As a devoted Marvel fan and movie connoisseur, I’ve found myself grappling with the intricate web that is the optimal viewing order for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Ever since Iron Man graced our screens back in 2008, the universe has expanded exponentially, boasting an impressive total of 55 official entries. Many of these films and shows intertwine seamlessly into the grand narrative, making it all too easy to lose one’s bearings when trying to discern the best sequence to watch the remaining installments.
What’s the best viewing order for the MCU movies and TV shows?
We’ve studied Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) history thoroughly to suggest the ideal sequence for watching movies and series. It’s not as straightforward as viewing in release or chronological order because the MCU often intertwines and sometimes has an unclear position within the overall timeline. Therefore, we’ve created a viewing guide that follows the storyline roughly, without giving away future plots from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
MCU Phase One viewing order
The First Avenger before anything else. This film is set earliest in the timeline and lays the groundwork for the main plot element of Phase One, the Tesseract. Following that, it’s a smooth journey leading to the first team-up movie, The Avengers.
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Iron Man
- Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- Thor
- The Avengers
MCU Phase Two viewing order
In phase two, we’ve made adjustments for a clearer storyline. Specifically, even though it was part of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Phase Three, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is easier to follow chronologically if you watch it prior to Age of Ultron.
- Thor: The Dark World
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Iron Man 3
- Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (Released in Phase 3)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
MCU Phase Three viewing order
In Phase Three, the Marvel Cinematic Universe becomes more intricate. For instance, Captain America: Civil War and Black Widow happen at the same time, while Captain Marvel’s story unfolds before the first Iron Man. We arranged them as best we could to minimize spoilers for future films and maintain a coherent plotline. If you watch the movies in this sequence, you’ll enjoy a smoother progression of the overarching narrative.
- Doctor Strange
- Ant-Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Black Widow (Released in Phase Four)
- Black Panther
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Ant-Man & the Wasp
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Captain Marvel
- Avengers: Endgame
MCU Phase Four and Five viewing order
It seems that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) veered slightly from its usual course during Phases Four and Five. Unlike previous phases where a cornerstone film like “The Avengers” provided a solid foundation, these phases felt more interconnected without a clear build-up. Furthermore, the introduction of TV shows around the same time contributed to the sense of confusion.
Conveniently, Phase Four of Marvel Cinematic Universe begins with the film Black Widow, set during Captain America: Civil War. This means you can now enjoy it at a time when it aligns better with the storyline and Black Widow’s character development is more significant. The list below aims to organize the movies and TV shows in an order as close to chronological as possible.
During this stage, the Marvel Cinematic Universe encountered some twists and turns, primarily due to unforeseen production complications. The storyline was intended to embark on “The Multiverse Saga” with Phase Four, introducing Kang the Conqueror as the principal antagonist for Phases 4-6. However, in March 2023, Jonathan Majors, cast as Kang, found himself facing multiple charges of violence. Moreover, a writers’ strike by the Guild of America in 2023 halted work on Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars – films meant to wrap up the narrative. Jonathan Major’s legal troubles, combined with lukewarm fan reception towards Kang as a villain, led Marvel Studios to reconsider their plans, ultimately deciding to scrap Kang and start anew in their storytelling approach.
- WandaVision Season 1
- Falcon & the Winter Soldier Season 1
- Spider-Man: Far from Home (Released in Phase Three)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Hawkeye Season 1
- Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
- Loki Season 1
- Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania
- Loki Season 2
- Deadpool & Wolverine (Can be skipped)
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Moon Knight
- Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings
- Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Agatha All Along Season 1
- Eternals
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Season 1
- Ms. Marvel Season 1
- The Marvels
- Secret Invasion Season 1
- Echo Season 1
- Daredevil: Born Again Season 1
- Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
- Captain America: Brave New World
- Ironheart Season 1
- Thunderbolts
MCU Phase Six viewing order
First Steps” acts as an independent origin story for the upcoming Marvel films and TV shows, helping steer the franchise in a new direction, ultimately leading towards “Avengers: Doomsday.
- Fantastic Four: First Steps
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2025-07-24 21:11