Marvel Watch Order:
Every MCU Movie & Show in Order
New to Marvel? Start with Iron Man (2008) and watch in release order. Every MCU movie and show is here in release and chronological order, with phase guides, character orders and a free tracker that remembers where you left off.
↓ Start tracking your progress, free, no accountThe database also covers 170 released Marvel films and shows outside the MCU (172 counting announced titles), plus every upcoming MCU release: full runtime breakdown · legacy archive
Choose your watch order
Six ways through the MCU. Not sure? Start with release order. Or browse every Marvel watch order.
What is the Marvel watch order?
The Marvel watch order is simply the sequence you watch Marvel’s movies and shows in so the story makes sense. For most people that means the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): 38 films since Iron Man in 2008, plus 31 seasons of TV and a handful of specials, almost all sharing one storyline (a few animated shows, like X-Men ’97, are set in their own universes and are labeled as such). Marvel groups them into Phases, and the Phases into Sagas, which is the easiest way to see where you are.
There are two orders worth knowing. Release order follows the premiere dates and is how Marvel built the story, so it’s the best first watch. Chronological order follows the in-universe timeline, starting in World War II, and works best as a rewatch. Everything else on this site, from character orders to the Doomsday prep list, is a shortcut through one of those two.
The MCU watch order by Phase
| Phase | Years | Saga | Released titles | First film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase One | 2008–2012 | Infinity Saga | 9 (6 films) | Iron Man |
| Phase Two | 2013–2015 | Infinity Saga | 9 (6 films) | Iron Man 3 |
| Phase Three | 2016–2019 | Infinity Saga | 18 (11 films) | Captain America: Civil War |
| Phase Four | 2021–2022 | Multiverse Saga | 19 (7 films) | Black Widow |
| Phase Five | 2023–2025 | Multiverse Saga | 17 (6 films) | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania |
| Phase Six | 2025–2027 | Multiverse Saga | 9 (2 films) + 5 upcoming | The Fantastic Four: First Steps |
| Phase Seven Unofficial | 2028– | Mutant Saga Unofficial | None yet + 4 upcoming | X-Men (Untitled MCU Film) |
Does the Marvel watch order include X-Men, Sony and the Netflix shows?
Not the core one. Fox’s X-Men films, Sony’s Spider-Man and Venom films, and older series like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. were made outside Marvel Studios, so the official timeline leaves them out. The exception is the Netflix Defenders shows, which Marvel added to its timeline in 2024. We still cover all of it: the full movie list has every Marvel film from every studio, the X-Men and Spider-Man orders show how those series fit, and the tracker below covers all 251 released titles.
How to watch the MCU in 2026
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is now 38 films and 31 seasons of TV, plus a pile of specials and shorts. You don’t need all of it, and there’s no single correct order, but there is a sensible default.
Watching for the first time? Go in release order, starting with Iron Man (2008). Every film was made for people who’d seen the ones before it, so that’s where the surprises land. If 227 hours sounds like a lot, the movies-only list is about 83 hours, and the MCU essentials list is shorter still.
Rewatching? Try chronological order. It follows the story from Wakanda’s ancient history and World War II through to the multiverse.
Catching up? The newest release is VisionQuest: Season 1 and next up is Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026). If you stopped after Endgame, the catch-up guide gets you to Avengers: Doomsday without the homework.
Watch one franchise at a time
Every film in a series, including the ones made before the MCU.
All 16 franchise orders and 68 character watch orders →
Avengers: Doomsday
In theaters December 18, 2026. Our prep guide has the 17 titles that set it up, a weekend speed-run if you’re short on time, and the five character threads the film pulls together.
Track your Marvel progress
All 81 MCU titles in story order, plus 170 Marvel movies and shows from outside the MCU. Tick them off as you watch; your progress saves in your browser, no account needed.
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The MCU, in chronological order
Outside the MCU, in release order
MCU watch order FAQ
What is the correct order to watch the MCU?
There are two main orders: release order (the way the films came out, which preserves every surprise as intended) and chronological order (the in-universe timeline). For first-time viewers we recommend release order; for rewatches, chronological order is a great second pass.
How many MCU movies and shows are there?
38 MCU movies have been released, along with 31 Disney+ and Marvel TV seasons and 12 specials and shorts, 81 titles on the main timeline. Counting older Marvel films and TV outside the MCU, plus announced releases, our full database lists 262 titles.
How long does it take to watch the entire MCU?
The 38 MCU films run about 83 hours. Add every series and special on the main timeline and it comes to about 227 hours. If you also want every older Marvel film and show outside the MCU, the full database runs about 1408 hours. The marathon planner turns any of those into a weekly schedule.
Do I need to watch the Disney+ shows?
Some of them. Loki and WandaVision feed straight into the films, and Loki sets up the whole Multiverse Saga. Many others, like Echo or I Am Groot, are fine to skip if you only want the main story. Our guide to which Disney+ shows matter grades every one.
What should I watch before Avengers: Doomsday?
The essential prep is the multiverse spine (Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine), the last two Avengers films, and the two 2025 films that introduce the new teams: Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Our full prep guide covers all 17 titles.
What is the first Marvel movie to watch?
In release order, Iron Man (2008). In story order, Captain America: The First Avenger is the first live-action film, set during World War II; Marvel’s official timeline puts the animated Eyes of Wakanda even earlier.
Are the Netflix Marvel shows and X-Men ’97 part of the MCU?
Marvel added the Netflix shows such as Daredevil to its official timeline in 2024, and Daredevil: Born Again continues them. X-Men ’97 is a Marvel Studios series but takes place in its own universe.
Where can I stream the MCU?
In the US, almost everything is on Disney+. A few films sit on Hulu, and the newest Spider-Man film is rent or buy only for now. Our where-to-watch guide lists every exception.
What is the longest and shortest MCU movie?
Avengers: Endgame is the longest at 3 hours 1 minute. The Marvels is the shortest at 1 hour 45 minutes.
What’s the next Marvel release?
Avengers: Doomsday, in theaters on December 18, 2026, followed by Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 on Disney+ on January 13, 2027. The newest release, VisionQuest, premiered on Disney+ on October 13, 2026, with new episodes weekly through November 10.
Is Marvel Watch Order free?
Yes. The watch tracker, marathon planner, checklists, and every watch-order guide are completely free, with no account required. Your progress is saved in your browser.
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Tools, guides, and explainers for every kind of Marvel fan.