Marvel movies and shows in chronological order (2026)
70 released titles (38 movies, 24 series seasons, 8 specials), about 191 hours of viewing. Next release: Avengers: Doomsday, 18 Dec 2026.
Last verified 23 Oct 2026.
In-universe story order as published in the Disney+ MCU Complete Timeline collection, with our placement for the few titles Disney+ does not list. Best for a rewatch.
81 titles · chronological order (official timeline) · 70 count towards completion
Community picks
Once a few people vote on the titles, this shows the Marvel entries the community calls must-watch, the ones you can skip on a first run, and the highest rated. Open any title and tap 🔥, 👍 or 😴.
How to watch Marvel: the short version
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the longest connected film and TV story ever made: more than 70 released movies, series and specials since Iron Man in 2008, with new entries arriving every few months. That is roughly a week of non-stop viewing, which is exactly why most people want a plan before they start.
If this is your first time through, watch in release order. It is how the story was written to be experienced: each film assumes you know what came before, the post-credit scenes land in the right place, and the big team-ups (The Avengers, Infinity War, Endgame) pay off set-ups from the years before them. The chronological order follows the official Disney+ "MCU Complete Timeline" and is best for a rewatch, where seeing Captain America: The First Avenger before Iron Man adds something instead of confusing you.
You do not need everything to follow the main story. The Disney+ series matter most where their characters return on the big screen: WandaVision before Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Loki before Deadpool & Wolverine and Doomsday, Ms. Marvel before The Marvels, Hawkeye before Echo. The Netflix Defenders shows and the pre-MCU X-Men and Spider-Man films are optional: Disney+ now lists the Defenders on the official timeline and the Multiverse Saga borrows heavily from the Fox films, so we keep them as switchable extras rather than part of the count.
Upcoming releases are listed with their confirmed dates and a countdown, and only join your completion percentage once they are out. Tick titles off as you go, track individual episodes of each series, and the tracker tells you exactly how many hours you have left before the next Avengers film.
Orders explained
The order the films and series came out. Recommended for a first watch: reveals and post-credit scenes land as intended.
In-universe story order as published in the Disney+ MCU Complete Timeline collection, with our placement for the few titles Disney+ does not list. Best for a rewatch.
Optional extras
Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders and The Punisher (Netflix, 2015–2019). Disney+ lists them on the official timeline and Daredevil: Born Again continues the story, but they are not required to follow the films.
The Fox X-Men and Deadpool films and Sony's earlier Spider-Man and Venom films. Deadpool & Wolverine, No Way Home and Doomsday draw on them, so completists may want them in the count.
Frequently asked
Should I watch the Marvel movies in release order or chronological order?
Release order for a first watch. The films were written to be seen that way, so twists and post-credit scenes work. Chronological order is the official Disney+ timeline and is a great way to rewatch once you know the story.
How many MCU movies and shows are there?
As of October 2026 there are 70 released Marvel Studios productions when each season of a series is counted separately, plus confirmed upcoming titles through 2029. The tracker counts only released titles towards your percentage.
How long does it take to watch the whole MCU?
Around 170 hours for every released movie, series season and special, which is just over a week without sleep. At two hours a day it takes about three months.
Do I need to watch the Disney+ series to understand the movies?
Not all of them. WandaVision sets up Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Loki sets up the multiverse and Kang, Ms. Marvel leads into The Marvels, and Hawkeye leads into Echo. What If…? and I Am Groot are stand-alone.
Are the Netflix Marvel shows (Daredevil, Jessica Jones) part of the MCU?
Disney+ now lists them on its official MCU timeline, and Charlie Cox's Daredevil and Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin continue in Daredevil: Born Again. We treat them as an optional collection you can switch on.
Where do the X-Men films fit in the MCU?
They happen in separate universes. Deadpool & Wolverine and Avengers: Doomsday bring their characters into the MCU through the multiverse, so we list them as an optional legacy collection in their own timeline order.
What should I watch before Avengers: Doomsday?
The essentials are Avengers: Endgame, Loki (both seasons), Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The tracker shows your remaining hours up to the release date.
Where can I watch the Marvel movies in the UK?
Everything made by Marvel Studios is on Disney+. The Sony Spider-Man films move between Netflix, Disney+ and digital rental, so check the title page for the current service.