The Definitive MCU Watch Order: How To See All 37+ Movies & Series Before Avengers: Secret Wars
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) continues to expand at a rapid pace, making the "Avengers series movies order" one of the most crucial pieces of information for both new fans and veteran viewers looking to catch up. As of late 2025, the MCU has moved far beyond the original *Infinity Saga* and is deep into *The Multiverse Saga*, with major new *Avengers* films like *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars* on the horizon in 2026.
To fully appreciate the complex narrative threads, character arcs, and massive crossover events, following the correct viewing order is essential. This guide provides the two definitive methods—the essential Release Order and the in-universe Chronological Order—complete with the latest Phase 5 and Phase 6 updates for 2025 and 2026, ensuring you are fully prepared for the next era of the MCU.
The Essential Viewing Order: By Cinematic Release Date (The Recommended Method)
For first-time viewers, the official Release Order is the universally recommended method. This order mirrors how the story was originally presented to the world, preserving all the intended reveals, post-credit scenes, and narrative build-ups, especially throughout the foundational *Infinity Saga* (Phases 1-3) and the current *Multiverse Saga* (Phases 4-6).
Phase One: Assembling the Avengers (2008–2012)
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
Phase Two: New Threats and Expansions (2013–2015)
- 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)
Phase Three: The Infinity Saga Climax (2016–2019)
- 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)
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
The Multiverse Saga: Phases Four, Five, and Six
The MCU’s second major storyline, *The Multiverse Saga*, introduces the concept of alternate realities, new teams, and the looming threat of Kang the Conqueror. This era heavily integrates Disney+ series, which are now mandatory viewing for following the main plot, especially the events leading up to the new *Avengers* films.
Phase Four: Aftermath and New Beginnings (2021–2022)
Phase Four focused on the emotional fallout of *Avengers: Endgame* and introduced key players for the Multiverse. The Disney+ series are crucial here, particularly *WandaVision*, *Loki* (Season 1), and *Hawkeye*.
- WandaVision (Series, 2021)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Series, 2021)
- Loki (Season 1) (Series, 2021)
- Black Widow (2021)
- What If…? (Season 1) (Series, 2021)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- Eternals (2021)
- Hawkeye (Series, 2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Moon Knight (Series, 2022)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- Ms. Marvel (Series, 2022)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Series, 2022)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Phase Five: The Multiverse Deepens (2023–2024)
Phase Five escalated the Multiverse and established the new teams. *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania* provides a direct conflict with Kang, while *Loki* (Season 2) is considered one of the most important entries in the entire saga, dealing directly with the TVA and Nexus Events.
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- Secret Invasion (Series, 2023)
- Loki (Season 2) (Series, 2023)
- The Marvels (2023)
- Echo (Series, 2024)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) - *Note: While a Fox film, it is confirmed to be a critical entry into the Multiverse Saga.*
- Captain America: Brave New World (Late 2024/Early 2025)
Phase Six: The Climax and The Avengers' Return (2025–2027)
Phase Six is the culmination of *The Multiverse Saga*, leading directly into two massive, two-part *Avengers* films. The current schedule (as of late 2025) is subject to minor changes, but these are the confirmed major releases.
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025) - *The official start of Phase Six*
- Thunderbolts* (May 5, 2025)
- Blade (Late 2025)
- Daredevil: Born Again (Series, 2025)
- Wonder Man (Series, December 2025)
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026)
- Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026)
- Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027)
The Alternative: MCU Chronological Order (By In-Universe Time)
For those who have already seen the films and want a fresh, timeline-accurate marathon, the Chronological Order is an intriguing choice. This order places films and series based on when their events occur within the MCU timeline, which often drastically shifts the viewing experience.
The main difference is that films set in the past are moved to the very beginning. While this order is fun for deep-diving fans, it can spoil major reveals (like the presence of Nick Fury and the state of the world in *Captain Marvel*) that were intended to be surprises in the release order.
Key Chronological Placements:
- Captain America: The First Avenger: This film is the first in the timeline, set primarily during World War II (the 1940s).
- Captain Marvel: Set in 1995, this is the second film in the timeline, introducing Carol Danvers and the first appearance of the Tesseract (an Infinity Stone).
- Iron Man: The original starting point of the Release Order is placed much later in the Chronological Order, as it kicks off the "present day" (2010) events of the MCU.
- Black Widow: This film is set shortly after *Captain America: Civil War*, placing it in the middle of Phase Three, despite its Phase Four release.
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special: This short special is chronologically placed between *Thor: Love and Thunder* and *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3*.
The vast majority of films and series from *Iron Man* onwards generally follow the Release Order, with only a few exceptions, making the Release Order the simplest and most satisfying path for a complete narrative journey.
Topical Authority: Understanding the Sagas
The MCU is divided into two major Sagas, each culminating in a massive *Avengers* event. Understanding these divisions is key to grasping the overall narrative structure.
The Infinity Saga (Phases 1–3)
This saga focused on the original six Avengers and their struggle against Thanos, who sought to collect the six Infinity Stones. It began with the introduction of Iron Man and ended with the world-changing events of *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame*. The core conflict revolved around Earth's mightiest heroes protecting the planet from global and cosmic threats.
The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4–6)
The current saga deals with the fallout of *Endgame* and introduces the concept of the Multiverse—infinite alternate realities. The primary antagonist is Kang the Conqueror (or his variants), a time-traveling genius whose actions threaten the stability of all realities. This saga will conclude with the two new Avengers films, *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*, which promise to be even larger in scope than the battle against Thanos.
Whether you choose the traditional Release Order or the time-jumping Chronological Order, following this updated guide ensures you won't miss a single beat of the MCU's complex, interconnected story as it races toward the massive, multiversal climax of Phase Six.
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