How to watch Marvel movies in chronological order of events

Do you miss watching new Marvel superhero movies, as the production of upcoming movies have been halted because of the pandemic? If you do, this is the perfect time to rewatch all Marvel movies once again, but this time, watch it in the right way. 

If you are considering a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) marathon, you need to know how to watch the Marvel movies in order. You should not consider watching Marvel films in the order they were released. They are not chronological, which is confusing if you love timelines. 

There are currently 23 MCU movies and counting, all of them taking place in the same universe and connected by characters, events, and settings. But as the MCU has grown in quantity, it has also grown in complexity. Some films take place worlds away but at the same time, as events that are occurring on Earth. A few movies also take place in the far past.

If you are wondering how to watch the Marvel movies in order, we have got you covered. In this guide, we will explain how to watch the Marvel movies in chronological order. 

Captain America: The First Avenger 

Chronologically speaking, "Captain America: The First Avenger" is set as the earliest film in the MCU timeline. The Steve Rogers origin story begins in the year 1940 with Steve (Evans) and Bucky Barnes' (Sebastian Stan) enlisting and ends in 1945 with Steve's plane crashing and him being frozen for the next half century.

Captain Marvel 

Next up, we have Captain Marvel which is actually one of the most recent Marvel movies but the events depicted precede those of the main MCU timeline. Brie Larson's pilot character crashes her plane in the year 1989 and is subsequently trained as a Kree before returning to Earth in 1995 - the year in which most of Captain Marvel takes place.

Iron Man 

The first Marvel movie released comes third in the chronological order and believe it or not, according to Marvel's own timeline, it actually takes place in the year 2010 and not 2008 when it was released.

The Incredible Hulk 

The events of the Edward Norton Hulk movie take place shortly after the events of Iron Man. "The Incredible Hulk" may not have been quite the smashing success that Marvel fans' raging behemoth might hope for but it offers more than enough big green action to make up for its occasionally puny narrative.

Iron Man 2

The "Iron Man" sequel is set in the year 2011. It is not quite the breath of fresh air as "Iron Man" but this sequel comes close with solid performances and an action-packed plot.

Thor 

A dazzling blockbuster that tempers its sweeping scope with wit, humor, and human drama, Thor is mighty Marvel entertainment. The events of Thor also take place in 2011, around the same time as the events in Iron Man 2, although there are flashbacks to events that go back centuries.

The Avengers 

When Thor's evil brother - Loki, gains access to the unlimited power of the energy cube called the "Tesseract", Nick Fury, director of SHIELD, initiates a superhero recruitment effort to defeat the unprecedented threat to Earth. Joining Fury's "dream team" are Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, the Black Widow, and Hawkeye. The team-up finally occurs in the year 2012.

Iron Man 3 

The underrated "Iron Man 3", which heavily deals with Tony Starks' "Post-traumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD) from the events of "The Avengers", takes place in the year 2012. With the help of its charismatic lead, some impressive action sequences, and even a few surprises, Iron Man 3 is a witty, entertaining adventure and a strong addition to the Marvel canon.

Thor: The Dark World 

It may not be the finest production to come from Marvel Studios but "Thor: The Dark World" still offers plenty of the humor and high-stake action that fans have come to expect. The forgettable sequel is set in the year 2013.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

Suspenseful and politically astute, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is a superior entry in the Avengers canon and is sure to thrill Marvel diehards. The big fall of SHIELD is set a couple years after the organisation helped form The Avengers, set in 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy 

"Guardians of the Galaxy", a group of unwilling heroes on a mission to stop Ronan, is funny, thrilling, full of heart, and packed with visual splendor. The events of "Guardians of the Galaxy" also take place in 2014, around the same time as "Captain America: The Winter Soldier".

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 

The Guardians sequel takes place a couple of months after the events of the first film. The action-packed plot, dazzling visuals, and irreverent humor of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" add up to a sequel that is almost as fun as its predecessor.

Avengers: Age of Ultron 

When Tony Stark jump-starts a dormant peacekeeping programme; things go terribly awry, forcing him, Thor, Hulk, and the rest of the Avengers to reassemble. The second Avengers team-up film takes place in the wake of SHIELD's dismantling, in the year 2015.

Ant-Man 

While the Avengers are fighting off ol' Ultron, Scott Lang is busy becoming Ant-Man in 2015. The next evolution of the MCU brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen. Ant-Man offers Marvel thrills on an appropriately smaller scale. 

Captain America: Civil War

The Captain America sequel, which is also kind of an Avengers movie, takes place in 2016, bringing additional characters into the fold to set the table for Infinity War and Endgame. But it also contains flashbacks that take place between The First Avenger and Iron Man, revealing the circumstances that surrounded the death of Tony Stark's parents.

Spider-Man: Homecoming 

The first MCU Spider-Man movie takes place in the same timeline as "Captain America: Civil War". Young Peter Parker (Spider-Man), who made his sensational debut in "Captain America: Civil War", begins to navigate his own struggle to become a hero. 

Black Panther

The year 2016 is a very busy year in the MCU as it is also when Black Panther takes place over in Wakanda. Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU's most absorbing stories - and introducing some of its most fully realised characters.

Doctor Strange 

"Doctor Strange" bridges the gap between 2016 and 2017, as Stephen Strange's transformation into a superhero takes a bit of time. This movie balances its outré source material against the blockbuster constraints of the MCU, delivering a thoroughly entertaining superhero origin story.

Thor: Ragnarok 

Exciting, funny, and above all fun, "Thor: Ragnarok" is a colorful cosmic adventure that sets a new standard for its franchise. "Thor: Ragnarok" takes place in 2017 shortly after the events of Doctor Strange, as we see Thor visit Doctor Strange on Earth to try and track down his father.

Ant-Man and the Wasp 

Despite being released after "Avengers: Infinity War", the events of "Ant-Man and the Wasp" take place in 2018 right before Thanos arrives on Earth and the film ends with the infamous Thanos Snap, although there are some flashbacks of Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) in the late 1980s.

Avengers: Infinity War 

This movie ably juggles a dizzying array of MCU heroes in the fight against their gravest threat yet and the result is a thrilling, emotionally resonant blockbuster that (mostly) realises its gargantuan ambitions. The events of "Avengers: Infinity War" take place over a very compressed time period - just 24-48 hours in 2018.

Avengers: Endgame 

The second half of the infinity gauntlet storyline begins shortly after the Thanos snap in 2018 but after Thor cuts Thanos' head off, the film flashes forward and is set primarily in the year 2023 - although it also sees the characters traveling back in time to events in the years 1970, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Exciting, entertaining, and emotionally impactful, "Avengers: Endgame" does whatever it takes to deliver a satisfying finale to Marvel's epic Infinity Saga.

Spider-Man: Far from Home 

The most recent MCU movie, "Spider-Man: Far from Home", takes place shortly after the events of "Avengers: Endgame" and is set in the year 2023. Spider-Man faces four destructive elemental monsters while on holiday in Europe but then he receives help from Mysterio, a fellow hero with mysterious origins.