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Iron Man (2008)
7.9/10on IMDb
Released
2008 | Phase One. The starting point: Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark establishes the technology, personality and credit-scene habit that the wider MCU builds on.
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The Incredible Hulk (2008)
6.6/10on IMDb
Released
2008 | Phase One. Edward Norton's Bruce Banner is part of MCU continuity, despite the later recasting. This introduces the Hulk, General Ross and Abomination.
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Iron Man 2 (2010)
6.9/10on IMDb
Released
2010 | Phase One. Tony's public superhero life brings Black Widow into the films and gives S.H.I.E.L.D. a larger role before the first Avengers team-up.
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Thor (2011)
7.0/10on IMDb
Released
2011 | Phase One. Meet Thor, Loki and Asgard here. The shift from technology to cosmic mythology supplies essential relationships for The Avengers.
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Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
6.9/10on IMDb
Released
2011 | Phase One. Steve Rogers' Second World War origin introduces Peggy Carter, Bucky Barnes and the Tesseract before bringing this strand towards the modern team.
More about Captain America: The First Avenger6
The Avengers (2012)
8.0/10on IMDb
Released
2012 | Phase One finale. The first major crossover pays off the five preceding introductions. Watch after those solo films for the team friction and Loki's return.
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Iron Man 3 (2013)
7.1/10on IMDb
Released
2013 | Phase Two. Tony's first solo film after The Avengers makes the New York experience matter to his civilian life and his relationship with the armour.
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Thor: The Dark World (2013)
6.7/10on IMDb
Released
2013 | Phase Two. Thor and Loki's uneasy relationship continues, while the Aether expands the cosmic thread that becomes central to the Infinity Saga.
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
7.7/10on IMDb
Released
2014 | Phase Two. Steve's modern-day story becomes a conspiracy thriller. It changes S.H.I.E.L.D.'s place in the films and introduces Sam Wilson.
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Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
8.0/10on IMDb
Released
2014 | Phase Two. A fresh spacefaring ensemble opens the MCU beyond the Avengers. Its Orb storyline connects this apparently separate adventure to the larger saga.
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Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
7.3/10on IMDb
Released
2015 | Phase Two. The Avengers reunite around Tony's attempt at automated protection. Wanda, Vision and the team's growing political consequences matter well beyond this film.
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Ant-Man (2015)
7.2/10on IMDb
Released
2015 | Phase Two finale. Scott Lang's shrinking-suit heist introduces Hank Pym, Hope van Dyne and the Quantum Realm, all useful foundations for later crossovers.
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Captain America: Civil War (2016)
7.8/10on IMDb
Released
2016 | Phase Three. The Avengers' disagreement over oversight reshapes their relationships. This is also the film introduction of Black Panther and Tom Holland's Spider-Man.
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Doctor Strange (2016)
7.5/10on IMDb
Released
2016 | Phase Three. Stephen Strange's origin establishes sorcery and the rules of his corner of the MCU before he appears in the larger crossovers.
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
7.6/10on IMDb
Released
2017 | Phase Three. Rejoin the Guardians for a closer look at Peter Quill's family and the group's loyalties. Its story follows the first Guardians closely, despite the release gap.
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Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
7.4/10on IMDb
Released
2017 | Phase Three. Peter Parker's first MCU solo film follows his Civil War appearance, bringing Tony's influence down to the scale of a Queens schoolboy.
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Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
7.9/10on IMDb
Released
2017 | Phase Three. Thor's story takes a comic, cosmic turn alongside Hulk. Its closing stretch makes this an especially useful film to remember before Infinity War.
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Black Panther (2018)
7.3/10on IMDb
Released
2018 | Phase Three. T'Challa's first solo film develops Wakanda after his Civil War introduction. Its people and institutions become important in the next Avengers film.
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Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
8.4/10on IMDb
Released
2018 | Phase Three. The Avengers and Guardians strands converge around Thanos. Reach this after the preceding introductions, then avoid later-film summaries until you have watched it.
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Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
7.0/10on IMDb
Released
2018 | Phase Three. Scott and Hope's lighter rescue adventure supplies Quantum Realm context for Endgame. Its mid-credit scene assumes you have already seen Infinity War.
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Captain Marvel (2019)
6.7/10on IMDb
Released
2019 | Phase Three. Carol Danvers' origin travels back to 1995, but its release placement introduces her just before Endgame. The mid-credit scene belongs at this point in the watch.
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Avengers: Endgame (2019)
8.4/10on IMDb
Released
2019 | Phase Three. Watch directly after the Infinity War-era films and Captain Marvel. This is the Infinity Saga's major payoff, built around years of relationships and accumulated history.
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Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
7.3/10on IMDb
Released
2019 | Phase Three finale. Peter's European school trip explores the world after Endgame. Its credit scenes are important preparation for No Way Home.
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Black Widow (2021)
6.6/10on IMDb
Released
2021 | Phase Four. Natasha's solo film revisits the period after Civil War. Keep it here for a first watch because its credit scene assumes knowledge of Endgame.
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