Marvel Movies in Chronological Order (Story Timeline)
This list puts the Marvel movies in chronological order by in-story timeline, not by release date, using the official order Disney+ publishes.
The checklist opens in chronological order. Tick each title when you finish it, or switch to release order at any time.
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Coming up in the MCU
US dates. Month-only dates are Marvel announcements without a day yet.
Order from Marvel.com's See the Complete MCU Timeline on Disney+ (updated 22 October 2026) · Release dates from Wikipedia · Unofficial fan guide
Chronological order differs from release order because the MCU jumps around in time. Captain America: The First Avenger is set during World War II but came out in July 2011, three years after Iron Man.
"Chronological" can mean two things: the order the films were released, or the order the events happen in the story. This page covers the second one, the in-story timeline. If you want the release dates instead, start from the Marvel movies in order checklist on our home page.
Why chronological order differs from release order
Marvel Studios often tells stories out of sequence. Captain Marvel (2019) takes place in the 1990s, so in story order it comes second, right after The First Avenger. Black Widow (2021) is set just after Captain America: Civil War, so it moves back five years from its release slot.
The official Disney+ order also mixes the series in with the films. As of 22 October 2026 it has 81 titles, including the Netflix Defenders shows, the Marvel One-Shots and the animated series, and it ends with VisionQuest. Two newer films, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, are not in that list yet, so we place them at the end and mark them as provisional.
The full Marvel chronological order list
Here is every MCU film in the official chronological order, with its story era and runtime. The checklist above shows the same order with the series included, and it saves your progress as you go.
| # | Film | Story era | Runtime | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Captain America: The First Avenger | WWII and earlier | 2h 04m | 22 Jul 2011 |
| 2 | Captain Marvel | The 1990s | 2h 04m | 8 Mar 2019 |
| 3 | Iron Man | 2008 to 2012 | 2h 06m | 2 May 2008 |
| 4 | Iron Man 2 | 2008 to 2012 | 2h 05m | 7 May 2010 |
| 5 | The Incredible Hulk | 2008 to 2012 | 1h 52m | 13 Jun 2008 |
| 6 | Thor | 2008 to 2012 | 1h 54m | 6 May 2011 |
| 7 | The Avengers | 2008 to 2012 | 2h 23m | 4 May 2012 |
| 8 | Thor: The Dark World | 2012 to 2018 | 1h 52m | 8 Nov 2013 |
| 9 | Iron Man 3 | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 10m | 3 May 2013 |
| 10 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 16m | 4 Apr 2014 |
| 11 | Guardians of the Galaxy | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 02m | 1 Aug 2014 |
| 12 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 16m | 5 May 2017 |
| 13 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 21m | 1 May 2015 |
| 14 | Ant-Man | 2012 to 2018 | 1h 57m | 17 Jul 2015 |
| 15 | Captain America: Civil War | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 27m | 6 May 2016 |
| 16 | Black Widow | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 14m | 9 Jul 2021 |
| 17 | Black Panther | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 14m | 16 Feb 2018 |
| 18 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 13m | 7 Jul 2017 |
| 19 | Doctor Strange | 2012 to 2018 | 1h 55m | 4 Nov 2016 |
| 20 | Thor: Ragnarok | 2012 to 2018 | 2h 10m | 3 Nov 2017 |
| 21 | Ant-Man and the Wasp | 2012 to 2018 | 1h 58m | 6 Jul 2018 |
| 22 | Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 to 2023 | 2h 29m | 27 Apr 2018 |
| 23 | Avengers: Endgame | 2018 to 2023 | 3h 01m | 26 Apr 2019 |
| 24 | Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 12m | 3 Sep 2021 |
| 25 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 09m | 2 Jul 2019 |
| 26 | Eternals | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 36m | 5 Nov 2021 |
| 27 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 28m | 17 Dec 2021 |
| 28 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 06m | 6 May 2022 |
| 29 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 41m | 11 Nov 2022 |
| 30 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 1h 59m | 8 Jul 2022 |
| 31 | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 04m | 17 Feb 2023 |
| 32 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 30m | 5 May 2023 |
| 33 | The Marvels | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 1h 45m | 10 Nov 2023 |
| 34 | Deadpool & Wolverine | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 08m | 26 Jul 2024 |
| 35 | Captain America: Brave New World | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 1h 58m | 14 Feb 2025 |
| 36 | Thunderbolts* | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 07m | 2 May 2025 |
| 37 | The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 1h 54m | 25 Jul 2025 |
| 38 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day (placement provisional) | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | 2h 25m | 31 Jul 2026 |
| 39 | Avengers: Doomsday (placement provisional) | Multiverse Saga (2023 onward) | Not announced | 18 Dec 2026 |
The story eras are broad labels, not exact years. Many films span several years, and some, such as Doctor Strange, run across a long stretch of time, so we use the era where most of the story happens.
MCU in chronological order by era
Grouping the MCU chronological order by era makes the timeline easier to follow. Each era below lists every title in the official Disney+ order, films and series together.
WWII and earlier
This era has 3 titles in the official order, and 1 of them is a film. In order: Eyes of Wakanda, Captain America: The First Avenger, Agent Carter.
The 1990s
This era has a single title in the official order, and it is a film. In order: Captain Marvel.
2008 to 2012
This era has 8 titles in the official order, and 5 of them are films. In order: Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer, Thor, The Consultant, The Avengers, Item 47.
2012 to 2018
This era has 30 titles in the official order, and 14 of them are films. In order: Thor: The Dark World, Iron Man 3, All Hail the King, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, I Am Groot (season 1), I Am Groot (season 2), Daredevil (season 1), Jessica Jones (season 1), Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Daredevil (season 2), Luke Cage (season 1), Iron Fist (season 1), The Defenders, Captain America: Civil War, Black Widow, Black Panther, Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Punisher (season 1), Doctor Strange, Jessica Jones (season 2), Luke Cage (season 2), Iron Fist (season 2), Daredevil (season 3), Thor: Ragnarok, The Punisher (season 2), Jessica Jones (season 3), Ant-Man and the Wasp.
2018 to 2023
This era has 2 titles in the official order, and 2 of them are films. In order: Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame.
Multiverse Saga (2023 onward)
This era has 37 titles in the official order, and 14 of them are films. In order: Loki (season 1), What If...? (season 1), Marvel Zombies (season 1), WandaVision, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Echo, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Ms. Marvel, Thor: Love and Thunder, Ironheart, Werewolf by Night, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Secret Invasion, The Marvels, Loki (season 2), What If...? (season 2), Deadpool & Wolverine, Agatha All Along, What If...? (season 3), Daredevil: Born Again (season 1), Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Wonder Man, Daredevil: Born Again (season 2), The Punisher: One Last Kill, VisionQuest.
What chronological order misses
Story order can spoil surprises that release order protects. Captain Marvel's mid-credits scene shows the Avengers after the Snap, so if you watch it second you see the aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War before the film itself. Black Widow's post-credits scene takes place after Avengers: Endgame and points to a death you have not seen yet.
You also lose the way the MCU was built. Release order shows how each post-credits scene sets up the next film, and how the tone shifts from Phase One to Phase Three. Chronological order trades that for a cleaner story, so it works best once you know the big moments.
Chronological order vs. release order: which is better?
For a first watch, release order is better. Every film was written for an audience that had already seen the ones before it, and the reveals in Civil War, Infinity War and No Way Home land the way they were planned.
For a rewatch, chronological order is the more interesting choice. You see Peggy Carter and Howard Stark before Tony Stark, and Captain Marvel explains Nick Fury's past before he recruits the Avengers. The Marvel movies in order checklist lets you switch between the two with one tap, and the MCU timeline guide maps the in-story years.
If you prefer to watch in production blocks, the MCU phases guide groups every title by phase. If you are catching up for the next film, the Avengers: Doomsday watch list cuts the order down to what matters.
Marvel chronological order FAQ
What is the correct chronological order of Marvel movies?
The most widely used order is the one Disney+ publishes, which Marvel.com updated on 22 October 2026. It starts with the animated Eyes of Wakanda, then Captain America: The First Avenger, the Agent Carter One-Shot and Captain Marvel. After that come Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and Thor, leading up to The Avengers, and the full film list is in the table above.
Is it better to watch Marvel movies in chronological or release order?
It depends on whether you have seen the films before. Release order keeps every reveal and post-credits scene in the order it was planned, so it is the better choice for a first watch. Chronological order is better for a rewatch, because it shows how the story fits together from World War II onward. You can try both in our checklist without losing your progress.
What is the first Marvel movie chronologically?
Captain America: The First Avenger is the first film in the official chronological order. It is set mostly during World War II and follows Steve Rogers from his time as a volunteer to the moment he goes into the ice. The animated series Eyes of Wakanda sits even earlier in the Disney+ list, but it is a series rather than a film.
Where does Loki fit in the chronological order?
Loki season 1 comes right after Avengers: Endgame in the official order. It follows the 2012 version of Loki who escapes with the Tesseract during the time heist, so it starts in the past but runs outside normal time. Loki season 2 sits much later, after The Marvels and before Deadpool & Wolverine, so more than 20 titles sit between the two seasons.
How does the chronological order change after the Multiverse Saga?
Once you pass Avengers: Endgame, the chronological order and the release order mostly line up. The Multiverse Saga titles follow the story from 2023 onward, with small swaps such as Spider-Man: Far From Home moving after WandaVision and Shang-Chi. Branching stories like Loki and What If...? are placed where Marvel thinks they fit best, not by a calendar year.
Which Marvel movies have the most ambiguous timeline placement?
Spider-Man: Homecoming is the best known case, because its opening title card says eight years have passed since The Avengers, which clashes with other dates. Black Widow is set between Civil War and Infinity War but is easy to misplace. The Incredible Hulk overlaps with Iron Man 2, and Disney+ places Iron Man 2 first, which surprises many viewers.
Does the chronological order include Disney+ shows?
Yes. The official order mixes the Disney+ series in with the films, from WandaVision and Loki to VisionQuest. It also includes the Netflix Defenders shows, the five Marvel One-Shots and animated series such as What If...? and Marvel Zombies. It does not include Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or the other ABC and Hulu shows, which our Marvel TV shows guide covers.
Tick your first title and the checklist keeps your place in the story timeline. Planning ahead? See what to watch before Avengers: Doomsday or browse the MCU phases.