The Vast Marvel Universe

How to Watch the Marvel Movies and Shows in Chronological Order

Making Sense of the Marvel History

With two new feature films, and several series installations planned, the Marvel franchise is still going strong. Here's what's ahead for the rest of 2026. 

• VisionQuest (Disney+ series): scheduled to debut on Oct. 14, 2026 

• Avengers: Doomsday (movie): December 18, 2026 

• Spiderman: Sophomore Year, Season 2 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman (Disney+ series): Expected to premiere in fall of 2026  

The Marvel Universe is enormous and it's challenging to track the convoluted complicated timeline of events. The newest Marvel movie, Spider-man: Brand New Day is set in 2028 New York City placing it near the end of the current overall timeline. But if you’re familiar with this franchise, you know that this is not always the case. For the uninitiated, it can be a bit overwhelming, so we’ve put together a guide for you to watch the existing Marvel films and shows in chronological order.  

Marvel Movies and Shows in Chronological Order?

If you watched the Marvel movies and shows as they were released, you know that they jump around in time. Watching them all requires a massive time commitment. This guide is intended to help you make sense of things and decide which movies and shows will be the most informative and entertaining for your purposes. Beware: There are a few spoilers ahead.  

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011 movie) 

This may be the fifth Marvel film released, but it takes place long before any of the others—during WWII. It chronicles the creation of the super-soldier, Captain America (Chris Evans). We also meet Captain America’s longtime friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), aka The Winter Soldier.  

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025 movie) 

Set in a retro-futuristic 1960s world, this movie features an ensemble cast including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the titular team, alongside Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, and others. Here the Fantastic Four must protect the world from the planet-devouring Galactus.  

Supplemental reading: The Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Heroes Reborn 

Captain Marvel (2019 movie) 

This movie jumps five decades forward in time to 1995 and introduces Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson. You also get a glimpse of a young Monica Rambeau, the daughter of Carol Danvers’s best friend, Maria, who shows up later in WandaVision.  

X-Men '97 (2024 animated Disney+ series) 

This revival of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997) continues the story of the from the earlier series, set in the late 1990s, as the mutant superheroes take on various foes in an effort to protect mutants and humans alike. 

Supplemental reading: X-Men '97: Great X-Pectations 

Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010 movie) 

Iron Man’s odyssey begins in 2010 when genius inventor Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., creates his first Iron Man suit after being taken hostage by a terrorist organization.   

The Incredible Hulk (2008 movie) 

The events of this movie and Thor both take place in 2010 around the same time as the first two Iron Man films. Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner who is on the run from General Thunderbolt and the US Military. Mark Ruffalo replaced Norton as the big green man in 2012’s The Avengers. 

Thor (2011 movie) 

Banished from Asgard to Earth by his father Odin, Thor, played by dreamy Chris Hemsworth, is trying to prove he’s worthy of earning his powers back. Luckily he meets a helpful scientist (Natalie Portman).  

The Avengers (2012 movie) 

With the main heroes introduced, this movie brings them all together for the first time to fight the daunting forces of Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the Tesseract, and an alien horde invading NYC.  

Iron Man 3 (2013 movie) 

The third and final standalone Iron Man film takes place six months after the Avengers battle the alien takeover of NYC as Tony Stark struggles with PTSD about how close he came to death.  

Thor: The Dark World (2013 movie) 

Thor returns victorious to his home planet Asgard after the Loki-led invasion of NYC. But he must quickly return to fighting mode with the return of the ancient Dark Elves seeking a powerful weapon called the Aether. 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014 movie)  

Since the big battle in NYC, Captain America has been working for Shield, a special government agency, but he begins to question the motives of the shadowy organization. In the meantime, his best friend Bucky Barnes returns from the dead and assumes the mantle of the Winter Soldier, an adversary. This film also Introduces The Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie.  

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014 movie) and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2017 movie) 

Peter Quill, aka Star Lord (Chris Pratt), is a rogue scavenger who stumbles across an Infinity Stone amidst the ruins of an alien planet. Rising to the occasion, he assembles a ragtag group of outsiders to prevent the misuse of the powerful weapon. Part two finds the rapscallion space cowboy falling in love with the green-skinned Gamora (Zoë Saldaña) and confronting the mysteries of his own past.   

The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015 movie)  

The Avengers must reunite to confront Ultron, an AI created accidentally by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. This movie introduces Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), as well as Wanda’s twin brother Pietro, aka Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor Johnson). 

Ant-Man (2015 movie) 

Good things come in small packages! Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang, a cat burglar who gets recruited by scientist and inventor Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to don the mighty (yet mini) Ant-Man suit in order to battle Pym’s former prodigy who has co-opted the technology for evil purposes.  

Captain America: Civil War (2016 movie) 

This Captain America vehicle features almost every other Avenger, including two new additions: Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. In this episode the Avengers take sides against each other as Captain America makes a controversial power play to save his friend Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier, who may be responsible for bombing the UN.? 

Spiderman: Homecoming (2017 movie) 

The agile, web-slinging superhero (Tom Holland) faces off with Michael Keaton’s Vulture, a black-market weapons dealer. Only recently recovered from the big NYC battle, Peter Parker is also dealing with the everyday drama of high school. 

Black Widow (2021 movie) 

This long-awaited film traces the path of Natasha Romanov (Scarlett Johansson) during a period of exile. We also get the chance to learn more about Black Widow’s background as she explores her past. Plus there's the introduction of another Black Widow, Yelena (Florence Pugh).? 

Doctor Strange (2016 movie) 

After a devastating accident destroys his hands, arrogant, imperious surgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) goes in search of a cure. The ancient magic he discovers leaves him with unforeseen powers.? 

Black Panther (2018 movie) 

T’Challa, aka Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), returns home to be named king of Wakanda following the events of Captain America: Civil War. But once there, he reckons with the policy of isolation that has protected his vibranium-rich nation. He must also do battle with magnificent villain Eric Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). 

Thor: Ragnarok (2017 movie) 

The Lightning God is grieving the death of his father and the destruction of his hammer by his estranged sister, Hella (Cate Blanchett!). After being pitted against the Hulk in gladiator style battles, the two team up with Loki, and Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie to battle the evil Hella. 

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018 movie) 

Scott Lang has been placed on house arrest after siding with Captain America in the Civil War. He’s been estranged from Dr. Pym and Pym’s daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly), but he agrees to help them try to retrieve Hope’s mother from the Quantum Realm. (Heads up: the post-credits scene contains a spoiler about Infinity War.) 

Avengers: Infinity War (2018 movie) 

After years of working from behind the scenes to try and gather all the Infinity Stones, Thanos (voiced by Josh Brolin) decides to go and get them himself. His goal is to wipe out half of all life in the universe (for environmental reasons, obvs). The Avengers attempt to work together in an effort to stop him, but divisions persist from Civil War.? 

Avengers: Endgame (2019 movie) 

After Thanos is successful in snapping away half of all life, he leaves the universe in chaos. A sliver of a chance emerges for things to be set right, but Captain America and Tony Stark must make peace and reunite the Avengers if they are going to be successful this time.? 

WandaVision (2021 Disney+ series) 

One of several spinoff television shows featuring some of the more minor Marvel characters, this campy series picks up immediately after Wanda’s return from the Snap. Having lost everything, Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) takes over a small town in New Jersey in order to make a happier version of her own life. TV historians will enjoy its clever, stylized romp through the evolution of the sitcom. 

Loki (2021 Disney+ series) 

This series, featuring everyone’s favorite supervillain/antihero, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, bounces wildly through time so it is a little difficult to place. We're placing it here since Endgame is the point at which Loki breaks off into his own timeline. 

Supplemental reading: Loki: Where Mischief Lies?? 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021 movie) 

Simu Liu plays the titular character who confronts his shadowy past when his father, the leader of the Ten Rings organization, draws Shang-Chi and his sister, Xialing, into a search for a mythical village. Ultimately, he faces off against supervillain The Mandarin, played by Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung Chiu-wai. 

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024 movie) 

Officially brings Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) into the Marvel franchise as the two superheroes join forces, despite being from different universes and not getting along, to stop the Time Variance Authority from destroying Deadpool's universe. This was the first R-rated MCU film. 

Supplemental reading: Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII 

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021 Disney+ series) 

In this series, The Falcon, aka Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), and The Winter Soldier, aka Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), team up to take on an organization that has acquired a super-soldier serum like the one that transformed their old friend Steve Rogers into Captain America.?? 

Supplemental reading: Falcon and the Winter Soldier Collector’s Special 

Spiderman: Far From Home (2019 movie) 

This movie takes place in 2024, five years after Infinity War, with the return of all of those who were snapped by Thanos, including Peter Parker. On a field trip to Europe, he’s surprised by the appearance of Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal).? 

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021 movie) 

Picking up in the summer of 2024 where the last Spider-man left off, Peter has been accused of murdering Mysterio, while also grappling with having been unmasked (so to speak). The backlash has far-reaching consequences and Parker turns to Doctor Strange for help. 

Eternals (2021 movie) 

A band of immortal alien beings emerge from hiding after thousands of years in order to protect Earth from their ancient counterparts, the Deviants. Directed by recent Oscar winner Chloe Zhao, this film's ensemble cast includes such big names as Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, and Kumail Nanjiani.? 

Hawkeye (2021 Disney+ series) 

It's the winter of 2024 and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with obsessive fan Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), in an attempt to cover up his past as the murderous vigilante Ronin.? 

Supplemental reading: Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022 movie) 

Directed by Sam Raimi (who directed the first Spider-Man trilogy with Toby Maguire), this film resumes where the last one left off. Strange has helped Spider-man make everyone forget him by closing a rift in the universe. But this has left far-reaching consequences and Doctor Strange enlists Wanda Maximoff for help, before setting off on his multiverse-spanning adventure. 

Moon Knight (2022 Disney+ series) 

Oscar Isaac plays Steven Grant, a man suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder. He learns he has been living another life as a mercenary named Marc Spector. This series also introduces Ethan Hawke as Arthur Harrow. 

Supplemental reading: Moon Knight: The Complete Collection 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022 movie) 

Ryan Coogler returned to write and direct this film following the tragic 2020 death of Chadwick Boseman. The story begins with the death of his character T'Challa after his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) has tried, and failed, to find a cure for his disease. Now the women who have survived him, Shuri, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), and Okoye (Danai Gurira), must fight to protect their home from those who desire access to their Vibranium.? 

Echo (2024 Disney+ miniseries) 

This spin-off from the Hawkeye series finds Maya Lopez, aka Echo, (Alaqua Cox) returning to her hometown where she must come to terms with her past, reconnect with her Native American roots, and embrace her family and community. 

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022 Disney+ series) 

Tatiana Maslany stars as Jennifer Walters, a young lawyer. While spending time with her cousin, who happens to be Bruce Banner, the pair get into a grisly car accident. A drop of Bruce's blood finds its way into Jennifer's body via a wound she suffers in the accident. And well, you can probably guess what happens next.? 

Ms. Marvel (2022 Disney+ series) 

Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) is a Pakistani-American teenager who's obsessed with the Avengers, especially Captain Marvel. While preparing her costume for Avenger-Con, she finds an old bracelet, a family heirloom that makes the perfect accessory for her look. When she puts it on, she finds that she is suddenly imbued with powers similar to her idol.? 

Supplemental reading: Ms. Marvel: Remnants of the Past 

The Marvels (2023 movie) 

Brie Larson returns as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in this film where Danvers, Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Imam Vellani) team up as "the Marvels" after they begin swapping places with each other every time they use their powers. 

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022 movie) 

Natalie Portman returns as Jane Foster, Thor's former love interest in this film, directed by Taika Waititi, who also directed Thor: Ragnarok. Here Jane's been granted the same powers as Thor and the two have to work through the awkwardness of their breakup in order to work together and defeat Gorr (Christian Bale), who's on a quest to kill all the gods.? 

Ironheart (2022 Disney+ series) 

begins after the events of the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) and follows MIT student Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) as she returns home to Chicago where she discovers secrets that pit technology against magic. Chinaka Hodge served as head writer for the series. 

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023 movie) 

Ant-Man and the Wasp find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that pushes them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. 

Supplemental reading: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Miniseries 

The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023 movie) 

Featuring a similar ensemble cast as previous Guardians films, this installment finds the ragtag team racing to save the life of Rocket (Bradley Cooper), from his creator, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who is an alien scientist trying to perfect the universe. 

Supplemental reading: Guardians of the Galaxy: Miniseries 

Secret Invasion (2023 Disney+ mini-series) 

This follows Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) as they uncover a conspiracy by a group of shapeshifting Skrulls to conquer Earth. Kyle Bradstreet served as the head writer, with Ali Selim directing. 

Supplemental reading: Secret Invasion 

Agatha All Along (2024 Disney+ miniseries) 

In this miniseries, Kathryn Hahn reprises her role as witch Agatha Harkness from WandaVision as she escapes Westview and joins forces with a mysterious teen who wishes to face the trials of the legendary Witches' Road. 

Daredevil: Born Again (2025 Disney+ series) 

This is a revival of a previous Daredevil series that aired on Netflix from 2015–2018. Charlie Cox reprises his role as Matt Murdock/Daredevil fighting for justice as a lawyer while former crime boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) is elected mayor of New York City.  

Supplemental reading: Daredevil: Born Again 

Captain America: Brave New World (2025 movie) 

Continuing after the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, this film stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America alongside an ensemble cast including Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, and Harrison Ford. In the film, Wilson investigates a conspiracy involving U.S. president Thaddeus Ross (Ford). 

Thunderbolts (2025 movie) 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus appears as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, a contessa and director of the CIA who brings together the Thunderbolts, a group of antiheroes including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), and Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour).  

Spiderman: Brand New Day (2026 movie) 

After Dr. Strange's spell makes the world forget that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) exists, he's on his own, but still dedicated to protecting New York City as the hero Spider-Man. His personal struggles and overworking cause his superpowers to evolve while he faces a new telepathic threat. 

Supplemental reading: Spiderman: Brand New Day 

Avengers: Doomsday (movie, slated for December 18, 2026) 

The Avengers, Wakandans, New Avengers, Fantastic Four, and the X-Men converge from different universes to face Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). 

Supplemental reading: Secret Wars 

Whew! What a project this has been. Hopefully it will be as helpful for you as it has been for us.  

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon