The Definitive 2025 Guide: Every MCU Movie In Order (Release & Chronological) For The Ultimate Marathon

Are you ready to dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) but completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of movies and shows? You're not alone. What started with a single film in 2008 has exploded into a complex, interconnected saga spanning three major phases and now deep into the Multiverse Saga. As of December 10, 2025, the universe continues to expand, making the correct viewing order more crucial than ever to fully grasp the overarching narrative, character development, and subtle Easter eggs.

Forget the outdated lists; this is the most current, comprehensive guide for 2025, detailing the two essential ways to watch the MCU: the original release order for a nostalgic, spoiler-free journey, and the chronological timeline order for a seamless, story-driven experience. We've even included the latest updates on Phase Six, including the highly anticipated Fantastic Four: First Steps and the future Avengers films.

The Complete MCU Timeline: Release Order vs. Chronological Order

Understanding the MCU requires acknowledging two distinct viewing paths. The Release Order is how the movies were originally experienced by audiences, with reveals and post-credit scenes landing exactly as intended by Marvel Studios. The Chronological Order, however, shuffles the films based on the in-universe timeline, starting with World War II and the 1990s, offering a smoother narrative flow for a first-time viewer or a deep-dive marathon.

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Option 1: The Official Release Order (The Nostalgic Journey)

This is the director's cut of your viewing experience. Watching in release order ensures that every twist, reveal, and character introduction is experienced exactly as the original audience did, preserving the impact of films like Captain Marvel and Black Widow, which are chronologically earlier but were released much later.

Phase One: The Infinity Saga Begins (2008–2012)

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• Iron Man (2008)
• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• Thor (2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• The Avengers (2012)

Phase Two: The Expansion (2013–2015)

• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Ant-Man (2015)

Phase Three: The Infinity Saga Ends (2016–2019)

• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Doctor Strange (2016)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
• Captain Marvel (2019)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Phase Four: The Multiverse Saga Begins (2021–2022)

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Phase Four introduced the Multiverse Saga and a strong focus on Disney+ series, which are essential viewing for the full experience. The films here start dealing with the aftermath of Thanos and the Blip.

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

Phase Five: The Kang Dynasty Rises (2023–2024)

This phase continues the Multiverse theme, setting the stage for the next major conflict with Kang the Conqueror.

• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
• The Marvels (2023)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Option 2: The Chronological Timeline Order (The Story Flow)

For a seamless narrative flow, the chronological order is superior. This order prioritizes the in-universe time setting, starting with the earliest events and moving forward. It’s the best way to understand the history of the Tesseract, the rise of Captain America, and the origin of Captain Marvel's powers before they impact the main Avengers storyline.

Note: The placement of some films is debated, but this list is based on the events depicted within the movies themselves.

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (Set during WWII, 1942–1945)
2. Captain Marvel (Set in 1995)
3. Iron Man (Mostly set in 2010)
4. Iron Man 2 (Set after Iron Man)
5. The Incredible Hulk (Set around the same time as Iron Man 2 and Thor)
6. Thor (Set before The Avengers)
7. The Avengers (Set in 2012)
8. Thor: The Dark World (Set after The Avengers)
9. Iron Man 3 (Set six months after The Avengers)
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Set after The Avengers)
11. Guardians of the Galaxy (Set in 2014)
12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Set a few months after Vol. 1)
13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (Set after The Winter Soldier)
14. Ant-Man (Set after Age of Ultron)
15. Captain America: Civil War (Set after Age of Ultron)
16. Black Widow (Set immediately after Civil War)
17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (Set after Civil War)
18. Doctor Strange (Events span 2016)
19. Black Panther (Set a week after Civil War)
20. Thor: Ragnarok (Set around the same time as Civil War)
21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (Set before Infinity War)
22. Avengers: Infinity War (Set in 2018)
23. Avengers: Endgame (Starts in 2018, jumps to 2023)
24. Spider-Man: Far From Home (Set eight months after Endgame)
25. Eternals (Set after Endgame)
26. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Set after Endgame)
27. Spider-Man: No Way Home (Set after Far From Home)
28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Set after No Way Home)
29. Thor: Love and Thunder (Set after Multiverse of Madness)
30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Set after Love and Thunder)
31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Set after Wakanda Forever)
32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Set after Quantumania)
33. The Marvels (Set after Vol. 3)
34. Deadpool & Wolverine (Set after The Marvels, with Multiversal implications)

The Future of the MCU: Phase Six and Beyond (2025–2027)

The Multiverse Saga is rapidly accelerating, with Phase Five concluding and the ambitious Phase Six beginning. The upcoming slate is packed with new heroes, returning favorites, and world-shattering events that will redefine the entire MCU timeline. The focus remains heavily on the concept of the Multiverse, setting up the next ultimate showdown.

Confirmed and Anticipated Upcoming MCU Movies (2025+)

The following films are confirmed to be in development or have official release dates, marking the progression toward the massive two-part finale: Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. This is where the long-term planning of Marvel Studios truly shines, building topical authority around these major comic book events.

• Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025): Sam Wilson officially takes the shield in his first solo film as Captain America, dealing with global threats.
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025): The long-awaited introduction of Marvel's First Family, the Fantastic Four, officially kicking off Phase Six.
• Blade (TBD 2025): The Daywalker returns, bringing a darker, supernatural element to the burgeoning Multiverse Saga.
• Thunderbolts* (TBD 2025): A team of anti-heroes and reformed villains, including Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes, are assembled for government missions.
• Avengers: Doomsday (2026): The first of the two climactic Avengers films, likely dealing directly with the threat of Kang the Conqueror.
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026): The next installment in the Spider-Man saga, continuing Peter Parker's journey after the events of No Way Home.
• Avengers: Secret Wars (2027): The epic conclusion to the Multiverse Saga, expected to be one of the largest crossover events in cinematic history, potentially involving characters from across the entire MCU timeline and beyond.

Why the MCU Viewing Order Still Matters for Topical Authority

For a franchise built on continuity, the viewing order isn't just a preference; it's a necessity for topical authority and comprehension. Missing a single film or key Disney+ series can leave you completely lost on major plot points, such as the introduction of the Multiverse, the fate of the Infinity Stones, or the significance of a character like Kang.

The chronological order is excellent for understanding character arcs, like the evolution of Tony Stark (Iron Man) or Steve Rogers (Captain America), and the slow burn of the Infinity Saga. The release order, however, preserves the intended emotional impact, such as the shocking snap in Avengers: Infinity War and the subsequent time travel plot in Avengers: Endgame. Both methods offer a unique lens to appreciate the scope of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Whether you choose the nostalgic path or the seamless story flow, this updated 2025 guide ensures your Marvel movie marathon is complete, current, and perfectly sequenced to prepare you for the seismic events of Phase Six and the ultimate battle in Secret Wars.