How to Watch the Marvel Movies in Order Like the Superhero You Are

Whether you’re a newer superhero fan or someone who just takes comfort in chilling out with Captain America and Iron Man, watching the Marvel movies in order is always a fun exercise. After all, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has something for everyone. Female superheroes? Oh hi there, Black Widow and Captain Marvel. Raging and unlikely heroes? We’d like to introduce you to Bruce Banner. A complex storyline full of plots, twists, turns, crossovers and Easter eggs? Oh, the MCU has you covered, and then some.

Watching the MCU isn’t just entertainment, it’s a sheer, cinematic experience. And it’s one that you can enjoy in a variety of ways. If you love a specific character you could essentially follow their journey from beginning to end. Or, if you’re a purist, you could do a timeline deep dive. Want to watch the magic as it unfolded in real-time? Watch the movies in release order instead. There are myriad ways to watch, and with new projects coming out all the time, there’s a ton to dig into. Just make sure you’ve got ample microwave movie popcorn, drinks (maybe even including your favorite beers) and other supplies on hand.

Where Can I Watch Marvel Movies?

Disney+ is your one-stop shop to watch everything and anything Marvel, with a couple of notable exceptions (see our next section). Disney bought Marvel Entertainment way back at the end of 2009 (the deal closed on New Year’s Eve), and now nearly every single movie and TV show in the MCU is available to stream on the channel. That means you can pick up or pause whenever you want, taking in all of the superhero drama at your own pace, from the comfort of your couch.

Unfortunately, you will need a Disney+ subscription to watch though. When the Mouse House first launched its service in 2020, it originally offered a free trial. However, those days are long gone. Now, you have a few options on how to subscribe:

• $7.99 per month for Disney+
• $13.99 per month for a basic Disney+ bundle with Hulu and ESPN+
• $19.99 per month for a Disney+ bundle with ad-free Hulu and ESPN+
• $79.99 for a full year of Disney+, which basically gives you two months for free

It’s worth noting that some companies, like Verizon, will also offer a free Disney+ subscription when you sign up for their services.

Which Marvel Movies Aren’t On Disney Plus?

You can watch most of the Marvel movies in order on Disney+, but there are a few exceptions. Distribution rights for the Spider-Man movies, as well as The Incredible Hulk, are owned by other companies. Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox was the original studio behind franchises like X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool. Those movies are now a part of Disney (which also acquired Fox) and are considered canon, but they aren’t necessarily a part of the actual MCU.

For the purposes of this roundup, we’ve included The Incredible Hulk and most of the Spider-Man movies (except for the standalone films) in our timelines below. But you’ll need to rent or buy them online in order to include them in your own MCU-watching experience.

Where To Watch Marvel Movies Not on Disney+

The Incredible Hulk

Rent or buy The Incredible Hulk.

Spider-Man Trilogy

Catch Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, on Peacock.

The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2

Rent or buy The Amazing Spider-Man.

Rent or buy The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (also available on the FX Now app and FuboTV).

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Rent or buy Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 

Rent or buy Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (also available on the FX Now app and FuboTV).

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Rent or buy Spider-Man: Far From Home (also available on FuboTV).

The Venom Series

Rent or buy Venom (also available on the FX Now app).

Rent or buy Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage.

Where Can I Watch Marvel TV Shows?

Just like the Marvel Movies, many of the MCU TV Shows, from WandaVision and Loki to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Hawkeye are available to stream on Disney+. Even animated series, like M.O.D.O.K. and What If, as well as older series like Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are available to stream. We have included Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in our chronological roundup, below.

It’s worth noting that not all Marvel character TV shows are available on the streaming service. For a brief period of time beginning in 2013, Netflix was all-in on these shows, giving us the likes of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. These shows are also considered canon in the MCU universe (Marvel refers to the group of shows as the “Marvel Street-Level Heroes” or the “Marvel Knights” series), so we have included them in the chronological roundup below as well.

How to Watch the Marvel Movies and TV Shows in Chronological Order

• Captain America: The First Avenger
• Marvel’s Agent Carter Season 1
• Marvel’s Agent Carter Season 2
• Captain Marvel
• Iron Man
• Iron Man 2
• The Incredible Hulk
• Thor
• The Avengers
• Iron Man 3
• Thor: The Dark World
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier
• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 1
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
• Daredevil Season 1
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 2
• Ant-Man
• Jessica Jones Season 1
• Daredevil Season 2
• Captain America: Civil War
• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 3
• Luke Cage Season 1
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• Doctor Strange
• Black Panther
• Iron Fist Season 1
• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 4
• The Defenders Season 1
• The Inhumans Season 1
• Thor: Ragnarok
• The Punisher Season 1
• Jessica Jones Season 2
• Luke Cage Season 2
• Cloak and Dagger
• The Runaways Season 1
• Daredevil Season 3
• The Punisher Season 2
• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 5
• Iron Fist Season 2
• Ant-Man and The Wasp
• Black Widow
• Avengers Infinity War
• Avengers: Endgame
• WandaVision
• The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
• Spider-Man: Far From Home
• Eternals
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Hawkeye
• Loki

How to Watch the Marvel Movies in Release Order

• Iron Man (2008)
• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• Thor (2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Ant-Man (2015)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Doctor Strange (2016)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• Black Widow (2021)
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
• Eternals (2021)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Timeline Versus Release Order

How you watch these projects really is a personal preference, but many fans feel that if you’re getting into the MCU for the very first time, you should probably watch it in release order. That way you can notice how the technology changed over the years while also watching the famous post-credit scenes, which will give a full appreciation for which movie they’re setting up next.

However, if all of the timelines confuse you or you’re looking to rewatch the series from the beginning, watching in the correct timeline may bring more clarity and help you appreciate future cameos and Easter eggs. (And isn’t half the fun of watching these movies and shows catching all of the hidden secrets?)

The Best MCU Gear and Merch

1. Lego Super Heroes Marvel Tri-Pack

BEST FOR CREATIVE BREAKS

2. Marvel Ultimate Periodic Table Of Elements Graphic T-Shirt

BEST TO LOUNGE IN

3. POP Funko Marvel: Year of The Shield

BEST FOR COLLECTORS

4. Marvel Comics Grid Ceramic Coffee Mug

BEST FOR MOVIE-MARATHONING

5. Marvel Legends Iron Man Electronic Helmet

BEST FOR DOWNRIGHT FUN

AndaSeat’s New Marvel Collaboration Brings the Avengers to Your Gaming Chair