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)
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]
