Guides And Explainers

All Marvel Movies in Order, Including the MCU and Beyond

When people ask for all Marvel movies, they usually mean the feature films connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, along with a smaller numb...

Mara Ellison
All Marvel Movies in Order, Including the MCU and Beyond

What counts as a Marvel movie

When people ask for all Marvel movies, they usually mean the feature films connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, along with a smaller number of earlier Marvel films not part of the MCU. This overview focuses on official theatrical releases from Marvel Studios and closely affiliated partners, excluding most short films, television series, and non-theatrical specials. The list spans movies released by Marvel itself as well as titles distributed in partnership with studios, reflecting the broad reach of the brand. Below we break them down by production order and narrative order for clarity.

How to read this list: production order vs narrative order

There are two helpful ways to look at Marvel movies: the order they were made (production order), which helps understand real-world timelines, and the order they take place in the story (narrative order), which helps follow character arcs and cause-and-effect. For new viewers, starting with narrative order within phases is often recommended, while completists and collectors often track production order to see how the universe expanded. We provide both sequences below and in a summary table.

Production order highlights

Production order reflects when cameras rolled and when films reached audiences. Early entries like Iron Man in 2008 and The Incredible Hulk in 2008 set the tone, followed by a steady stream of sequels and new introductions. Phase Three added high-profile titles such as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, culminating in multiverse-focused stories like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Later phases include both continued sagas and films intended to launch new franchises.

Narrative order highlights

Narrative order follows the internal timeline of the MCU, beginning with Phase One’s origin stories and moving through escalating threats, personal journeys, and universe-level events. Key turning points include the Sokovia Accords, time travel experiments, and shifts in leadership among heroes and villains. This sequence helps viewers appreciate callbacks, evolving relationships, and long-term consequences across multiple films.

The Marvel movie checklist: every theatrical release linked to Marvel

Below is a curated, evergreen list of feature films that are widely recognized as part of Marvel’s official cinematic portfolio. It includes mainline MCU entries and a few legacy titles often referenced in discussions of the brand’s history. Standalone films, ensemble epics, and multiverse adventures are all represented. For quick reference, each film is tagged by its primary category, such as origin story, ensemble crossover, or cosmic saga.

Title Year Phase / Category Primary focus
Iron Man 2008 Phase One Origin
The Incredible Hulk 2008 Phase One Origin
Iron Man 2 2010 Phase One Legacy expansion
Thor 1011 Phase One Mythic origin
Captain America: The First Avenger 2011 Phase One Period origin
The Avengers 2012 Phase One Ensemble first contact
Iron Man 3 2013 Phase Two Solo conclusion
Thor: The Dark World 2013 Phase Two Cosmic escalation
Captain America: The Winter Soldier 2014 Phase Two Political thriller
Guardians of the Galaxy 2014 Phase Two Space ensemble
Avengers: Age of Ultron 2015 Phase Two Ensemble escalation
Ant-Man 2015 Phase Two Heist/size shift
Captain America: Civil War 2016 Phase Three Conflict and division
Doctor Strange 2016 Phase Three Reality bending
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 2017 Phase Three Family and cosmos
Spider-Man: Homecoming 2017 Phase Three Teen origin
Thor: Ragnarok 2017 Phase Three Comedic cosmic war
Black Panther 2018 Phase Three Nation and legacy
Avengers: Infinity War 2018 Phase Three Infinity Gauntlet climax
Ant-Man and the Wasp 2018 Phase Three Heist sequel
Captain Marvel 2019 Phase Four Kree-Earth origins
Avengers: Endgame 2019 Phase Three Snap resolution
Spider-Man: Far From Home 2019 Phase Four European aftermath
Black Widow 2021 Phase Four Espionage origins
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 2021 Phase Four Ancient legacy
Eternals 2021 Phase Four Celestial history
Spider-Man: No Way Home 2021 Phase Four Multiverse convergence
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 2022 Phase Six Multiverse exploration
Thor: Love and Thunder 2022 Phase Four Cosomic comedy finale
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 2022 Phase Four Legacy continuation
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 2023 Phase Five Quantum realm adventure
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 2023 Phase Five Guardians conclusion
The Marvels 2023 Phase Five Hero team-up
Deadpool & Wolverine 2024 Phase Five X-Men integration

Breaking down the phases at a glance

Each phase groups films released around the same time and advances the overarching story. Early phases focus on origin stories and team formation, while later phases tackle multiverse concepts and broader crossovers. Below is a quick scan of what to expect from each phase in terms of tone and scope.

  • Phase One (2008–2012): Introduces Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and assembles the Avengers. Establishes tone and interconnected storytelling.
  • Phase Two (2013–2015): Explores cosmic and espionage corners of the universe with sequels and new teams, including Guardians.
  • Phase Three (2016–2019): Brings larger conflicts, franchise milestones, and pivotal character conclusions, capped by Infinity War and Endgame.
  • Phase Four (2021–2022): Expands into new heroes, time, and multiverse while closing some legacy stories.
  • Phase Five (2023–2024): Advances the multiverse saga and integrates X-Men properties following acquisition events.
  • Phase Six and beyond (2025+): Will focus on legacy planning as the earliest MCU stories approach multiversal timelines.

Where to find Marvel movies by platform

Availability varies by region and streaming service. Many core MCU titles rotate among Disney+ and streaming partners, while some recent releases appear earlier on paid premium tiers or physical media. Always check your local catalog for the current windowing model, since carriage agreements change over time.

Common questions about Marvel movie lists

Is Deadpool part of the Marvel movies list?

Deadpool (2016, 2018) was produced by 20th Century Fox and is not part of the MCU, though it shares the X-Men film rights. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) marks the first time the character appears within the broader Marvel Studios banner.

What about The Amazing Spider-Man films?

Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man series exists outside the MCU. Spider-Man: Homecoming and its sequels integrate the character into the MCU, but the earlier standalone films are separate.

How should I watch if I’m new to Marvel

Begin with Phase One in narrative order: Iron Man → The Incredible Hulk → Iron Man 2 → Thor → Captain America: The First Avenger → The Avengers. This introduces origin stories and the central conflict clearly.

Are there any Marvel movies not made by Marvel Studios

Yes. Several films carry Marvel branding via licensing or prior rights but are produced by other studios, such as earlier Spider-Man and X-Men features. The list above focuses on titles directly tied to the shared cinematic universe.

Key facts at a glance

Attribute Verified Detail Source Type
Primary studio Marvel Studios Official
First MCU film Iron Man (2008) Release record
Latest MCU release Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Release record
Total core MCU features 30+ theatrical features (as of 2024) Studio publication
Non-MCU Marvel features Deadpool series, The Amazing Spider-Man series Rights & production info

Summary takeaway

Every Marvel movie can be grouped into an official MCU sequence, a handful of licensed features, and upcoming projects still in development. By reading production order, narrative order, or phase groups, you can navigate the full catalog with context about character arcs and real-world timing. The list above is curated for accuracy and maintained as an evergreen reference as new titles join the broader Marvel cinematic landscape.

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