There are currently 27 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)—with many more on the way. Even for diehard fans, that's a lot of superheroes and timelines to keep track of! The MCU is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, and the Marvel movies, with their intersecting storylines, familiar comic book characters, and high-stakes action, are beloved by comics fans and film buffs alike. For newcomers, however, knowing where to start with the Marvel movies can be a challenge. You might have heard of the Marvel phases—but what are they, exactly? How many Marvel phases are there? And do you have to watch the movies in order?
The audio versions of each Marvel phase make great introductions to the MCU. You'll meet Captain America and the Incredible Hulk in the Phase One Box Set; Ant-Man in the Phase Two Box Set; and Doctor Strange in the Phase Three Box Set. And when you're ready to dive into the movies, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Marvel phases and how best to enjoy them.
What is a Marvel "phase"?
Since the release of the first MCU movie (Iron Man) in 2008, MCU films have been divided into phases. Each phase includes a group of loosely linked movies that share an overarching story arc and group of characters. Marvel phases are a way to organize the movies; each phase consists of a group of movies released over a period of years. Phases are determined both by release dates and subject matter. Though each Marvel movie can be enjoyed as a standalone, movies in each phase build upon each other, with overlapping characters and plot points.
Ready to dive in? Below you'll find a handy guide to the Marvel phases in order, including the movies included in each phase, the characters introduced, and the key storylines that define each particular phase.
Marvel Phase One (2008 to 2012)
Phase One primarily concerns the Avengers, with movies that focus on these superheroes both individually and as a group. Major characters include Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, and Captain America, each of whom got their own movie. Black Widow and Hawkeye are also important characters in this phase; we meet Black Widow in Iron Man 2 and they are both in the final film, The Avengers. Taken as a whole, Phase One introduces viewers to each of the Avengers—their backstories, skills, and powers—culminating in the final film, which brings them all together in an epic battle against a formidable villain, Loki.
Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man introduces Tony Stark, a brilliant inventor who is captured and forced to build a deadly weapon. He rebels against his captors and, drawing on his considerable intelligence and resourcefulness, builds a dazzling suit of armor for himself and escapes, vowing to defend the world as Iron Man.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Exposure to gamma radiation causes scientist Bruce Banner to transform into the Hulk, a monster with tremendous and dangerous power. He goes on the run, isolating himself from everyone he loves and seeking a cure for his condition.
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Iron Man 2 revisits Tony Stark, now revealed to the whole world as Iron Man. The film takes place six months after the end of Iron Man, and simultaneously with The Incredible Hulk and Thor. Facing pressure from world governments to share the technology behind his suit, Iron Man struggles to stay true to his ideals.
Thor (2011)
This film introduces Thor, son of Odin and heir to the throne of the kingdom of Asgard. After being exiled to Earth, Thor encounters enemies, both old and new.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Captain America: The First Avenger takes a jump backward in time. It tells the story of Steve Rogers, a young man who volunteers to participate in a 1940s military experiment that turns him into a super soldier known as Captain America.
The Avengers (2012)
The final film in Marvel Phase One brings the stars of all the previous movies together. They team up in a fight against Thor's brother Loki and his evil plot to dominate the world.
Marvel Phase Two (2013 to 2015)
The movies in Marvel Phase Two deal with the consequences of the events of The Avengers. The movies continue following the adventures of the Avengers superheroes, including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Black Widow. Phase Two introduces several new superheroes as well, including Ant-Man, Falcon, Quicksilver, and Star-Lord. Like those in Phase One, the films in Phase Two each contain individual story arcs, but they build on the events of prior Marvel movies. Now united as a team, the Avengers once again must work together to defeat an evil threat in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Iron Man 3 finds Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, fighting to rebuild his life after his world is destroyed by his cunning enemy, the Mandarin.
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
In the second movie starring Thor, the otherworldly superhero teams up with a brilliant astrophysicist to save the world from a new threat: an ancient race of dark elves seeking a weapon that could destroy all of humanity.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, works alongside Black Widow and Falcon to expose a deadly conspiracy involving an assassin known only as the Winter Soldier.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
This film introduces a new character, Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord, who, aided by a team of misfits, attempts to keep a mysterious weapon from the hands of a villain intent on destroying the entire universe.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
In this follow-up to The Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye once again team up—this time to defeat the techno-powered villain, Ultron.
Ant-Man (2015)
In the final film of Phase Three, Marvel superhero Ant-Man finally gets his chance to shine. Scott Lang is a skilled thief with one incredible and highly-coveted skill: a suit that allows him to shrink in size while increasing in strength. With the help of his mentor, Ant-Man fights to keep this technology out of the hands of those who would use it for evil.
Marvel Phase Three (2016 to 2019)
The films in Phase Three continue to follow the exploits of the Avenger superheroes, with the stakes growing even higher after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. In addition to movies centering now-familiar characters such as Captain America and Thor, Phase Three includes a slew of movies that brought other Marvel heroes to the big screen: Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, and Black Panther. Like the previous phases, Phase Three includes a climatic ensemble film which pits the Avengers against a world-destroying threat. Together, Phases One, Two, and Three are known as the Infinity Saga, and the final movie in Phase Three, Spider-Man: Far From Home, wraps up the major plot lines from the first 23 Marvel movies.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
This film is set a year after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, and explores a rift between the newly-formed superhero group. Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Tony Stark (Iron Man) have different ideas about the best way to protect humanity.
Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange introduces a new superhero, neurosurgeon Stephen Strange. After a career-ending car accident, Stephen embarks on a healing journey that introduces him to ancient powers.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, and his motley crew are back in this follow-up to Guardians of the Galaxy. As they delve into the mysteries of Peter Quill's past, they must also fight to keep their ragtag family safe.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
In the first MCU Spider-Man film, Peter Parker struggles to balance his high school life with his secret identity as a friendly neighborhood superhero. He leans on Iron Man for help.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
In the third Thor film, Thor is trapped on a distant planet. He's desperate to escape in time to save Asgard from a new evil threat, but first he's forced into a deadly duel against a fellow Avenger: the Incredible Hulk.
Black Panther (2018)
When T’Challa returns home to the technologically brilliant African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king, he finds his claim disputed by an old enemy.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
In this epic crossover film, the Avengers team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop the deadliest threat the universe has yet seen: the evil ruler Thanos and his quest for unprecedented power.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
In the midst of trying to balance fatherhood with his life as a superhero, Ant-Man is presented with a mission he can't refuse.
Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel jumps backward in time, exploring the Marvel Universe in the 1990s. It tells the story of Carol Danvers and her rise to become Captain Marvel, one of the world's most powerful superheroes.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In this explosive conclusion to all the previous Avengers movies (and, indeed, all the Phase One, Two and Three Marvel movies), the Avengers must deal with the aftermath of their battle with Thanos in Infinity War. With half of all life in the universe extinguished, it's up to the Avengers to save what's left of humanity, once and for all.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Set eight months after Avengers: Endgame, the second Spider-Man movie follows Peter Parker on a school trip to Europe, where he gets involved in a battle against the Elementals.
Marvel Phase Four (2021 to 2023)
Currently, we’re in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Three films have been released so far, beginning with Black Widow. Phase Four will include several sequel films starring Doctor Strange, Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Ant-Man. Phase Four also introduces several new characters, as well as marks the beginning of new overarching story arcs, following the conclusion of the Infinity Saga storyline in Phase Three. What's more, Phase Four is the first of the Marvel phases to officially include several original TV series, including WandaVision and Loki.
Black Widow (2021)
This is the first solo film starring Avengers member Black Widow. While investigating a dangerous conspiracy, Natasha Romanoff is forced to confront her past.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
The first Phase Four film to introduce a major new superhero, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings follows the exploits of Shang-Chi as he becomes deeply immersed in the mysterious Ten Rings organization.
Eternals (2021)
In this ensemble film, viewers are introduced to the Eternals, an immortal race of aliens who have been secretly living on Earth for thousands of years. They emerge from hiding to protect Earth from another secret—and evil—alien race, the Deviants.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Peter Parker deals with the fallout after his identity as Spider-Man is exposed by the villain Mysterio while encountering some familiar foes from other universes.
Future Phase Four Films
And there are more Phase Four movies on the horizon! Upcoming films include Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), which focuses on Dr. Strange; Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), a sequel to the previous Thor movies; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), a sequel to Phase Three's Black Panther; The Marvels (2023), a sequel to Captain Marvel; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), the latest installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy sequence; and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), Marvel's third Ant-man film.
