The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling saga of superhero films that spans over a decade and dozens of characters. But how do you watch them all in the best possible order? While you can always follow the release dates of the films, some fans prefer to watch them in chronological order, based on the events that happen in each film.

In this guide, however, we will list all the MCU films and series in our ideal order, along with some sidetrack options to enhance your viewing experience. We’ll also help you with “pre-game” viewing for later entries should you plan to follow one character through the timeline. You’ll also find the basics for each entry: Rating, Runtime, Rotten Tomatoes Scores (Critics & Fans), and IMDb Star Ratings. Whether you are a newcomer or a veteran fan, this is the ultimate way to enjoy the Marvel Cinematic Universe, according to us.

For a no-frills basic order list (both with and without optional content), jump to it here.

Due to the nature of this list, some choices must be explained in a way that may ruin a surprise or a plot point. In fact, even the order that some of these are placed could count as a light spoiler. So, venture forth only if you have already watched through the MCU or if spoilers aren’t a big deal to you.

Film (2008)

PG-13 | 126 min | RT: 94% / 91% | IMDb: 7.9

Synopsis: Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon, but instead creates a high-tech suit of armor to escape and fight evil.

Why this placement? It’s the first movie of the franchise. Though some film’s stories pre-date this movie in the timeline, this movie serves as a foundation to the entire MCU.

Is this optional? No. This is foundational.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. You can come into this fresh.

Film (2008)

PG-13 | 112 min | RT: 67% / 69% | IMDb: 6.6

Synopsis: Dr. Bruce Banner, on the run from the military, seeks a cure for his transformation into the Hulk, but faces a new creature, The Abomination.

Why this placement? Release order fits best. The events of this movie appear to happen at the same time as the events in Iron Man 2, so these two can be swapped around if desired.

Is this optional? Not anymore. Prior to What If…? and She-Hulk (and a couple upcoming projects, too), most would have said this wasn’t a necessary watch, but now there are plenty of callbacks to justify its necessary inclusion.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man (2008) – Optional – Helps for the end credits scene.

Film (2010)

PG-13 | 124 min | RT: 72% / 71% | IMDb: 6.9

Synopsis: Tony Stark, now known to the world as Iron Man, resists government pressure to share his technology while battling health issues and a vengeful Russian scientist.

Why this placement? Just following the timeline.

Is this optional? No. This movie sets up Tony Stark’s role with the Avenger Initiative fairly heavily.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man (2008)

One Shot (2011)

Not Rated | 4 min | RT: – – / 30% | IMDb: 6.4

Synopsis: S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Coulson and Sitwell scheme to prevent Emil Blonsky from joining the Avengers Initiative by sending Tony Stark to sabotage the negotiations.

Why this placement? This is a bit of a flashback, as timeline wise, this scene takes place before the end credit scene of The Incredible Hulk. But that end credits scene technically occurs after Iron Man 2. This is a compromise.

Is this optional? Yes. Aside from some light character building, there is little to offer here, and it is not integral to the main storyline.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)

One Shot (2011)

Not Rated | 4 min | RT: – – / 58% | IMDb: 7.1

Synopsis: Agent Coulson stops at a convenience store and deals with a coincidental robbery during his visit, while on his way to the crater site where Thor’s hammer went down.

Why this placement? It takes place during the events of Iron Man 2, between Coulson leaving his Stark “babysitting duties” and the end credit scene and it a pre-cursor to Thor.

Is this optional? GOSH, YES. I mean, Coulson is fun and all, but it adds nothing.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man 2 (2010)

Film (2011)

PG-13 | 115 min | RT: 77% / 76% | IMDb: 7.0

Synopsis: The arrogant warrior god Thor is banished from Asgard to Earth, where he must fight to reclaim his lost powers and prove himself worthy.

Why this placement? This plays out directly after Iron Man 2.

Is this optional? No. This is foundational.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. You can come into this movie fresh.

Film (2011)

PG-13 | 124 min | RT: 80% / 75% | IMDb: 6.9

Synopsis: Steve Rogers, a frail man transformed into the super-soldier Captain America during World War II, must stop the Red Skull from using the Tesseract as an energy source for world domination.

Why this placement? Chronologically, this movie is mostly set all before the events of Iron Man, until the ending. Because of the lead-in to The Avengers, its original release order is still our favorite placement.

Is this optional? Not at all. This is foundational.

What should I watch before this?

1. Thor (2011) – Optional – The end credits scene features a main villain in Thor and a plot point for The Avengers.

Film (2010)

PG-13 | 143 min | RT: 91% / 91% | IMDb: 8.0

Synopsis: Earth’s mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.

Why this placement? All pieces so far come together to converge on this beautiful moment in time.

Is this optional? HECK NO AT ALL. This is why we’re here, nerds.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
4. Thor (2011)
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

One Shot (2012)

Not Rated | 12 min | RT: – – / 48% | IMDb: 6.6

Synopsis: A down-on-their-luck couple, Benjamin Pollack and Claire Weiss, find a discarded Chitauri Gun after the Battle of New York and decide to use it to rob banks.

Why this placement? It’s right after the Battle of New York.

Is this optional? Uh huh. It’s a gag, nothing more.

What should I watch before this?

1. The Avengers (2012)

Film (2013)

PG-13 | 130 | RT: 79% / 78% | IMDb: 7.1

Synopsis: Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, embarks on a quest for retribution after his world is destroyed by a formidable terrorist known as the Mandarin.

Why this placement? This follows the events of The Avengers.

Is this optional? No. This is a key epilogue for The Avengers and sets the tone for the next Phase of the MCU.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. Iron Man 2 (2010)
3. The Avengers (2012)

TV Series (Seasons 1 – 7, 2013 – 2020)

TV-PG | 87 hr 13 min | RT: 95% / 91% | IMDb: 7.5

Synopsis: Agent Phil Coulson and his team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents handle strange new cases, investigate Project Centipede, and uncover the infiltration of the terrorist group Hydra within their organization.

Why this placement? This show followed up on The Avengers, making several references to a key event in the film.

Is this optional? Yes. As time went on, even with references to future Thor and Captain America movie events in the early seasons, this show and its characters were never really validated by the main story. By the end, most do not consider this show canon, though that isn’t official one way or the other. Bottom line: If you skip it, it won’t effect your MCU experience negatively. However, it’s a good enough show that we’d recommend it.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain Marvel (2019) – Optional – While Agent Coulson is featured prominently in some scenes, it isn’t required viewing, but it is nice to see his earlier days.
2. Iron Man (2008) – Optional – If you want the full history of Agent Coulson, though he is only minorly featured in this film.
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
4. The Avengers (2012)

Film (2013)

PG-13 | 112 min | RT: 67% / 75% | IMDb: 6.8

Synopsis: Thor embarks on a perilous personal journey, reuniting with Jane Foster and allying with his treacherous brother Loki, to save both Earth and Asgard from the Dark Elves who seek to plunge the universe into darkness using a weapon known as the Aether.

Why this placement? This follows the events of The Avengers.

Is this optional? No. As one of the weaker MCU movies up to this point, early on, we’d have said you could skip it. But it has become important, as a lot of moments in the film are visited again later in the timeline.

What should I watch before this?

1. Thor (2011)
2. The Avengers (2012)

One Shot (2013)

Not Rated | 15 min | RT: – – / 79% | IMDb: 7.4

Synopsis: Peggy Carter, after World War II, battles sexism within the Strategic Scientific Reserve and embarks on a solo mission to acquire the mysterious Zodiac.

Why this placement? Though set after the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, it’s a good check-in on Agent Carter as her story continues in the past.

Is this optional? Yes, but it is a nice reminder of the character leading into the second Captain America film.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Film (2014)

PG-13 | 136 min | RT: 90% / 92% | IMDb: 7.8

Synopsis: Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, teams up with Black Widow to uncover a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D., while facing a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

Why this placement? This follows the events of The Avengers.

Is this optional? No. Cap is always a requirement.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
2. The Avengers (2012)

One Shot (2014)

Not Rated | 14 min | RT: – – / 62% | IMDb: 7.2

Synopsis: Trevor Slattery, after the events of Iron Man 3, has become an infamous icon and is now locked up in a high-security prison, where he is interviewed by a documentary filmmaker.

Why this placement? This fits here in a logical timeline between Iron Man 3 and when we see him next.

Is this optional? Yes, but it is fun backstory that will be referenced later in the timeline.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man 3 (2013)

Film (2014)

PG-13 | 121 min | RT: 92% / 92% | IMDb: 8.0

Synopsis: An epic space adventure where Peter Quill, a brash adventurer, becomes the target of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe.

Why this placement? This was release order. It can kinda be placed anywhere prior to the next Avengers movie, as it does not yet have a huge connection to the overall story.

Is this optional? No. And furthermore, no one should ever skip a GOTG movie.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. This is the start of a brand new story. Aside from references to “Infinity Stones”, there is little to connect it to anything else yet.

Film (2017)

PG-13 | 136 min | RT: 85% / 87% | IMDb: 7.6

Synopsis: A thrilling cosmic adventure where the Guardians, now recognized as heroes, must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage.

Why this placement? The events of this movie follow almost immediately after the event of the first movie in this series, though they play catch up in the SEVERAL end credits scenes.

Is this optional? NO, NO, NO

What should I watch before this?

1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Netflix Series (Seasons 1 – 3, 2015 – 2018)

TV-MA | 35 hr 10 min | RT: 92% / 98% | IMDb: 8.6

Synopsis: Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer by day, uses his heightened senses to fight crime as a masked vigilante in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood at night.

Why this placement? Mainly the release date, but also to lineup with future events.

Is this optional? Up in the air. Matt Murdock/Daredevil, as well as Wilson Fisk, have recently been introduced in the main MCU movies and series (with The Punisher on the way), but it is currently unclear if this show is canon or not. For now, we’d recommend watching at least the first two seasons to get a feel the three characters we just mentioned, but if you skipped it, it shouldn’t hurt your viewing experience much.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. This is the start of the Defenders saga on Netflix.

Film (2015)

PG-13 | 141 min | RT: 76% / 82% | IMDb: 7.3

Synopsis: Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, but when things go wrong, it’s up to Earth’s mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.

Why this placement? Release order is the best order here.

Is this optional? Uh, no fam.

What should I watch before this?

1. The Avengers (2015)

Netflix Series (Seasons 1 – 3, 2015 – 2019)

TV-MA | 34 hr 18 min | RT: 83% / 79% | IMDb: 7.9

Synopsis: A superpowered woman, after a traumatic incident involving the villainous Kilgrave, transitions from a brief superhero career to become a private investigator.

Why this placement? Lining up with the Defenders timeline.

Is this optional? Yes. There are currently no plans to bring Jessica Jones to the main MCU. However, we highly recommend Season 1 for David Tennant alone.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. Just dive in.

Film (2015)

PG-13 | 117 min | RT: 83% / 85% | IMDb: 7.3

Synopsis: A master thief named Scott Lang, with the help of his mentor Dr. Hank Pym, must embrace his inner hero, use a suit that allows him to shrink in size and increase in strength, and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Why this placement? Chosen mostly to follow release schedule, however, this movie would work just as well viewed directly before Captain America: Civil War.

Is this optional? Not even a little… see what I did there?

What should I watch before this? Technically, nothing. There are references and cameos, but nothing you need before this movie.

Netflix Series (Seasons 1 – 2, 2016 – 2018)

TV-MA | 23 hr 56 min | RT: 87% / 71% | IMDb: 7.3

Synopsis: A man, after a sabotaged experiment, gains super strength and unbreakable skin, becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in Harlem, New York City, but is soon pulled out of the shadows to fight a battle for the heart of his city.

Why this placement? Following the Defenders release schedule.

Is this optional? Yes. There are currently no plans to bring Luke Cage to the main MCU story.

What should I watch before this?

1. Jessica Jones (Season 1, 2015) – Luke is a heavily featured supporting character in the first season, where we learn some key elements of his story for the first time.

Film (2016)

PG-13 | 115 min | RT: 89% / 86% | IMDb: 7.5

Synopsis: A world-renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Stephen Strange, after a devastating car accident, embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

Why this placement? Just a release order boy here.

Is this optional? No. Doctor Strange is about to be a big deal.

What should I watch before this? Nothing, really. There are references to the Avengers, but nothing that is required viewing.

Netflix Series (Seasons 1 – 2, 2017 – 2018)

TV-MA | 20 hr 38 min | RT: 37% / 67% | IMDb: 6.4

Synopsis: Danny Rand resurfaces 15 years after being presumed dead and, with the power of the Iron Fist, seeks to reclaim his past and fulfill his destiny.

Why this placement? Keeping pace with the Defenders saga release schedule.

Is this optional? Yes. There are no plans to bring Iron First to the main MCU storyline.

What should I watch before this? Nothing, really. There may be some cameos or references, but nothing necessary. I’m gonna be honest, I couldn’t get through it.

Netflix Series (2017)

TV-MA | 6 hr 38 min | RT: 78% / 70% | IMDb: 7.2

Synopsis: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, are four singular heroes who team up with the common goal of saving New York City.

Why this placement? This follows the release schedule for the Netflix shows.

Is this optional? Most likely. Only one of the four heroes is being called up to the main MCU storyline. It is unlikely the events of this limited series will impact future storylines.

What should I watch before this?

1. Daredevil (Seasons 1-2, 2015-2016)
2. Jessica Jones (Season 1, 2015)
3. Luke Cage (Season 1, 2016)
4. Iron Fist (Season 1, 2017)

Netflix Series (Seasons 1 – 2, 2017 – 2019)

TV-MA | 22 hr 59 min | RT: 65% / 78% | IMDb: 8.5

Synopsis: Frank Castle, known as The Punisher, uncovers a deep conspiracy after exacting revenge on those responsible for the death of his wife and children.

Why this placement? Partially following the release order, mainly just want to wrap up the Netflix shows, man, sheesh.

Is this optional? For now. The Punisher has been confirmed to be on the way to the main MCU storyline soon. It is currently unclear if any of his appearances on Netflix will be canon or necessary for his new storylines.

What should I watch before this?

1. Daredevil (Season 2, 2016)

Film (2016)

PG-13 | 147 min | RT: 91% / 89% | IMDb: 7.8

Synopsis: A disagreement over international oversight of the Avengers fractures the team into two opposing factions—one led by Steve Rogers (Captain America) and the other by Tony Stark (Iron Man).

Why this placement? This fits best a little further down the line from the release order, but not too much of a move.

Is this optional? Never. You should be watching it right now, in fact. This is essentially Avengers 2.5.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. Iron Man 2 (2010)
3. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
4. The Avengers (2012)
5. Iron Man 3 (2013)
6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
7. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
8. Ant-Man (2015)

One Shot (2016)

Not Rated | 4 min | RT: – – / 73% | IMDb: 7.8

Synopsis: Thor, taking a break from his space journeys, becomes roommates with an ordinary office worker named Darryl Jacobson in Australia, and the two navigate their daily lives.

Why this placement? This is said to take place during the events of Civil War.

Is this optional? Yes. This is a goof and likely not canon. But even if it is, it has no bearing on the main MCU story.

What should I watch before this? We’ll say nothing. Technically, you’d want to watch at least Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War to understand the premise, but that’s a lot of plot building for a mockumentary joke film.

One Shot (2017)

Not Rated | 4 min | RT: – – / 82% | IMDb: 7.8

Synopsis: Thor and his roommate Darryl navigate their domestic responsibilities, with Darryl shouldering most of the cleaning duties.

Why this placement? It is simply a continuation of the gag from the previous one shot.

Is this optional? Heavens, yes. But it’s a little better than the first one.

What should I watch before this?

1. Team Thor (2016)

TV Series (2017)

TV-PG | 5 hr 37 min | RT: 11% / 43% | IMDb: 4.9

Synopsis: The Inhuman Royal Family, led by Black Bolt, escape to Hawaii after a military coup in their kingdom of Attilan, and must save themselves and the world.

Why this placement? This is where it released and there is no better place to put it. Technically, you could watch it anytime between Age of Ultron and Infinity War.

Is this optional? Mostly. This series was canceled too soon to tell if it would have a major impact on the main MCU, but we do see a main character return down the line (albeit from a different universe), so it might be worth it to give this short season a watch.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. No need.

Film (2017)

PG-13 | 133 min | RT: 92% / 87% | IMDb: 7.4

Synopsis: Peter Parker tries to balance his life as a high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, under the mentorship of Tony Stark, while facing a new menace, the Vulture.

Why this placement? This movie takes place both during and after the events of Civil War.

Is this optional? Nah, fam. Nah.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Hulu Series (Seasons 1 – 3, 2017 – 2019)

TV-14 | 26 hr 20 min | RT: 84% / 69% | IMDb: 6.9

Synopsis: Six teenagers discover that their parents are secretly members of a super-villain cabal called The Pride, leading them to unite against their parents and go on the run.

Why this placement? Mainly just release schedule.

Is this optional? Currently, yes. This show was canceled and it is unknown if anyone from the show will make an appearance later in the main MCU story. While some references to the main MCU story are made, the events of this series had no bearing on the main storyline, aside from the existence of the Darkhold (later utilized in WandaVision).

What should I watch before this?

1. Cloak & Dagger (Seasons 1-2, 2018-2019) – Optional – You can watch this before Season 3 of Runaways to fully enjoy the cameos.

Film (2018)

PG-13 | 134 min | RT: 96% / 79% | IMDb: 7.3

Synopsis: T’Challa, the new king of the advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must defend his land from being torn apart by enemies from outside and within.

Why this placement? The events of this movie come shortly after the events of Civil War.

Is this optional? No. Black Panther is just getting started.

What should I watch before this?

1. Avenger: Age of Ultron (2015) – Optional – There is some set-up from one of the villains in Black Panther here, but not the main one, and it’s not integral to the story.
2. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

TV Series (Seasons 1 – 2, 2018 – 2019)

TV-14 | 13 hr 56 min | RT: 87% / 66% | IMDb: 6.6

Synopsis: Two teenagers, Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson, who come from very different backgrounds, find themselves burdened and awakened to newly acquired superpowers while falling in love.

Why this placement? This is about where the show fits in the release order. The show is canceled after two seasons, but these two characters cameo on Runaways final season.

Is this optional? Yes. It has no real bearing on the main MCU story and likely won’t be making a comeback.

What should I watch before this?

1. Runaways (Seasons 1-2, 2017-2018) – Optional – Watching these will give you set up for the main characters final appearances.

What should I watch after this?

1. Runaways (Season 3, 2019) – Optional – The story of Cloak & Dagger comes to an end on TV in this season.

Film (2018)

PG-13 | 118 min | RT: 87% / 80% | IMDb: 7.0

Synopsis: Scott Lang, also known as Ant-Man, balances his life as a superhero and a father, and is presented with an urgent new mission by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym. He fights alongside The Wasp (Hope) to uncover secrets from their past.

Why this placement? Originally, this was released between Infinity War and Endgame, but aside from an end credit scene, there is no reason to watch it that late.

Is this optional? No. This film features a crucial plot point for an upcoming Avengers film.

What should I watch before this?

1. Ant-Man (2015)
2. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Film (2021)

PG-13 | 134 min | RT: 79% / 91% | IMDb: 6.7

Synopsis: Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy tied to her past arises.

Why this placement? Though this movie was released well after Endgame, it is entirely set between the events of Civil War and Infinity War, with an end credits scene teasing the future of her sister. It fits perfectly where we have transplanted it.

Is this optional? No. It stands to reason that since this story was added to the timeline long after Endgame, that we don’t really need it, as we got along without it before. But Natasha’s sister Yelena is already a featured side-character in another series, with plans for more in the future. So, for her sake, yes, watch it.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man 2 (2010)
2. The Avengers (2012)
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
5. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Film (2017)

PG-13 | 130 min | RT: 93% / 87% | IMDb: 7.9

Synopsis: Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela.

Why this placement? This actually chronicles what Thor has been doing since Age of Ultron, or at least, the tail end of it. It also leads straight into Infinity War.

Is this optional? No. And it’s a top 3 MCU movie, folks.

What should I watch before this?

1. Thor (2011)
2. The Avengers (2012)
3. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

One Shot (2018)

Not Rated | 4 min | RT: – – / 40% | IMDb: 6.6

Synopsis: After Thor moves out, Darryl gets a new roommate, the Grandmaster, who, after being exiled from Sakaar, has plans to take over Earth with Darryl by his side.

Why this placement? This goofy short is set right after the events of Thor: Ragnarok.

Is this optional? Yes. And it probably isn’t canon. But it’s funny.

What should I watch before this?

1. Team Thor (2016)
2. Team Thor: Part 2 (2017)
3. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Film (2018)

PG-13 | 149 min | RT: 85% / 92% | IMDb: 8.4

Synopsis: The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy attempt to prevent Thanos from collecting the six all-powerful Infinity Stones as part of his quest to kill half of all life in the universe.

Why this placement? This is what it’s been building to, baby!

Is this optional? … How dare you.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
2. The Avengers (2012)
3. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
7. Doctor Strange (2016)
8. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
9. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
10. Black Panther (2018)
11. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
12. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Film (2019)

PG-13 | 123 min | RT: 79% / 45% | IMDb: 6.8

Synopsis: Set in 1995, Carol Danvers becomes Captain Marvel after Earth is caught in the center of a galactic conflict between two alien civilizations.

Why this placement? This is where it was originally released, despite being set decades in the past. It was done to both preserve the surprise at the very end of Infinity War and introduce us to a large side character featured in Endgame. So, we think the original placement is best.

Is this optional? No. She is a key figure in Endgame. You need the context. Plus, this movie is just as much about Nick Fury’s story.

What should I watch before this?

1. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – Optional – The movie can stand alone, as the start of a new story. And she is only teased in the last couple seconds of Infinity War. But it does give full context on why she is called and leads into her next appearance in Endgame.

TV Series (Seasons 1 – 2, 2015 – 2016)

TV-PG | 12 hr 37 min | RT: 86% / 77% | IMDb: 7.8

Synopsis: Peggy Carter, a secret agent in the 1940s, balances her life with covertly assisting Howard Stark, who has been framed for supplying deadly weapons to the enemies of the United States.

Why this placement? It’s hard to place this series in the watch order, simply because it is so displaced in time. But we choose this spot in order to catch up on what she has done since losing Steve Rogers to the ice, before we see her again in the future.

Is this optional? Yes. None of the stories told in this series are required viewing, as they have little to no bearing on the main storyline.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
2. Agent Carter (One Shot, 2013)

Film (2019)

PG-13 | 181 min | RT: 94% / 90% | IMDb: 8.4

Synopsis: The remaining Avengers take a final stand to reverse Thanos’ actions that wiped out half the universe, by utilizing time travel.

Why this placement? This is where the first MCU saga comes to an end.

Is this optional? I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
3. The Avengers (2012)
4. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
5. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
7. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
8. Doctor Strange (2016)
9. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
10. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
11. Black Panther (2018)
12. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
13. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
14. Captain Marvel (2019)

Film (2019)

PG-13 | 129 min | RT: 90% / 95% | IMDb: 7.4

Synopsis: Peter Parker joins his friends on a European vacation, where he agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks.

Why this placement? This is the epilogue to the “Infinity Saga”, serving as a bridge between Endgame and the next phase and the MCU.

Is this optional? No. It’s a must watch.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
2. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Disney+ Series (2021)

TV-PG | 5 hr 50 min | RT: 91% / 88% | IMDb: 7.9

Synopsis: Wanda Maximoff and Vision, two super-powered beings living their ideal suburban life, begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.

Why this placement? This series directly follows the events of Endgame.

Is this optional? No. This leads into a larger story.

What should I watch before this?

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
2. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Disney+ Series (2021)

TV-14 | 5 hr | RT: 85% / 82% | IMDb: 7.1

Synopsis: Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) team up in a global adventure to stop anti-patriots who believe the world was better during the Blip, set six months after Sam Wilson was handed the mantle of Captain America.

Why this placement? This series directly follows the events of Endgame.

Is this optional? No. This leads into a larger story.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
3. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
4. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
5. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
6. Avengers: Endgame (2018)

Disney+ Series (2021)

TV-14 | 4 hr 19 min | RT: 91% / 92% | IMDb: 8.2

Synopsis: The mercurial villain Loki, after stealing the Tesseract during the events of Avengers: Endgame, is brought to the mysterious Time Variance Authority (TVA) and is forced to help catch a dangerous variant version of himself.

Why this placement? This series directly follows the events of Endgame.

Is this optional? No. This leads into a larger story.

What should I watch before this?

1. Thor (2011)
2. The Avengers (2012)
3. Avengers: Endgame (2019) – Loki appears in several more movies you have the option of adding in, but the version of Loki in this series is from directly after the events of the first Avengers movie.

Disney+ Series (2021)

TV-14 | 5 hr 15 min | RT: 94% / 92% | IMDb: 7.4

Synopsis: What If…? explores various alternate timelines across the multiverse, showing what would happen if major moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films occurred differently, as observed by the Watcher.

Why this placement? This is the first taste of the multiverse in action. All of these events are canon, just not in the main MCU timeline.

Is this optional? Ish. While it has no direct bearing on the main MCU storyline (so far), it does lay the groundwork for multiverse hijinks and may have a bigger impact on future events than we currently know. It’s also just a phenomenal series.

What should I watch before this? 

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
2. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
3. Thor (2011)
4. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
5. Doctor Strange (2016)
6. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
7. Iron Man (2008)
8. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Film (2021)

PG-13 | 132 min | RT: 92% / 98% | IMDb: 7.4

Synopsis: Shang-Chi, a master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.

Why this placement? This is the release order.

Is this optional? No. It’s unclear how the Ten Rings fits into the future of the MCU, but the end credits make it clear that they indeed will.

What should I watch before this?

1. Iron Man 3 (2013)
2. All Hail the King (2014)

Film (2021)

PG-13 | 156 min | RT: 47% / 77% | IMDb: 6.3

Synopsis: A group of immortal alien beings known as the Eternals, emerge from hiding after thousands of years to protect Earth from their ancient counterparts, the Deviants.

Why this placement? This is the original release order.

Is this optional? Ehhhh… no, probably not. Despite this movie being a bit of a letdown, it seems to be setting up a lot for the future, possibly well into the potential third saga.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. They’ve been asleep. They missed everything up until this point. THANKS FOR THE HELP WITH THANOS, JERKS.

Disney+ Series (2021)

TV-14 | 5 hr 39 min | RT: 92% / 88% | IMDb: 7.5

Synopsis: Former Avenger Clint Barton partners with Kate Bishop, a young archer aspiring to be a superhero, to confront enemies from his past in order to get back to his family in time for Christmas.

Why this placement? Release date.

Is this optional? No. This show sets up a new hero, continues the story of another one who was recently introduced, and introduces a former Netflix series villain to the main MCU storyline. It’s also a beautiful possible ending for Clint.

What should I watch before this?

1. Thor (2011)
2. The Avengers (2012)
3. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
4. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
5. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
6. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
7. Daredevil (Season 1, 2015) – Optional – A villain from this series is seen again, for the first time in the main MCU continuity.

Film (2021)

PG-13 | 148 min | RT: 93% / 98% | IMDb: 8.2

Synopsis: Peter Parker’s secret identity is revealed to the world, and in a desperate attempt to erase this knowledge, he turns to Doctor Strange for help, but the spell goes horribly wrong, shattering the multiverse and bringing in monstrous villains.

Why this placement? This is exactly where it fits in the story.

Is this optional? I WILL SLAP YOU.

What should I watch before this? (Buckle up.)

1. Spider-Man (2002)
2. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
3. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
4. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
5. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
6. Doctor Strange (2016)
7. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
8. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
9. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
10. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
11. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
12. Daredevil (Seasons 1-3, 2015-2018) – Optional – Matt Murdock makes a brief appearance, but it is his first time in the main MCU storyline.
13. Venom (2018) – Optional – There is a fun bit at the tail end of No Way Home featuring Eddie Brock.
14. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2012) – Optional – The final moments of this movie tease the crossover with Spider-Man.

What should I watch after this? These movies are not canon to the MCU, but all three versions of Spider-Man are referenced or even shown in this trilogy. And these movies are possibly the best superhero movies ever made (assuming they stick the landing with the yet-to-release third installment).

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse (2018)
2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse (2023)
3. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-verse (TBA)

Disney+ Series (2022)

TV-14 | 4 hr 47 min | RT: 86% / 89% | IMDb: 7.3

Synopsis: Steven Grant, a mild-mannered gift-shop employee, becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life, discovers he has dissociative identity disorder, and shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector.

Why this placement? This is release order, but could be moved in the future.

Is this optional? For now, yes. There is no real connection to anything else in the MCU just yet. But this will almost certainly change.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. It’s new and stands alone currently.

Disney+ Series (2022)

TV-14 | 3 hr 54 min | RT: 77% / 32% | IMDb: 5.3

Synopsis: Jennifer Walters, a single, 30-something attorney specializing in superhuman-oriented legal cases, also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk.

Why this placement? Release date. And it’s set relatively soon after Endgame.

Is this optional? Um… probably not. With the strange ending, it’s unclear if She-Hulk will (or even could) be featured further in the main MCU story. However, some characters and plot points introduced are definitely canon and affect the larger story.

What should I watch before this?

1. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
2. The Avengers (2012)
3. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
4. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
5. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
6. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
7. Daredevil (Seasons 1-3, 2015-2018) – Optional – Daredevil is a supporting character, but little is referenced from the original Netflix series, so it’s not required, but it will give you a better feel for the character.

Film (2022)

PG-13 | 126 min | RT: 73% / 85% | IMDb: 6.9

Synopsis: Doctor Strange teams up with a mysterious teenage girl who can travel across multiverses to battle multiple threats, including other-universe versions of himself, which threaten to wipe out millions across the multiverse.

Why this placement? Timeline coincides with WandaVision timeline.

Is this optional? No. This is a big payoff for the story of Wanda Maximoff and also showcases the scope of the multiverse.

What should I watch before this?

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
2. Doctor Strange (2016)
3. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
4. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
5. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
6. WandaVision (2021)
7. What If…? (Season 1, 2021) – Optional – A few characters similar to characters featured in this film are showcased.
8. X-Men (2000) – Optional – A version of a character from this movie is featured, played by the same actor.
9. Inhumans (2017) – Optional – A version of a character from this series is featured, played by the same actor.

Film (2022)

PG-13 | 118 min | RT: 63% / 77% | IMDb: 6.2

Synopsis: Thor embarks on a quest for inner peace, but his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks the extinction of all gods, leading Thor to team up with Valkyrie, Korg, and his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who now wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor.

Why this placement? Release order.

Is this optional? No. It might not be as good as Ragnarok, but it still lays the groundwork for the future.

What should I watch before this?

1. Thor (2011)
2. The Avengers (2012)
3. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
7. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Disney+ Special (2022)

TV-14 | 52 min | RT: 89% / 89% | IMBd: 7.2

Synopsis: Jack Russell, a werewolf, and a group of monster hunters compete for a powerful relic while facing a dangerous monster.

Why this placement? Conflicting interviews make the placing of this film on the MCU timeline tricky, as it is purposefully ambiguous as to if this is set in the past, present, or future – though the black and white aspect and nature of the film certainly is meant to imply that it is set in the past. For now, we are leaving it in release order until otherwise informed, mainly for the hope that a future crossover with Moon Knight is on the horizon.

Is this optional? Yeah. It’s pretty much a stand-alone story removed from the larger MCU story.

What should I watch before this? Nothing. Watch it on Halloween.

Film (2022)

PG-13 | 161 min | RT: 84% / 94% | IMDb: 6.7

Synopsis: Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje band together to protect Wakanda from intervening world powers following King T’Challa’s death.

Why this placement? Release order will do.

Is this optional? No. Not only because it is important to the overall story of the MCU, but also because it is a beautiful tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
2. Black Panther (2018)
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
5. What If…? (Season 1, 2021) – Optional – This series doesn’t really affect Wakanda Forever, but it was the last MCU project Boseman was a part of, voicing the animated T’Challa for the series.

Film (2023)

PG-13 | 124 min | RT: 46% / 82% | IMDb: 6.1

Synopsis: Scott Lang, Hope Van Dyne, and their family accidentally transport to the Quantum Realm and face off against Kang the Conqueror.

Why this placement? The multiverse is really ramping up.

Is this optional? Explicitly not. Kang the Conqueror is the big bad of this saga. This our first real look at him.

What should I watch before this?

1. Ant-Man (2015)
2. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
3. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
5. Loki (Season 1, 2021)

Disney+ Special (2022)

TV-14 | 42 min | RT: 94% / 80% | IMDb: 6.9

Synopsis: The Guardians head to Earth during Christmas to find the perfect present for Peter Quill, who is upset following Gamora’s disappearance.

Why this placement? We moved this back to just before Vol. 3 because nothing significant happens between the two for the Guardians and they appear to be close chronologically.

Is this optional? Where’s your Christmas spirit? Look, does this special shake up anything huge? No. Is it full of Christmas cheer? You bet! Plus, a mild plot point is revealed, that is referenced again in Vol. 3.

What should I watch before this?

1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Film (2023)

PG-13 | 150 min | RT: 82% / 94% | IMDb: 7.9

Synopsis: Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe and protect one of their own, Rocket, whose turbulent past has come back to haunt him.

Why this placement? This is where it fits chronologically and by release date.

Is this optional? No. This is a amazing finale to this teams journey.

What should I watch before this?

1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
5. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

Disney+ Series (2023)

TV-14 | 3 hr 43 min | RT: 54% / 48% | IMDb: 6.0

Synopsis: Nick Fury and the Skrull Talos uncover a conspiracy by a group of shapeshifting Skrulls to conquer Earth.

Why this placement? Release date.

Is this optional? This is so new that we wouldn’t want to say “yes”, though as it stands now, it seems like the impact to the MCU at large was relatively minimal. However, it does continue the story from Captain Marvel, and that has value.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain Marvel (2019)
2. Iron Man 2 (2010)
3. The Avengers (2012)
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
5. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Disney+ Series (2022)

TV-PG | 4 hr 31 min | RT: 98% / 80% | IMDb: 6.3

Synopsis: Kamala Khan, a Muslim American teenager and a Super Hero mega fan, feels like an outsider until she gains her own superpowers.

Why this placement? We pushed this back to just before The Marvels, as it appears that the series leads directly in the film.

Is this optional? No. This series sets up the sequel to Captain Marvel. It also introduces the idea of “mutants” to the MCU for the first time.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain Marvel (2019)
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Film (2023) – Not Yet Released

PG-13 | 105 min | RT: TBD | IMDb: TBD

Synopsis: *Coming Soon*

Why this placement? Although this is releasing the day after the final episode of Loki’s current season airs, it is thought that The Marvels will more closely connect to Secret Invasion than to the further plight of the multiverse. Until its release where this theory can be tested, we are putting it ahead of the second season of Loki in the watch order.

Is this optional? Almost certainly not. Time will tell.

What should I watch before this?

1. Captain Marvel (2019)
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
3. WandaVision (2021)
4. Ms. Marvel (2022)

Disney+ Series (2023) – Currently Airing

TV-14 | Runtime TBD | RT: TBD | IMDb: TBD

Synopsis: In the aftermath of the shocking Season 1 finale, Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority, navigating an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.

Why this placement? Mostly speculation that this is where we jump into a full-fledged sprint to the next Avengers movie.

Is this optional? Likely not. Time will tell.

What should I watch before this?

1. Thor (2011)
2. The Avengers (2012)
3. Avengers: Endgame (2019) 
4. Loki (Season 1, 2021)
5. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

What do you think of our Watch Order?

Notes:

1. Helstrom, though technically a part of the MCU, is so far removed from the actual story being told, that we have purposefully left it off of this list. Helstrom was intentionally separated from the MCU completely, and since it has been canceled with no plans to revive the concept or characters, this may as well not exist.
2. I Am Groot has been left off this list, as it is mainly a Minions-esque low-hanging-fruit attention-grabber kids show, and is not canon to the GOTG story.
3. All Sony-exclusive “Spider-Man Universe” films have been left off this list, as they have never been considered canon to the MCU, despite some crossover.

LTN’s No-Frills Watch Order Lists

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)
7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
9. Captain America: The Winter Solider (2014)
10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2017)
12. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
13. Ant-Man (2015)
14. Doctor Strange (2016)
15. Captain American: Civil War (2016)
16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
17. Black Panther (2018)
18. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
19. Black Widow (2021)
20. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
21. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
22. Captain Marvel (2019)
23. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
24. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
25. WandaVision (Series, 2021)
26. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Series, 2021)
27. Loki (Season 1, 2021)
28. What If…? (Season 1, 2021)
29. Eternals (2021)
30. Hawkeye (Series, 2021)
31. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
32. Moon Knight (Series, 2022)
33. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Series, 2022)
34. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
35. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
36. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
37. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
38. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (Special, 2022)
39. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
40. Secret Invasion (Series, 2023)
41. Ms. Marvel (Series, 2022)
42. The Marvels (2023)
43. Loki (Season 2, 2023)

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
4. The Consultant (One Shot, 2011)
5. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (One Shot, 2011)
6. Thor (2011)
7. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
8. The Avengers (2012)
9. Item 47 (One Shot, 2012)
10. Iron Man 3 (2013)
11. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Seasons 1-7, 2013-2020)
12. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
13. Agent Carter (One Shot, 2013)
14. Captain America: The Winter Solider (2014)
15. All Hail the King (One Shot, 2014)
16. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
17. Guardians of the Galaxy (2017)
18. Daredevil (Seasons 1-3, 2015-2018)
19. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
20. Jessica Jones (Seasons 1-3, 2015-2019)
21. Ant-Man (2015)
22. Luke Cage (Seasons 1-2, 2016-2018)
23. Doctor Strange (2016)
24. Iron Fist (Seasons 1-2, 2017-2018)
25. The Defenders (Series, 2017)
26. The Punisher (Seasons 1-2, 2017-2019)
27. Captain American: Civil War (2016)
28. Team Thor (One Shot, 2016)
29. Team Thor: Part 2 (One Shot, 2017)
30. Inhumans (Series, 2017)
31. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
32. Runaways (Seasons 1-3, 2017-2019)
33. Black Panther (2018)
34. Cloak & Dagger (Seasons 1-2, 2018-2019)
35. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
36. Black Widow (2021)
37. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
38. Team Darryl (One Shot, 2018)
39. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
40. Captain Marvel (2019)
41. Agent Carter (Seasons 1-2, 2015-2016)
42. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
43. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
44. WandaVision (Series, 2021)
45. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Series, 2021)
46. Loki (Season 1, 2021)
47. What If…? (Season 1, 2021)
48. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
49. Eternals (2021)
50. Hawkeye (Series, 2021)
51. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
52. Moon Knight (Series, 2022)
53. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Series, 2022)
54. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
55. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
56. Werewolf By Night (Special, 2022)
57. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
58. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
59. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (Special, 2022)
60. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
61. Secret Invasion (Series, 2023)
62. Ms. Marvel (Series, 2022)
63. The Marvels (2023)
64. Loki (Season 2, 2023)

Last Updated: October 11, 2023
All images used in this article are courtesy of Marvel Studios.