Your Ultimate Guide to Ordering Marvel Movies: Which One to Watch First?
Hello, Marvel enthusiasts! If you're here, it means you're ready to dive into the expansive world of Marvel movies, but you're not sure where to start. Don't worry, we've all been there! With over 20 movies and counting, it can be overwhelming to figure out the order to watch Marvel movies. But fear not, we've crafted this ultimate guide just for you! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and order to watch the marvel movi.
Why Order Matters?
Before we dive into the order, let's quickly discuss why it's important. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a beautifully woven tapestry of interconnected stories. Watching the movies in order ensures you catch every Easter egg, understand every reference, and appreciate the overarching narrative. So, buckle up and let's get started!
The Marvel Movie Watching Order: Phase by Phase
The MCU is divided into phases, and each phase builds upon the last. Here's the order to watch Marvel movies, phase by phase:
Phase One: The Origin Stories
Iron Man (2008)
Kickstart your Marvel movie marathon with the one that started it all! Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, sets the stage for what's to come. This movie introduces us to the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, and his iconic suit.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
While not a direct sequel, this movie introduces us to the green goliath, Bruce Banner. It also sets the stage for the Avengers initiative.
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Tony's back, and this time, he's dealing with the fallout from his first movie. We also get our first hints at S.H.I.E.L.D. and meet Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow.
Thor (2011)
From Earth to Asgard, we meet the God of Thunder and his mischievous brother, Loki. This movie also introduces us to the Tesseract, a powerful artifact that'll pop up again later.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
We step back in time to World War II to meet Steve Rogers, the future Captain America. This movie also introduces us to the Cosmic Cube, another powerful artifact.
The Avengers (2012)
Assemble! Earth's mightiest heroes come together to face an otherworldly threat. This is where all the strings we've been pulling start to come together.
Phase Two: The Expanding Universe
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Tony's dealing with PTSD after the events of The Avengers, and he's got a new suit (or 42). We also meet Aldrich Killian and his Extremis project.
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Thor's back, and this time, he's dealing with a dark elf and a mysterious substance called Aether. This movie also introduces us to the concept of the Nine Realms.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Steve Rogers is back in the present day, but he's got a new problem: the Winter Soldier. This political thriller also sees the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the rise of HYDRA.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Strap in for a cosmic adventure with Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. This movie introduces us to the Infinity Stones, which will become very important later.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
The Avengers are back, but this time, they're facing an AI gone rogue. We also meet Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
Ant-Man (2015)
Paul Rudd joins the MCU as Scott Lang, the unlikely hero who can shrink and talk to ants. This movie also introduces us to the Quantum Realm.
Phase Three: The Infinity Saga
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The Avengers are divided after an incident in Wakanda. This movie also introduces us to Black Panther and Spider-Man.
Doctor Strange (2016)
Benedict Cumberbatch joins the MCU as Stephen Strange, the Master of the Mystic Arts. This movie delves into the multiverse and introduces us to the Time Stone.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
The Guardians are back, and this time, they're dealing with Peter Quill's dad. We also learn more about the Sovereign and their powerful batteries.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man swings into the MCU, and he's got a new suit and a new mentor in Tony Stark.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor's back, and this time, he's got a new haircut and a new enemy in Hela. This movie also introduces us to the Grandmaster and his planet, Sakaar.
Black Panther (2018)
T'Challa takes the throne of Wakanda, but his rule is challenged by Killmonger. This movie also introduces us to the powerful vibranium.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The culmination of all that's come before, Thanos finally arrives on Earth to collect the Infinity Stones. The Avengers must band together to stop him.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Scott Lang is back, and this time, he's got a partner in Hope van Dyne. This movie also delves into the Quantum Realm and sets the stage for Avengers: Endgame.
Captain Marvel (2019)
Carol Danvers joins the MCU, and she's got some serious powers. This movie also introduces us to the Skrulls and the Kree.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The culmination of Phase Three, the Avengers must travel through time to collect the Infinity Stones and reverse Thanos' snap. This movie also sees the retirement of some beloved heroes.
Phase Four: The Future of the MCU
Phase Four is still ongoing, but here are the movies released so far:
Black Widow (2021)
Natasha Romanoff's solo movie finally gives us her origin story and ties up some loose ends from her past.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Simu Liu joins the MCU as Shang-Chi, the master of unarmed combat. This movie also introduces us to the Ten Rings organization and their true power.
Eternals (2021)
The Eternals, a race of ancient heroes, finally make their MCU debut. This movie also introduces us to the Celestials and their connection to the Eternals.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Tom Holland's Spider-Man swings into his third solo movie, and this time, he's dealing with the fallout from his identity being revealed.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Benedict Cumberbatch is back as Doctor Strange, and this time, he's dealing with the multiverse. This movie also introduces us to America Chavez and her ability to travel through the multiverse.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Thor's back, and this time, he's got a new love interest in Natalie Portman's Jane Foster, who's also wielding Mjolnir. This movie also sees the return of Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
The sequel to Black Panther, this movie sees the return of the cast and the introduction of the underwater kingdom of Talocan.
The Alternate Watching Orders
While the official order is the most recommended, there are other ways to watch the MCU. Here are a few alternate orders:
Chronological Order
If you want to watch the movies in the order they take place, rather than the order they were released, this is the order for you. However, this order can be confusing as it jumps around in time a lot.
Phase Order
If you want to watch the movies in the order they were released, this is the phase order: Phase One, Phase Two, Phase Three, and Phase Four.
Release Order
If you want to watch the movies in the order they were released, without regard to phases, this is the order for you.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! The ultimate guide to ordering Marvel movies. Whether you're a seasoned MCU veteran or a new recruit, we hope this guide helps you on your Marvel movie marathon. So, grab your popcorn, get comfortable, and enjoy the ride!