The Definitive MCU Movie Release Order: The Complete 2025 Guide To The Multiverse Saga
Trying to navigate the sprawling narrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) can feel like navigating the Multiverse itself. With over 30 feature films and a growing number of Disney+ series spanning three epic Sagas, knowing the correct watch order is crucial for following the complete, interconnected story. As of December 22, 2025, the MCU is deep into The Multiverse Saga, setting the stage for cataclysmic events in the coming years. This guide provides the definitive, most up-to-date list, covering both the original theatrical release order and the in-universe chronological timeline, ensuring you don't miss a single crucial plot point or post-credits scene.
Whether you're a new fan attempting to binge-watch from the beginning or a veteran seeking the latest updates for Phase 5 and Phase 6, this comprehensive breakdown is your essential roadmap. We'll detail every movie, from the groundbreaking start of The Infinity Saga to the confirmed blockbuster releases leading up to Avengers: Secret Wars.
The Essential MCU Movie Release Order: Theatrical & Digital (The Complete List)
The original theatrical release order is often considered the best way for a first-time viewer to experience the MCU. This is the order in which the films were intended to be seen, as it aligns with when crucial information, new characters, and shocking twists were revealed to the audience. It’s the director’s cut of the entire cinematic universe, structured around the major "Phases" and "Sagas."
Phase 1: The Infinity Saga Begins (2008–2012)
This phase introduced the foundational heroes of the Avengers and culminated in their first team-up, establishing the shared universe concept.
- 1. Iron Man (2008)
- 2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- 3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
- 4. Thor (2011)
- 5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- 6. The Avengers (2012)
Phase 2: Expanding the Universe (2013–2015)
Phase 2 broadened the scope, introducing cosmic elements and setting up the internal conflicts that would define the next phase.
- 7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- 9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- 10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- 11. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- 12. Ant-Man (2015)
Phase 3: The Infinity Saga Culmination (2016–2019)
The final chapter of The Infinity Saga brought the storylines of the original six Avengers to a close, leading to the ultimate showdown with Thanos.
- 13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 14. Doctor Strange (2016)
- 15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- 16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- 17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- 18. Black Panther (2018)
- 19. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- 21. Captain Marvel (2019)
- 22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 23. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) (The official end of The Infinity Saga)
The Multiverse Saga: Phase 4, 5, and 6 Updates
The current era of the MCU, known as The Multiverse Saga, focuses on the repercussions of time travel and the introduction of alternate realities and variants. While Phase 4 is now complete, Phase 5 is in full swing, and the highly anticipated Phase 6 is officially scheduled to begin in 2025.
Phase 4: Post-Blip and Multiversal Cracks (2021–2022)
Phase 4 dealt with the aftermath of the Blip and the expansion of the Multiverse concept, heavily integrating Disney+ series like WandaVision and Loki into the main narrative.
- 24. Black Widow (2021)
- 25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- 26. Eternals (2021)
- 27. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- 29. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- 30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Phase 5: The Build-Up to War (2023–2025)
Phase 5 continues to introduce new teams and threats, directly leading into the climactic events of Phase 6. The current theatrical releases are:
- 31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- 32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 33. The Marvels (2023)
- 34. Captain America: Brave New World (Scheduled for February 14, 2025)
- 35. Thunderbolts* (Scheduled for May 2, 2025)
Phase 6: The Multiverse Saga Conclusion (2025–2027)
Phase 6 is the grand finale of the entire Multiverse Saga, bringing together all the threads of the previous three phases. The confirmed and highly anticipated theatrical slate includes:
- 36. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Scheduled for July 25, 2025)
- 37. Blade (Scheduled for November 7, 2025)
- 38. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Scheduled for July 31, 2026)
- 39. Avengers: Doomsday (Scheduled for December 18, 2026)
- 40. Avengers: Secret Wars (Scheduled for May 7, 2027)
Note on Disney+ Series: While this list focuses on the movies, key Disney+ shows like Ironheart (June 24, 2025) and Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 (March 2026) are essential viewing for the complete Phase 5 and 6 experience, as they directly tie into the events of the upcoming films.
The Chronological MCU Movie Order: The In-Universe Timeline
For fans who want to watch the story unfold exactly as it happens in the Marvel timeline, the chronological order is the way to go. This sequence places films based on when their events occur within the fictional universe, which often means jumping between Phases. This order provides the clearest picture of the historical events that shaped the MCU, from World War II to the events post-Blip.
The most widely accepted chronological movie-only order is as follows:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (Set primarily in World War II)
- Captain Marvel (Set in 1995)
- Iron Man (The start of the modern timeline)
- Iron Man 2
- The Incredible Hulk
- Thor
- The Avengers
- Thor: The Dark World
- Iron Man 3
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Takes place shortly after the first film)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Black Widow (Set mostly between Civil War and Infinity War)
- Black Panther
- Doctor Strange
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (Events lead directly into Infinity War)
- Avengers: Infinity War (The Snap)
- Avengers: Endgame (The main action is five years after The Snap, with time travel)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (Set eight months after Endgame)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Eternals
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- *Followed by all current and upcoming Phase 5 and 6 movies in their release order (e.g., Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels, etc.) as their events generally follow their release date in the timeline.*
Understanding The Multiverse Saga’s Key Entities and Threats
The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4, 5, and 6) is a complex narrative shift from the cosmic threat of the Infinity Stones to the existential danger of alternate realities. To fully appreciate the upcoming films, it's essential to understand the key entities and concepts introduced since Avengers: Endgame.
Kang the Conqueror and His Variants
The primary antagonist of The Multiverse Saga is not a single individual but a powerful time traveler named Kang the Conqueror. Introduced as He Who Remains in the Disney+ series Loki, Kang is a variant who foresaw the destruction caused by his other selves. His death unleashed the Multiverse and all the dangerous Kang variants within it. The upcoming films, including Avengers: Doomsday, will focus on the conflict with the Council of Kangs, a collective of the most dangerous versions of this time-hopping villain. This central conflict is the driving force that connects almost every Phase 5 and 6 project.
The Fantastic Four and Mutants
The introduction of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July 2025 is arguably the most pivotal moment of Phase 6. The team—Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (The Thing)—are considered the first family of Marvel and their arrival signals a massive expansion of the MCU's scientific and cosmic boundaries. Furthermore, the subtle introduction of Mutants and the X-Men is another major storyline beginning to take shape, promising a full integration of these iconic characters into the main universe by the time Secret Wars arrives. This is a massive shift in the status quo.
The Thunderbolts* and Anti-Heroes
The Thunderbolts* movie, slated for May 2025, marks the MCU's first true anti-hero team-up. This government-sanctioned squad is expected to feature morally ambiguous characters like Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier), U.S. Agent, and Taskmaster. Their mission is likely to clean up global messes left by the Multiverse events, providing a darker, more espionage-focused angle to the superhero genre. The inclusion of characters like the Punisher in related projects further solidifies this darker, grittier side of the expanding universe.
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