Need to know how to watch the Marvel movies in order? We got you covered. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) timeline can be confusing for first-timers as well as some long-time Marvel fans. For instance, with the introduction of the multiverse and time travel alternate timelines, there are a few ways to watch the films.

First, fans can view them by order of their release date. It's often the preferred method for first-time viewing. Second, Marvel fans can watch them chronologically, meaning where the stories are in the Marvel timeline.

Lastly, the die-hard geeks can watch them chronologically with Disney's Marvel TV series in the timeline. So to satisfy everyone, we've included all three lineups for your viewing pleasure.

To avoid spoilers for newbies, let's start with the release order.

Watch the Marvel Movies in Order of Release Date

To have the ability to relive these cinematic masterpieces for the first time in theatres again would be Marvelous. However, binging them on Disney+ has its benefits.

Sadly, the Tom Holland Spider-Man movie rights belong to Sony. So they are not available on Disney+, but they are streaming. As of this writing, there are four phases in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Phase 5 launches in 2023). Here are the Marvel movies in order of release.

Related: 8 Controversial Comedies That Could Never Get Made Today

Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios.

Phase One

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

Related: Top 5 TV Show Cancellations That Still Frustrate Disappointed Fans

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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)

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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)

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Phase Four

• WandaVision TV Series (2021)
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) Disney+ TV show
• Loki (2021) Disney+ TV show
• Black Widow (2021)
• What If…? (2021) Disney+ TV show
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
• Eternals (2021)
• Hawkeye (2021) Disney+ TV show
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
• Moon Knight (2022) Disney+ TV show
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
• Ms. Marvel (2022) Disney+ TV show
• Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

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Watch the Marvel Movies in Chronological Order

Watching the Marvel movies in chronological order over the release order has pros and cons. Pro, it ensures no time gaps in the timeline because the events unfold sequentially. Con, the post-credit scenes become irrelevant to the order.

So viewers miss the opportunity to see the overall brilliant details of the Marvel Cinematic Universe unfold as the films are released. Here is how to watch the Marvel movies in order chronologically.

Note: Marvel has stated that some movies co-occur. So they can swap out in order per viewer tastes. Therefore, we catered the list to our preferences but notated within the text which films can be rearranged.

• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• Captain Marvel (2019)
• Iron Man (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Thor (2011)
• 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)
• Black Widow (2021)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Doctor Strange (2016)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• 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)

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Watch the Marvel Movies in Order Chronologically With Disney+ Shows

If time allows, watching the Marvel movies in order with all of the Disney+ series is a phenomenal binge. It's delightful to see all of the Marvel Easter eggs along the journey. The attention to detail is impeccable and produces goosebumps for avid Marvel fans.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe weaves beautifully together. In addition, the musical scores are exceptional and add tremendous depth to the emotions felt in the films.

NOTE: SPOILERS AHEAD.

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Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

The events of Captain America: The First Avenger are the earliest in the Marvel movies timeline. It takes place in 1942, during World War II. We witness the birth of the First Avenger when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) becomes Captain America in the first successful attempt at creating a Super Soldier.

Cap's first battle is with the head of Hydra, the Red Skull. Marvel introduces the Tesseract. It is the first of the six Infinity Stones. Known as the Space Stone, it gives the user power over space. Also, it's when we discover that Cap “could do this all day.”

Captain America: The First Avenger is where we get acquainted with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). Sadly, Steve gets put on ice for seventy years. Somebody might want to tell Peggy he's going to be late.

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Captain Marvel (2019)

Captain Marvel trades the 1940s big bands for 1990s grunge. Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), a former U.S. Air Force pilot, obtains cosmic powers after being exposed to the Tesseract's energy via the destruction of the Light-Speed Engine. Then, after a blood transfusion from Yon-Rogg, she becomes a Kree-human hybrid.

Naturally, that makes her stronger. However, they erase all her memories, and she becomes Kree's weapon and begins operating as Vers. In a battle against the shapeshifting race of aliens (Skrulls), Vers falls to Earth, memories flood back, and Captain Marvel discovers her true identity. 

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Iron Man (2008)

Set in 2010, America's favorite billionaire playboy, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), is introduced in the first official Marvel movie, Iron Man. This genius philanthropist owns Stark Industries, a defense company that primarily creates and manufactures advanced military weapons and technologies. 

Unfortunately, after doing an overseas arms deal, a terrorist group captures him. The terrorist organization wants Stark's latest technology and weapons. To escape captivity, Tony creates the first Iron Man suit, The Mark I.

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) opens the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his iconic line, “I'm here to talk to you about The Avengers Initiative.” A little out of place in slot three of the Marvel movie timeline, but satisfying nonetheless. 

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Iron Man 2 (2010)

Iron Man 2 immediately picks up from where Iron Man ended. Tony Stark is living with the repercussions of not reading the cue cards. Similarly, the plot involves the bad guys wanting Stark's weapon technology. However, the bad guys are the U.S. Government, which is desperately trying to get its hands on it this time.

When Tony refuses to hand it over, another weapons developer shows his willingness to do whatever it takes to get it. In addition, we meet James Rhodes as War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) for the first time.

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The Incredible Hulk (2008)

In The Incredible Hulk origin story, Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is a brilliant physicist. He attempts to replicate the super-soldier program using gamma radiation. Unfortunately, the radiation from the experiment turns Bruce into a “hulking” green monster. So his level of rage connects to his strength. 

Marvel has stated that The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, and Thor happen simultaneously. So viewing order is a matter of preference. Also, The Incredible Hulk is one of the few films not owned by Disney and is streaming on HBO Max. Finally, mark Ruffalo became the official Incredible Hulk in 2012. 

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Thor (2011)

Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Asgardian God of Thunder, demonstrates he is not ready to be King. As a result, he is stripped of his loyal hammer, Mjolnir, and banished to Earth by Odin. So naturally, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the God of Mischief's trickery, is instrumental in Thor's banishment.

The only way for Thor's powers and hammer to be returned to him, he must prove his worthiness. While on Earth, he falls in love with a Midgard Astrophysicist, Jane (Natalie Portman). Together, they work to prove his worth. 

It's the first time viewers mourn Loki. We meet Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) for the first time. Also, the story of S.H.I.E.L.D. begins to develop with Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg).

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The Avengers (2012)

Captain America thaws out, and The Avengers assemble in the first movie in The Avengers series. It's 2012, and Loki (surprise, surprise) is back wreaking havoc with the Tesseract. 

An alien army invasion is descending upon New York City. Nick Fury reactivates “The Avengers Initiative,” and Iron Man, Captain America, Bruce Banner / Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Thor team up with Black Widow and Clint Barton / Hawkeye to defeat Loki and send him back to Asgard for proper discipline.

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Iron Man 3 (2013)

Some six months after the events of The Avengers, Iron Man 3 witnesses a distraught Tony Stark. He's battling his P.T.S.D. acquired after defeating Loki and the alien invasion of New York City. 

Nightmares haunt Tony's dreams as he becomes increasingly convinced he needs to build an army. So he develops an army of iron suits to protect the world so that he does not have to. 

After a nasty enemy known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) reduces his world to rubble, Tony relies on his instincts, ingenuity, and the people he loves in the underrated film Iron Man 3.

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Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Thor: The Dark World takes place in 2013 and is a stain on the Marvel timeline. It's not good but something any true Marvel fan should suffer through at least once. After the invasion of New York, Thor returns to Asgard only to be attacked by the newly reemerged Dark Elves and their leader Malekith.

Long ago, the Malekith and the Dark Elves were defeated and thought to be extinct after the battle led by Thor's grandfather and Odin's father, Bor Burison. However, they've returned seeking a powerful weapon, the Aether. 

Later, we learn that the Aether is the Reality Stone. One of the coveted six Infinity Stones. In Avengers: Endgame, we know, “it's more of an angry sludge sort-of a thing.”

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Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014)

Set in 2014, Captain America has been working for S.H.I.E.L.D. since the events of The Avengers. Steve discovers Black Widow's ulterior agenda during a mission alongside Agent Natasha Romanoff and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s counter-terrorism S.T.R.I.K.E. team. She's there to extract data from the computers.

Steve begins to question S.H.I.E.L.D.'s motives as he learns of their developing plans. In addition, his best friend returns from the dead and is now the enemy, the Winter Soldier. Hydra brainwashed Bucky and has periodically put him on ice. 

Cap refuses to fight the Winter Soldier, only seeing him as his closest friend. Sam Wilson, a.k.a. the Falcon (Anthony Mackie), makes his MCU debut in this film.

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Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

In his “plucky” debut performance, Peter Quill / Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is a scavenger who has gone rogue. As a result, he stumbles upon the hidden ancient ruins of an alien world. Here, Quill discovers the Power Stone.

He's on a galactic mission to sell the stone when ambushed by Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), daughter of Thanos. Also, Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Deisel), bounty hunters, are also after the Power Stone.

Ultimately, they all end up in prison and team up with Drax (Dave Bautista). Then, they break out and attempt to sell the stone to protect it from Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace). Ronan wants the stone to destroy Xandar. 

We watch Quill's plan unfold, beginning with a “Dance Off, Bro.” Together they save the universe and become the Guardians of the Galaxy. Side note, killer soundtrack.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Only a few months after the events of G.O.T.G., the Guardians meet with Ayesha, leader of the Sovereign race. She's captured Gamora's sister Nebula (Karen Gillan). She tried stealing the Sovereign's Anulax “Harbulary” batteries. After Rocket successfully steals them, they attack the Guardian's ship with a drone fleet.

A mysterious figure destroys the drones as the Guardians crash into a nearby planet. The figure meets them, and with a foreboding and almost ominous Darth Vader-like tone, Ego (Kurt Russell) introduces himself as Peter's father.

However, this Celestial figure is not as well-meaning as he first appears. Mantis (Pom Klementieff ) makes her first appearance in the MCU. Side note, even better soundtrack than the original.

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Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

The Avengers reassemble in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner accidentally create an artificially intelligent murder bot known as Ultron (James Spader). Ultron's ultimate goal is extinction. 

So he devises a genocide-level event and creates his iron legion. If even one of them is left standing, Ultron can fulfill his perceived destiny. After putting Vibranium into Stark's Cradle of Life machine, Ultron sets the Mind Stone (Infinity Stone) into an Android.

Vision (Paul Bettany) is born. Wanda Maximoff / The Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olson) and her brother Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) start off helping Ultron but ultimately side with the Avengers. “Bet you didn't see that coming.”

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Ant-man (2015)

It's 2015, and while The Avengers are destroying Ultron, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a newly released cat burglar. Unfortunately, his criminal history makes finding and keeping a job difficult. 

So Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) hires Scott to steal the Ant-Man suit. Scott doesn't know that the job is recruitment to determine his worthiness in donning the Ant-Man identity. 

The creator of the Pym particle needs help fighting his former protégé Darren Cross/Yellowjacket (Corey Stoll). Cross is developing a suit with similar technology that he intends to weaponize.

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Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Captain America: Civil War is a heavy hitter in the plotline of the MCU. It's 2016, and Steve Rogers leads the newly formed Avengers when one of their missions results in collateral damage. The government has begun to demand some accountability and governing oversight with direction.

The requirements of the government cause the team to split into two groups. Rogers leads one with the belief that the Avengers should remain free to defend the Earth without government oversight.

The other team, led by Tony, is surprisingly in agreeance with the government-mandated accountability. However, secrets create friction in Tony and Steve's friendship. Finally, we meet Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and Black Panther (the late Chadwick Boseman) in Captain America: Civil War. “Wakanda forever.”

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Black Widow (2021)

Finally, we get a Black Widow origin story that adds depth to her pain and character. Black Widow takes place immediately following the events of  Captain America's Civil War; Natasha Romanoff is on the run. 

The movie begins with a flashback to her childhood, where they introduce her surrogate family. Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), also known as The Red Guardian, is the Russian Super Soldier counterpart to Captain America. Her mother and fellow Black Widow, Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), is a Lead Scientist in the Red Room.

That's where they train the Widows by using a mind-controlling substance on them.

We also meet her sister Yelena (Florence Pugh), a Black Widow who isn't into “posing” but easily steals the show. 

Natasha and Yelena are fighting to free the women trafficked and manipulated to become Black Widows. With vials of antidote to the mind-controlling substance.

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Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Our friendly neighborhood superhero makes his solo debut in Spider-Man: Homecoming immediately following the events of  Captain America: Civil War. In this pseudo-origin story, Peter Parker deals with his newfound abilities and the usual problems of being a hormonal high school student. 

However, this iteration of the Spider-Man saga foregoes the heartache of watching Uncle Ben die again. Instead, Peter is eager to do mightier things after his mission with the Avengers. So he blows up Happy Hogan's (Jon Favreau) phone to get another assignment with Iron Man but to no avail. 

Meanwhile, Peter's best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) learns his identity and warns him, “I'll level with you. I don't think I can keep this a secret; this is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me.” He ultimately keeps it and becomes Peter's “guy in the chair.”

Peter begins uncovering information about arms trafficking involving Adrian Toomes/The Vulture (Michael Keaton). He is a construct foreman turned black-market arms dealer. Coincidentally, he is the father of Peter's crush and homecoming date, Liz (Laura Harrier). Of course, that complicates things, but we were always rooting for MJ (Zendaya).

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Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther takes place in 2016, following the events of Captain America: Civil War. T'Challa / Black Panther must return home to his isolated, technologically sound nation of Wakanda to be crowned the new king after his father's death.

However, plans must be put on hold when an old enemy remerges, forcing T'Challa to tie up some loose ends from his father's past. Eric Killmonger (Michael B Jordan) delivers Ulysses Klaue, an arms dealer who stole Vibranium from Wakanda. 

But Killmonger is not the man he appears – first revealing himself as T'Challa's cousin and then challenging in ritual combat to the mantle of Black Panther. The winner takes the throne, and we watch T'Challa falter. However, knowing that Killmonger will send Wakandan weapons worldwide, T'Challa cannot allow him to continue as king, and he fights for his rightful return. “Wakanda forever!” 

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Doctor Strange (2016)

A full of himself world-class neurosurgeon by the name of Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) loses the use of his hands in a tragic car accident. Devastated, Stephen then travels the world in search of anything that will return him the use of his hands.

When traditional medicine does not work, he embarks on a mystical journey to achieve his goal. Doctor Strange's journey leads him to Kamar-Taj. Here in Kamar-Taj, he masters the mystic arts and has to choose between returning to the life he so badly wants or saving the world. Finally, the Infinity Stone, known as the Time Stone, is revealed and Dr. Strange becomes Doctor Strange.

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Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

In a more than redeeming Thor: Ragnorok, it's 2017, and Loki is, of course, causing mischief. Sadly, we lose Odin, but not before he tells Thor and Loki about their sister Hela. Hela is the Goddess of Death who returns after Odin dies to take her place as heir to the throne. 

After losing his beloved hammer, Mjolnir, to his sister's mighty crushing grip, Thor is sent across space to a long-forgotten planet. His only way home is to beat the champion of the gladiator arena operated by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). However, he discovers his opponent is the Hulk once in the ring. 

We haven't seen Hulk since the end of