The Ultimate MCU Watch Guide: Every Marvel Movie In Release Order (2008–2026+)

Welcome to the definitive guide for watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe in its intended order! As of late 2024, the MCU has expanded into a colossal narrative spanning three full Phases of the Infinity Saga, and is currently deep into the mind-bending Multiverse Saga. Following the original theatrical release order is the only way to experience the story exactly as Marvel Studios intended, preserving every post-credit scene reveal and major plot twist, making this list essential for both first-time viewers and veteran fans preparing for the next *Avengers* event. This comprehensive list covers every theatrical film from 2008's *Iron Man* through the most recent blockbusters, and details the full, confirmed slate of upcoming movies for Phase 5 and Phase 6, including the highly anticipated *Fantastic Four* reboot and the next two *Avengers* epics. Use this guide to navigate the complex web of interconnected stories, ensuring you don't miss a single crucial moment in the world's biggest cinematic franchise.

The Infinity Saga (Phases 1–3): The Foundation of the MCU

The first three Phases, collectively known as the Infinity Saga, built the original team of Avengers and culminated in the epic battle against Thanos. Watching these films in their release order is crucial, as each movie directly sets up the next, culminating in *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame*.

Phase 1: Assemble

This phase introduced the core members of the original Avengers team and established the concept of the Tesseract (Space Stone) and the Mind Stone.

• 1. Iron Man (2008)
• 2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• 3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
• 4. Thor (2011)
• 5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• 6. Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Phase 2: Expansion and New Threats

Phase 2 dealt with the fallout from the Battle of New York and introduced new characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man, while furthering the plot of the Infinity Stones.

• 7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
• 8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• 9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• 10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• 11. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• 12. Ant-Man (2015)

Phase 3: The War for the Stones

The final phase of the Infinity Saga brought the storylines together, introduced key heroes like Doctor Strange and Black Panther, and concluded the Thanos arc with a massive, universe-altering confrontation.

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• 13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• 14. Doctor Strange (2016)
• 15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• 16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• 17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• 18. Black Panther (2018)
• 19. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• 20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
• 21. Captain Marvel (2019)
• 22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• 23. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4–6): Chaos and Cosmic Power

The current overarching storyline, the Multiverse Saga, began after the events of *Avengers: Endgame*. It focuses on the exploration of the Multiverse, alternate timelines, and the introduction of a new, terrifying villain: Kang the Conqueror, or rather, his many Variants.

Phase 4: Setting the Stage for the Multiverse

Phase 4 was a transitional period that introduced the Multiverse concept in earnest (via *Loki* and *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*) and brought in numerous new heroes and concepts, including the Eternals and Shang-Chi.

• 24. Black Widow (2021)
• 25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
• 26. Eternals (2021)
• 27. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
• 28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
• 29. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
• 30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Phase 5: The Road to Doomsday

Phase 5 is rapidly advancing the Multiverse Saga plot, with films directly dealing with the threat of Kang and setting up the next major team-up events. It features the return of key characters and the introduction of new teams like the Thunderbolts.

• 31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
• 32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
• 33. The Marvels (2023)
• 34. Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26, 2024) - *The only MCU theatrical release of 2024.*
• 35. Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)
• 36. Thunderbolts* (May 2, 2025)

Upcoming MCU Films: Phase 6 and Beyond

The final chapter of the Multiverse Saga is Phase 6, which will culminate in two massive *Avengers* movies. The following films are the currently announced and confirmed theatrical releases, though release dates are always subject to change by Marvel Studios.

The Confirmed Phase 6 Slate

Phase 6 will introduce the long-awaited Fantastic Four into the main MCU continuity and set the stage for the final battle against the Multiverse's greatest threat.

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• 37. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025) - *Kicking off Phase 6.*
• 38. Blade (November 7, 2025) - *This date is often cited but subject to change due to production delays.*
• 39. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
• 40. Avengers: Doomsday (May 1, 2026) - *The first of the two climactic Multiverse Saga films.*
• 41. Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027) - *The grand finale of the Multiverse Saga.*

Other films and projects, such as *Shang-Chi 2* and *Armor Wars*, are confirmed to be in development but do not yet have official release dates on the calendar.

Release Order vs. Chronological Order: Which Should You Choose?

One of the most common questions for new viewers is whether to follow the release order or the chronological order. The answer depends entirely on your intention:

The Release Order (The Recommended Path)

The release order is the definitive way to watch the MCU for the first time. This order preserves every narrative beat, every surprise cameo, and every post-credit scene reveal exactly as the creators intended. For instance, *Captain Marvel* (2019) is set in the 1990s, but it was released right before *Avengers: Endgame* because its post-credit scene is a direct, critical setup for *Endgame*. Watching it out of release order would spoil the major reveal of Nick Fury's pager.

The Chronological Order (The Timeline Path)

The chronological order arranges the films based on the internal timeline of the MCU, starting with *Captain America: The First Avenger* (set primarily in WWII) and followed by *Captain Marvel* (1995). This path is best suited for rewatches or for viewers who prioritize a seamless in-universe timeline flow over the original storytelling mystery. The *Avengers: Endgame* five-year time jump (The Blip) makes the chronological order particularly complex in the later phases, often requiring the integration of Disney+ TV shows like *WandaVision* and *Loki* to fully make sense.

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Key Entities and LSI Keywords to Know

To deepen your understanding of the Multiverse Saga, keep these key entities and concepts in mind:

• Kang the Conqueror: The main antagonist of the Multiverse Saga, a time-traveling genius with infinite Variants across the Multiverse.
• He Who Remains: The Variant of Kang who created the Time Variance Authority (TVA) to prevent a Multiversal War.
• The Multiverse: The concept of infinite parallel universes, officially broken open by the events of *Loki* and explored further in *Doctor Strange 2*.
• The Blip: The five-year period after Thanos's snap in *Avengers: Infinity War*, where half the universe's population was gone.
• Secret Wars: The comic book event that *Avengers: Secret Wars* is expected to adapt, involving the collapse of the Multiverse and the collision of different realities.
• The Fantastic Four: The iconic team of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, finally joining the MCU in Phase 6.
• Thunderbolts: A government-sanctioned team of anti-heroes and reformed villains, similar to the Suicide Squad.

Whether you choose to follow the release order for the intended narrative flow or the chronological order for timeline mastery, the Marvel Cinematic Universe offers one of the most expansive and rewarding viewing experiences in cinematic history. The journey from Iron Man's cave to the chaos of *Avengers: Doomsday* is a long and thrilling one, and this up-to-date list is your essential map.