How to Watch Marvel Movies in Order: 2026 Guide

This is the definitive linear path through the Marvel Cinematic Universe, combining the “Sacred Timeline” movies, the Disney+ originals, and the “Street Level” legacy shows (Daredevil, Luke Cage, etc.) which are now canon.

How to use this guide:

• Eras 1-5 cover the “Infinity Saga” and the “Defenders Saga” (Street Level).

• Era 6 covers the “Multiverse Saga” and the new Phase 6 releases up to present day (Jan 2026).

Era 1: The Origins & The Golden Age (1940s – 1995)

The story begins with the creation of the Super Soldier and the early days of S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Captain America: The First Avenger (Set in WWII)

• Agent Carter (Seasons 1 & 2)

  • Setting: 1946. Peggy Carter fights early Hydra threats.

• Captain Marvel (Set in 1995)

  • Note: Introduces Nick Fury and the Skrulls.

Era 2: The Assembly (2008 – 2012)

The world discovers superheroes.

• Iron Man (2008)

• Iron Man 2

• The Incredible Hulk

• Thor

• The Avengers (2012)

  • Crucial Event: The “Battle of New York” changes the world and triggers the events of the TV shows below.

Era 3: The Age of Miracles & The Defenders (2013 – 2015)

While the Avengers handle global threats, “Street Level” heroes rise in New York City to fight the crime left in the Avengers’ wake.

• Iron Man 3

• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, Ep 1-16)

• Thor: The Dark World

• Captain America: The Winter Soldier

  • Watch Order: Watch this immediately after Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ep 16 to see the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. play out in real-time.

• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, Ep 17-22)

• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (Set in 2014)

• Daredevil (Season 1)

  • Why here? Matt Murdock begins cleaning up Hell’s Kitchen after the Battle of New York.

  • [Shop Amazon: Daredevil Complete Season 1 Blu-ray]

• Jessica Jones (Season 1)

• Avengers: Age of Ultron

• Ant-Man

Era 4: Civil War & The Fracture (2016 – 2017)

The Avengers split up. This period is dense with “Street Level” stories occurring simultaneously.

• Captain America: Civil War

• Black Widow (Set immediately after Civil War)

• Black Panther

• Spider-Man: Homecoming

• Luke Cage (Season 1)

• Iron Fist (Season 1)

• The Defenders (Limited Series)

  • The Event: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist team up against The Hand.

• The Punisher (Season 1)

• Doctor Strange (Spans 2016-2017)

• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Seasons 3-5)

  • Note: Deals with Ghost Rider and the Kree/Inhuman conflict.

Era 5: The Infinity War (2018 – 2023)

The Snap occurs, and the universe enters five years of chaos.

• Thor: Ragnarok

• Ant-Man and the Wasp

• Avengers: Infinity War

• Avengers: Endgame (Spans 2018 – 2023)

Era 6: The Multiverse Saga & The New World Order (2023 – 2027)

Current Timeline. The Avengers are gone, the Multiverse is breaking, and new political powers (Kingpin, Red Hulk) are rising.

The Post-Endgame Shuffle (2023-2024)

• Loki (Seasons 1 & 2)

  • Timeline Note: Exists outside of time, but best viewed here to understand the Multiverse.

• WandaVision

• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

• Eternals

• Spider-Man: Far From Home

• Spider-Man: No Way Home

The “Modern” Era (2025 In-Universe)

• Hawkeye

• Moon Knight

• She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

  • Connection: Daredevil returns here with a lighter tone.

• Ms. Marvel

• Thor: Love and Thunder

• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

• Secret Invasion

• The Marvels

The “Now” (2026-2027 In-Universe) This is the current cutting edge of the story as of early 2026.

• Echo

  • Key Event: Kingpin begins his rise to political power.

• Deadpool & Wolverine

  • Note: Deals heavily with the timeline and the “Fox Universe” legacy.

  • [Buy on Amazon: Deadpool & Wolverine 4K UHD]

• Agatha All Along

• Daredevil: Born Again (Season 1)

  • Timeline: Set in late 2026/early 2027. Matt Murdock and Kingpin (now Mayor Fisk) clash in a city where vigilantism is being outlawed.

  • [Read the Inspiration: Daredevil “Born Again” Trade Paperback]

• Captain America: Brave New World

  • Timeline: Early 2027. Sam Wilson faces President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Red Hulk).

• Thunderbolts*

  • Timeline: Mid-2027. A team of anti-heroes (Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, U.S. Agent) is assembled by Val for a black-ops mission.

• Ironheart

  • Timeline: Set after Wakanda Forever and Brave New World.

Timeline Divergence: The Retro-Future

• The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  • Placement: Tricky. This movie takes place in an alternate universe (Earth-828) set in a retro-futuristic 1960s.

  • When to watch: Chronologically, it happens in the “past,” but narratively it sets up the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. We recommend watching it last (after Thunderbolts*) as a prelude to the timeline collision.

  • [Pre-order Merch: Fantastic Four “First Steps” Apparel & Comics]