The Definitive 2025 MCU Watching Order: 3 Essential Ways To Experience The Marvel Cinematic Universe From Start To The Multiverse Saga

Navigating the vast, interconnected world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) can feel like a heroic task in itself, especially with new films and Disney+ series constantly expanding The Multiverse Saga. As of late 2025, the MCU spans over a decade of storytelling, encompassing the foundational Infinity Saga and the rapidly evolving Phase 4, Phase 5, and the beginning of Phase 6. For new fans eager to start or veterans looking for a perfect re-watch, choosing the right viewing order is critical to understanding the complex narrative threads, character arcs, and the looming threat of Kang the Conqueror. This comprehensive 2025 guide provides the three essential ways to watch every movie and series, ensuring you catch every post-credit scene and subtle Easter egg. The key to unlocking the full potential of the MCU is deciding whether you want to experience the story as it was originally presented to the world—the Release Order—or as it unfolds within the fictional timeline—the Chronological Order. Both methods offer unique benefits, but only one is best for understanding the surprises and reveals as Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige intended. We’ve broken down the definitive list, including all major theatrical releases and streaming shows, right up to the latest announced titles like *Captain America: Brave New World* and *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*.

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

The first three phases, collectively known as The Infinity Saga, established the core heroes—Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and The Hulk—and built toward the epic confrontation with the Mad Titan, Thanos, and the quest for the six Infinity Stones. This is the starting point for any Marvel marathon.

Option 1: The Ultimate MCU Chronological Timeline Order (Best for Narrative Flow)

The chronological order is the most satisfying way to watch the MCU for a first-time viewer or anyone who prioritizes a seamless story flow. This method places the films and series in the order they occur within the fictional timeline, starting long before Tony Stark builds his first suit.

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (Set during World War II, introduces the Tesseract and Hydra.)
2. Agent Carter (Seasons 1 & 2) (Follows Peggy Carter’s post-war adventures.)
3. Captain Marvel (Set in 1995, explores Nick Fury’s origins and the birth of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
4. Iron Man (The true beginning of the modern MCU, set in 2008.)
5. Iron Man 2
6. The Incredible Hulk
7. Thor
8. The Avengers (The first major crossover event.)
9. Thor: The Dark World
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
11. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
12. Iron Man 3
13. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
14. Avengers: Age of Ultron
15. Ant-Man
16. Captain America: Civil War (The fracture of The Avengers.)
17. Black Widow (Set immediately after *Civil War*.)
18. Black Panther
19. Doctor Strange
20. Spider-Man: Homecoming
21. Thor: Ragnarok
22. Ant-Man and the Wasp (Ends with the devastating effects of The Snap.)
23. Avengers: Infinity War (The Snap/The Blip occurs.)
24. Avengers: Endgame (The Blip is reversed, concluding The Infinity Saga.)

Option 2: The MCU Release Date Order (Best for Original Experience)

For the purist, the release order is the only way to go. This sequence preserves the original viewing experience, including all the intended surprises, reveals, and post-credit scene setups that were designed to build anticipation for the next project. This is how the world first experienced the rise of the MCU.

1. Phase One (2008–2012): *Iron Man*, *The Incredible Hulk*, *Iron Man 2*, *Thor*, *Captain America: The First Avenger*, *The Avengers*.
2. Phase Two (2013–2015): *Iron Man 3*, *Thor: The Dark World*, *Captain America: The Winter Soldier*, *Guardians of the Galaxy*, *Avengers: Age of Ultron*, *Ant-Man*.
3. Phase Three (2016–2019): *Captain America: Civil War*, *Doctor Strange*, *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2*, *Spider-Man: Homecoming*, *Thor: Ragnarok*, *Black Panther*, *Avengers: Infinity War*, *Ant-Man and the Wasp*, *Captain Marvel*, *Avengers: Endgame*, *Spider-Man: Far From Home*.

The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4, 5, and 6): Chaos and Cosmic Threats

The Multiverse Saga began in 2021, shifting the focus from the Infinity Stones to the concepts of the multiverse, alternate realities, and the introduction of new teams and cosmic entities. This era is characterized by a mix of theatrical films and interconnected Disney+ series, which are essential viewing.

The Chronological Order of The Multiverse Saga (Phase 4 & 5)

The chronological placement for Phase 4 and 5 is much more fluid, often with overlapping timelines. This list represents the most current, generally accepted narrative flow, placing the Disney+ series where they best fit the story.

31. WandaVision (Immediately after *Endgame*.)
32. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
33. Loki (Season 1) (Introduces the core concept of the Multiverse and the Time Variance Authority (TVA).)
34. Black Widow (The main story is set earlier, but the post-credit scene places it here.)
35. Eternals
36. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
37. Spider-Man: No Way Home
38. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (A direct consequence of *WandaVision* and *Loki*.)
39. Hawkeye
40. Moon Knight
41. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
42. Ms. Marvel
43. Thor: Love and Thunder
44. Werewolf by Night (Special Presentation)
45. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
46. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
47. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Solidifies Kang as the major villain.)
48. Secret Invasion
49. Loki (Season 2)
50. The Marvels
51. Echo
52. Deadpool & Wolverine (A massive Multiverse crossover event.)

The Road Ahead: Upcoming MCU Films and Series (Phase 5 & 6)

The following titles are confirmed for late Phase 5 and the beginning of Phase 6, continuing the build-up toward the next two major *Avengers* events: *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*. These projects are essential for understanding the future of the MCU.

• Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+ Series)
• Captain America: Brave New World (Theatrical Release)
• Thunderbolts* (Theatrical Release, features a team of anti-heroes.)
• Ironheart (Disney+ Series)
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Theatrical Release, highly anticipated reboot.)
• Blade (Theatrical Release)
• Eyes of Wakanda (Disney+ Series)
• Avengers: Doomsday (Theatrical Release)
• Avengers: Secret Wars (Theatrical Release, the culmination of The Multiverse Saga.)

Option 3: The Thematic Viewing Order (Best for Character Deep Dives)

For fans who want to focus on specific characters or thematic elements, a Thematic Viewing Order can be the most rewarding. This is an advanced viewing strategy that groups projects by hero or story type.

The Captain America / S.H.I.E.L.D. Arc

This arc focuses on Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Peggy Carter, and the political thriller elements of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, leading directly into the espionage themes of the new era.

• *Captain America: The First Avenger*
• *Captain Marvel* (for S.H.I.E.L.D. origins)
• *The Avengers*
• *Captain America: The Winter Soldier*
• *Captain America: Civil War*
• *Black Widow*
• *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier*
• *Secret Invasion*
• *Captain America: Brave New World*

The Cosmic / Multiverse Arc

This order is perfect for understanding the cosmic side of the MCU, the power of the Infinity Stones, and the new dangers of the Multiverse, from the Guardians of the Galaxy to the Time Variance Authority.

• *Guardians of the Galaxy*
• *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2*
• *Thor: Ragnarok*
• *Avengers: Infinity War*
• *Eternals*
• *Loki (Season 1 & 2)*
• *What If...? (Season 1 & 2)* (For Multiverse concepts)
• *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*
• *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania* (For Kang)
• *The Marvels*

The Street-Level / Defenders Arc

Focuses on the grounded heroes in New York and the darker, more mature side of the MCU, which is becoming increasingly relevant with the reintroduction of key characters from the Netflix shows.

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• *Iron Man 3* (For the trauma of a hero)
• *Spider-Man: Homecoming*
• *Hawkeye*
• *Echo*
• *She-Hulk: Attorney at Law* (Features a Daredevil cameo)
• *Daredevil: Born Again* (Upcoming)

Final Verdict: Which Marvel Watching Order is Truly Best?

The best viewing order depends entirely on your goal. If you are a newcomer starting your journey, the Chronological Order is recommended. It smooths out the narrative wrinkles and ensures you understand the context of films set in the past, like *Captain Marvel* and *Captain America: The First Avenger*, before they become relevant to the present-day Avengers. This method makes the complex lore of the Infinity Stones and The Blip easier to digest. If you are a veteran fan re-watching the entire saga, the Release Order is the superior choice. It allows you to relive the excitement, the intended cliffhangers, and the slow, deliberate reveal of the overarching story that Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios masterfully crafted over more than a decade. The shock of the *Infinity War* ending or the surprise appearance of a character in a post-credit scene hits harder when viewed in the order they were released. Regardless of your choice, the key is to include the essential Disney+ series. Skipping shows like *WandaVision*, *Loki*, and *The Falcon and the Winter Soldier* will leave massive gaps in your understanding of the Multiverse, the new Captain America, and the rise of new heroes like Ms. Marvel and Ironheart. The MCU is a single, continuous narrative, and every piece is now a vital component of the road to *Secret Wars*.