The Ultimate Guide: What Order to Watch the Avengers Movies in

Alright, guys! You've decided to embark on an epic journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but you're wondering, "What order should I watch the Avengers movies in?" Well, you've come to the right place! We're going to break it down for you, ensuring you get the best cinematic experience possible. So, grab your popcorn and let's dive in! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and what order to watch the avengers movies in.

The chronological order: Watching the Avengers movies as they happened in the MCU timeline

If you're a stickler for chronology, we've got you covered! Here's the order to watch the Avengers movies based on the events that unfold in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline:

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) Kickstart your MCU journey with Steve Rogers' origin story. Set in the 1940s, this film introduces us to the Howling Commandos and the mysterious Tesseract, which will become crucial later on.

2. Iron Man 2 (2010) Although released after 'The First Avenger,' this film takes place before the events of 'Captain America.' It's all about Tony Stark's struggle with his new element, vibranium, and his first encounter with Ivan Vanko, aka Whiplash.

3. Thor (2011) Next up, we head to Asgard! This film introduces us to the God of Thunder and sets the stage for his interactions with Earth and its inhabitants.

4. The Incredible Hulk (2008) While not an Avengers movie, per se, this film is essential for understanding Bruce Banner's backstory and his eventual integration into the team.

5. Iron Man (2008) Here's where it all began! Tony Stark builds his first Iron Man suit, and the MCU was never the same again.

6. The Avengers (2012) It's time to assemble! Loki's mischief brings together Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, and Black Widow for the first time.

7. Thor: The Dark World (2013) While not the strongest entry in the MCU, this film continues to flesh out Thor's character and introduces us to the Reality Stone, one of the Infinity Stones.

8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) This film is a game-changer! It introduces us to the Winter Soldier, shakes up S.H.I.E.L.D., and sets the stage for future Avengers movies.

9. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) Meanwhile, in space... Peter Quill and his ragtag team of misfits find the final Infinity Stone, the Power Stone, and set the stage for their eventual involvement in the Avengers' story.

10. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) The Avengers reunite to face off against Ultron, a sentient AI created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. This film also introduces us to Wanda Maximoff and her twin brother, Pietro.

11. Ant-Man (2015) While not directly connected to the Infinity Stones or the larger threat of Thanos, this film introduces us to Scott Lang and his unique abilities, which will come in handy later on.

12. Captain America: Civil War (2016) The Avengers are divided! This film explores the fallout from the events of 'Age of Ultron' and 'The Winter Soldier,' with the team splitting into two factions led by Captain America and Iron Man.

13. Doctor Strange (2016) Stephen Strange joins the MCU in this mind-bending origin story, introducing us to the world of magic and the Time Stone.

14. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Meanwhile, the Guardians are back for another adventure, which sets the stage for their role in 'Infinity War.'

15. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man swings into the MCU, teaming up with Iron Man and setting the stage for his eventual involvement in the Avengers' story.

16. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Thor's world is turned upside down in this hilarious and action-packed adventure, which sees him lose his hammer and face off against the Hulk in the gladiatorial arena of Sakaar.

17. Black Panther (2018) T'Challa takes the throne in this groundbreaking film, which explores themes of identity, power, and responsibility.

18. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) SPOILERS AHEAD The culmination of a decade-long journey, 'Infinity War' sees the Avengers and their allies face off against Thanos, who aims to collect all six Infinity Stones and wipe out half of all life in the universe.

19. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) While not directly connected to the events of 'Infinity War,' this film takes place concurrently and provides some crucial context for 'Endgame.'

20. Captain Marvel (2019) Carol Danvers joins the fight in this origin story, which takes place in the 1990s and introduces us to a younger Nick Fury.

21. Avengers: Endgame (2019) The epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga, 'Endgame' sees the remaining Avengers travel through time and space to undo Thanos' snap and restore balance to the universe.

The release order: Watching the Avengers movies as they were released

If you're more interested in following the story as it was told to audiences, then the release order is the way to go! Here's the order to watch the Avengers movies based on their release dates:

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
4. Thor (2011)
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
6. The Avengers (2012)
7. Iron Man 3 (2013)
8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
11. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
12. Ant-Man (2015)
13. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
14. Doctor Strange (2016)
15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
16. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
17. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
18. Black Panther (2018)
19. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
21. Captain Marvel (2019)
22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The Phase order: Watching the Avengers movies by their respective phases

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is divided into phases, with each phase containing a set of interconnected films. If you're interested in watching the Avengers movies by their respective phases, here's the order to follow:

Phase One: The Assembly

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
4. Thor (2011)
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
6. The Avengers (2012)

Phase Two: The Chaos

1. Iron Man 3 (2013)
2. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
6. Ant-Man (2015)

Phase Three: The Infinity Saga

1. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
2. Doctor Strange (2016)
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
6. Black Panther (2018)
7. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
8. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
9. Captain Marvel (2019)
10. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The Disney+ order: Watching the Avengers movies in the order they appear on Disney+

If you're watching the Avengers movies on Disney+, you might notice that they're not in chronological or release order. Here's the order they appear on the service:

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. Iron Man 2 (2010)
3. Thor (2011)
4. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
5. The Avengers (2012)
6. Iron Man 3 (2013)
7. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
9. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
10. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
11. Ant-Man (2015)
12. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
13. Doctor Strange (2016)
14. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
15. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
16. Black Panther (2018)
17. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
18. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
19. Captain Marvel (2019)
20. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The "If It's Not Broke, Don't Fix It" order: Watching the Avengers movies in the order they were intended to be watched

If you're a purist and want to watch the Avengers movies in the order they were intended to be watched, then this is the order for you! This is the order in which the films were released in theaters, without any regard for chronology or phases:

1. Iron Man (2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
4. Thor (2011) 5