How to watch the Marvel movies in order (release and chronological)

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Wondering how to watch the Marvel movies in order? You've come to the right place

Chris Evans in Avengers: Endgame, part of how to watch the Marvel movies in order
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Knowing how to watch the Marvel movies in order has become a complicated task. Thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we're getting multiple versions of the same character in the same universe, so keeping up has become tricky. Plus, shows like The Defenders have now arrived on Disney Plus, and they have implications for further main-MCU installments. Essentially, it's all getting a little out of hand.

Well, we're here to help. We've run through a few ways you can watch the Marvel movies in order, including release order (recommended for anyone starting out) and chronological (for anyone looking to mix up their watching experience). We also have separate spaces for other Marvel materials that are not essential to the main timeline. However, we should note that the Disney Plus series are included in the main orders as they feature mainline Avengers and help set up the new movies.

If you're wondering about canon, we've dealt with that, too. We've included all the movies and TV shows that aren't strictly in the MCU, but are part of the bigger Marvel universe, so are still worth a watch. With all that in mind, here's how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

How to watch the Marvel movies in order – release order

marvel movies in order list

(Image credit: Disney)

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.

Watch on Disney Plus

Watch on Disney Plus
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):

  • Ms. Marvel – 2022 (Disney Plus series – June 8, 2022)
  • Thor: Love and Thunder – July 8, 2022
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – November 11, 2022
  • She Hulk – 2022 (Disney Plus series)
  • The Marvels (AKA Captain Marvel 2) – February 17, 2023
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – May 5, 2023
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – July 28, 2023
  • Blade (TBA)
  • Captain America 4 (TBA)
  • Fantastic Four (TBA)
  • Untitled Mutants movie (TBA)
  • Deadpool 3 (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, yet still viable way? Then you'll perhaps want to know how to watch the Marvel movies in chronological order. 

This one's a little more complicated 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)

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 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, though the Spidey films should appear on Disney Plus in 2023 or later thanks to a deal.

  • 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
  • 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

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. It's not quite as straightforward as the Marvel movies...

Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell

I'm the Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
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