Marvel Movies in Order: Every MCU Film and Series Before Avengers: Doomsday

Title image: @heyalexboom

In short: In release order, the Marvel movies start with Iron Man (2008) and currently end with Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), that is 38 films across six phases. In chronological order you start with Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain Marvel. Avengers: Doomsday opens in German cinemas on 16 December 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in December 2027.

Thirty-eight films plus a good dozen series: the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now bigger than some of the multiverses inside it. Whether you are new or want a refresher before Avengers: Doomsday, the first question is always the same: where do I even start?

Here is the complete Marvel order, once by release date and once chronologically by story. Plus my pick of the films you really should watch before Doomsday. And if your marathon still needs gear, you will find everything for Iron Man, Thor and friends in our Marvel merch.

Marvel movies in release order

Release order is the best way through the MCU for most people. You experience the story the way the cinema told it, with every surprise and post-credits scene in the right place. The films are grouped into phases and each phase ends on a big turning point.

Phase 1

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

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

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)

Phase 4

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

31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
33. The Marvels (2023)
34. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
35. Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
36. Thunderbolts* (2025)

Phase 6

37. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
38. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
39. Avengers: Doomsday (in cinemas 16 December 2026)
40. Avengers: Secret Wars (December 2027)

Spider-Man in the MCU: Brand New Day and the road to Doomsday

Peter Parker has his own little series inside the big one. He first shows up in Captain America: Civil War, followed by Homecoming, Far From Home, No Way Home and, since this summer, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

No Way Home is especially worth a rewatch before the new Avengers films, because that is where the multiverse really cracks open. If you want Peter in his Iron Spider suit from Avengers: Infinity War on your shelf, grab the Iron Spider Funko Pop. The No Way Home look comes as the Spider-Man: Brand New Day Funko Pop in the No Way Home Suit. More web-slingers are waiting in our Spider-Man collection.

Marvel movies in chronological order

Chronological order tells the MCU the way it happens in the characters' world. It starts in the Second World War and then jumps to the 1990s. I mostly recommend it for your second run, because some twists show up earlier than you would expect.

The order follows the MCU timeline on Disney+. Sony's Spider-Man films are partly missing there, so I have slotted them in where they fit the story.

1. Captain America: The First Avenger
2. Captain Marvel
3. Iron Man
4. Iron Man 2
5. The Incredible Hulk
6. Thor
7. The Avengers
8. Thor: The Dark World
9. Iron Man 3
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
11. Guardians of the Galaxy
12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
13. Avengers: Age of Ultron
14. Ant-Man
15. Captain America: Civil War
16. Black Widow
17. Black Panther
18. Spider-Man: Homecoming
19. Doctor Strange
20. Thor: Ragnarok
21. Ant-Man and the Wasp
22. Avengers: Infinity War
23. Avengers: Endgame
24. Spider-Man: Far From Home
25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
26. Eternals
27. Spider-Man: No Way Home
28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
29. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
30. Thor: Love and Thunder
31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
33. The Marvels
34. Deadpool & Wolverine
35. Captain America: Brave New World
36. Thunderbolts*
37. Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The Fantastic Four: First Steps sits outside the timeline. The film is set in its own universe with a retro look, so you can slot it in whenever you like.

A marathon this long needs something warm in your hands. My favourite is the Groot 3D mug, with Baby Groot looking right back at you while you drink.

Marvel series in order on Disney+

Since 2021 the MCU has also continued in series and some of them matter for the films. Here are the live-action series in order of release:

1. WandaVision (2021)
2. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
3. Loki (2021, season 2 in 2023)
4. Hawkeye (2021)
5. Moon Knight (2022)
6. Ms. Marvel (2022)
7. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
8. Secret Invasion (2023)
9. Echo (2024)
10. Agatha All Along (2024)
11. Daredevil: Born Again (2025)
12. Ironheart (2025)
13. Wonder Man (2026)

On top of that there is the animated series What If...? and smaller specials like Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

If you only have time for one series, pick Loki. Without Loki you will only half understand the multiverse of the later films. Anyone who is Team Loki for life afterwards drinks their morning coffee from the Loki for President mug. WandaVision matters for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ms. Marvel leads straight into The Marvels.

What to watch before Avengers: Doomsday

Avengers: Doomsday opens in Germany on 16 December 2026. The Russo brothers are directing again and Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU, this time as Doctor Doom. Six weeks are not enough for all 38 films, so here is my shortlist:

1. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, because that is the last time the Avengers fought as a team.
2. Loki, both seasons, for the multiverse.
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
4. Deadpool & Wolverine, because this is where the walls between universes come down.
5. Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* for the new teams on Earth.
6. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, because Doctor Doom belongs to the Fantastic Four like Thanos belongs to the Infinity Gauntlet.

If you still have time after that, watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. For me those two are still the best thing the MCU has ever made. The whole team is waiting in our Avengers collection.

Marvel marathon: making movie night cosy

An MCU marathon is not a sprint. I always plan one phase per weekend, which leaves plenty of time before Doomsday and nobody falls asleep during Endgame.

The red Marvel logo cushion belongs under your head on the couch. For a toast after every won final battle there is the Marvel Symbols glasses set of 4 with the symbols of Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk and Thor.

And if you want to sit in front of the TV in the right outfit, wear the Captain America Distressed Shield T-shirt. As Steve Rogers would say: I can do this all day.

Marvel movies outside the MCU

Not every Marvel film belongs to the MCU. Before 2008 and alongside it, other studios brought Marvel characters to the screen. You do not need these series for the MCU, but some of their characters turn up again in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine.

The biggest series is Fox's X-Men saga, which starts with X-Men (2000) and ends with Dark Phoenix (2019). It also includes the Wolverine films, Logan, Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018).

Spider-Man had two series of his own before the MCU: the Tobey Maguire trilogy from 2002 to 2007 and The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 with Andrew Garfield. Sony also built its own Spider-Man universe with Venom, Morbius, Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter. My tip from that corner are the animated films Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

The Fantastic Four already hit cinemas in 2005, 2007 and 2015. Older standalone films include the Blade trilogy, Hulk (2003), Daredevil, Elektra, the Ghost Rider films and the Punisher films.

Marvel order FAQ

Which Marvel movie should you start with?

Start with Iron Man from 2008. It is where the MCU begins and it explains everything you need. Chronologically Captain America: The First Avenger comes first, but Iron Man is the better entry point for newcomers.

How many Marvel movies are there?

There are currently 38 MCU films, the latest being Spider-Man: Brand New Day. With Avengers: Doomsday in December 2026 it will be 39. On top of that there are 13 live-action series on Disney+.

When does Avengers: Doomsday come out?

Avengers: Doomsday opens in German cinemas on 16 December 2026 and in the US on 18 December 2026. The follow-up Avengers: Secret Wars is announced for December 2027.

Do you have to watch the Marvel series?

No, the films work without the series. I would still watch Loki and WandaVision, because they matter for the multiverse and for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Are the X-Men and Deadpool part of the MCU?

Deadpool has been part of the MCU since Deadpool & Wolverine, the older Fox X-Men films are not. Some of their characters do make guest appearances in the newer MCU films.

What is the best order to watch the Marvel movies?

For your first run, release order is best. Chronological order is worth it once you know the MCU and want to experience the story in a new way.

Now: grab the popcorn

Thirty-eight films sound like a lot, but one phase per weekend is very doable. By 16 December you are ready for Doomsday. All the gear for your marathon is waiting in our Marvel merch.