The Definitive MCU Chronological Order: 34 Movies & Phases 1-6 Explained (2025 Update)
Are you struggling to make sense of the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) timeline? As of late 2025, the MCU has expanded into a massive, interconnected narrative spanning three sagas and over 34 feature films, making the release order a confusing way to watch the story unfold. The true, internal chronological order is the only way to experience the story as intended, starting with World War II and moving through the cosmic, multiversal chaos of the current Phase 5 and upcoming Phase 6.
This definitive guide provides the most accurate, movie-by-movie chronological watch order, incorporating all the latest releases from the ongoing Multiverse Saga. We'll show you exactly how to watch every film, beginning with the origin of the first Avenger and leading directly into the high-stakes future of the MCU's 'present day'—a necessary roadmap for both new viewers and dedicated fans looking to re-watch the entire epic.
The Complete MCU Chronological Watch Order: The Infinity Saga (Phases 1-3)
The Infinity Saga is the foundational story of the MCU, focusing on the assembly of the Avengers and the quest for the six Infinity Stones. This narrative arc spans from the 1940s to 2019, culminating in the epic battle against the Titan, Thanos. Watching these films in this order—not release order—provides the clearest context for every character's journey.
- 1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1943–1945): The essential starting point, set almost entirely during World War II.
- 2. Captain Marvel (1995): This 90s-set adventure introduces Carol Danvers and the Tesseract, bridging the gap between the 40s and the modern era.
- 3. Iron Man (2010): The film that launched the MCU, set after Tony Stark’s capture and return.
- 4. Iron Man 2 (2011): Takes place shortly after the first film, dealing with the fallout of Tony’s public reveal.
- 5. The Incredible Hulk (2011): While often skipped, this story runs concurrently with *Iron Man 2* and *Thor*.
- 6. Thor (2011): Set just before or during the events of *Iron Man 2* and *The Incredible Hulk*.
- 7. The Avengers (2012): The first major crossover event, set roughly one year after the previous films.
- 8. Thor: The Dark World (2013): Takes place after the events in New York.
- 9. Iron Man 3 (2013): Set during the Christmas season after *The Avengers*, focusing on Tony Stark's PTSD.
- 10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014): A major turning point that reshapes S.H.I.E.L.D.
- 11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): A cosmic adventure that introduces the Power Stone and is largely separate from Earth-based events.
- 12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014): Set only a few months after the first film.
- 13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): The second major team-up, leading to the creation of Vision.
- 14. Ant-Man (2015): Set after the events of *Age of Ultron*.
- 15. Captain America: Civil War (2016): The conflict that fractures the Avengers.
- 16. Black Widow (2016): Primarily set immediately after *Civil War*, during the two-year gap before *Infinity War*.
- 17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016): Takes place a few months after *Civil War*.
- 18. Doctor Strange (2016–2017): Follows Stephen Strange's transformation into a sorcerer.
- 19. Black Panther (2017): Set one week after the events of *Civil War*.
- 20. Thor: Ragnarok (2017): Takes place shortly before *Infinity War*.
- 21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018): Set just before the Snap, with the post-credits scene occurring during it.
- 22. Avengers: Infinity War (2018): The devastating conclusion to the Infinity Saga's build-up.
- 23. Avengers: Endgame (2023): The final chapter, beginning five years after the Snap (The Blip).
The Multiverse Saga Begins: Phase 4 in Chronological Order
Phase 4 serves as an expansive epilogue to the Infinity Saga and a prologue to the Multiverse Saga. It deals with the aftermath of The Blip and begins to introduce key concepts like the Multiverse, alternate timelines, and the Time Variance Authority (TVA), setting up the next major threat: Kang the Conqueror.
- 24. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2024): Set months after *Endgame*.
- 25. Eternals (2024): Takes place concurrently with *Shang-Chi*, dealing with a world-ending Celestial event.
- 26. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2024): Set during the summer after *Endgame*.
- 27. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2024): A direct continuation of events from the Disney+ series *WandaVision* and *Loki*, diving headfirst into the Multiverse.
- 28. Thor: Love and Thunder (2024): Takes place after *Doctor Strange 2*.
- 29. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2025): Set roughly one year after the death of King T'Challa, introducing Namor and the underwater kingdom of Talokan.
Phase 5 & The Future: The Latest Chronological Placements (2025-2027)
Phase 5 is currently unfolding and is characterized by a focus on new teams, legacy heroes, and direct confrontations with the Multiverse's growing instability. The "present day" of the MCU's timeline is now generally considered to be around 2027, with events moving rapidly toward the climactic conclusion of the Multiverse Saga.
- 30. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2026): This film is critical, as it directly introduces the primary villain of the saga, Kang the Conqueror, and the threat of the Quantum Realm.
- 31. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2026): The final adventure for the original team, set after *Quantumania*.
- 32. The Marvels (2026): Uniting Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) in a cosmic team-up that deals with intergalactic threats.
- 33. Deadpool & Wolverine (2027): Expected to be a major Multiversal event, featuring the TVA and a significant disruption of the Sacred Timeline. This film's placement is highly anticipated to be a pivotal nexus point in the timeline.
- 34. Captain America: Brave New World (2027): The first film to star Sam Wilson as the new Captain America, dealing with post-Blip geopolitical issues.
- 35. Thunderbolts* (2027): A team of anti-heroes and reformed villains assembled by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, likely set immediately after the events of *Captain America 4*.
The Road to Secret Wars: Phase 6 and Beyond
While the exact chronological placement of Phase 6 films is yet to be determined, they are confirmed to follow the events of Phase 5 and will lead directly to the final confrontation of the Multiverse Saga. These films will be set in the MCU's future timeline, likely pushing the "present day" even further.
- Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025): While the exact timing is unknown, this film is confirmed and will introduce the first family of Marvel into the main timeline.
- Avengers: Doomsday (2026): Formerly titled *Avengers: The Kang Dynasty*, this film is expected to be the beginning of the end, dealing with a massive incursion or multiversal war.
- Avengers: Secret Wars (2027): The climactic conclusion to the entire Multiverse Saga, likely involving the collapse of the Multiverse, the destruction of multiple realities, and the potential emergence of entities like the Beyonders or Celestials.
Topical Authority: Key Entities and Concepts in the MCU Timeline
To truly understand the chronological order, you must grasp the major concepts that tie the films together. These entities and events are the backbone of the entire shared universe, especially as the narrative shifts from the Infinity Saga to the Multiverse Saga.
The Infinity Saga vs. The Multiverse Saga
The MCU is divided into two major sagas. The first, The Infinity Saga (Phases 1-3), revolved entirely around the six Infinity Stones (Space, Mind, Reality, Power, Time, and Soul) and the threat of Thanos. The second, The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4-6), focuses on the concept of the Multiverse, alternate realities, and the threat of Kang the Conqueror and the consequences of violating the Sacred Timeline.
Critical Multiverse Concepts
The current timeline is driven by several complex, interconnected ideas that explain the chronological jumps and new character introductions:
- The Blip: The five-year period between *Infinity War* and *Endgame* where half of all life was erased, providing a major chronological gap and emotional context for Phase 4 films.
- Time Variance Authority (TVA): Introduced in the *Loki* series, the TVA is an organization that protects the Sacred Timeline from branches and variants, making them key players in understanding the Multiverse's structure.
- Variants: Alternate versions of characters (like Loki or Kang) who deviate from the Sacred Timeline.
- Incursions: The collision of two universes, a catastrophic event that is a central threat in the Multiverse Saga, heavily featured in *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*.
- Nexus Events: Moments in time where a variant makes a choice that could lead to a new branch reality, triggering the TVA’s intervention.
- Key Heroes: The new generation of heroes, including Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Kate Bishop, She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), and Echo, are all crucial to the chronological progression of the Multiverse Saga.
- Cosmic Entities: Powerful beings like the Celestials (creators of the Eternals) and the rumored Beyonders are expected to play a major role in the final Phase 6 films, orchestrating the multiversal conflicts.
By following this chronological order, you are not just watching a series of superhero films; you are experiencing a massive, single, interconnected narrative that is rapidly approaching its second world-shattering climax in *Secret Wars*.
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