With Avengers: Doomsday charging toward its May 1, 2026 release and the multiverse-shattering Avengers: Secret Wars following on May 7, 2027, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is headed for its biggest showdown yet. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by 15 years of lore, characters, timelines, and cosmic chaos — you’re not alone. But fear not, true believer. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to watch, why it matters, and how it all fits into the bigger picture.
These aren’t just superhero movies — they’re chapters in the biggest ongoing cinematic saga of all time. And if you want to be fully briefed for what’s coming, now’s the time to start assembling your own personal Avengers watchlist.
Why It Matters: From Stark Tech to Multiversal Meltdowns
What began in 2008 with Iron Man — a billionaire genius building a suit of armor in a cave — has snowballed into an epic about gods, time travel, artificial intelligence, political ideologies, space empires, and fractured realities. The upcoming Avengers films aren’t isolated blockbusters — they’re payoffs to years of layered storytelling across Phases 1 through 6 of the MCU.
And these next phases are dealing with a new level of threat. Forget alien invasions — we’re talking multiversal collapse, variants, incursions, and Kang the Conqueror, a time-traveling tyrant whose reach spans centuries and realities. To grasp the stakes of Doomsday and Secret Wars, you have to understand what came before.
The Core Avengers Films: Release Order Watchlist
Watching the Avengers movies in release order gives you the story the way audiences first experienced it — each film building on the last, with character arcs and world-building evolving organically.
- The Avengers (2012)
The OG team-up. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes unite to stop Loki and his Chitauri army. It’s the first major crossover event in MCU history and sets the tone for all future phases. - Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Tony Stark’s creation of Ultron spins wildly out of control, introducing key players like Vision, Wanda Maximoff, and Wakanda. The Avengers begin to fracture under the pressure. - Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Thanos makes his move. This is the MCU’s Empire Strikes Back — a bleak, high-stakes, universe-spanning showdown with one of the best villain arcs in blockbuster history. - Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The conclusion of the Infinity Saga. A time-heist, emotional farewells, and a final battle that pulls in nearly every MCU hero to date. Still the second-highest-grossing film of all time.
Expanded Timeline: Chronological Viewing for Deeper Context
If you want to see the story unfold within the MCU’s internal timeline — not how it was released — you’ll get a more coherent view of character origins and cause-effect relationships.
Here’s a streamlined timeline that includes the core Avengers films and essential context pieces:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (WWII origins of Steve Rogers)
- Captain Marvel (1990s – Nick Fury’s first contact with extraterrestrials)
- Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor
(Founding Avenger intros) - The Avengers (2012)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Age of Ultron, Civil War, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok
- Infinity War
- Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel (happen just before/during the Snap)
- Endgame
If you want to go further, post-Endgame projects like Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania lay essential groundwork for Kang and the multiverse chaos to come.
What’s Coming: From Doomsday to Battleworld
Avengers: Doomsday will reportedly bring together heroes from across the multiverse to combat Kang and his variants. Early plot details suggest this will be the MCU’s next major ensemble event, possibly on the scale of Infinity War in terms of character crossover and global impact.
Secret Wars, on the other hand, has even bigger implications. In the comics, Secret Wars involves the destruction of entire universes, the collapse of the multiverse, and the birth of Battleworld — a patchwork reality ruled by various versions of Marvel’s heroes and villains. It could be Marvel’s way of resetting or merging different universes, which opens the door for Fox’s X-Men, Sony’s Spider-Verse characters, and even past Marvel franchises.
Don’t be surprised if Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, and Deadpool show up alongside newer heroes like Shang-Chi, Moon Knight, and Ms. Marvel. If No Way Home and Multiverse of Madness were appetizers, Secret Wars will be the main course.
Your Mission: Assemble Your Watchlist
Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a newcomer preparing for multiversal mayhem, here’s how to prepare:
- Start with the four Avengers movies — these are the spine of the MCU.
- Fill in key character arcs — Iron Man, Cap, Thor, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, and Spider-Man all feed directly into the Avengers saga.
- Watch the multiverse setup — Loki, What If…?, Quantumania, and Multiverse of Madness are essential prep for Secret Wars.
- Stay current — Phases 4 and 5 are setting the table. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) and Fantastic Four (2025) will likely be pivotal.
So grab your shield, hammer, nanotech suit, or sling ring — whatever suits your heroic style — and dive in. The next age of Avengers is coming, and if the rumors, leaks, and post-credits scenes are to be believed, it’s going to be bigger, wilder, and more unpredictable than anything we’ve seen before.
Avengers Movies In Order of Release
Here are the Avengers movies in order of their release date:
- The Avengers – Released May 4, 2012
- Avengers: Age of Ultron – Released May 1, 2015
- Avengers: Infinity War – Released April 27, 2018
- Avengers: Endgame – Released April 26, 2019
- Avengers: Doomsday – Scheduled for release on May 1, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars – Scheduled for release on May 7, 2027
Key Takeaways
- Marvel movies can be watched in either chronological order (starting with Captain America: The First Avenger) or release order (beginning with Iron Man).
- The Marvel Cinematic Universe contains over 30 films and multiple TV series that tell an interconnected story across different time periods.
- Each viewing order provides a different experience of character development and reveals the carefully planned evolution of the Avengers team.
Chronology and Evolution of the Avengers Films
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has followed a carefully structured progression through various phases, each building upon the narrative groundwork of previous films. The Avengers storyline serves as the backbone of this expansive universe.
The Foundation of the MCU and Phase One
Phase One began with “Iron Man” in 2008, introducing Tony Stark and setting the stage for what would become the MCU. While “Captain America: The First Avenger” chronologically takes place first during World War II, it was released later in the sequence.
“Thor” expanded the universe beyond Earth, introducing cosmic elements and Asgardian mythology. These individual hero journeys culminated in “The Avengers” (2012), where Nick Fury’s Avengers Initiative brought together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye to battle Loki.
Phase One established the core characters and the interconnected nature of the MCU. It demonstrated Marvel’s long-term vision of building separate franchises that could successfully merge into team-up events.
Expanding the Universe: Phase Two and Three
Phase Two began with “Iron Man 3” and continued expanding the MCU with “Thor: The Dark World” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” These films dealt with the aftermath of the Battle of New York from “The Avengers.”
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015) reunited the team against a new threat and introduced important new characters. Phase Three brought even more heroes into the fold, including Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man.
The culmination came with “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019). These epic films concluded the “Infinity Saga” that had been building since Phase One. The stakes reached cosmic proportions as the Avengers battled Thanos to save half of all life in the universe.
The Dawn of a New Era: Phase Four and Beyond
Phase Four marked a significant shift following the events of “Endgame.” With several original Avengers departing, the MCU began focusing on new heroes and exploring the multiverse concept.
“The Marvels” expanded on Captain Marvel’s story, while “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” delved deeper into the Quantum Realm. Phase Four also introduced the Disney+ streaming series as essential components of the MCU storytelling.
Phase Five continued this expansion with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and the highly anticipated “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which brought previously Fox-owned characters into the MCU fold. The chronology became more complex with storylines spanning different timelines and realities.
The evolution of the Avengers films reflects Marvel’s ability to adapt its storytelling approach while maintaining a cohesive universe. From the relatively grounded beginnings to cosmic multiverse adventures, the franchise continues to evolve.
Key Characters and Landmark Events
The Marvel Cinematic Universe revolves around compelling heroes and villains whose character arcs drive the interconnected storyline across multiple phases. These characters face world-changing events that reshape the MCU’s landscape over time.
Central Heroes and Their Journeys
Tony Stark stands as a foundational figure whose journey from self-centered billionaire to self-sacrificing hero forms the emotional backbone of the Avengers saga. His technological innovations and personal growth culminate in the ultimate sacrifice against Thanos.
Steve Rogers (Captain America) embodies unwavering moral conviction through decades of service. His story arc includes awakening in modern times, questioning authority in “Captain America: Civil War,” and eventually choosing personal happiness.
Thor undergoes perhaps the most dramatic transformation, from arrogant prince to humble hero, experiencing profound loss and depression before finding renewed purpose. His journey spans cosmic adventures and Earth-bound conflicts alike.
Doctor Strange transitions from brilliant but egotistical surgeon to mystical protector, becoming crucial in the battle against Thanos and later multiverse threats like Kang the Conqueror.
Significant Antagonists and Conflicts
Thanos emerges as the MCU’s most consequential villain, whose quest for the Infinity Stones spans multiple films before culminating in “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame.” His snap wiped out half of all life, fundamentally altering the universe.
Loki evolves from simple antagonist to complex anti-hero. Initially Thor’s jealous brother, he later sacrifices himself against Thanos and returns as a variant in the Disney+ series.
The Tesseract (Space Stone) appears as the first Infinity Stone, driving conflicts from Captain America’s era through multiple Avengers films.
Kang the Conqueror represents the new multiversal threat in Phase 5 and beyond, with variants appearing in “Loki” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” setting up future Avengers confrontations.
Impactful Additions to the Avengers Roster
Black Panther brings Wakandan technology and diplomacy to the team after his introduction in “Captain America: Civil War.” His solo film explores themes of legacy and responsibility while introducing vibranium technology to the wider MCU.
Spider-Man joins as Tony Stark’s protégé in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” bringing youthful energy and representing the next generation of heroes. His journey balances teenage life with superhero responsibilities.
Black Widow and Hawkeye round out the original team as skilled human operatives without superpowers. Their deep friendship and shared history at S.H.I.E.L.D. provide emotional grounding for the team.
Nick Fury serves as the architect of the Avengers Initiative, recruiting heroes and coordinating responses to global threats. His strategic vision unites disparate characters into Earth’s mightiest defenders.
The Guardians of the Galaxy expand the MCU into cosmic territory, connecting Earth’s heroes to galactic conflicts and providing crucial assistance against universal threats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marvel fans often have questions about the best way to experience the Avengers saga. These answers provide clarity on the latest releases, viewing orders, and how newcomers can jump into the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What is the most recent addition to the Avengers movie series?
As of March 2025, the most recent Avengers-related film is “The Marvels” which was released in November 2023. While not strictly an Avengers-titled movie, it connects to the larger Avengers storyline through its characters and plot developments.
The last film with “Avengers” in the title was “Avengers: Endgame” released in 2019, which concluded the Infinity Saga. Marvel Studios has announced “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” for future release.
Which Avengers film should a newcomer watch first to best understand the ongoing storyline?
Newcomers should start with “Iron Man” (2008), which launched the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film introduces Tony Stark and establishes the foundation for the Avengers team that would later form.
For those wanting a quicker entry point, “The Avengers” (2012) works well as it brings the core team together for the first time. It provides enough context to understand character dynamics while delivering an entertaining standalone story.
How do I watch all the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows in chronological order?
The chronological order begins with “Captain America: The First Avenger” set during World War II, followed by “Captain Marvel” in the 1990s. Then comes “Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” and “The Incredible Hulk.”
The timeline continues through the other films and Disney+ shows, with events sometimes overlapping. Marvel has released official timelines to help viewers understand when each story takes place in the overall narrative.
What is the correct sequence to view all the Marvel movies leading up to the latest Avengers film?
The release order provides the best first-time viewing experience. This approach follows how Marvel Studios revealed information and developed character arcs across films.
For viewers who prefer story chronology, starting with “Captain America: The First Avenger” and following the in-universe timeline works well. However, post-credits scenes sometimes reference future events, which may cause confusion in chronological viewing.
Are there any new Avengers or Marvel Cinematic Universe films announced for release in the near future?
Marvel Studios has announced several upcoming films. “Captain America: Brave New World” is scheduled for release in February 2025, followed by “Thunderbolts” in May 2025.
“Fantastic Four” will introduce Marvel’s first family to the MCU in July 2025. “Avengers: Doomsday” is planned for May 2026, with “Avengers: Secret Wars” expected to follow in 2027.
How can I find the list of Avengers movies available on Disney Plus and their viewing order?
Disney+ offers nearly all Marvel Cinematic Universe films and shows. The platform provides curated collections that group content by phases, character storylines, or chronological order.
Users can find Marvel content by selecting the Marvel tile on the Disney+ home screen. Disney+ also occasionally creates special sections for new releases, allowing viewers to catch up on relevant previous films before watching the latest addition.
