Marvel Movies in Chronological Order : The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a connected superhero franchise created by Marvel Studios.
While Marvel movies were released over many years, the chronological order arranges them according to when events happen inside the MCU timeline, not by release date.
This page is your complete MCU timeline guide, helping you watch Marvel movies in the correct story order — from World War II to the Multiverse era.
What Does “Chronological Order” Mean in MCU?
Marvel movies in chronological order follow the in-universe timeline of events.
This order is ideal for:
- MCU rewatch
- Better story continuity
- Understanding character journeys
Marvel Movies in Chronological Order (Full MCU Timeline)
1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1940s)
Set during World War II, this movie shows the origin of Steve Rogers and introduces the Tesseract.
2. Captain Marvel (1995)
Carol Danvers becomes one of the most powerful heroes. Nick Fury’s Avengers idea begins here.
3. Iron Man (2010)
Tony Stark builds the first Iron Man suit, starting the modern MCU timeline.
4. Iron Man 2 (2011)
Continues Tony Stark’s story and introduces Black Widow.
5. The Incredible Hulk (2011)
Runs parallel to Iron Man 2 and focuses on Bruce Banner’s struggle.
6. Thor (2011)
Thor is banished to Earth, introducing Asgard and Loki.
7. The Avengers (2012)
Earth’s mightiest heroes assemble for the first time in the Battle of New York.
8. Iron Man 3 (2012)
Tony Stark deals with PTSD after the Avengers battle.
9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Introduces the Reality Stone and expands cosmic mythology.
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
SHIELD falls and Hydra is revealed, changing the MCU forever.
11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
The MCU goes cosmic with Star-Lord and the Power Stone.
12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014)
Takes place shortly after the first Guardians movie.
13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Ultron is created; Vision is born.
14. Ant-Man (2015)
Introduces the Quantum Realm.
15. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The Avengers split over the Sokovia Accords.
16. Black Widow (2016)
Set immediately after Civil War, focusing on Natasha Romanoff.
17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)
Peter Parker balances school life and hero duties.
18. Doctor Strange (2016–2017)
Introduces mystic arts, Time Stone, and multiverse concepts.
19. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Leads directly into Infinity War.
20. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Thanos collects Infinity Stones and snaps half of life away.
21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Ends during the Snap.
22. Avengers: Endgame (2018–2023)
Time travel, sacrifice, and the end of the Infinity Saga.
23. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2024)
Shows the world after Endgame.
24. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2024)
The multiverse fully breaks open.
25. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Chronological Order vs Release Order
| Order Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Release Order | First-time viewers |
| Chronological Order | Rewatch & timeline clarity |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is chronological order best for first-time viewers?
Release order is recommended for first-time viewers.
Q. Does this list include Marvel TV series?
No, this page includes only MCU movies.
Q. Does the MCU timeline keep changing?
Yes, especially in the Multiverse Saga, so this page should be updated regularly.
Conclusion
Watching Marvel movies in chronological order offers a deeper understanding of the MCU storyline and character development.
This guide helps you experience the Marvel Cinematic Universe exactly as events unfold in-universe.
👉 Related: Phase One | Phase Two | Phase Three | Phase Four | Phase Five | Phase Six | Hub Page