Watch Order: Marvel Phases Explained
Why You Should Watch The MCU By Their Phase Numbers
Listen, the ongoing Marvel phases (or in this case, Marvel Phases One to Six) order exist for a reason. There’s more to it than just arranging the films by their release dates in theaters worldwide.
This is essentially how the marvel cinematic universe was built from the ground up, which, of course, would start off by introducing the main superheroes who started the unstoppable Avengers team.
READ MORE: Will We Ever See a Live-Action Star Wars X Marvel Crossover? Everything We Know So Far
Marvel Phase 1 (2008-2012)
- Iron Man
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- Thor
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- The Avengers
In this case, Marvel Phase 1 began with Tony Stark/Iron Man, Bruce Banner/Hulk (the Edward Norton version, not Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans).
You may even notice that the longer you continue down this binge-watching journey by its phases that the MCU is called the ‘MCU’ for a reason. Marvel has basically compiled each batch of films (and series) which contain overarching themes.
Marvel Phase 1 is where the original Avengers show up and how they came together in the end, a timely arrangement, wouldn’t you say?
Marvel Phase 2 (2013-2015)
- Iron Man 3
- Thor: The Dark World
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
Well, now that you know who the main superheroes to look out for since Marvel Phase 1, Marvel Phase 2 comes back with sequels, a new mission for the Avengers, and a new team called Guardians of the Galaxy, along with an additional hero, Ant-Man.
A traumatized Tony Stark, Thor finding trouble with some Dark Elves, and Captain America tries to save his brainwashed supersoldier friend from the government.
Though neither the Guardians nor Ant-Man become part of the Avengers, they set up for what’s to come when the Avengers found new trouble among their midst.
Marvel Phase 3 (2016-2019)
- Captain America: Civil War
- Doctor Strange
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Captain Marvel
- Avengers: Endgame
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
Captain America bands together with Falcon, Bucky, Ant-Man, and Black Widow up against Tony Stark, War Machine, Vision, Spider-Man, and Black Panther in trying to prove who was right: that superheroes need to comply with the government’s conditions.
Thor is forced to team up with Loki, alongside the Valkyrie and the Hulk to go up against their long lost sister, Hela, the goddess of death. We meet the first ever Avenger Nick Fury took inspiration from in building his band of heroes.
This Marvel Phase 3 is called the ‘phase to end all phases’ for a reason. The Avengers lost to Thanos, and as Marvel’s big bad won and snapped half of the universe out of existence.
The original Avengers who didn’t get snapped out of existence are left to defend the universe and bring back everyone from ash. Unfortunately, a severe death caused a butterfly effect to Peter Parker’s sequel, leading him to defend himself and stand on his own without the help of the Avengers.
Marvel Phase 4 (2021-2022)
- WandaVision
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
- Black Widow
- Loki Season 1
- What If…?
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Eternals
- Hawkeye
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Moon Knight
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Ms. Marvel
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- She-Hulk: Attorney At Law
- Werewolf By Night
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
The emergence of the multiverse arises to the center spotlight in the MCU this Marvel Phase 4. This Marvel Phase kickstarts with a first Disney Plus series with WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki.
Loki Season 1 sets the clock for the next Marvel big bad after the death of He Who Remains: Kang the Conqueror in his venture off to branch out the multiverse for his own accord.
We also uncover the existence of the Eternals, one of the most crucial characters that could have defeated Thanos alongside the Avengers.
More new heroes emerge this Marvel Phase 4, which include Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Black Widow, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals characters, Moon Knight (Oscar Isaac), and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Marvel Phase 5 (2023-2025)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
- Secret Invasion
- Loki Season 2
- The Marvels
- Blade
- Agatha: Coven of Chaos
- Daredevil: Born Again
- Captain America: New World Order
- Thunderbolts
- Echo
- Ironheart
The beginning of a new era, in which the original Avengers are no longer a part of the overarching stories: The Multiverse Saga. Although Marvel Studios has definitely hit a snag in the progression of Marvel Phase 5, this phase holds a promising future into what the new Avengers team would turn out to be.
Marvel Phase 6 (2025-2027)
- Deadpool 3
- Fantastic Four
- Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
- Avengers: Secret Wars
As of writing, the Marvel Phase 6 is still far off into the future, however, Kevin Feige had already announced these films at Comic-Con in 2022.
Not to mention, given that another build-up is occurring for the MCU, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars are more than likely ending the Multiverse Saga.
Of course, don’t forget the merging of other heroes (apart from Sony in Spider-Man: No Way Home), with Fantastic Four being one of the frontrunners in becoming a new addition to the MCU.
ALSO READ: Marvel Movies & Series To Watch Before Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Watch Order: MCU Timeline Order Explained
Why You Should Watch The MCU By The MCU Timeline Order
You may have heard of the MCU Timeline order (via GamesRadar) by now. And no, it is not dependent on the Marvel Phases.
The MCU Timeline starts off with the introduction of Captain America, how the Avengers came to be in Captain Marvel, up to how the Avengers lost the universe, bringing the multiverse on the map.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, as the acronym suggests, is pretty much bringing the Marvel Comics to life in theaters and with the multiverse now circulating the franchise, it’s only a matter of time before we get to see more heroes added into the MCU roster.
The MCU Timeline is often preferred by fans, considering it’s a different perspective to start off the universe with. And if you’ve got theories you want to prove, this might be the watch order you’re looking for.
Apart from following the official timeline of when each MCU heroes and stories occur, the MCU timeline gives off a more accurate depiction on following how Marvel Studios decided to tell the story from start to finish.
- Captain America: The First Avenger (1942-1943)
- Captain Marvel (1995)
- Iron Man (2010)
- Iron Man 2 (2011)
- The Incredible Hulk (2011)
- Thor (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Iron Man 3 (2012)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014)
- I Am Groot (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)
- Doctor Strange (2016-2017)
- Black Widow (2017)
- Black Panther (2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2017)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2017)
- Avengers: Endgame (2018-2023)
- Loki (somewhere in the multiverse timeline)
- What If…? (somewhere in the multiverse timeline)
- WandaVision (2023)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2023-2024)
- Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ren Rings (2023-2024)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2024)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2024)
- Eternals (2024)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2024)
- Hawkeye (2024)
- Moon Knight (2025)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2025)
- She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2025)
- Secret Invasion (2025)
- Ms. Marvel (2025)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2025)
- Werewolf By Night (2025)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2025)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2025)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2026)
So, Which Watch Order Should I Start With The MCU?
Overall, it honestly depends on you as the viewer. Considering that the MCU has existed for a long, long time, there is a chance you had already been spoiled in the previous films and series, as well as the MCU storyline.
However, spoilers don’t always get rid of the fun. Try out these different watch orders, and you’ll see the MCU in a different light, as many MCU fans have recommended.
Either way, enjoying the MCU franchise is the most important goal here. You might want to kick it down a notch if you want to prevent yourself from experiencing superhero fatigue.
Not to mention, since Marvel Phase Five continues to get its delayed releases and filming cancellations, the most you can do now is wait around and take your time immersing in the world of Marvel.
You can watch all Marvel movies and series available to stream on Disney Plus.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!