Marvel Release Order: Watch the Movies and Shows in Chronological Sequence

When you think of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a connected series of films and TV shows produced by Marvel Studios that began in 2008 with Iron Man. Also known as MCU, it spans over 30 films and a dozen TV series, all woven together into one massive story. Getting the Marvel release order right matters—not just for fans who want to relive the journey, but for newcomers trying to make sense of time jumps, multiverse twists, and character arcs that stretch over 15 years.

The Marvel movies, feature-length films released by Marvel Studios that form the core of the MCU narrative started with Iron Man in 2008, but the timeline doesn’t follow release dates alone. Some shows like WandaVision happen right after Avengers: Endgame, while others like Loki branch off into alternate timelines. Then there’s Marvel shows, streaming series on Disney+ that expand the MCU beyond the big screen, often filling in gaps between films or exploring side characters—they’re not just extras. They’re essential. Skip Falcon and the Winter Soldier and you’ll miss how Sam Wilson becomes Captain America. Watch Hawkeye without knowing Kate Bishop’s background and you lose half the emotional weight.

There’s no single "right" way to watch, but if you want the full experience without spoilers or confusion, you need to separate release order from chronological order. Release order is how Marvel rolled it out—each movie dropped when it was ready. Chronological order is how the story unfolds inside the universe. Most fans start with release order because it mirrors how audiences experienced the buildup: the shock of the Avengers assembling, the heartbreak of Thanos snapping half the universe away, the surprise of Spider-Man joining the team. But if you’re rewatching or jumping in now, chronological order gives you a cleaner, more logical flow.

What you’ll find below is a curated collection of guides that break down exactly how to watch the MCU—whether you’re bingeing for the first time, catching up after a break, or trying to figure out where Deadpool fits (spoiler: it doesn’t, not yet). You’ll see how editing timelines affect storytelling, how streaming platforms changed how we consume superhero content, and why some shows were made to bridge gaps no movie could cover. No fluff. No guesswork. Just clear, practical paths to watch the Marvel release order right.