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Marvel Movies in Order (MCU)
All 36 Marvel Cinematic Universe films from Iron Man (2008) to Thunderbolts* (2025) — in both release order and the in-universe chronological timeline. Toggle between them and tick off what you've seen.
Marvel Movies in Order (MCU) — complete list
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Why this order?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the biggest connected film series ever made — 36 movies across two “sagas” that reward being watched in order. There are two good ways to do it.
Release order (the default here) is how the story was built to unfold, and it's what we recommend for a first watch. Every film was designed to land with the context the audience had at the time, so the reveals — the post-credits stingers, the slow Thanos build-up, the multiverse twists — hit hardest this way. Start with Iron Man (2008) and go straight through.
Chronological (in-universe) order rearranges the films by when their events actually happen. It opens with the two period pieces — Captain America: The First Avenger in the 1940s and Captain Marvel in 1995 — then runs through the modern era. The catch most lists get wrong: Black Widow takes place right after Captain America: Civil War, and Spider-Man: Far From Home picks up minutes after Avengers: Endgame, so both jump far from where they released. It's a great re-watch order once you know the story, but it spoils a few surprises for newcomers.
Everything from Iron Man through Avengers: Endgame is the Infinity Saga; from Black Widow onward is the ongoing Multiverse Saga — which even reaches back to the old Fox X-Men films when Deadpool & Wolverine pulls Hugh Jackman's Wolverine into the MCU. In-universe placements for the newest Multiverse Saga films are still settling, so the chronological order here follows Marvel's official timeline where it's clear and release order where it isn't. Either way, nearly the whole library streams on Disney+.
Timeline 2008–2025
Every release plotted by year — taller stacks mean more that year. Hover a marker for the title.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Cameos & crossovers
Characters from Marvel Cinematic Universe who also show up elsewhere — see the full character atlas →
- Aunt May
Peter's moral compass, present in every Spider-Man film era and the games.
- Doctor Octopus / Otto Octavius
Tentacled mad scientist menacing Spider-Man in both the films and the games.
- Electro
Electrified foe who shocked Spidey on the big screen and in the games.
- Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
Spidey's archnemesis — a villain across the films, the MCU, and the games' universe.
- J. Jonah Jameson
The bombastic Bugle editor who hates Spider-Man across films and games alike.
- Spider-Man / Peter Parker
The web-slinger himself — the one character spanning movies, the MCU, and the games.
- Deadpool
The fourth-wall-breaking Merc with a Mouth, leaping from X-Men films into the MCU.
- Doctor Strange
Sorcerer Supreme whose spell cracked open the multiverse in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Also in Spider-Man - Iron Man / Tony Stark
The MCU's founding hero who also mentored Spidey in his films.
Also in Spider-Man - Nick Fury
One-eyed spymaster who assembles the Avengers and recruits Spider-Man.
Also in Spider-Man - Venom / Eddie Brock
Symbiote anti-hero starring in his own films, who crossed into the MCU via No Way Home.
Also in Venom - Vulture / Adrian Toomes
Winged scavenger villain in the MCU and the Insomniac games.
Also in Marvel's Spider-Man - Wolverine / Logan
The clawed mutant icon of the X-Men films who later joined the MCU.
Frequently asked questions
How many Marvel movies are there?
There are 36 Marvel Cinematic Universe films released so far, from Iron Man (2008) through Thunderbolts* (2025). That count is the theatrical MCU only — it doesn't include the Disney+ series, the older Fox X-Men and Sony Spider-Man films, or animated tie-ins.
What order should I watch the Marvel movies in?
For a first watch, use release order starting with Iron Man (2008) — the films were made to be seen that way and the big reveals land best. If you've already seen them, the in-universe chronological order is a rewarding re-watch.
Do I have to watch them in chronological order?
No, and most fans don't recommend it for a first time. Release order preserves the surprises and the building sense of a shared universe. Chronological order is best saved for a repeat viewing once you know how the story fits together.
Where can I stream the MCU?
Almost every MCU film is on Disney+ in most regions. Individual titles are also available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and other digital stores.
What's the difference between the Infinity Saga and the Multiverse Saga?
The Infinity Saga is the first 23 films, Iron Man (2008) through Avengers: Endgame (2019), built around the Infinity Stones and Thanos. The Multiverse Saga begins with Black Widow and Eternals and follows the fallout of Endgame across the multiverse.
Is Deadpool & Wolverine part of the MCU?
Yes. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) is the first Deadpool film made under Marvel Studios and officially brings the character into the MCU, bridging it with the old Fox X-Men movies.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, marvel.com, Wikidata (Q642878)
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