Honestly, trying to figure out how to watch marvel tv shows and movies in order has become a part-time job. It used to be simple. You’d go to the theater once or twice a year, see a guy in a suit punch a robot, and go home. Now? You have to keep track of alternate 1960s dimensions, talking trees, and a guy named Simon Williams who apparently works in Hollywood. It’s a lot.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) isn't just a list of films anymore. It is a massive, sprawling spiderweb of stories that spans over eighty years of in-universe history. If you're coming into this fresh—or even if you’ve been here since Tony Stark first built a suit in a cave—you’ve probably realized that the release dates don't always match the "real" timeline.
Most people just click "play" on whatever Disney+ suggests. That is a mistake.
The Great Chronological Debate
There are two ways to do this. You can watch them in the order they hit theaters, which is the "pure" way to experience the surprises. Or you can go chronological.
Chronological is wild. It starts with Steve Rogers in the 1940s and ends somewhere in the late 2020s. But wait. If you start with Captain America: The First Avenger, you’re technically seeing things that weren't "intended" to be seen yet. It’s like reading the last chapter of a book first because it takes place in a flashback.
You’ve got to decide what kind of viewer you are. Do you want the story to flow like a history book? Or do you want to feel the hype the way we did back in 2008?
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The Phase One Foundation
This is where the "Sacred Timeline" began. It's the most straightforward part of the journey.
- Iron Man (2008): The spark. This is the bedrock of everything.
- The Incredible Hulk (2008): Often skipped, but still canon. It actually takes place around the same time as Iron Man 2 and Thor.
- Iron Man 2 (2010): Introduces Black Widow.
- Thor (2011): Brings the cosmic stuff in.
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): If you’re doing chronological, this is your #1.
- The Avengers (2012): The first time it all came together.
The Middle Years: Gems and Growing Pains
Phases Two and Three are where Marvel really found its rhythm. This is when the Infinity Stones started becoming a big deal. You see the Guardians of the Galaxy head into space, and you see the Avengers literally tear themselves apart in Civil War.
The timeline gets a bit crunchy here. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 takes place only a few months after the first one, even though it was released years later. If you're watching marvel tv shows and movies in order, you’d watch both Guardians movies back-to-back.
Dealing With the Multiverse Mess
Phase Four and Five changed the game. Suddenly, we weren't just dealing with one universe. We were dealing with all of them. This is where the TV shows on Disney+ became mandatory homework.
You can't really understand Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness without watching WandaVision. You'll be totally lost in The Marvels if you skipped Ms. Marvel. It's annoying for some, but for fans, it’s like a massive puzzle.
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The Recent Hits (2024-2025)
We just finished a massive stretch of content. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) blew the doors off the multiverse, basically saying that everything from the old Fox movies is now part of the toy box. Then we had Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* in early 2025.
Thunderbolts* is a weird one. It’s basically the "anti-Avengers." It features a bunch of reformed (mostly) villains like Yelena Belova and U.S. Agent. It serves as the bridge into Phase Six.
What’s Happening Right Now? (2026)
If you are looking at the calendar for 2026, it is packed. We are currently in the thick of Phase Six. This is the era of "DOOM."
The 2026 Release Schedule
- Wonder Man (January 2026): This is a Disney+ series. It stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams. It's supposed to be a satirical look at the MCU's version of Hollywood.
- Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 (March 2026): After the massive success of the first season, Matt Murdock is back. It’s darker than the usual Marvel fare, closer to the old Netflix vibe.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026): This is the big one. Tom Holland returns. After the ending of No Way Home, Peter Parker is a nobody. This movie resets his world.
- Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026): Robert Downey Jr. is back. But he isn't Iron Man. He's playing Victor von Doom. This is the start of the end for the Multiverse Saga.
Why the "Disney+ Order" is Sometimes Wrong
If you go to Disney+ and look at their "Marvel Cinematic Universe in Timeline Order" section, it’s mostly accurate. But it has flaws. For instance, they often place Black Widow way after Civil War. While that makes sense chronologically, the post-credits scene of Black Widow takes place after Endgame.
If you watch it "in order," you’ll spoil the biggest death in the franchise for yourself.
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That is why "Release Order" is still the king for first-time viewers. You experience the story the way the writers intended you to. You see the clues as they were dropped, not after the fact.
The Animation Factor
Don't ignore the cartoons. X-Men '97 (Season 2 is out Summer 2026) and What If...? are technically part of the multiverse. While they don't always impact the main "Sacred Timeline," they provide the context for how the multiverse actually works. Plus, Marvel Zombies (2025) is just fun.
Actionable Steps for Your Rewatch
If you’re planning a marathon, don't just wing it.
- Pick your path: Choose Chronological if you've seen it all before. Choose Release Order if you're a newbie.
- Skip the fluff: You don't strictly need to watch every episode of I Am Groot to understand Avengers: Doomsday. Focus on the "Core 20" movies if you're short on time.
- Watch the "Spotlight" shows: Marvel has a new "Spotlight" banner for shows like Echo and Wonder Man. These are designed to be watched without knowing twenty years of backstory. Start there if you're feeling overwhelmed.
- Check the Dates: Always keep an eye on the year. Iron Man is 2010 (in-universe), Endgame is 2023, and we are currently watching things play out in 2026 and 2027.
The MCU is basically a digital comic book shop now. You don't have to buy every issue, but it sure helps to know which ones are the "Key Issues." With Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom later this year, the timeline is about to get even crazier. Get your watch list ready now before the multiverse collapses for good.
Next Steps for the Ultimate Binge:
Start by watching Iron Man (2008). If you've already seen it, jump into the "Multiverse Saga" beginning with Loki Season 1. This series acts as the "user manual" for everything happening in the movies today. From there, follow the release order through Spider-Man: Brand New Day to ensure you are ready for the arrival of Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday this December.