For nearly the last couple of decades, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become one of the most phenomenally successful franchises in Hollywood history, with fans excited for the various upcoming Marvel movies (as well as Disney+’s upcoming Marvel TV shows) each year. Seeing as there are some MCU-canon upcoming superhero movies on the upcoming 2025 movie schedule, now would be a great time to revisit the best Marvel movies Kevin Feige and co. have put out so far.
Luckily, it does not take the intelligence of Tony Stark or the power of Thor to watch all the Marvel movies in order of their theatrical release but merely a Disney+ subscription, among other methods. Let’s review all the ways you can trace this interconnected universe of great superhero movies – including the new 2024 movie, Deadpool & Wolverine – with the following guide.
Iron Man (2008)
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges
What it’s about: It's the one that started it all. The blockbuster that built the Marvel Cinematic Universe empire. In Iron Man, billionaire, genius, and mechanical mastermind Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr., who landed the role after a “top choice” passed) builds a mechanized suit of armor and becomes the world-saving superhero.
How to watch Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt
What it’s about: In The Incredible Hulk, we're reintroduced to scientist Bruce Banner – then played by Edward Norton – and his alternate rage-filled persona, The Hulk, as he attempts to cure himself while also on the run from government officials.
How to watch The Incredible Hulk
- Stream The Incredible Hulk on Disney+
- Rent or buy The Incredible Hulk on Amazon
- Buy The Incredible Hulk on Blu-ray on Amazon
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke
What it’s about: Following his announcement at the end of Iron Man, Tony Stark must battle Russian scientist Ivan Vanko, who has developed similar technology and uses it to pursue his vendetta against the Stark family for past grievances. Iron Man 2 also marks the first appearance of Natasha “Black Widow” Romanoff and of Don Cheadle as Rhodey (following Terrence Howard’s payment dispute) and wearing War Machine armor.
How to watch Iron Man 2
Thor (2011)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins
What it’s about: In Thor, our arrogant, high-minded title character is banished to Earth by his father, Odin, stripped of his powers, and must prove himself worthy of wielding the mighty hammer of Mjölnir.
How to watch Thor
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Director: Joe Johnston
Starring: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan
What it’s about: In Captain America: The First Avenger, we're introduced to Steve Rogers – a plucky young patriot who, during World War II, becomes the muscle-bound super soldier known as Captain America and must use his newfound powers to defeat the villainous Red Skull.
How to watch Captain America: The First Avenger
- Stream Captain America: The First Avenger on Disney+
- Rent or buy Captain America: The First Avenger on Amazon
- Buy Captain America: The First Avenger on Blu-ray on Amazon
The Avengers (2012)
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson
What it’s about: In the MCU’s first crossover movie, The Avengers, the world-saving superhero group — Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye — assemble to stop Loki from bringing havoc onto the world.
How to watch The Avengers
- Stream The Avengers on Disney+
- Rent or buy The Avengers on Amazon
- Buy The Avengers on Blu-ray on Amazon
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Director: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley
What it’s about: Shortly following the events of The Avengers, Tony Stark must wrestle with his identity as Iron Man while the nation is under threat of The Mandarin in the sort-of holiday movie favorite, Iron Man 3.
How to watch Iron Man 3
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Director: Alan Taylor
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins
What it’s about: In Thor: The Dark World, our eponymous demigod must team up with his enemy (and adoptive brother) Loki to stop the vengeful Dark Elves from plunging the known universe into darkness.
How to watch Thor: The Dark World
- Stream Thor: The Dark World on Disney+
- Rent or buy Thor: The Dark World on Amazon
- Buy Thor: The Dark World on Blu-ray on Amazon
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan
What it’s about: See more of Captain America’s best moments in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, in which Steve, Black Widow, and Sam “Falcon” Wilson uncover the dark conspiracies within S.H.I.E.L.D., while also fighting a mysterious assassin with a connection to Steve’s past known as The Winter Soldier.
How to watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Stream Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Disney+
- Rent or buy Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Amazon
- Buy Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Blu-ray on Amazon
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
What it’s about: In Guardians of the Galaxy, an unlikely band of social misfits and outlaws reluctantly form a heroic team after stealing a powerful artifact and going on the run across the galaxy.
How to watch Guardians of the Galaxy
- Stream Guardians of the Galaxy on Disney+
- Rent or buy Guardians of the Galaxy on Amazon
- Buy Guardians of the Galaxy on Blu-ray on Amazon
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, James Spader
What it’s about: In Avengers: Age of Ultron, a somewhat divisive team-up movie, the titular superhero group must stop Ultron – an artificially intelligent being who wishes to wipe out humanity entirely.
How to watch Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Stream Avengers: Age of Ultron on Disney+
- Rent or buy Avengers: Age of Ultron on Amazon
- Buy Avengers: Age of Ultron on Blu-ray on Amazon
Ant-Man (2015)
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll
What it’s about: In Ant-Man, ex-convict Scott Lang teams up with scientist Hank Pym, who gives him access to incredible shrinking technology that he must use to pull a dangerous heist with worldwide consequences.
How to watch Ant-Man
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chadwick Boseman, Tom Holland
What it’s about: In Captain America: Civil War, the Avengers are internally fractured over opposing viewpoints into two separate teams – one led by Tony Stark, who also recruits T’Challa (a.k.a. Black Panther) and Peter “Spider-Man” Parker, and the other led by Steve Rogers.
How to watch Captain America: Civil War
- Stream Captain America: Civil War on Disney+
- Rent or buy Captain America: Civil War on Amazon
- Buy Captain America: Civil War on Blu-ray on Amazon
Doctor Strange (2016)
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton
What it’s about: Stephen Strange learns about the mystic arts after a car crash changes his life in one of the most visually stunning Marvel movies, Doctor Strange, which also sees Benedict Cumberbatch play a second MCU role: Dormammu.
How to watch Doctor Strange
- Stream Doctor Strange on Disney+
- Rent or buy Doctor Strange on Amazon
- Buy Doctor Strange on Blu-ray on Amazon
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Pom Klementieff, Kurt Russell
What it’s about: In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the Guardians try to help Peter Quill when a mysterious figure from his past returns. They also run into Nebula and Yondu while also meeting Mantis.
How to watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Stream Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on Disney+
- Rent or buy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on Amazon
- Buy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on Blu-ray on Amazon
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr.
What it’s about: Peter Parker tries to balance high school with his heroic obligations under the tutelage of Tony Stark while living with his Aunt May and fighting the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which is also one of Michael Keaton’s best movies.
How to watch Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Stream Spider-Man: Homecoming on Disney+
- Rent or buy Spider-Man: Homecoming on Amazon
- Buy Spider-Man: Homecoming on Blu-ray on Amazon
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Tessa Thompson, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum
What it’s about: In Thor: Ragnarok, the estranged Avenger faces his biggest challenge yet when his half-sister, Hela, threatens Asgard and nearly everything else he holds dear. Meanwhile, he and Loki find themselves on a trash planet called Sakaar, where Thor reunites with Hulk, his “friend from work” – a line conceived by a Make-a-Wish kid.
How to watch Thor: Ragnarok
- Stream Thor: Ragnarok on Disney+
- Rent or buy Thor: Ragnarok on Amazon
- Buy Thor: Ragnarok on Blu-ray on Amazon
Black Panther (2018)
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett
What it’s about: T'Challa, the crowned king of Wakanda, is challenged by Killmonger, who wants to build a global revolution, in the box office record-breaking, Oscar-winning superhero movie, Black Panther, which was also nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
How to watch Black Panther
- Stream Black Panther on Disney+
- Rent or buy Black Panther on Amazon
- Buy Black Panther on Blu-ray on Amazon
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin
What it’s about: In Avengers: Infinity War, the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and several other characters within the MCU must band together against Thanos as he attempts to collect all six Infinity Stones for a nefarious plan that is different from the source material: to create balance within the universe.
How to watch Avengers: Infinity War
- Stream Avengers: Infinity War on Disney+
- Rent or buy Avengers: Infinity War on Amazon
- Buy Avengers: Infinity War on Blu-ray on Amazon
Ant-Man And The Wasp (2018)
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer
What it’s about: Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne work together with Hank Pym to save Janet van Dyne from the quantum realm in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
How to watch Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Stream Ant-Man and the Wasp on Disney+
- Rent or buy Ant-Man and the Wasp on Amazon
- Buy Ant-Man and the Wasp on Blu-ray on Amazon
Captain Marvel (2019)
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, Lashana Lynch, Annette Bening
What it’s about: In Captain Marvel, which is set in the 1990s, we learn the origin story of Kree warrior Carol Danvers, who lands on Earth and teams up with Nick Fury to take on the shapeshifting alien race of Skrulls.
How to watch Captain Marvel
- Stream Captain Marvel on Disney+
- Rent or buy Captain Marvel on Amazon
- Buy Captain Marvel on Blu-ray on Amazon
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin
What it’s about: In the climatic, three-hour extravaganza known as Avengers: Endgame, the remaining few Avengers must reverse the universal, life-altering damage caused by Thanos at the end of Infinity War in this instant time travel movie classic with as many thrills as there are tear-jerking moments.
How to watch Avengers: Endgame
- Stream Avengers: Endgame on Disney+
- Rent or buy Avengers: Endgame on Amazon
- Buy Avengers: Endgame on Blu-ray on Amazon
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal
What it’s about: In Spider-Man: Far From Home – the final installment of the MCU's Phase 3 (which had its fair share of epic comic book references) – Peter Parker hopes to take a break from being Spider-Man by embarking on a European school trip but, as you'd expect, trouble soon finds him.
How to watch Spider-Man: Far From Home
- Stream Spider-Man: Far From Home on Disney+
- Rent or buy Spider-Man: Far From Home on Amazon
- Buy Spider-Man: Far From Home on Blu-ray on Amazon
Black Widow (2021)
Director: Cate Shortland
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz
What it’s about: Set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, Black Widow sees Natasha Romanoff uncover a conspiracy tied to her past, leading her to reunite with her surrogate family.
How to watch Black Widow
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh
What it’s about: Simu Liu leads the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast in the title role of a young martial arts master forced to take on a terrorist organization led by his father, the real Mandarin.
How to watch Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings
- Stream Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Disney+
- Rent or buy Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Amazon
- Buy Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Blu-ray on Amazon
Eternals (2021)
Director: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek
What it’s about: The all-star Eternals cast plays a group of powerful immortals reunited over the emergence of an ancient evil.
How to watch Eternals
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Marisa Tomei
What it’s about: Spider-Man: No Way Home pays loving tribute to the live-action Spider-Man movies from before the webslinger’s MCU induction by seeing Holland’s Peter Parker cross paths with some familiar faces (including several of the best Spider-Man movie villains) after asking Doctor Strange to help conceal his secret identity from the rest of the world.
How to watch Spider-Man: No Way Home
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez
What it’s about: Coming out at a time when Multiverse movies were all the rage, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (one of the best Sam Raimi movies) sees the former Sorcerer Supreme travel beyond his dimension to help a young woman named America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez).
How to watch Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Stream Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Disney+
- Rent or buy Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Amazon
- Buy Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Blu-ray on Amazon
Thor: Love And Thunder (2022)
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale
What it’s about: The God of Thunder teams up with his former girlfriend, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman's first return to the role in nearly a decade) – imbued with the power of Mjolnir – to defeat the vengeful Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder.
How to watch Thor: Love and Thunder
- Stream Thor: Love and Thunder on Disney+
- Rent or buy Thor: Love and Thunder on Amazon
- Buy Thor: Love and Thunder on Blu-ray on Amazon
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Letitia Wright, Lupida Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta
What it’s about: Following T’Challa’s untimely death, Princess Shuri takes up his mantle to defend her country as conflict brews with the sea-dwelling Namor and his people in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
How to watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Stream Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Disney+
- Rent or buy Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Amazon
- Buy Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Blu-ray on Amazon
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors
What it’s about: Scott, Hope, Hank, Janet, and Scott’s now-teenage daughter, Cassie, accidentally become stranded deep in the Quantum Realm, where they come face-to-face with the tyrannical Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
How to watch Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
- Stream Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on Disney+
- Rent or buy Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on Amazon
- Buy Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on Blu-ray on Amazon
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn
What it’s about: The Guardians – now officially including Nebula, Mantis, and Kraglin – race against time to save an ailing Rocket, whose dark past is finally revealed in James Gunn’s definitive end to the cosmic heroes’ MCU legacy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which also contains the first F-bomb in an MCU movie.
How to watch Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
- Stream Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Disney+
- Rent or buy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Amazon
- Buy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Blu-ray on Amazon
The Marvels (2023)
Director: Nia Dacosta
Starring: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton
What it’s about: When their powers become mysteriously bound together, Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan form an alliance against Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn in The Marvels.
How to watch The Marvels
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman
What it’s about: When his universe falls under threat of being erased, Wade Wilson forces down-and-out, Adamantium-clawed mutant Logan to help him save it, only for them both to get trapped in a dimension filled with jaw-dropping cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine.
How to watch Deadpool & Wolverine
- Stream Deadpool & Wolverine on Disney+
- Buy Deadpool & Wolverine on Amazon
- Buy Deadpool & Wolverine on Blu-ray on Amazon
Well, there you have it. Of course, we have the likes of Sam Wilson’s return in Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, featuring characters who have not gotten their own solo movies yet, and plenty more to look forward to. So be sure to reference this guide to make sure you are caught up on what is going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
