The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a vast collection of movies and TV shows that tell interconnected superhero stories. This article by alfeeds offers a detailed guide on how to watch the MCU in the best way, explaining the release order, story groups, and the complex Multiverse. Whether you are new to Marvel or a long time fan, this guide helps you understand the MCU’s phases and how the stories connect.
Watching the MCU in Release Order
The MCU started in 2008 with Iron Man, which introduced Tony Stark and laid the foundation for the universe. The video breaks down the MCU into phases:
| Release Year | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Iron Man | Film |
| 2008 | The Incredible Hulk | Film |
| 2010 | Iron Man 2 | Film |
| 2011 | Thor | Film |
| 2011 | Captain America: The First Avenger | Film |
| 2012 | The Avengers | Film |
| 2013 | Iron Man 3 | Film |
| 2013 | Thor: The Dark World | Film |
| 2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Film |
| 2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Film |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Film |
| 2015 | Ant-Man | Film |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | Film |
| 2016 | Doctor Strange | Film |
| 2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Film |
| 2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | Film |
| 2017 | Thor: Ragnarok | Film |
| 2018 | Black Panther | Film |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Film |
| 2018 | Ant-Man and the Wasp | Film |
| 2019 | Captain Marvel | Film |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Film |
| 2019 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | Film |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Disney+ Series |
| 2021 | The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Disney+ Series |
| 2021 | Loki | Disney+ Series |
| 2021 | Black Widow | Film |
| 2021 | What If…? | Disney+ Series |
| 2021 | Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | Film |
| 2021 | Eternals | Film |
| 2021 | Hawkeye | Disney+ Series |
| 2021 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | Film |
| 2022 | Moon Knight | Disney+ Series |
| 2022 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | Film |
| 2022 | Ms. Marvel | Disney+ Series |
| 2022 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Film |
| 2022 | I Am Groot | Disney+ Series |
| 2022 | She-Hulk: Attorney at Law | Disney+ Series |
| 2022 | Werewolf by Night | Disney+ Special |
| 2022 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Film |
| 2022 | The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Disney+ Special |
| 2023 | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | Film |
| 2023 | Secret Invasion | Disney+ Series |
| 2023 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Film |
| 2023 | Loki (Season 2) | Disney+ Series |
| 2023 | The Marvels | Film |
| 2024 | Echo | Disney+ Series |
| 2024 | X-Men ’97 | Disney+ Series |
| 2024 | Deadpool & Wolverine (upcoming, July 2024) | Film |
The MCU Multiverse Explained
The MCU Multiverse is a collection of different universes and realities connected through various stories. The article explains how some projects outside the main MCU movies, like Deadpool and the Fox X-Men movies, are now part of the MCU Multiverse because of references and character appearances.
- The Multiverse includes alternate versions of characters and timelines.
- Some TV shows and animated series are considered MCU adjacent or part of the Multiverse.
- The video uses a chart to explain how close or far these universes are from the main MCU timeline.
Watching the MCU in Timeline Order
For those who want to watch the MCU in the chronological order of events (not release order), the video provides a detailed timeline starting from Captain America: The First Avenger in the 1940s to the latest releases in 2025 and beyond.
- This timeline includes movies, TV shows, and short films.
- It helps viewers understand the story progression as it happens in the MCU world.
Conclusion
The MCU is a massive universe with many stories told through movies and TV shows. This is a perfect guide for anyone wanting to watch the MCU in the right order, understand the story groups, and explore the Multiverse. Whether you want to watch everything or just your favorite heroes, this guide makes it easier to enjoy the Marvel experience.
