The Definitive 2025 Guide: All 35+ Avengers & MCU Movies In Chronological Order
Are you ready to finally watch the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) timeline in the order it actually happened? As of December 2025, the MCU spans over three dozen films and multiple Disney+ series, making the chronological viewing order a complex, yet rewarding, puzzle for any fan or first-time viewer. The narrative is currently deep into the Multiverse Saga, with major upcoming films like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars set to redefine the entire universe, making a fresh look at the timeline essential for preparation.
This comprehensive guide cuts through the confusion of release dates versus in-universe events. We'll provide the definitive, up-to-date chronological viewing order, starting with the World War II era and progressing through the monumental events of the Infinity Saga and the current, chaotic developments of the Multiverse Saga. Following this list will ensure you experience every hero's journey, every cosmic event, and every crucial plot point exactly as the story unfolds on Earth-616.
The Complete MCU Chronological Movie Timeline (Infinity & Multiverse Sagas)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is divided into two major overarching storylines: The Infinity Saga (Phases 1-3) and the current Multiverse Saga (Phases 4-6). While the release order is straightforward, the chronological order frequently jumps back and forth in time, often to establish key character origins or bridge narrative gaps. This list organizes all the major films based on the established in-universe timeline, which starts decades before Tony Stark ever built his first suit.
Phase 1: The Infinity Saga Begins
- 1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1942–1945): The definitive starting point. The film introduces Steve Rogers and the Tesseract, setting the stage for the entire saga.
- 2. Captain Marvel (1995): This prequel is set in the mid-90s, introducing Carol Danvers and providing the origin story for Nick Fury's eye and the initial formation of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- 3. Iron Man (2010): The film that started it all, chronologically set in the year 2010.
- 4. Iron Man 2 (2011): Takes place six months after Iron Man.
- 5. The Incredible Hulk (2011): This film is generally considered to run concurrently with Iron Man 2 and Thor.
- 6. Thor (2011): The events of Thor's banishment to Earth happen around the same time as the events of Iron Man 2.
- 7. The Avengers (2012): The first major crossover event, set one year after the previous three films, bringing together the original six Avengers to battle Loki.
Phase 2: Expanding the Universe
Phase 2 introduces new heroes and expands the cosmic scope of the MCU, leading directly into the conflict of Captain America: Civil War.
- 8. Iron Man 3 (2012): Set a few months after the Battle of New York, focusing on Tony Stark's PTSD.
- 9. Thor: The Dark World (2013): Takes place after The Avengers.
- 10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014): A major turning point that dismantles S.H.I.E.L.D. and sets up the ideological conflict for the next phase.
- 11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Introduces the cosmic side of the MCU, set around the same time as The Winter Soldier.
- 12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014): Uniquely, this film takes place only a few months after the first Guardians film.
- 13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): The second major team-up, which ends with the Avengers splitting into two teams.
- 14. Ant-Man (2015): Set just a few months after Age of Ultron.
Phase 3: The Infinity Gauntlet and The Snap
This phase is the culmination of the Infinity Saga, featuring the devastating arrival of Thanos and the ultimate sacrifice of the original Avengers.
- 15. Captain America: Civil War (2016): The true connective tissue of the saga. It is set a year after Age of Ultron and acts as a direct prequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming and Black Panther.
- 16. Black Widow (2016): This film is set immediately after the events of Civil War, while Natasha Romanoff is on the run.
- 17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016): Set a few months after Peter Parker's debut in Civil War.
- 18. Doctor Strange (2016–2017): The events span about a year, concluding around the same time as Homecoming.
- 19. Black Panther (2017): Set about a week after the events of Civil War.
- 20. Thor: Ragnarok (2017): Takes place roughly four years after The Dark World, leading directly into the opening of Infinity War.
- 21. Avengers: Infinity War (2017): The devastating first half of the finale, ending with Thanos's snap, "The Blip."
- 22. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2017): This film is set shortly before Infinity War, with its post-credits scene taking place during The Blip.
- 23. Avengers: Endgame (2022): The film spans five years, with the majority of the action taking place in 2022 after the time jump. This concludes the Infinity Saga.
The Multiverse Saga: Phases 4, 5, and 6 Timeline
The Multiverse Saga, beginning with Phase 4, is currently exploring the aftermath of The Blip and the introduction of the Multiverse concept, spearheaded by the villainous Kang the Conqueror. The timeline here is more fluid, with most films taking place in the 2024–2026 period.
Phase 4: Post-Blip & New Beginnings (2024)
The events of Phase 4 mostly occur in the year 2024, roughly six to nine months after the final battle in Avengers: Endgame. This establishes the new status quo for the planet Earth-616.
- 24. Spider-Man: Far From Home (Summer 2024): Set during the summer break following the events of Endgame.
- 25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Late 2024): Takes place after Far From Home.
- 26. Eternals (Late 2024): Set concurrently with or immediately after Shang-Chi, dealing with a massive global event.
- 27. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Late 2024): Deals directly with the Multiverse consequences established in the Disney+ series Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
- 28. Thor: Love and Thunder (Late 2024): Set after the events of Endgame and Multiverse of Madness.
- 29. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Late 2024): The film's events are set after the loss of T'Challa and the global political fallout.
Phase 5: The Rise of Kang (2025–2026)
Phase 5 is focused on establishing the new teams and major players who will face the rising threat of Kang, the tyrannical variant of the character first seen in Loki. This phase includes major team-ups and character introductions, setting the stage for the final battles of the Multiverse Saga.
- 30. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Early 2025): The first film of Phase 5, which directly pits Scott Lang against Kang the Conqueror.
- 31. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Mid 2025): The final adventure for the current iteration of the Guardians team.
- 32. The Marvels (Late 2025): Unites Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau.
- 33. Deadpool & Wolverine (2025): The film's placement is intentionally ambiguous due to its Multiverse elements, but it serves as a critical bridge to the larger Multiverse Saga.
- 34. Captain America: Brave New World (2026): Sam Wilson's first solo film as Captain America.
- 35. Thunderbolts* (2026): A team-up of anti-heroes and reformed villains, set after the events of Brave New World.
The Future of the Chronology: Phase 6 and Beyond
The chronological timeline of the MCU will culminate in Phase 6, which is designed to bring the Multiverse Saga to a close with two massive crossover events that will dwarf even the scale of Endgame. The events of these films will likely take place in the year 2027 and beyond, resetting the entire chronology once again.
Upcoming Chronological Milestones (2026-2027)
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2026): This film is now slated to kick off Phase 6, introducing the First Family of Marvel. Its internal timeline placement is expected to be a major factor in the subsequent events.
- Avengers: Doomsday (2026): The first of two final Avengers films in the Multiverse Saga, setting up the ultimate conflict with Kang and his variants.
- Avengers: Secret Wars (2027): The epic finale of the Multiverse Saga, expected to be a massive, universe-altering event that will likely reset or dramatically alter the chronological flow of the MCU.
For the dedicated fan, the chronological viewing order provides the deepest and most rewarding experience of the MCU. By starting with *Captain America: The First Avenger* and following the path through the cosmic adventures and Multiversal incursions, you gain a complete understanding of the topical authority and narrative threads that connect every hero, from Iron Man and Thor to Doctor Strange and the new generation of Avengers. The placement of key films like *Black Widow* and *Captain Marvel* is vital to understanding the full scope of the Infinity Gauntlet and the rise of Thanos, while the recent Phase 4 and Phase 5 films are all about managing the fallout of The Blip and preparing for the inevitable war against Kang the Conqueror.
Watching the films in this chronological sequence allows you to track the evolution of the Tesseract, the Aether, the Reality Stone, and all the Infinity Stones from their first appearances to their ultimate use in Avengers: Endgame. As the Multiverse Saga progresses, keeping this timeline straight is the only way to fully appreciate the stakes involved as the new heroes, including Sam Wilson's Captain America, Shang-Chi, and Ms. Marvel, step up to face the challenges of Phase 6 and the coming Secret Wars event.
The key to a perfect MCU marathon is simple: respect the chronology. It’s the difference between a collection of great superhero movies and a single, cohesive, 20-year-spanning epic.
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