion.

  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
  • Secret Invasion (Disney+ Series)
  • Loki (Season 2) (Disney+ Series)
  • The Marvels (2023)
  • Echo (Disney+ Series)
  • Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
  • Agatha All Along (Disney+ Series)
  • Captain America: Brave New World (Scheduled: February 14, 2025)
  • Blade (Scheduled: November 7, 2025)

Phase Six: The Multiverse Culmination (2025–2027)

Phase Six kicks off the final stretch of the Multiverse Saga, leading directly into the next two major Avengers films. This schedule is subject to change, but the core tentpoles are confirmed.

  • The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Scheduled: July 25, 2025)
  • Avengers: Doomsday (Scheduled: May 1, 2026)
  • Avengers: Secret Wars (Scheduled: May 7, 2027)
  • Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+ Series) (TBD 2025)
  • Ironheart (Disney+ Series) (TBD 2025)

The MCU Chronological Viewing Order (The In-Universe Timeline)

For the dedicated fan who wants to follow the story in the exact order the events occur within the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, the chronological order is the way to go. This order shifts a few key films to the beginning, as they are set decades before the events of Iron Man.

Watching chronologically provides a deeper context for characters like Steve Rogers and Carol Danvers, but it can spoil post-credit scenes and major reveals if you haven't seen the theatrical release order first.

The Key Chronological Starting Points:

  1. Captain America: The First Avenger: Set primarily during World War II (1942–1945).
  2. Captain Marvel: Set in 1995.
  3. Iron Man: The true beginning of the modern MCU timeline (2008).
  4. Iron Man 2
  5. The Incredible Hulk
  6. Thor
  7. The Avengers: This is where the timeline generally aligns with the theatrical release order, as most subsequent films are set close to their release dates.

Key Chronological Jumps (Post-Avengers):

The biggest challenge in the chronological order is knowing where the Disney+ series and one-shots fit. For instance, the first season of Loki is a direct continuation of events that occurred during the 'Time Heist' in Avengers: Endgame, and the events of WandaVision are set immediately after the Snap is reversed.

  • The Snap/Blip: The five-year gap between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame is the largest chronological jump.
  • Black Widow: Set between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War.
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: The main events happen before Infinity War, but the post-credit scene is set during it.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Takes place only a few months after the first Guardians film, making it one of the earliest Phase Two films chronologically, despite its later release.

Why The Release Order is Still The King

While the chronological order is a fascinating exercise in continuity, the theatrical release order remains the superior viewing experience for a few critical reasons that enhance the narrative flow and emotional impact:

1. The Post-Credit Scene Integrity

Post-credit scenes are the ultimate breadcrumbs of the MCU, often setting up the very next film in the release schedule. Watching Captain Marvel chronologically early on, for example, means its critical post-credit scene—which directly leads into Avengers: Endgame—will lose all its intended impact, as you will have to wait through nearly 20 other films to see the payoff. The release order maintains the integrity of these crucial narrative teases.

2. The Evolution of Key Characters

The emotional arc of characters like Tony Stark and Thor is best appreciated in the release order. Their growth, their struggles with the Avengers team, and their eventual sacrifices in Endgame are built up over a decade of real-world time. The chronological order can sometimes flatten this emotional resonance by placing events out of the viewers' developmental context.

3. The Multiverse Saga’s Complexity

The current Multiverse Saga is inherently complex, dealing with variants, alternate timelines, and reality-bending events. Marvel Studios has structured the releases to introduce these concepts gradually. Watching the Disney+ series like Loki and WandaVision in their release slots is crucial because they reference and build upon the films that immediately preceded them, providing necessary context for the new status quo of the MCU.

Ultimately, whether you choose the theatrical release order for the intended narrative experience or the chronological order for timeline accuracy, the MCU offers an unparalleled cinematic journey. With Phase 6 on the horizon and the promise of a new Fantastic Four team, there has never been a better time to dive into the world of Marvel.

The Ultimate MCU Guide: 47+ Marvel Movies & Shows in Theatrical and Chronological Order (Updated 2025)
marvel movies release order
marvel movies release order

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