On September 25, 2026, Avengers: Endgame came back to theaters. The Endgame Encore cut runs about four minutes longer than the original, and Joe Russo told reporters the new footage is “set in the Doomsday story” (The Express Tribune). In other words, Marvel is quietly asking everyone to do their homework before Avengers: Doomsday opens on December 18.

So what’s the homework? There are six Avengers movies. In order, they are The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027). Around them sit the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: 38 films released so far, 40 once Secret Wars lands.

You don’t have to watch all 40. But you should know where each one fits, and which ones actually matter for the Avengers story. That’s what this guide is for.

Key takeaways

  • The six Avengers movies, in order, are The Avengers, Age of Ultron, Infinity War, Endgame, Doomsday and Secret Wars.
  • Release order is the best way to watch the MCU the first time, because every twist lands the way it was meant to.
  • Chronological order starts in 1942 with Captain America: The First Avenger and works best on a rewatch.
  • If you only want to be ready for Avengers: Doomsday, about a dozen films and two Disney+ seasons will get you there.
  • Deadpool & Wolverine and The Fantastic Four: First Steps sit outside the main timeline, so they’re easy to misplace.

What are the Avengers movies in order?

Here are the six films with “Avengers” in the title, in the order they were released. The in-universe year shows when each story takes place.

#MovieUS releaseSet in
1The AvengersMay 4, 20122012
2Avengers: Age of UltronMay 1, 20152015
3Avengers: Infinity WarApril 27, 20182018
4Avengers: EndgameApril 26, 20192018–2023
5Avengers: DoomsdayDecember 18, 2026Not yet revealed
6Avengers: Secret WarsDecember 17, 2027Not yet revealed

Release dates come from Wikipedia’s list of MCU films. The first four films close out what Marvel calls the Infinity Saga. Doomsday and Secret Wars close out the Multiverse Saga. We broke down that second saga in our guide to where the MCU is heading.

Watching only these six would be a strange experience, though. Thanos shows up in Infinity War with three Infinity Stones you’ve never seen him collect. Doomsday will bring in the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts and Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, none of whom appear in the earlier Avengers films. The team-ups are the spine of the story, but the solo films are where the characters become people you care about.

How many Marvel movies are there in 2026?

As of October 2026, Marvel Studios has released 38 MCU films, starting with Iron Man in 2008 and most recently Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, 2026. Two more are dated: Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Together, the films have earned “over $35 billion at the global box office,” according to Wikipedia’s franchise tally.

That count covers theatrical films only. Add the Disney+ series and you’re looking at well over 60 titles, which is exactly why people search for a viewing order in the first place. If you want the count broken down phase by phase, our article on how many Marvel movies there are goes deeper.

Marvel movies in release order

This is the order the films came out in US theaters. If you’re new to the MCU, start here. The surprises, cameos and post-credit scenes were all designed for this sequence.

Phase One (2008–2012)

  1. Iron Man (May 2, 2008)
  2. The Incredible Hulk (June 13, 2008)
  3. Iron Man 2 (May 7, 2010)
  4. Thor (May 6, 2011)
  5. Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22, 2011)
  6. The Avengers (May 4, 2012)

Phase Two (2013–2015)

  1. Iron Man 3 (May 3, 2013)
  2. Thor: The Dark World (November 8, 2013)
  3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (April 4, 2014)
  4. Guardians of the Galaxy (August 1, 2014)
  5. Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1, 2015)
  6. Ant-Man (July 17, 2015)

Phase Three (2016–2019)

  1. Captain America: Civil War (May 6, 2016)
  2. Doctor Strange (November 4, 2016)
  3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (May 5, 2017)
  4. Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7, 2017)
  5. Thor: Ragnarok (November 3, 2017)
  6. Black Panther (February 16, 2018)
  7. Avengers: Infinity War (April 27, 2018)
  8. Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6, 2018)
  9. Captain Marvel (March 8, 2019)
  10. Avengers: Endgame (April 26, 2019)
  11. Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2, 2019)

Phase Four (2021–2022)

  1. Black Widow (July 9, 2021)
  2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 3, 2021)
  3. Eternals (November 5, 2021)
  4. Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 17, 2021)
  5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 6, 2022)
  6. Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8, 2022)
  7. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 11, 2022)

Phase Five (2023–2025)

  1. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17, 2023)
  2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5, 2023)
  3. The Marvels (November 10, 2023)
  4. Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26, 2024)
  5. Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)
  6. Thunderbolts* (May 2, 2025)

Phase Six (2025–2027)

  1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025)
  2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026)
  3. Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026)
  4. Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027)

Marvel movies in chronological order

Chronological order follows the in-universe timeline instead of the release calendar. It’s a fun way to rewatch, because you see how early events ripple forward. It’s a rough way to start, because Captain Marvel spoils things that the 2008 to 2018 films kept secret.

This list follows the timeline placement used by Uswitch’s MCU guide, last updated in September 2026. The year in brackets is when the story takes place.

  1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1942)
  2. Captain Marvel (1995)
  3. Iron Man (2008)
  4. Iron Man 2 (2011)
  5. The Incredible Hulk (2011)
  6. Thor (2011)
  7. The Avengers (2012)
  8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  9. Iron Man 3 (2013)
  10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
  11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2014)
  13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  14. Ant-Man (2015)
  15. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  16. Black Widow (2016)
  17. Black Panther (2016)
  18. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)
  19. Doctor Strange (2016–2017)
  20. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
  21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2017)
  22. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
  23. Avengers: Endgame (2018–2023)
  24. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2023)
  25. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2024)
  26. Eternals (2024)
  27. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2024)
  28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2024)
  29. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2025)
  30. Thor: Love and Thunder (2025)
  31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2026)
  32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2026)
  33. The Marvels (2026)
  34. Deadpool & Wolverine (multiverse)
  35. Captain America: Brave New World (2026–2027)
  36. Thunderbolts* (2027)
  37. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (another universe)
  38. Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Where do the tricky ones go?

Three films don’t slot neatly into the timeline, and they cause most of the arguments.

Deadpool & Wolverine is mostly set outside the main MCU reality, in the Void and in Wade Wilson’s own universe. Place it after The Marvels, or treat it as a side trip. You won’t break anything either way.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in a different universe with a retro, 1960s look. It isn’t “earlier” just because it looks old. Watch it right before Doomsday, since that’s where the two worlds are heading.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is produced with Sony, so it streams on a different schedule from the Disney-owned films. Story-wise, it picks up after No Way Home.

Which order should you actually watch them in?

Here’s our honest take: the order matters less than the reason you’re watching.

We think of the MCU as a spine with branches. The spine is the six Avengers films. Every branch, whether it’s a solo film, a sequel or a Disney+ series, either feeds into the next team-up or it doesn’t. We call this the Avengers Spine method. Before you press play on anything, ask one question: does this branch change what happens in the next Avengers film?

Some films pass that test easily. Captain America: Civil War splits the team, and Infinity War doesn’t make sense without it. Thor: Ragnarok puts Thor and Hulk where Infinity War opens. Other films are great on their own but optional for the Avengers story. Ant-Man is a blast. Skipping it won’t confuse you at the next team-up.

That gives you three routes:

RouteWho it’s forHow much
The full runFirst-timers with time, or anyone who wants the complete experienceAll 38 released films in release order, plus the Disney+ series you’re curious about
The spineFans who want the Avengers story without the side questsThe four released Avengers films plus the branches that feed them
The Doomsday sprintAnyone who wants to be ready by December 18, 2026About a dozen films and two seasons of Loki

The full run is the most rewarding. The spine is the most efficient. The sprint is the one to pick if December is coming fast.

How do you get ready for Avengers: Doomsday?

Marvel confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 that Doomsday replaced The Kang Dynasty, with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Victor von Doom. We covered that announcement in Marvel’s big reveal at SDCC 2024. Since then, the pieces have been falling into place. Here’s the sprint, step by step.

  1. Start with the original team. Watch The Avengers (2012). It sets up the core six heroes, Loki and the idea that Earth needs a team. You’ll need it for every callback that follows.

  2. Watch the Thanos arc back to back. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame work best as one long story. If you can, catch the Endgame Encore cut, which adds a short bridge into Doomsday. Our reviews of Infinity War and Endgame cover why these two still hold up.

  3. Learn how the multiverse works. Watch Loki seasons 1 and 2 on Disney+. They explain the Sacred Timeline, the Time Variance Authority and why the multiverse is fraying. Without them, the Multiverse Saga feels random.

  4. Add the multiverse movies. Spider-Man: No Way Home shows what happens when other universes leak into the MCU. Deadpool & Wolverine shows the other side, and brings Fox’s mutants into the picture.

  5. Meet the new team. Watch Captain America: Brave New World and then Thunderbolts*. The Thunderbolts end the film with a new name and a new role, and they’re expected to matter in Doomsday. Our Thunderbolts* review explains why this ragtag group works.

  6. Finish with the Fantastic Four. Watch The Fantastic Four: First Steps last. Its mid-credits scene points straight at Doom. Our Fantastic Four preview covers who Marvel’s First Family are.

  7. Do the optional extras if you have time. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the most recent film. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Shang-Chi fill in heroes who are likely to return. If you’re a mutant fan, the old Fox X-Men films are worth a look, because several of their actors were announced for Doomsday.

That’s roughly 30 hours of viewing, Loki included. Spread over a few weekends, it’s very doable before December 18.

Where can you stream the Marvel movies?

Almost every Disney-owned MCU film is on Disney+, along with all of the Marvel Studios series. The exceptions are the Spider-Man films made with Sony, which have their own streaming deals and can move between services depending on where you live. Our guide on where to watch Marvel’s movies and TV series goes through the options service by service.

Frequently asked questions

What is the first Avengers movie?

The first Avengers movie is The Avengers, released in the US on May 4, 2012. It brought together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye to stop Loki and the Chitauri invasion of New York. It was the sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and closed out Phase One.

Do I need to watch every Marvel movie before Avengers: Doomsday?

No. You can follow Avengers: Doomsday without seeing all 38 earlier films. Focus on The Avengers, Infinity War, Endgame, both seasons of Loki, No Way Home, Deadpool & Wolverine, Brave New World, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Those set up the multiverse, the new teams and Doctor Doom.

Should I watch Marvel movies in release order or chronological order?

Watch in release order the first time. The films were written to be seen that way, so twists, cameos and post-credit scenes land as intended. Chronological order is better for a rewatch, because Captain Marvel and Captain America: The First Avenger reveal things that later films keep hidden.

Where does Deadpool & Wolverine fit in the MCU timeline?

Deadpool & Wolverine sits mostly outside the main MCU timeline. Most of it takes place in Deadpool’s own universe and in the Void, where the Time Variance Authority dumps erased realities. Most viewing guides place it after The Marvels and before Captain America: Brave New World, but it works as a standalone multiverse adventure.

Is The Fantastic Four: First Steps part of the MCU?

Yes. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is an official Marvel Studios film and the first movie of Phase Six. It takes place in a separate universe with a 1960s-inspired look, not on the main MCU Earth. Its mid-credits scene sets up Avengers: Doomsday, so watch it close to December 2026.

The order is a map, not a rulebook

Back in 2012, The Avengers was a gamble: six heroes from five different films in one movie. Fourteen years later, Marvel is re-releasing Endgame so audiences remember where they left the story. That tells you how much the order matters to Marvel itself.

It doesn’t have to feel like homework, though. Pick your route. Watch the full run if you want to live through the saga the way theater audiences did. Take the spine if you want the team story without the side quests. Sprint if December is closing in. Whatever you choose, keep the Avengers Spine question in your back pocket: does this film change what happens next?

Every route ends in the same theater seat on December 18. Make sure you know why everyone’s there.

Keep reading

Marvel Lunatics is a fan blog that has covered the Marvel Universe since 2024, with reviews, character profiles and viewing guides for Marvel movies, Disney+ series, games and comics. This guide was last updated on October 3, 2026, after Endgame Encore’s return to theaters, and will be updated again when Avengers: Doomsday opens.