The Definitive 2025 Marvel Timeline: How to Watch All Marvel Movies in Chronological Order

The Definitive 2025 Guide: How to Watch All Marvel Movies in Chronological Order

If you’ve ever opened Disney+ and thought, “Where the hell do I even start?”, welcome to the club. This 2025 guide shows you exactly how to watch all Marvel movies in chronological order — plus the key Disney+ series that complete the MCU timeline.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) isn’t just a movie franchise anymore — it’s a full-blown multiverse of films, shows, timelines, and post-credit scenes that connect in ways even Doctor Strange would struggle to explain.

So, whether you’re new to the MCU or just want to experience the saga as it truly unfolds — not by release date — this guide breaks down how to watch all Marvel movies and series in chronological order, from Captain America: The First Avenger to the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars.

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Phase 1 – The Beginning (The Infinity Saga: 2008–2012)

The MCU actually starts way before Tony Stark ever said, “I am Iron Man.” Chronologically, the first movie is Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), which takes us back to World War II. It’s here that we meet Steve Rogers, the Tesseract, and the idea of heroes bigger than politics or war.

Then, we jump to the 1990s with Captain Marvel (2019), set in 1995, where Carol Danvers becomes the first major cosmic link in the MCU puzzle.

From there, the universe unfolds with the birth of Iron Man and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, marking the true start of Marvel movies in chronological order.

Watch in this order:

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (WWII setting)
2. Captain Marvel (1995)
3. Iron Man (2008)
4. Iron Man 2 (2010)
5. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
6. Thor (2011)
7. The Avengers (2012)

The first Avengers film ties it all together, with Loki leading an alien invasion, Nick Fury forming the team, and that unforgettable post-credit tease of Thanos.

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Phase 2 – Expanding the Universe (2013–2015)

Phase 2 explores what happens after the Avengers change the world. The heroes are scattered, traumatized, or just trying to live normal lives again. Spoiler: it doesn’t last.

Chronological viewing order:

1. Iron Man 3 (2013)
2. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (immediately after Vol. 1)
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
7. Ant-Man (2015)

This is where Marvel truly starts blending genres — spy thriller, cosmic comedy, and emotional drama — making the MCU chronological order even richer.

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Phase 3 – The Avengers Divide (2016–2019)

Phase 3 begins with friends turning into enemies. Captain America: Civil War divides the team, introducing Black Panther and the new Spider-Man, while Thanos quietly collects his stones in the background.

Chronological viewing order:

1. 1. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
   2. Black Widow (after Civil War)
   3. Black Panther (2018)
   4. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
   5. Doctor Strange (2016)
   6. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
   7. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
   8. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
   9. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
   10. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

This phase ends with heartbreak, closure, and hope — Endgame concludes The Infinity Saga, closing the first era of Marvel movies in chronological order.

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Phase 4 – A New Reality (2021–2022)

After Endgame, the world moves on — or tries to. Heroes are gone, new ones rise, and the multiverse starts cracking wide open.

This is where watching Marvel movies in chronological order gets tricky — the Disney+ series now matter more than ever. Don’t skip them!

Chronological order:

1. WandaVision
2. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
3. Spider-Man: Far From Home → No Way Home
4. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
5. Eternals
6. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
7. Loki
8. Hawkeye
9. Moon Knight
10. Ms. Marvel
11. Thor: Love and Thunder
12. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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Phase 5 – The Multiverse Deepens (2023–2025)

The next wave is pure chaos — and pure Marvel fun. Quantum travel, alternate realities, new heroes, and one very familiar (and foul-mouthed) face: Deadpool.

Chronological order so far:

1. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
3. The Marvels (2023)
4. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
5. Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
6. Thunderbolts (2025)

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Phase 6 and Beyond – The Multiverse War (2025–2027)

Marvel’s future looks massive. Phase Six begins with Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), finally bringing Marvel’s first family home to the MCU.

• Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
• Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)

If Endgame felt huge, Secret Wars will make it look small — every universe, every version, every hero colliding in one epic timeline of Marvel movies in chronological order.

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Bonus: The Best Way to Watch MCU Without Getting Lost

Here’s a pro tip — don’t binge 30+ movies in one weekend. Instead, split your Marvel movies in chronological order watchlist like this:

• Phase 1–3 (The Infinity Saga): watch in order to feel the emotional build-up to Endgame.
• Phase 4 onward: follow storylines, not just release dates — for example, WandaVision before Doctor Strange 2, Loki before Quantumania.

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Why Watching Chronologically Matters

Watching all Marvel movies in chronological order doesn’t just help make sense of the story — it lets you see how Marvel built a universe that actually feels alive. You’ll notice small connections, evolving relationships, and long-term storytelling that no other franchise has managed to pull off.

It’s not just about the heroes — it’s about the timeline that made them.

Want more Marvel insights? Don’t miss our latest breakdown of Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) — the story that reshaped Peter Parker’s universe.

For official updates and future movie announcements, visit Marvel.com.