Marvel Cinematic Universe - Recommended Viewing Order (features and shorts only)
With today's release of the 20th feature film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 'Ant-Man and the Wasp,' I've decided to post my recommended viewing order of all the MCU features and short films. This list does not include TV shows set in the MCU, such as ABC's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,' Netflix's 'Daredevil,' and Hulu's 'The Runaways.' Just so you know, there are no spoilers for any of the films in this list.
Keep in mind the MCU movies are divided into phases. Phase One kicked off with 'Iron Man' in 2008 and wrapped in 2012 with 'The Avengers' and 'Marvel One-Shot: Item 47.' Phase Two began with 'Iron Man 3' and 'Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King' in 2013 and concluded with 'Ant-Man' in 2015. ('Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter' is a bonus feature on the 'Iron Man 3' Blu-ray but takes place one year after the main events in Phase One's 'Captain America: The First Avenger,' so it can be viewed as part of either phase, so long as it's *after* 'The First Avenger'.) Phase Three started with 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War' and will conclude with the fourth 'Avengers' film in 2019.
Keep in mind the MCU movies are divided into phases. Phase One kicked off with 'Iron Man' in 2008 and wrapped in 2012 with 'The Avengers' and 'Marvel One-Shot: Item 47.' Phase Two began with 'Iron Man 3' and 'Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King' in 2013 and concluded with 'Ant-Man' in 2015. ('Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter' is a bonus feature on the 'Iron Man 3' Blu-ray but takes place one year after the main events in Phase One's 'Captain America: The First Avenger,' so it can be viewed as part of either phase, so long as it's *after* 'The First Avenger'.) Phase Three started with 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War' and will conclude with the fourth 'Avengers' film in 2019.
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- DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowTerrence HowardAfter being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.'Iron Man' is the movie that started it all, so this is where you should start as well. While the main events of 'Captain America: The First Avenger' take place nearly 70 years prior to this film, those events are back-ended by scenes set *after* 'Iron Man,' regulating most of 'First Avenger' to "flashback" status.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Mickey RourkeGwyneth PaltrowWith the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.The first scene in 'Iron Man 2' takes place during and just after the last scene in 'Iron Man,' then the story the moves forward six months. The events that follow occur simultaneously with events seen in 'Thor' and 'The Incredible Hulk'.
- DirectorLeythumStarsClark GreggJessica ManuelJeff PrewettAgent Coulson stops at a convenience store and deals with a coincidental robbery during his visit.Takes place the same evening as the climactic battle in 'Iron Man 2' and Thor and Mjolnir's arrival on Earth in 'Thor' and the night before Bruce and Betty's reunion in 'The Incredible Hulk.'
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsChris HemsworthAnthony HopkinsNatalie PortmanThe powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.'Thor' takes place during the same week as 'Iron Man 2' and 'The Incredible Hulk,' though the main events in 'Hulk' continue after the events of the other two have ended. The final pre-credits scene in 'Thor' takes place the same day Bruce and Betty arrive in New York in 'The Incredible Hulk;' the post-credits scene, however, takes place sometime after the battle between Hulk and Abomination in 'The Incredible Hulk' but before that film's last two scenes
- DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsEdward NortonLiv TylerTim RothBruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.The events of 'The Incredible Hulk' span and continue beyond those of 'Iron Man 2' and 'Thor', so I suggest watching it after both of those films.
- DirectorLeythumStarsClark GreggMaximiliano HernándezDeborah KnoxAgents Coulson and Sitwell plan to derail General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross from interfering with S.H.I.E.L.D. affairs with a very special person.This one-shot gives new context to the final scene in 'The Incredible Hulk'. Be sure you've seen all of the above films before watching 'The Consultant,' as it contains references to all of them. This short (and the 'Hulk' scene that inspired it) takes place several months to a year before the final scene in 'Captain America: The First Avenger' and the beginning of 'The Avengers.'
- DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsChris EvansHugo WeavingSamuel L. JacksonSteve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum". But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization.The opening and closing scenes in this film take place after all of the above those films and just before 'The Avengers'; just think of everything in between as one long flashback. This works better for first-time viewers since the final moments of 'First Avenger' feature Nick Fury without mentioning who he is or who he works for, since those details were established in the previous films. The Marvel One-Shot 'Agent Carter,' set one year after the main events of 'The First Avenger,' also mentions S.H.I.E.L.D. without explaining just what that is -- since, again, it's established in the previous films -- so watching 'First Avenger' and 'Agent Carter' after the other Phase One solo adventures is best, in my opinion.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.All of the features and short films listed above should have been watched by this point. Afterward, proceed directly to 'Item 47.'
- DirectorLouis D'EspositoStarsLizzy CaplanJesse BradfordMaximiliano HernándezS.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sitwell is assigned to recover an abandoned Chitauri weapon being used by a young couple robbing a bank.Takes place shortly after 'The Avengers.' If you haven't watched the 'Agent Carter' one-shot by this point, watch it after 'Item 47' either to cap off Phase One or start off Phase Two.
- DirectorLouis D'EspositoStarsHayley AtwellBradley WhitfordDominic CooperFrustrated at being marginalized at work, Peggy Carter goes on an unauthorized solo field mission.Set entirely in 1946, a year after the main events of 'First Avenger,' this actually takes place well before any of the above films. Unlike 'First Avenger,' this one-shot is not framed as a flashback, but is rather a solo adventure set apart from and before the "modern" Marvel Cinematic Universe. Therefore, you could, technically, watch this before any of the other movies. However, I advise you to watch this *after* all of the above films because A.) it spoils the ending of 'First Avenger' in the opening scene, and B.) it makes references most first-time viewers may not understand unless they've seen the previous films. Really you could watch this at any point after 'The First Avenger,' but I've placed it after the other Phase One movies and before 'Iron Man 3' because this one-off was released as a special feature on the Blu-ray for 'IM3,' thus technically making it part of Phase Two. So, really, this can serve as your starting point for Phase Two.
- DirectorShane BlackStarsRobert Downey Jr.Guy PearceGwyneth PaltrowWhen Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
- DirectorDrew PearceStarsBen KingsleyScoot McNairyLester SpeightA documentary filmmaker interviews the now-famous Trevor Slattery from behind bars.Takes place shortly after the events of 'Iron Man 3' and features Ben Kingsley reprising his role from that film.
- DirectorAlan TaylorStarsChris HemsworthNatalie PortmanTom HiddlestonWhen the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattZoe SaldanaDave BautistaThe Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord's encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.Although released as part of Phase Three, 'GOTG Vol. 2' takes place just two months after the events of the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. Alternatively, you could save this until after 'Ant-Man' and view it as either a wrap-up of Phase Two or the beginning of Phase Three or both.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloWhen Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it's up to Earth's mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddMichael DouglasCorey StollArmed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonPolitical involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsChadwick BosemanMichael B. JordanLupita Nyong'oT'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.Much of the action in 'Black Panther' takes place mere weeks after the events of 'Civil War.'
- DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandMichael KeatonRobert Downey Jr.Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.The main events in 'Homecoming' take place a few months after 'Civil War.'
- DirectorScott DerricksonStarsBenedict CumberbatchChiwetel EjioforRachel McAdamsWhile on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.Starts prior to the events of 'Civil War' but spans several months to a year and concludes following the events of 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' but prior to those of 'Thor: Ragnarok'.
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthTom HiddlestonCate BlanchettImprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael PeñaAs Scott Lang balances being both a superhero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.Most of 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' occurs before 'Infinity War.' The only exceptions are the mid- and post-credits scenes, which take place during and shortly after the final moments of 'Infinity War.' So, really, you could watch this either right before or right after 'Infinity War,' but I've placed it before since about 99% of the film takes place before. Note that if you watch this before 'Infinity War,' this film's mid-credit scene may be confusing.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris HemsworthMark RuffaloThe Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.Prepare yourself. That is all.