The Absolute Best Order to Watch the MCU
Updated: December 30, 2023
The Marvel Cinematic Universe earns its namesake. It’s as big as the universe or at least a galaxy.
Encompassing movies, television shows, digital shorts, and Blu-ray extras, the MCU is a wonder to behold and an impressive narrative adventure. The creativity, logistics, and downright audacity to build this fictional cinematic universe, where characters cross over in movies and shows and the storylines weave throughout decades or even hundreds of years is truly awesome.
The MCU is an undeniably remarkable accomplishment. Yet, aside from the marvel (pun intended) of its creation, the stories and characters are beautiful. Like millions of other people, I’ve been inspired and moved by the complex and dynamic characters that make up the MCU, which provides valuable lessons about life and how to live it.
I wanted to help other people get the fullest experience of the MCU, so I watched every minute of every piece of MCU content that exists. Getting the most from the MCU requires watching all of its content in a very specific order as the movies, shows, and digital shorts intersect and build on each other to form the grand narrative. For example, you may have to watch Episodes 1-7 of a specific season, then watch a movie, and then watch Episodes 8-16 of that season.
After watching all of it and taking detailed notes, I created what I believe is the absolute best order to watch the MCU. My order is mostly chronological because that is the best way to see the cause-and-effect rhythm of the storylines. However, I ordered some of the things to have the optimal narrative and dramatic flow. For example, Captain Marvel takes place in the 1990s; yet, I put it between Ant-Man and The Wasp and Avengers: Endgame because there are certain characters and objects in Captain Marvel, including its end credits scene, that create a better viewing experience when watched at that point. I also put Ant-Man and The Wasp after Avengers: Infinity War for this same reason. Although 99% of Ant-Man and the Wasp happens before Avengers: Infinity War, the end credits scene of Ant-Man and the Wasp has a much greater impact when viewed after Avengers: Infinity War.
That’s a brief explanation of my reasoning behind this order. Now, let’s get to it!
Oh, I’ve also thrown in a couple non-traditional extras, but I believe they really do add to the experience.
Captain America: The First Avenger (Don’t watch the post-credits scene/trailer.)
Agent Carter (Season 1 and 2)
Iron Man
Iron Man 2
One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (On Captain America: The First Avenger Blu-ray)
Thor
The Incredible Hulk
One-Shot: The Consultant (On Thor Blu-ray)
The Avengers
One-Shot: Item 47 (On The Avengers Blu-ray)
Iron Man 3
One-Shot: All Hail the King (On Thor: The Dark World Blu-ray)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, Episode 1-7)
Thor: The Dark World
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, Episode 8-16)
Peggy Carter’s Full 1953 Smithsonian Interview (On YouTube)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 1, Episode 17-22)
Guardians of the Galaxy
I am Groot: Groot’s First Steps
I am Groot: The Little Guy
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 2, Episode 1-19)
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 2, Episode 20-22)
Daredevil (Season 1)
Jessica Jones (Season 1)
Luke Cage (Season 1, Episode 1-4)
Daredevil (Season 2, Episode 1-11)
Luke Cage (Season 1, Episode 5)
Daredevil (Season 2, Episode 12-13)
Luke Cage (Season 1, Episode 6-13)
Iron Fist (Season 1)
The Defenders (Season 1)
WHIH Newsfront with Christine Everhart (Season 1) (On YouTube)
Ant-Man (Don’t watch the second post-credits scene.)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 3, Episode 1-19)
WHIH Newsfront with Christine Everhart (Season 2) (On YouTube)
Captain America: Civil War
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 3, Episode 20-22)
One-Shot: Team Thor, Part 2
Black Panther
I am Groot: Groot’s Pursuit
I am Groot: Groot Takes a Bath
I am Groot: Magnum Opus
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
The Punisher (Season 1)
Jessica Jones (Season 2)
Luke Cage (Season 2)
Iron Fist (Season 2)
Daredevil (Season 3)
The Punisher (Season 2)
Jessica Jones (Season 3)
Ghost Rider (2007)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 4, Episode 1-9)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot (On YouTube)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 4, Episode 10-22)
Doctor Strange
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 5, Episode 1-18)
Thor: Ragnarok
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 5, Episode 19-22)
Avengers: Infinity War
Ant-Man and The Wasp
Captain Marvel
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 6)
Avengers: Endgame
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 7)
Thor: Love and Thunder
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Season 1)
Black Widow
Hawkeye (Season 1)
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Peter’s To-Do List - A Short Film (On Spider-Man: Far from Home Blu-ray)
Spider-Man: Far from Home
Teachers’ Travel Tips (On Spider-Man: Far from Home Blu-ray)
Loki (Season 1)
Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man 2.1 (2004/2007)
Spider-Man 2.1 was released in 2007 after Spider-Man 2 was released in 2004. The 2.1 version has about six minutes of extra footage, and I think those six minutes add to the story and flesh out the characters and their motivations better.
Spider-Man 3 (Editor’s Cut) (2007/2017)
The Editor’s Cut of Spider-Man 3 was released in 2017, and it includes scenes not in the original 2007 release. The Editor’s Cut also re-arranges some scenes and makes other modifications to them. Overall, the Editor’s Cut is a slight improvement over the 2007 version.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Venom
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Betty Brant's TikTok Videos (On YouTube)
The MCU's Daily Bugle is Now on TikTok
Betty Brant Offers YOU a Job at The Daily Bugle (Part 1 and 2)
Betty Brant Answers Fan Questions
Betty Brant Has a Challenge for YOU
Betty Brant Interviews Coach Wilson
Betty Brant Interviews Flash
Betty Brant and Ned Talk after Break-up
The Daily Bugle Promotes Supplements
Betty Brant Interviews Peter Parker
Spider-Man: No Way Home
WandaVision (Season 1)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Phase 5
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Ms. Marvel (Season 1)
Secret Invasion (Season 1)
The Marvels
Loki (Season 2)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Werewolf by Night
Moon Knight (Season 1)
Eternals
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Season 1)
Echo (Season 1)
Daredevil: Born Again - Release Date: 2024
Agatha: Darkhold Diaries (Season 1) - Release Date: 2024
Ironheart (Season 1) - Release Date: 2024
Wonder Man (Season 1) - Release Date: 2024/2025
Captain America: Brave New World - Release Date: February 14, 2025
Armor Wars - Release Date: 2025/2026
Thunderbolts - Release Date: July 25, 2025
Blade - Release Date: November 7, 2025
Phase 6
Fantastic Four - Release Date: May 2, 2025
Avengers 5 - Release Date: May 1, 2026
Avengers: Secret Wars - Release Date: May 7, 2027
There are many more stories to be told in the MCU with new movies and television shows being released in the near future. I will continue to update this MCU watch order after each of the new releases, so please check back soon!