MCU Watch Order: Timeline or Movie Release?

So, you have just finished WandaVision and are anxiously awaiting the release of ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’ this month as the next phase in the Marvel Cinematic Universe begins to take shape. Or maybe, you’re just getting into the whole experience for the first time. Either way, we hope to answer some of the viewing questions you may have for whatever experience you want.

As we know, the MCU is an intricate combination of movies and storylines (23 and counting) which came to a head in 2019 with the release of ‘Avengers: Endgame”. Now, the release of the movies did not occur in chronological order resulting in the viewer (you) guessing what will come next as bits of a story are put together piece by piece.

Now, how should you watch it? There is no right way. Each offers a bit different and enjoyable experience.

Movie Release Order

Phase One

Iron Man (2008)

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Thor (2011)

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

Phase Two

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

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)

Chronological Order

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain Marvel (2019)

Iron Man (2008)

Iron Man 2 (2010)

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Thor (2011)

Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Ant-Man (2015)

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Spider-Man Homecoming (2017)

Doctor Strange (2016)

Black Panther (2018)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)