How many Marvel movies exist today
As of 2025, there are 35 theatrical Marvel movies released by Marvel Studios in the United States under the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) banner. This count includes live-action features, animated features from Marvel Studios Animation, and films from Sony Pictures that integrate with the shared timeline. It excludes short films, television episodes, unreleased projects, and projects announced but not yet produced. The MCU spans phases from 1 through 4, with phase 5 and phase 6 underway, shaping how we count completed and upcoming releases.
Counting Marvel movies by studio and label
Marvel Studios live-action theatrical releases
Marvel Studios live-action features form the core of the MCU on film. These are produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in most regions. The franchise began with Iron Man in 2008 and has continued through multiple phases, spanning standalone hero films, team-ups, and multiverse adventures. Below is a concise reference table of studio releases, their year, and narrative role within the larger timeline.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers | 6 theatrical features released 2008–2012 | Marvel Studios release history |
| Phase 2: Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man | 6 theatrical features released 2013–2015 | Marvel Studios release history |
| Phase 3: Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp | 8 theatrical features released 2016–2019 | Marvel Studios release history |
| Phase 4: Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | 7 theatrical features released 2021–2022 | Marvel Studios release history |
| Phase 5: The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine | 2 theatrical features released 2023–2024; Phase 5 ongoing | Marvel Studios release history |
| Phase 6: Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade | 3 films scheduled through 2025–2026; Phase 6 emerging | Marvel Studios announced slate |
Marvel Studios Animation features
In addition to live-action, Marvel Studios Animation has produced theatrical animated features that expand the multiverse on film. These are fully Marvel Studios productions and are counted as theatrical movies in the overall tally.
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Sony Pictures films integrated with the MCU
Following collaboration agreements, certain Sony Pictures films that feature characters connected to the MCU are included in the broader Marvel cinematic feature count when they are linked to the shared timeline. As of 2025, the relevant title is:
- Madame Web (2024)
Other Sony Spider-Man universe films not yet integrated are not counted as MCU theatrical features at this time.
What is and is not counted
When people ask how many Marvel movies there are, it is important to define scope to avoid confusion. The following categories are excluded from the core theatrical count above.
- Short films shown at the cinema or released on streaming platforms
- Television episodes and series on Disney+ or other networks
- Unreleased projects that are announced but not yet completed or scheduled
- Projects produced outside Marvel Studios that do not integrate into the shared MCU timeline
How the count may change
As studios adjust schedules, some films move between phases, and new titles are announced, the numeric total will increase. Future integration of current Sony arrangements or additional animated features could also shift the count. Where dates and phase labels are firm, they are reported above; where plans are provisional, the language reflects that uncertainty.
Quick reference list
For rapid scanning, here is a phased list of confirmed studio features as of 2025.
| Phase | Year range | Movies included | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 2008–2012 | Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers | Released |
| Phase 2 | 2013–2015 | Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man | Released |
| Phase 3 | 2016–2019 | Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp | Released |
| Phase 4 | 2021–2022 | Black Widow, Shang-Chi, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Released |
| Phase 5 | 2023–2024 | The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine | Released |
| Phase 6 | 2025–2026 | Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade | Upcoming/Scheduled |
| Animation | 2018, 22023 | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | Released |
Why totals can differ in conversation
Different sources may cite different numbers because they include or exclude animated films, Sony integrations, short-form content, or projects in development. When comparing counts, check whether the list is limited to theatrical MCU features from Marvel Studios only or whether it adopts a broader definition of the Marvel cinematic universe on film.
Looking ahead
As the slate matures through the mid-2020s, the number of released Marvel movies will continue to grow through Phase 6 and possibly into early Phase 7 planning. Keeping an eye on official announcements from Marvel Studios and Disney provides the most reliable way to track the evolving count.