The first films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe saw the light of day in 2008. Originally distributed in phases, these works are often difficult to place in the overall plot of the universe.
Now that there are 4 phases of Marvel movies, it can be hard to categorize them according to the logical flow of the story. In the comics from which each feature film is inspired, the anecdotes follow a continuity and a certain coherence. If you are used to viewing each of them individually, it is time for you to adopt the correct order. The goal is to look at each opus as series episodes where each event belongs to the evolution of a given situation. We will try to summarize each of the stories for you so that you can get an idea.
The order of the Marvel movies according to their phase
This ranking simply shows the order of theatrical release of the films.

Phase 1
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America : First Avenger (2011)
- Avengers (2012)
Phase 2
- 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 3
- 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 4
- 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)
- The Marvels (2022)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 – May 5, 2023
Phase 4 or 5
- Blade
- Fantastic Four
- Captain America 4
Marvel movies in chronological order
Despite the existence of these phases, the Marvel films do not follow each other in order of broadcast. Indeed, each feature film has its own official release date, but tells of adventures corresponding to a specific era in the overall plot. We can then contemplate the adventures of MCU as follows:
1. Captain America : First Avenger
According to the order, this is the fifth cinematic work from Marvel Studios, which represents the starting point for the MCU films. It all takes place during World War II. The main character, Steve Rogers, is a young man with a slender body, who tries to enlist in the American army. He joins the HYDRA terrorist hunting program and receives a serum that gives him supernatural strength.
2. Captain Marvel
This is the story of a heroine by the name of Carol Danvers who possesses powers within the army of the extraterrestrial people of the Kree who fight against the Skrulls. Her memory has been suppressed, but she realizes her human origins. Her memories will change the course of the wars she fought. Released in 2019 in dark rooms, the film nevertheless retraces events taking place in 1995.
3. Iron Man
Released in 2008, the story is set in 2010 when a playboy named Tony Stark is taken prisoner in Afghanistan. He was then forced to build a fearsome armor that will serve him to flee. The businessman then uses his artillery to restore peace around the world.
4. Iron Man 2
Following the Marvel movies release order, Iron Man 2 is the sequel to the aforementioned titles. It chronicles the problems that Tony Stark faces. Having become popular thanks to his red and gold armor, he joins forces with Pepper Potts and James Rhodes to face new battles.
5. The Incredible Hulk
At some time before the first Avengers movie, we find Bruce Banner alias Hulk. This man unwittingly turns into a green giant when he gets angry. While he is looking for a remedy to cure him of his spell, General Thaddeus runs after him to complete the forces of order.
6. Thor
Thor is a strong-willed warrior from the world of Asgard. It all takes place six months before Avengers. Like a fallen angel, he was chased away by his father and finds himself on Earth among humans. But the enemies of Asgard are about to seek it out and destroy everything in their path. Thor then protects the population from the forces of evil, making him a superhero.
7. Avengers
Released in 2012, this book is one of the most significant films for Marvel. In the film, the SHIELD organization managed to reunite Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Thor, Natasha Romanoff, Captain America and Hawkeye to form a team of superheroes: the Avengers. From now on, the story tells of the union, the conflicts and the battles of the latter to restore universal peace .
8. Iron Man 3
We find another Iron Man six months after the events of Avengers , still with Tony Stark. Although his happiness is already guaranteed with his Pepper campaign, trouble catches up with him. He faces a new enemy called Mandarin, a terrorist who has turned his life upside down by destroying everything. The disappearance of his wife motivates him more to work on his creativity and his survival instincts.
9. Thor: The Dark World
It all takes place after Avengers, but before the pre-Ultron era. The story begins with the discovery of Ether with mysterious power by Jane Foster, Thor’s companion. For his part, the latter tries to save his brother Loki. Elsewhere, the dark elf Malekith, already eliminated by Odin before, seeks him out for revenge.
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Now a member of SHIELD, Steve Rogers faces new enemies. This time, the latter are not far away. They managed to parasitize the organization thanks to their diabolical plans. Its first airing was in 2014, but its timeline is set over the period between the first Avengers movie and the Age of Ultron.
11. Guardians of the Galaxy
Being part of phase 2 of the MCU, the facts date from 2014. It is also the first among the Marvel films not to focus on the founding members of the Avengers. Instead, it focuses on Peter Quill, an adventurer accused of stealing Ronan’s Globe , capable of wiping out the entire galaxy.
12. Guardians of the Galaxy 2
This second volume follows directly on from the first since it recounts the journey of Quill and his companions in space. New discoveries adorn the entire opus. Former adversaries become allies and superheroes surface to enrich the Marvel team.
13. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Released in 2015, this sequel to the Avengers explains the return of a former villain with an even more powerful artificial intelligence robot than Tony Stark: Ultron. Concerned about the recovery of Loki’s specter , the latter must relaunch the peace program, now stopped by the robot.
14. Ant-Man
Scott Lang takes center stage with his ability to shrink while doubling in strength. Despite his reputation as a thief, he bonds with his mentor, Hank Pym , to prove he’s a good person and a hero in the Marvel movies.
15. Captain America : Civil War
After the Age of Ultron, Steve Rogers faces new trials. The Avengers’ previous actions have indeed caused a lot of collateral damage. Authorities around the world decide to launch an organization responsible for their command and monitoring. Following this decision, the team of superheroes begins to disintegrate little by little.
16. Black Widow
Airing in July 2021, Black Widow traces the origins of heroine Natasha Romanova. She works for the Soviet secret services who want to kill her after the fall of the regime. Even though this movie is part of MCU Phase 4, it’s best to watch it earlier, even before Endgame.
17. Spider-Man : Homecoming
With help from Tony Stark, Peter Parker gradually develops his Spider-Man abilities. While he has returned safely to his Aunt May, a disturbing element reappears in his life. This is an adversary who directly attacks the family of the spider-man.
18. Doctor Strange
A renowned neurosurgeon, Doctor Strange has the power to connect the real world with the afterlife . Mysticism, magnetism and metaphysics are his favorite fields after being the victim of an accident.
19. Black Panther
After the tumultuous battles in Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa is recognized as ruler of the African country of Wakanda . He must then fight emerging adversaries while having to deal with the loss of a loved one.
20. Thor : Ragnarok
As one of the Phase 3 Marvel films, Thor: Ragnarok tells of the hero’s weakness in the absence of his signature hammer . To free Asgard from the grip of a new villain named Hela, he will have to face an enemy who was on his side before: the big Hulk.
21. Avengers : Infinity War
It is one of the highest-grossing Marvel films for the studio. Bringing together the heroes of Marvel, it tells how Thanos manages to appropriate the six stones of infinity. But the Avengers will prevent him from achieving his diabolical ends.
22. Ant-Man and the Wasp
On the timeline, the situation of this film is vague, but it takes place before Endgame. Struggling to balance his life as a father and a superhero, Scott struggles to fight the Wasp to uncover a secret that could change the world .
23. Avengers : Endgame
Showing in time travel, Endgame takes place over several decades. But it begins five years after the events of Infinity War. Thanos wiped out half of the universal population as he wishes. But Ant-Man teams up with the superheroes to retrieve the Stones from the past .
Series like WandaVision , Falcon and the Winter Soldier as well as Loki are advised right after Avengers: Endgame. However, other Phase 4 Marvel movies are still pending release, which could affect this list.
24. Spider-Man : Far From Home
These chronicles belong to phase 3 of the Marvel movies. While Peter wants to enjoy a normal stay with his friends, new missions await him. He comes to the aid of Nick Fury to discover the origin of the creatures invading the surroundings.
25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Released on September 1, 2021. This Marvel film tells the adventures of a Kung-fu master in his rivalry against the Mandarin , who is none other than his father. A version of the Mandarin was seen in Iron Man 3, but his true identity is revealed in this film. Shang-Chi will also attempt to unravel the mysteries of his legend.
26. Eternals
Eternals resembles that of Star Wars. This scenario unveils a new cosmic mythology in which almighty beings, the Celestials, rule the world from above. Immortal warriors, the Eternals of the title, serve them on Earth. A dizzying first salvo depicts these heroes, 10 in total, in Mesopotamia, in 5020 BC.
The Eternals are led by the Ajak, a maternal healer who resembles Wonder Woman in hair styling. Their mission is to fight the “deviants”, and have received express orders not to meddle in human affairs.
27. Spider-Man : No Way Home
Spider-Man: No Way Home follows Spider-Man: Far From Home, with Peter Parker framed for Mysterio’s murder. His secret identity is public knowledge, combined with the small detail that he murdered Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal). Now, with a media savage after him, led by J. Jonah Jameson (JK Simmons), Peter must adjust to a difficult existence cast out in the uncomfortable public spotlight.
Peter asks Doctor Strange to do a stupid spell that will make everyone forget that Peter is Spider-Man. As expected, this spell goes terribly wrong.
28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home and Loki’s first season. After helping Spider-Man restore his secret identity, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) continues his search for the immensely powerful Time Stone by casting a spell that opens a door to the multiverse.
But the door goes both ways, allowing creatures from other universes – including an evil version of himself – to pass through. Doctor Strange recruits Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) to fight the evils that arise and restore balance to the multiverse. Like other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, expect plenty of comic book-style combat and peril.
29. Thor : Love and Thunder (2022)
Thor: Love and Thunder is the 4th movie to feature the God of Thunder. After the events of Avengers: Endgame, Thor’s astrophysicist ex-girlfriend, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who is battling cancer, gains Thor’s powers and becomes the Mighty Thor. Asgard’s new bisexual ruler, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), is searching for her queen. Thor, meanwhile, is spending time with the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Black Panther : Wakanda Forever (2022)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the thirtieth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the seventh installment of Phase IV.
The plan to make a sequel to Black Panther dates back to 2018, shortly after the release of the first film. After the death of 2020 main character Chadwick Boseman, plans will be turned upside down.
After the adventures of Avengers: Endgame, the people of Wakanda will have to face the Atlanteans. Nakia, M’Baku, Shuri, Ramonda, Okoye and Agent Ross will have to show solidarity and have a team spirit.
Blade
Not much is known about Marvel’s MCU version of the vampire, nor its place in the studio’s film order, nor its history. Despite everything, we already know the technical sheet of the film which will put the Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali in the shoes of the hero. Behind the camera, we will find Bassam Tariq, an independent director spotted by Kevin Feige’s team.
The other certainty is that the character first appeared in the MCU in a post-credits scene in the Eternals (a voiceover appearance). There he met the Black Knight, played by Kit Harrington, which suggests that the two characters could share the screen in Blade’s film.
Fantastic Four
This project is even more mysterious since we don’t yet know the cast or the director. Jon Watts, to whom we owe the MCU’s Spider-Man films, was supposed to be in charge, but has since changed his mind.
With the multiverse, Marvel writers won’t have too much trouble fitting the giant’s first family of superheroes into the comics in order in the studio’s films. Moreover, those who have seen Doctor Stranger in the Multiverse of Madness have already seen a version of one of the Fantastic 4, but in a parallel universe.
All bets remain open on what this adventure will be.
Upcoming Marvel movies
Fans are now waiting for Marvel to return with the release of new movies. The program for this year is not yet complete, if we refer to the calendar of the sign. Here’s a taste of the Marvel movies that will be releasing soon.
Captain America 4
This mini-reboot of the Captain America franchise will see former Falcon Sam Wilson permanently replace Steve Rogers in the Captain America costume.
If no details regarding the story have leaked so far, it seems that Marvel will opt for a rather political film with the choice of Nigerian director Julius Onah . Known for the failed The Cloverfield Paradox, he had previously directed Luce, a drama about racism in the United States, a theme already mentioned in the series Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
During Comic-Con 2022 held in San Diego, Marvel Studios presented a preview of the film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. This opus is expected for February 17, 2023. Hope Van Dyne and Scott Lang, two superheroes, are back for the rest of the adventures as Ant-Man and The Wasp. They are accompanied by Hope’s parents, to explore the quantum world in order to interact with the strange new entities. This family embarks on an epic that will take them beyond anything possible.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
A never-before-seen trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 has been released. The latter illustrates significant changes in the Guardians. Its trailer features Gamora leading a unit of the Ravagers. Although Peter Quill is surprised to see her again, Nebula is not. Alas, Gamora doesn’t remember the Guardians at all. However, Peter confesses that she was a part of his life and thought she was dead, but since she is there, he misses her. But Gamora replies that she’s not that person – she’s a completely different Gamora. This film is expected for May 3, 2023.
The Marvels

Among the Phase 5 theatrical releases, The Marvels, directed by Nia DaCosta, is slated for July 28, 2023. The plot details of The Marvels are still mostly unknown, although it will once set more stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers and will follow the events after Avengers: Endgame. In the film, Carol Danvers will team up with Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, played by Iman Vellani. The Ms. Marvel post-credits scene saw Captain Marvel switch places with Kamala Khan in an unexpected way. For now, this is just a teaser for the sequel, not concrete plot information.