Marvel Movies Full List: Every Feature Film in Order and What to Watch Next

What’s included in the Marvel movies catalog

The Marvel movies catalog spans shared-world events and individual hero journeys, each contributing to a long-form narrative across phases. This overview favors an evergreen_explainer style, focusing on the feature films you can reliably watch in any durable order while understanding how they connect. We map the core releases, note year and narrative role, and highlight practical viewing paths so the collection remains useful reference material for new and revisiting fans alike.

How to approach Marvel movie playlists

Because the catalog mixes continuity-driven saga with largely self-contained chapters, your preferred playlist will shape which films matter most right now. Below you’ll find a practical table of core entries by phase and theme, plus short ordered lists you can follow by release, by story chronology, or by recommended on-ramp if you are new. Keep in mind that streaming rights and availability can change by region, so treat this as an evergreen overview rather than a live schedule.

Suggested paths through the catalog

• New viewers: start with Phase 1 and move forward only as desired; each film aims to stand alone except where sequels deepen continuity.
• Binge by theme: group films by hero (e.g., Captain-centric arcs) or by event tier (low, medium, high impact on the shared timeline).
• Time-constrained viewing: focus on headline event films noted below while accepting some character and worldbuilding depth may be lighter.

Core Marvel catalog table

The table below lists key feature films, their primary framing, release years, and narrative anchors to help you choose what to watch next. It emphasizes widely available titles in the U.S. as of 2024, excluding limited series and short-form content.

Phase-based groupings for context

You can also group Marvel movies by broad phases to understand how the universe evolved. Below is a concise phase map that reflects narrative chronology and major milestone events. This grouping can guide themed marathons or primers before larger crossover events.

Phase 1: Origins (2008–2011)

Lays groundwork for the Avengers Initiative and establishes core heroes and tone.

• Iron Man (2008)
• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• Thor (2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• The Avengers (2012)

Phase 2: Expansion (2013–2015)

Introduces cosmic and mystical elements while deepening team dynamics.

• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Thor: The Dark World (203)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Ant-Man (2015)

Phase 3: Maturation (2016–2019)

Higher personal and universe stakes, culminating in Infinity War and Endgame.

• 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)

Phase 4 and beyond (2021–2023+)

New teams, multiverse focus, and legacy-driven stories.

• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
• Eternals (2021)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
• Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
• The Marvels (2023)

Key distinctions to keep in mind

Not every Marvel project is a feature film, and not every movie carries the same type of continuity weight. Understanding these distinctions helps you prioritize what to watch first based on your goals.

Feature films vs. series and shorts

• Feature films listed above are the core building blocks of the shared universe.
• Streaming series (e.g., WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) expand character arcs but are not required to enjoy the main movie arc.
• Short films and One-Shots are generally optional and provide supplementary tone or humor.

Event vs. character movies

• Event films (The Avengers, Infinity War, Endgame) drive large-scale consequences.
• Character movies explore hero origins and personal journeys with more intimate stakes.
• Some character films contain setup or minor tie-in beats, but you can safely skip minor links without losing the main story.

What to watch next based on your starting point

Wherever you begin, you can build a durable path through the Marvel catalog that matches your schedule and interest level.

If you are new to the MCU

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)

If you want a high-impact, spoiler-aware path

1. Black Panther (2018)
2. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
3. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
4. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
5. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

If you prefer cosmic and ensemble stories

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