There are many ways to view the MCU and for most the default is the release order,

while others prefer to see it in what is considered to be its

official chronological order. Both have their issues, many of which become more pronounced as the MCU continues to expand. As part of a larger
project to edit the MCU into bingeable seasons of twelve one-hour episodes each, we’ve put together what would be considered to be the ideal
viewing order. Dubbed the ‘Narrative Order’, the goal of this viewing order is to place the films and shows into sequence in a way that makes the
most sense and has the best natural flow with regards to the larger, overall storyline. There are a couple of places where post-credit scenes are out
of place in the overall narrative flow (Black Widow and Ant-Man & the Wasp, specifically). That has been addressed in the edit, but if watching the
MCU for the first time, those two post-credit scenes would constitute spoilers that would definitely be confusing to new viewers.

Additionally, the properties in red could be considered optional for some viewers. They are included for the purposes of being thorough, but they
do not fit the referential criteria being used for the edit – which is to say that they may reference other MCU properties, but other MCU properties
never reference them, somewhat similar to the Agents of SHIELD television show. These productions would not be missed if viewing the MCU as
one big story and could actually be confusing when viewed as part of the larger whole. Several of the post-credit scenes might be redundant or
even confusing when viewed in this order, so it’s probably best to skip them, though I’ve called out below the two which are the most problematic.

MCU Recommended Viewing Order (aka ‘The Narrative Order’): ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

1) Captain America: The First Avenger 22) Avengers: Infinity War​ 42) Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings
2) Iron Man 23) Captain Marvel 43) Dr. Strange: Multiverse of Madness
3) Incredible Hulk​ 24) Avengers: Endgame 44) Agatha All Along, S1 (D+)
4) Iron Man 2 25) WandaVision, S1 (D+) 45) Eternals
5) Thor 26) Falcon & the Winter Soldier, S1 (D+) 46) She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, S1 (D+)
6) The Avengers​ 27) Spider-Man: Far from Home 47) Ms. Marvel, S1 (D+)
7) Thor: The Dark World​ 28) Spider-Man: No Way Home 48) The Marvels
8) Guardians of the Galaxy​ 29) Hawkeye, S1 (D+) 49) Secret Invasion, S1 (D+)
9) Captain America: The Winter Soldier 30) Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday [50] Echo, S1 (D+)
10) Iron Man 3​ Special [51] Daredevil: Born Again, S1 (D+)
11) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 31) Loki, S1 (D+) [52] Daredevil: Born Again, S2 (D+)
[12] I Am Groot, S1 & S2 (D+) 32) Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania 53) Captain America: Brave New World
13) Avengers: Age of Ultron 33) Loki, S2 (D+) 54) Ironheart, S1 (D+)
14) Doctor Strange [34] What If?, S1 (D+) 55) Thunderbolts
15) Ant-Man [35] What If?, S2 (D+) 56) Fantastic 4: First Steps
16) Captain America: Civil War [36] What If?, S3 (D+)
17) Black Widow *​ [37] Deadpool & Wolverine Undetermined:
18) Black Panther 38) Thor: Love and Thunder xx) Werewolf by Night (D+)
19) Spider-Man: Homecoming 39) Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 xx) Eyes of Wakanda, S1 (D+)
20) Ant-Man & the Wasp **​ 40) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever xx) Marvel Zombies, S1 (D+)
21) Thor: Ragnarök [41] Moon Knight, S1 (D+)

* view its post-credit scene after Avengers: Endgame to avoid a spoiler

** view its post-credit scene after Avengers: Infinity War to avoid a spoiler

As much as possible, future release dates are kept current, though with Marvel studios and Disney as a whole currently in a state of flux, things are
always subject to change. Depending on what takes place during future productions, any of these films or shows may find themselves inserted into
the Narrative Order wherever appropriate.

Listed below, for reference, are the release order and then the mostly canonical chronological order. Neither are the ideal way to view the films, as
nothing like the MCU in its current form was visualized when they started making the movies and releases have been plagued by inconsistency,
largely due to the Covid pandemic though there were other contributing factors as well.

MCU Release Order (through 2025):​ ​ ​ Release Date:​ ​ ​ ​ ​

1) Iron Man ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ May 2, 2008​ ​
2) The Incredible Hulk ​ ​ ​ ​ June 13, 2008​ ​
3) Iron Man 2 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ May 7, 2010​ ​ ​
4) Thor ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ May 6, 2011​ ​ ​ ​
5) Captain America: The First Avenger ​ ​ ​ July 22, 2011​
6) The Avengers ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ May 4, 2012​
7) Iron Man 3 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ May 3, 2013​
8) Thor: The Dark World ​ ​ ​ ​ November 8, 2013​
9) Captain America: The Winter Soldier ​ ​ April 4, 2014
10) Guardians of the Galaxy ​ ​ ​ ​ August 1, 2014
11) Avengers: Age of Ultron ​ ​ ​ ​ May 1, 2015​
12) Ant-Man ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ July 17, 2015​
13) Captain America: Civil War ​ ​ ​ May 6, 2016​
14) Doctor Strange ​​ ​ ​ ​ November 4, 2016
15) Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 ​ ​ ​ May 5, 2017
 16) Spider-Man: Homecoming ​ ​ ​ July 7, 2017
17) Thor: Ragnarök ​ ​ ​ ​ November 3, 2017
18) Black Panther ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ February 16, 2018
19) Avengers: Infinity War ​ ​ ​ ​ April 27, 2018
20) Ant-Man and the Wasp ​ ​ ​ ​ July 6, 2018​
21) Captain Marvel ​ ​ ​ ​ March 8, 2019
22) Avengers: Endgame ​ ​ ​ ​ April 26, 2019​
23) Spider-Man: Far from Home ​ ​ ​ July 2, 2019
24) WandaVision, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ January 15, 2021
25) Falcon & the Winter Soldier, S1 (D+)​ ​ March 19, 2021
26) Loki, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ June 9, 2021
27) Black Widow ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ July 9, 2021
28) What If..?, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ August 11, 2021
29) Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings​ ​ September 3, 2021
30) Eternals​ ​ ​ ​ ​ November 5, 2021
31) Hawkeye, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ November 24, 2021
32) Spider-Man: No Way Home​ ​ ​ December 17, 2021
33) Moon Knight, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ March 30, 2022
34) Dr. Strange & the Multiverse of Madness​ ​ May 6, 2022
35) Ms. Marvel, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ June 8, 2022​
36) Thor: Love and Thunder​ ​ ​ ​ July 8, 2022
37) I Am Groot, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ August 10, 2022
38) She-Hulk, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ August 18, 2022
39) Werewolf by Night (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ October 7, 2022
40) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever​ ​ ​ November 11, 2022
41) Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (D+)​ ​ November 25, 2022
42) Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania​ ​ February 17, 2023
43) Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3​ ​ ​ May 5, 2023
44) Secret Invasion, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ June 21, 2023
45) I Am Groot, S2 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ September 6, 2023
46) Loki, S2 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ October 6, 2023
47) The Marvels​ ​ ​ ​ ​ November 10, 2023
48) What If..?, S2 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ December 22, 2023
49) Echo, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ January 9, 2024
50) Deadpool & Wolverine​ ​ ​ ​ July 26, 2024
​ 51) Agatha All Along, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ September 18, 2024
52) What If..?, S3 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ December 22, 2024
53) Captain America: New World Order​​ ​ February 14, 2025
54) Daredevil: Born Again, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ March 4, 2025
55) Thunderbolts​ ​ ​ ​ ​ May 2, 2025
​ 56) Ironheart (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ June 24, 2025
57) The Fantastic 4: First Steps​ ​ ​ July 25, 2025
​ 58) Eyes of Wakanda, S1 (D+)​​ ​ ​ August 6, 2025

Announced Releases for 2025 and Beyond:​ ​ Release Date:​

xx) Marvel Zombies​​ ​ ​ ​ September 24, 2025
xx) Wonder Man​ ​ ​ ​ ​ December ??, 2025
xx) Daredevil: Born Again, S2 (D+)​ ​ ​ March ??, 2026
xx) Punisher (D+) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ????, 2026
xx) Spider-Man: Brand New Day​ ​ ​ July 31, 2026
xx) VisionQuest (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ ????, 2026
xx) Avengers: Doomsday​ ​ ​ ​ December 18, 2026
xx) Avengers: Secret Wars​ ​ ​ ​ December 17, 2027
xx) Armor Wars​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (unknown)
xx) Blade​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (unknown)
xx) X-Men​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (unknown)
xx) Black Panther 3​​ ​ ​ ​ (unknown)
​ xx) Dr. Strange: Time Runs Out​ ​ ​ (unknown)
​ xx) Shang-Chi: Wreckage of Time​ ​ ​ (unknown)
​ xx) Strange Academy, S1​ ​ ​ ​ (unknown)
 MCU Chronological Order:​ ​ ​ ​ Timeframe:​
1) Captain America: The First Avenger​ ​ ​ 1943 - 1945​
2) Captain Marvel ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1989 - 1995
3) Iron Man ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2009​
4) Incredible Hulk​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2010
5) Iron Man 2​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2010
6) Thor ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2010
7) The Avengers ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2012
X) Loki, S1 & S2 (D+)​ ​ ​ (takes place outside of normal time)
X) What If..?, S1 – S3 (D+)​ ​ ​ (takes place outside of normal time)
8) Iron Man 3​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2012
9) Thor: The Dark World​ ​ ​ ​ 2013
10) Captain America: The Winter Soldier​ ​ 2014
11) Guardians of the Galaxy​ ​ ​ ​ 2014
12) Guardians of the Galaxy 2 ​ ​ ​ 2014
13) I Am Groot, S1 & 2 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2015
14) Avengers: Age of Ultron ​ ​ ​ ​ 2015
15) Ant-Man ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2015
16) Captain America: Civil War ​ ​ ​ 2016
17) Black Widow​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2016
18) Black Panther​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2016​
19) Spider-Man: Homecoming​ ​ ​ 2016
20) Doctor Strange​​ ​ ​ ​ 2016 - 2017
21) Thor: Ragnarök​​ ​ ​ ​ 2017
22) Ant-Man & the Wasp​ ​ ​ ​ 2018
23) Avengers: Infinity War​ ​ ​ ​ 2018
24) Avengers: Endgame​ ​ ​ ​ 2023
25) WandaVision, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2023
26) Eternals​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2023
27) Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Nine Rings​ ​ 2024
28) Falcon & the Winter Soldier, S1 (D+)​ ​ 2024
29) Thor: Love and Thunder​ ​ ​ ​ 2024
30) Spider-Man: Far from Home​ ​ ​ 2024
31) Spider-Man: No Way Home​ ​ ​ 2024
32) Dr. Strange & the Multiverse of Madness​ ​ 2024
33) Hawkeye, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2024
34) Echo, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025
35) She-Hulk, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2025
36) Moon Knight, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2025
37) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever​ ​ ​ 2025
38) Ms. Marvel, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2025​
39) Werewolf by Night (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2025
40) Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (D+)​ ​ 2025
41) Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3​ ​ ​ 2026
42) Secret Invasion, S1 (D+) ​ ​ ​ ​ 2026
43) The Marvels​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2026
44) Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania​ ​ 2026
XX) Deadpool & Wolverine​ ​ ​ (takes place outside of normal time)
45) Thunderbolts​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2026
46) Agatha All Along, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2027
47) Captain America: New World Order​​ ​ 2027
48) Daredevil: Born Again, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ 2027
49) Daredevil: Born Again, S2 (D+)​ ​ ​ 2027
50) Ironheart, S1 (D+)​ ​ ​ ​ 2027
​ 51) Fantastic Four: First Steps​​ ​ ​ —-
MCU ‘Narrative Order’ explanations (Updated 08/04/25):

1) Captain America: The First Avenger

As the earliest movie to take place chronologically (not counting some scenes from Eternals), and with Cap one of the foundational members of the
Avengers, it makes perfect sense to begin here. The film also introduces us to the Tesseract, which plays a pivotal role all throughout ‘Phase I’ and
its eventual conclusion The Avengers. We also meet Bucky Barnes, who will have a significant role to play in the MCU, and Howard Stark, whose
introduction here plants the seed for the shared history of what will become the twin pillars of the MCU, Captain America and Iron Man. Finally, the
post-credit scene gives us our first introduction to Nick Fury and SHIELD.

Additional Viewing:
The Marvel One-Shot 'Agent Carter' is a nice short film setting up the potential of the character who will later be given her own series.
The excellent Agent Carter television series (S1, E1-8 and S2, E1-10) then takes place at this point in the chronology, following the events
of Captain America: The First Avenger. Peggy Carter continues to make several future appearances in the MCU and there are no
significant conflicts between the events of Agent Carter and any future productions. The series was cancelled after two seasons without a
clear ending, but the Agents of SHIELD episode "Alien Commies from the Future" (S7, E3) does serve to somewhat resolve what
happened with the series' main characters.

2) Iron Man

The first official MCU film released, Iron Man brings us to the modern era and introduces us to the world where the vast majority of MCU
productions will take place. The almost fraternal unity and conflict between Steve Rogers & Tony Stark is a theme which runs through the entire
Infinity Saga, so it makes sense that these are the first two Avengers that we meet. We also get our first look at the Ten Rings organization, gain a
few more hints regarding SHIELD, and are introduced to Pepper Potts and James Rhodes, the latter of whom will have a significant role to play in the
MCU (though the character will be portrayed by a different actor moving forward).

Additional Viewing:
None.

3) The Incredible Hulk

Of the Infinity Saga films (pre-Avengers: Endgame), this one is typical of some of the MCU’s early growing pains. The subsequent change in actors
from Edward Norton to Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk is somewhat jarring, and Betsy Ross’ complete disappearance until the MUCH latter Captain
America: Brave New World definitely feels incongruous with the rest of the Infinity Saga’s tight continuity. However, the MCU’s continued use of
Thunderbolt Ross (first introduced here), the later appearances of the Abomination in Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings and the She-Hulk
Disney+ series and the Tony Stark cameo in the end-credit scene do tie it firmly into place as part of the overall narrative. Technically the events of
The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2 and Thor all take place within a few days' time of one another, and this period has been affectionately dubbed
'Nick Fury's very busy week.' The Incredible Hulk is placed first in that grouping because, by the time that The Avengers begins, we're left to believe
that Bruce Banner has been off the grid for some time.

Additional Viewing:
​ None.

4) Iron Man 2

The Iron-Man sequel further details Tony Stark's tumultuous relationship with his father Howard and establishes Don Cheadle as the permanent
actor for the character of James Rhodes, ushering in the first appearance of War Machine. More is revealed about the nature and capabilities of
SHIELD, and most importantly, we are introduced to our next future Avenger, agent Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. the Black Widow.

Additional Viewing:
While the Marvel One-Shot 'The Consultant' is really more of an expansion of the post-credit scene at the end of The Incredible Hulk, it is
not until this movie that Tony Stark is officially designated a ‘consultant’. This entry introduces us to the ill-fated Jasper Sitwell and serves
to establish the antagonistic relationship between Tony Stark and General Ross.

The Marvel One-Shot 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer' takes place more or less during the conclusion of this
film, leading into the post-credit scene where Coulson arrives at the site where the hammer has fallen.

5) Thor

This film not only introduces us to Thor, but also to the entire pantheon of Asgard, including Odin, Loki, Sif and the Warriors Three, expanding the
MCU beyond Earth and the realms of men into something cosmic and fantastical. The ongoing conflict between adoptive brothers Thor and Loki is
established here and will have repercussions throughout the MCU for some time to come. We also meet Jane Foster, Eric Selvig and Darcy Lewis for
the first time, each of whom will reprise their roles in future MCU films and/or Disney+ shows. Finally, Thor marks the first appearance of yet
another future Avenger, the SHIELD agent known as Hawkeye.

Additional Viewing:
None.

6) The Avengers

The Big One (well, the first Big One), this movie brings together all of the Avengers for the first time and serves as the primary introduction of
Thanos as the major villain that will drive the majority of the Infinity Saga. This is also the first time we get to see Mark Ruffalo in his role as the Hulk
which will be a permanent change moving forward.

Additional Viewing:
The Marvel One-Shot "Item 47" takes place after The Avengers and serves to loosely set the stage for both the Agents of SHIELD
television show and the origins of Adrian Toomes as the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

The popular, long-running Agents of SHIELD television series begins in the aftermath of The Avengers with episodes 1 – 7 of season 1
taking place between The Avengers and Thor: The Dark World. The series initially attempts to follow the events of the films, but as the
show goes on it gradually grows more and more divorced from the main narrative and eventually becomes almost entirely self-contained.
While the show stars agent Coulson and often directly references the films, the movies themselves never reference or acknowledge any of
the events in the show. Since the dissolution of Marvel Television in 2019 and the cancellation of the series in 2020, the show’s canon
status has become a matter of much debate and it’s probably easiest to simply assume that they take place in an alternate timeline of the
multiverse. This is a dynamic that can be applied to pretty much all of the pre-Disney+ Marvel television shows.

7) Thor: The Dark World

Placed here, this film gives us the immediate aftermath of Loki’s crimes and capture, creating a sort of three-movie arc for Thor and his brother.
Resolving this story early gives it a greater separation from the third Thor movie which has a stark contrast in both tone and theme. We are also
introduced to the Aether, the second of the Infinity Stones (or the third, if one counts the Mind Stone set in Loki's scepter, though that is not yet
known to the audience). The post-credit scene introduces us to the Collector, who will likewise make an appearance in the next film, Guardians of
the Galaxy.

Additional Viewing:
Episodes 8-16 of Season 1 of Agents of SHIELD take place after Thor: The Dark World but before the events of Captain America: The
Winter Soldier.

8) Guardians of the Galaxy

The two Thor movies opened the door to the cosmic side of the MCU and we stick with that theme, expanding it now by introducing the Guardians.
This creates an opportunity for time to pass on Earth before we catch up with what the other Avengers have been up to and creates a subtle
narrative link between the Guardians and Thor, a theme which will continue beyond the conclusion of the Infinity Saga. It also follows up more
elaborately on Thanos as the hand moving behind the scenes with his manipulation of Ronan and the introduction of his daughters Gamora and
Nebula. Finally, the full significance of the Infinity Stones is revealed and the fourth, the Power Stone, is introduced.

Additional Viewing:
None.

9) Captain America: The Winter Soldier

We return to Earth to catch up with Captain America and SHIELD, with some time having passed since the Chitauri invasion. This film is specifically
placed before Iron-Man 3 because it helps to explain why SHIELD was absent during the massive international threat posed by the false Mandarin
and the Extremis virus. In this movie Bucky Barnes returns as the Winter Soldier Sam Wilson is introduced as the Falcon and we meet Sharon Carter
as Agent 13. We are also briefly introduced to the minor villains Batroc the Leaper and the SHIELD/Hydra operative Rumlow, later known as
Crossbones.

Additional Viewing:
Episodes 17-22 of Season 1 and Episodes 1 – 19 of Season 2 of Agents of SHIELD take place after Captain America: The Winter Soldier but
before Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The excellent Marvel Netflix series (now available on Disney+) also begin right around this time. They very loosely reference the MCU
films and, at the time that they were made, were never referenced by the films in return. With the dissolution and absorption of Marvel
Television into Marvel Studios, their canon status was in debate, but their popularity led to at least some of their characters eventually
being reintroduced in new shows on Disney+ and even a cameo or two in the films. Season 1 of Daredevil and Season 1 of Jessica Jones
are believed to take place between the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron.
10) Iron-Man 3

Chronologically speaking, this movie supposedly takes place before Captain America: Winter Soldier and most of Thor: Dark World, but it doesn’t
fit very well, narratively speaking – for instance, it begs the question where was SHIELD while the Mandarin was terrorizing the country and Killian
was kidnapping the President? Among other things, this film addresses Tony’s ongoing PTSD and survivor’s guilt following the events of The
Avengers and it is the last time the audience experiences JARVIS as a program rather than the sentient being he becomes in Avengers: Age of
Ultron, so this is ultimately the best place for it.

Additional Viewing:
The Marvel One-Shot 'All Hail the King' hints at the eventual fate of Trevor Slattery, the false Mandarin. It seems to take place a good
while afterwards, however, and can be watched any time between now and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

11) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

The second Guardians movie is placed here in the Narrative Order for a couple of key reasons. The first is that a bit of time has passed since the first
Guardians movie, though not much (in the MCU timeline, they take place a few months apart); the second is that we once again need a narrative
break for some time to pass on Earth, especially considering that Tony Stark destroys all of his suits at the end of Iron-Man 3, but then has a new
suit, the Hulkbuster armor and the entire Iron Legion built and ready to go for the opening sequence of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Additional Viewing:
None.

[12] I Am Groot, S1 & S2 (D+, 10 episodes) - Optional

I Am Groot was a series of animated shorts released on Disney+. They are charming, particularly if you are a fan of the ‘baby Groot’ character but
are not what would really be considered essential viewing.

Additional Viewing:
None.

13) Avengers: Age of Ultron

The second Avengers movie brings the original Avengers team together once more and serves to introduce Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, the latter
of whom has a very important role to play beyond the Infinity Saga. In this film we officially encounter the Mind Stone (hidden in Loki's scepter),
bringing the total number of known Infinity Stones to four, and meet the Vision, a powerful and humanistic android given life by an Infinity Stone
and personality by the sentient program once known as JARVIS. We also meet the minor villain Ulysses Klau and are given our first mention of the
nation of Wakanda.

Additional Viewing:
Episodes 20-22 of Season 2 of Agents of SHIELD take place after Avengers: Age of Ultron but before Ant-Man.

Season 2 of Daredevil, Season 1 of Luke Cage, Season 1 of Iron Fist and Season 1 of The Defenders from the Marvel Netflix series (in that
order) all roughly take place between Avengers: Age of Ultron and the fallout that takes place as a result of Captain America: Civil War.

14) Dr. Strange

This might seem to come a bit early, but there isn’t a better time to place this movie in the viewing order; it can’t come immediately before Thor:
Ragnarök because the character needs at least a little time narratively to establish himself as the Sorcerer Supreme before we see his more
confident and capable appearance in that film and his larger role immediately afterwards in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Placing
it here also creates a more appropriate time period separating the events in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War, since placing
it after Civil War would have broken up the narrative flow exploring the aftermath of the events of that film.

Additional Viewing:
The web series 'WHiH Newsfront' took place around this time, with the first five episodes taking place after Avengers: Age of Ultron and
before the beginning of Ant-Man.

15) Ant-Man

Ant-Man fits perfectly here as it briefly references the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and directly sets up Ant-Man’s participation in the
forthcoming Captain America: Civil War. It also first introduces the concept of the Quantum Realm which will have major significance in the MCU as
the Infinity Saga unfolds.

Additional Viewing:
Episodes 1-19 of Season 3 of Agents of SHIELD take place after Ant-Man but before Captain America: Civil War.
 The second five episodes of the web series 'WHiH Newsfront' also took place leading up to the events of Captain America: Civil War.

16) Captain America: Civil War

This massive movie introduces the iconic heroes Spider-Man and the Black Panther, catches us up on Agent 13, and closes the loop on the Winter
Soldier story arc. It also breaks up and scatters the Avengers, giving us the opportunity to follow the adventures of a number of characters, both old
and new, as they deal with the aftermath of what has happened.

Additional Viewing:
Episode 20 of Season 3 of Agents of SHIELD takes place after the majority of Captain America: Civil War but before most of the events of
Black Widow.

17) Black Widow

Black Widow takes place immediately following the events of Captain America: Civil War – so much so that most of it takes place just before the
ending of that film when Steve Rogers (presumably with help from Natasha) helps Scott Lang, Clint Barton, Sam Wilson, and Wanda Maximoff
escape from the Raft. Not only does this film make perfect sense to place here chronologically and narratively, but it also benefits from not having
to carry the emotional burden and distraction of Natasha’s ultimate sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame.

[!] Note: Placing this film here means that the post-credit sequence featuring Yelena and the Contessa becomes a spoiler at this point (in addition to
making no sense) and should absolutely be skipped if viewing the movie at this time. I suggest that it be viewed immediately before the Hawkeye
Disney+ series instead (#29 on this list).

Additional Viewing:
Episodes 21-22 of season 3 and episodes 1-8 of season 4 of Agents of SHIELD followed by the Agents of SHIELD: Slingshot web series (6
episodes) and then the remaining episodes 9-22 of season 4 all take place after Black Widow but before the events of Spider-Man:
Homecoming.

The first two of three humorous mockumentary shorts Team Thor (part 1) and Team Thor (part 2), also take place around this time,
letting us in on exactly what Thor was up to while the rest of the Avengers were in turmoil. The third entry into the series, Team Daryl,
takes shortly after Thor: Ragnarok.

18) Black Panther

This movie further establishes the character of Black Panther (introduced in Captain America: Civil War) as well as the nation of Wakanda and its
people, who will go on to play a major role in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and beyond. Despite there being some merchandise
releases suggesting that Black Panther might have occurred much later, the events of this film officially take place roughly 1 week after Captain
America: Civil War, making it a natural follow-up to that film.

Additional Viewing:
None.

19) Spider-Man: Homecoming

This film and Black Panther could theoretically be viewed in either order as they begin at relatively the same time, but the majority of Homecoming
takes place several months after the conclusion of Black Panther, which is why it has been placed here.

Additional Viewing:
A significant amount of time passes between Spider-Man: Homecoming and Ant-Man & the Wasp, and a great deal of additional viewing
could take place in this period, including episodes 1-22 of season 5 of Agents of SHIELD. The show begins a series of time-travelling arcs,
and this marks the point when the show's continuity begins to diverge away from the films almost completely.

All of the remaining Marvel Netflix series also take place during this time period, including (in this order): The Punisher (S1), Jessica Jones
(S2), Luke Cage (S2), Iron Fist (S2), Daredevil (S3), The Punisher (S2) and Jessica Jones (S3).

The largely forgotten Inhumans television show technically takes place at some point after Black Widow / Captain America: Civil War, but
the series is never directly referenced by the films and will likely be retconned at some point in the future, removing it entirely from the
canon.

Several other tangential shows which are technically in the MCU but, again, are never referenced in the films, include seasons 1 & 2 of
Cloak & Dagger produced by Freeform and seasons 1, 2 & 3 of Runaways, produced by Hulu. These shows are also presumed to have
taken place around this period, with the first and second season of Cloak & Dagger separated by about 8 months and the last five
episodes of season 3 of Runaways technically taking place after the 'Snap' in Avengers: Infinity War.
20) Ant-Man & the Wasp

The last follow-up movie exploring the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, the events here conclude roughly two years later, jumping our
timeline ahead significantly. It (re)introduces us to the Wasp, further explores the concepts of the Quantum Realm and gives us an end-credit scene
which ties directly into the end of Avengers: Infinity War. That scene will likely be confusing when viewed at this point, but that confusion may add
to the mystery and impact of the Snap when it finally occurs. Despite the film having been released between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers:
Endgame, a bit of time can be assumed to have passed between the film’s ending and its post-credit scene, as the events of Avengers: Infinity War
are never referenced during the movie itself. Ultimately, the best time to watch this post-credit scene would be immediately after Avengers: Infinity
War which is when it actually takes place.

Additional Viewing:
The last two seasons of Agents of SHIELD are abridged (only 13 episodes each) and involve time-travel, fully divorcing themselves from
the continuity of the films, but they conclude roughly the same time as the ending of Avengers: Infinity War, making this a good place to
watch Season 6 and 7.

21) Thor: Ragnarök

Thor and Loki are reunited in this film, which also introduces us to Valkyrie and fan-favorite Korg and finally catches us up with the Hulk. Placing it
here in the viewing order begins three-part story arcs for Bruce Banner and for Thor, both of which take place as sub-plots in Avengers: Infinity War
and Avengers: Endgame. The conclusion of this movie and its post-credit scene lead directly into the opening sequence of Avengers: Infinity War.

Additional Viewing:
The third of the humorous mockumentary series begun with Team Thor, part 1 and Team Thor, part 2 – titled Team Daryl – takes place as
a follow-up to the post credit scene featuring the Grand Master.

22) Avengers: Infinity War

Part one of the two-part epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga, finishing with the infamous ‘Snap’. The post-credit scene clandestinely references
Captain Marvel for the first time, making her origin story a perfect follow-up before her appearance in Avengers: Endgame.

Additional Viewing:
None.

Note: In my personal edit, I try to keep the number of changes to a minimum, in order to preserve the integrity of the films. With that said,
the most significant edits/changes that I make takes place here, at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. In my edit, the movie closes with the
following sequence:

●​ Thanos taunts Thor about going for the head and snaps his fingers.
●​ We cut to the Barton homestead, where Clint loses his family to the sound of ominous thunder. This shows that the Snap is
indeed far-reaching, but we don’t see the actual dustings, which helps build the growing dread.
●​ We then cut to the Ant-Man & the Wasp post-credit scene where Hope and the Pyms are dusted; this shows us Scott being
trapped and gives us the after-effect of the dustings, but still without us actually seeing it happen.
●​ We cut back to Wakanda where Thor demands ‘What did you do?’, Thanos ports away and Bucky dusts, beginning the dustings
in Wakanda. This is the first time we actually see it happen.
●​ We cut to Titan and the dustings that take place there.
●​ Next, we have the Thanos scene inside the Soul Gem realm where he confronts child-Gamora.
●​ We cut back to the final scene in Wakanda where Steve says ‘Oh God…’
●​ The film ends with the final scene where Thanos looks out over the sunset, satisfied with what he has done.
●​ After the credits, we include the post-credit scene where Nick and Maria Hill dust and Captain Marvel is paged.

This leaves us without a cold open for the beginning of Avengers: Endgame, but that is replaced with the post-credit scene from Captain
Marvel where Carol shows up and demands to know where Nick Fury is. That actually helps smooth the narrative by offering an
explanation as to how Carol knew where and when to find Tony & Nebula (Rocket is there at the Avengers compound and presumably
informs her).

23) Captain Marvel

This movie can be properly placed here – where it was released – or just after Captain America: The First Avenger, which is where it takes place
chronologically. On the surface, it might seem that a chronological placement would be best, considering that the film does involve the Tesseract,
which gives it at least one thematic connection to the preceding Captain America: The First Avenger. Ultimately, I decided against that option
because of all of the narrative disruptions and continuity issues it would cause.

Narratively speaking, the abrupt lurch in tone from a relatively low-tech earth-centric story to a cosmos-spanning romp complete with multiple
alien races would just come way too early and feel jarringly out of place. In addition, doing so shortly before the introduction of the more mythical
Asgard without any context between them would thoroughly confuse the viewer as to what’s actually going on out there. Moreover, being thrust
into a high-tech universe of alien beings would serve to lessen the dramatic impact of the various scientific advancements we see in Incredible
Hulk, Iron-Man and Iron Man 2 by establishing ahead of time what relatively minor accomplishments they are, compared to what we’ve already
been shown is out there. On top of all of that, a number of other troublesome continuity issues ultimately arise:

●​ Why didn’t Fury call Captain Marvel during The Avengers, when the world was being invaded by an Asgardian god leading an entire
Chitauri army?
●​ Nick Fury’s comment about losing his eye in Captain America: The Winter Soldier becomes incongruous with what we're shown actually
happened (terrible ret-con imo).
●​ Ronan the Accuser is weakened as a future villain in Guardians of the Galaxy by his buffoonery here.
●​ It begs the question 'Where is Captain Marvel during Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2, or during the
decimation of Xandar by Thanos before Avengers: Infinity War? She doesn't even seem to be aware that any of these events took place
when she does finally show up.

I find that, ultimately, placing it here at least allows the audience to take a breath and step back, absorbing the momentous events of Avengers:
Infinity War before diving back into part two, and – more importantly – it allows Captain Marvel to follow up immediately on the Nick Fury
post-credit scene where she is summoned with the cosmic beeper, setting the stage for her appearance in the beginning of Avengers: Endgame.
The movie also introduces the Skrulls and brings us back to the Kree, setting up future adventures in the MCU after a long stretch with only Thor:
Ragnarok addressing the larger universe. Another benefit is that it moves the film much closer to WandaVision where the now grown-up Monica
Rambeau won't seem like such a stranger and the loss of her mother should feel that much more poignant.

Additional Viewing:
None.

24) Avengers: Endgame

Part two of the epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga. Not much to be said here, except that it serves as the ideal benchmark for the narrative –
everything that happens in the MCU either happens before or after Avengers: Endgame.

Additional Viewing:
None.

25) WandaVision, S1 (D+, 9 episodes)

With this series (the first Disney+ series and the first show officially part of the main MCU canon), we begin to pick up on the aftermath of the
events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. WandaVision takes place shortly after Avengers: Endgame, with some scenes occurring
just days afterwards. As the show progresses, it follows up on Marie and Monica Rambeau who were introduced in the Captain Marvel movie, gives
us our first real look at the new organization SWORD and hints at the Skrulls involvement in the modern era, something that will come up again in
future projects. It also introduces both Agatha Harkness and White Vision, both of whom eventually will have shows of their own down the road.

Additional Viewing:
None.

26) Falcon & the Winter Soldier, S1 (D+, 6 episodes)

Falcon and the Winter Soldier occurs a few months after the end of Avengers: Endgame and deals with the aftermath of Captain America’s passing
on of the shield and title, as well as the global effects of half the world’s population suddenly returning. It sets up some significant players on the
new world stage, including Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, U.S. Agent and Sharon Carter’s return as the Power Broker. The fact that it deals so
directly with the after-effects of 'the Blip' worldwide (and is really the only movie or show to do so in much detail) makes it a natural fit here.

Additional Viewing:
None.

27) Spider-Man: Far from Home

The second Spider-Man movie picks up roughly eight months after the events of Avengers: Endgame, sort of playing the cinematic role of both
epilogue to the Infinity saga and starting-off point for what will come after. Revelations at the end of the movie sets up a number of future films and
shows, including the eventual Secret Invasion on Disney+. Spider-Man: No Way Home picks up immediately after its conclusion, so we want to limit
how much of the overall narrative takes place between the two.

Additional Viewing:
Before the events of Spider-Man: Far from Home, the One-Shot 'Peter's To-Do List' takes place. After the film, a promotional web-series
by the fictional newspaper The Daily Bugle details both past and future events from an alternate perspective.
28) Spider-Man: No Way Home

This film picks up immediately after where Spider-Man: Far from Home left off, with Spider-Man dealing with the fallout of his secret identity being
revealed to the world. The movie continues to build upon the theme of alternate realities and timelines, in this case expanding the canon MCU into
alternate films and franchises (see below). While there aren’t many direct ties to other MCU films, we do get our first appearance of Charlie Cox as
Daredevil, reprising his portrayal (if not the actual character) from the Netflix series and setting up future appearances, including his own series.

Additional Viewing:
As previously mentioned, this film draws heavily from and makes major references to the previous Spider-Man films by Sony, specifically
Toby Maguire’s Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3 as well as Andrew Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man and Amazing
Spider-Man 2. It would be a HUGE mistake to watch this movie without having at least some familiarity with those films.

If you haven’t already, this is also an ideal time to consider taking some time to view the truly exceptional animated films Into the
Spider-verse, Across the Spider-verse and the soon-to-be-released Beyond the Spider-verse. While these films have no direct impact on
the MCU, the second of these films does have a couple of Easter Egg references to Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: No Way
Home.

29) Hawkeye, S1 (D+, 6 episodes)

Hawkeye is one of the last MCU projects that deals directly with the aftermath of the events of Avengers: Endgame. It also serves to introduce us
to Echo and Kate Bishop, reintroduces Yelena Belova from the Black Widow movie and features a cameo by the Kingpin, whose role is also reprised
from the Marvel Netflix series by Vincent D’Onofrio. Set in and around New York City during the holidays, it’s a natural follow-up to the conclusion
of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Additional Viewing:
Not technically additional viewing, but the post-credit scene from Black Widow makes for a superb cold opening to this series, which is
when it appears in my personal edit.

30) Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special*​

The holiday special is a one-off which should still be included as there is a substantial revelation regarding the Guardians that is referenced later in
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3. It may be assumed at this point that Thor has technically already left the Guardians (though this is not directly
said), and they have established Knowhere as their home base, but the Christmas theme of this show makes it a natural inclusion after Hawkeye. It’s
easy enough to view Thor’s parting from the Guardians in the opening of the next film as a sort of ‘flashback’, and the transition happens smoothly
enough that it’s not a concern.

Additional Viewing:
None

31) Loki, S1 (D+, 6 episodes)​

The events that occur in this series could be watched in a number of places; ‘chronologically’ you could even place it after the first Avengers film,
though it would make little sense at the time if you did. Since the entire series takes place separate from normal time, it seems best to slot it where
it makes the most sense in the narrative, and what happened to Loki is the last real unresolved storyline remaining post-Endgame. Placing it here
also creates a home for Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania so that it actually makes sense in the narrative, despite the now discarded Kang
Dynasty storyline. The events of the first season were originally intended to have a far-reaching impact, but with Disney’s separation from
Johnathon Majors and shift away from the Kang story line, it now works more as a warning of what could have happened. The series does introduce
the concept of multiple timelines or alternate realities, which becomes a heavy theme in the MCU moving forward and, perhaps as an unintended
consequence, creates the perfect opening to view all of those other non-MCU properties which might retroactively be considered canon.

Additional Viewing:
None.

32) Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania

This film was originally intended to kick off the Kang saga with an ominous bang, but once Marvel/Disney and Johnathon Majors were forced to part
ways, much of the significance of this movie (particularly its post-credit scene featuring the Council of Kangs) is lost. The abandonment of the Kang
Dynasty storyline originally left this film without a place in the order, but by moving the Loki series a little further down in the viewing order, we’ve
managed to manufacture a good home for it, especially given that the events that take place are referenced in season 2 of Loki.

Additional Viewing:
None.
33) Loki, S2 (D+, 6 episodes)​

Season 2 of Loki picks up almost immediately after Season 1 ends and resolves the story splendidly, even throwing in an Ant-Man & the Wasp:
Quantumania reference for good measure. With so many new ‘stories’ and timelines newly established, this also makes it the perfect lead-in for the
What If..? animated series.

Additional Viewing:
None.

[34] what If..?, S1 (D+, 9 episodes) - Optional

[35] what If..?, S2 (D+, 9 episodes) - Optional

[36] what If..?, S3 (D+, 9 episodes) - Optional

What If..? is an animated series of loosely connected stand-alone episodes which explore alternate timelines where key events turned out
differently. Conceptually it’s fascinating and very well executed, serving as the perfect follow-up to Loki’s ascension as the ‘God of Stories’, with even
its animated nature serving to create the feel that you’re viewing ‘alternate’ realities. Some of the later episodes include characters that we haven’t
been introduced to yet in the MCU proper, but rather than serving as potential spoilers, seeing them now feels more like foreshadowing and gives
credibility to the idea that these are in fact alternate timelines being driven by their own, unique stories. As enjoyable as these shows are, they can
be skipped as part of this order without missing anything integral to the overall narrative.

Additional Viewing:
None.

[37] Deadpool & Wolverine - Optional

While officially an MCU film, Deadpool & Wolverine is much more of a love letter to the bygone era of FOX and New Line Cinema (now part of
Warner Bros) Marvel properties that came before it. Like Loki, it happens outside of ‘normal’ time and takes place in and around the auspices of the
TVA. Unlike Loki, it is not likely to have any far-reaching implications for the greater MCU (though you never know).

Additional Viewing:
While this film can be skipped as part of the Narrative viewing order, you’ll be passing up a delightful foray into the roots of the superhero
genre and the Deadpool films are particularly excellent. If you decide to view this movie, be aware that it makes MANY references to past
films and features numerous cameos from them – that’s basically the entire point of the film. Below I’ve listed the properties most
relevant to Deadpool & Wolverine to watch ahead of time, with the most essential viewing tagged with an ‘ * ‘, so that you can properly
prepare yourself.

Blade (1998) * X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Blade II (2002) X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Blade Trinity (2004) X-Men: First Class (2011)
Daredevil (2003) The Wolverine (2013)
Elektra (2005) * X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Fantastic Four (2005) *​ ​ ​ X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)​ Deadpool (2016) *
X-Men: The Animated Series (1992) Deadpool 2 (2018) *
X-Men ’97 (D+, animated) X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
X-Men (2000) * The New Mutants (2020)
X-Men: X2 (2003) Logan (2017) *

38) Thor: Love and Thunder

This movie didn’t feel like the one that Marvel originally intended to make, as a fair amount of time was spent at the end of Avengers: Endgame
setting up Thor’s adventures with the Guardians of the Galaxy, only to have them split up in the opening minutes of this film. This likely was affected
by Disney’s decision to fire and then later rehire writer/director James Gunn, which naturally pushed the Guardians project back. Nonetheless, we
get caught up on New Asgard and the characters of Thor, Valkyrie, Korg and even the long-absent Jane Foster. The events of the movie do not
appear to have any strict chronological tie-ins to previous films; it makes a head-fake towards setting up the eventual Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol.
3, but even that never materializes. I had considered placing it closer to Moon Knight, with its focus on the various gods of the multiverse, but the
movie’s (VERY) light-hearted approach and cosmic setting made it a poor inclusion with the darker, more grounded tones of that show. As one of
the last films to directly follow up on the Infinity Saga and the resolution of the OG Avengers, placing it here seemed like the best way to go.

Additional Viewing:
None.
39) Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3

The third film in the franchise takes place relatively independent of any other Marvel productions, apart from the holiday special and the brief
cameo in Thor: Love and Thunder. A fair bit of time has clearly passed since Avengers: Endgame, so pushing it a bit further down the viewing order
makes sense. This may not have been the film James Gunn originally intended to make, but it provides both the backstory and closure for the
current iteration of the Guardians while at least setting up a potential future for the franchise. This ending of one era while opening the door for a
next is a theme that closely ties this film to Thor: Love and Thunder and to the next film in the Narrative Order, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Additional Viewing:
None.

40) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever disappointingly did not reference the events at the end of Eternals, though there were prime opportunities to do
so, as it focuses at least partially on the world’s oceans. In fact, the film has few references at all to previous films in the MCU continuity (other than
the first Black Panther), though it does significantly continue the heavy elements of family, loss and grief that we were subjected to in Thor: Love &
Thunder and again in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, making this a solid place to slot it as we return from the cosmos back to Earth. We are
reunited with Shuri, Okoye, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and Everett Ross and are introduced to Riri Williams / Ironheart, a character slated to have
her own Disney+ series in the future. The primary antagonist Namor also seems too significant not to be seen again in future projects. It is almost
certain that this is not the film the producers had first envisioned, but the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa) necessitated a dramatic
change, and we are at least left with a very fitting tribute for a remarkable man lost well before his time.

Additional Viewing:
None.

[41] Moon Knight (D+, 6 episodes) - Optional

At present, Moon Knight simply doesn’t have a home in the MCU or in the Narrative viewing order, which is unfortunate, because it’s a very solid
show. I have it slotted here for the moment, because its broader themes of non-Western mythology and mysticism mesh well with Black Panther:
Wakanda Forever and Shang Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings as well as its introduction of new characters on the global scene, but the show actually
has no references whatsoever to the larger MCU continuity, nor does any other film or show reference it. Regrettably, this makes it a prime
candidate to be skipped for now. Perhaps it will find a better home in the future if we ever get a Blade film or Ghost Rider show, in the hopes that
they might one day try to set up some sort of ‘Midnight Sons’ storyline.

Additional Viewing:
None.

42) Shang-Chi: the Legend of the Ten Rings

This film chronologically is originally said to have taken place before Falcon & the Winter Soldier, but it does so little to acknowledge the Blip and its
effects around the world, it feels like it should come much, much later, after a somewhat return to normalcy. Moreover, nothing in later productions
(at least, at the time of this writing) has ever advanced the events that took place during its post-credit scene, so pushing it further down the line in
the Narrative order makes sense. This allows us to include films and shows which referenced past events sooner, tying up those loose ends before
introducing even more new characters and organizations as well as pushing the character of Shang-Chi closer to his next eventual appearance in the
MCU. As a follow-up to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Moon Knight, this film also continues the theme of the MCU’s expansion in a wider
world than the more Anglo-centric Avengers had. In this film, we’re finally introduced to the REAL Mandarin and the Ten Rings, as well as the
Mandarin’s daughter Xialing and a number of other characters tied into the shared history of hero Shang-Chi. We also finally discover what
happened to Trevor Slattery and get a couple of cameos from Wong and the Abomination and an appearance by a Hulk-less Bruce Banner and Carol
Danvers in the post-credit scene.

Additional Viewing:
None.

43) Dr. Strange: the Multiverse of Madness

Dr. Strange didn’t deliver any of the time much-anticipated multiverse-changing reveals, such as the introduction of mutants or the combining of
timelines, nor did it directly reference any past MCU productions apart from a brief, unsatisfying nod to WandaVision and some multiversal cameos
from characters that never were. This at least creates a little flexibility regarding where it should be set in the narrative, and placing it here allows
for a return to the multiversal concept introduced in prior films after a break for more character-driven stories. The movie insinuates that a good
deal of time has passed since WandaVision, so bumping it further down the line (and a little closer to the eventual Dr. Strange 3 and Agatha
Harkness series) seems to be the best option. Future revelations regarding Wanda Maximoff may cause us to move this one, but for now, Wong’s
appearance in Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings and the mystical aspects of that film make for a natural lead-in to this one.

Additional Viewing:
None.
44) Agatha All Along (D+, 9 episodes)

This series addresses what happened to Agatha after Wanda left her ‘imprisoned’ in Westview and introduces several new characters, including
Death and at least one of the twin sons that Wanda has been pining for. Its placement here is likely temporary – the magical theme and follow-up
on Wanda’s battle with the Darkhold and apparent sacrifice in Dr. Strange: Multi-verse of Madness seems like a natural continuation – but the
evolution of the storylines begun in this series and the circumstances surrounding Wanda’s appearances in the upcoming Avenger films will likely
necessitate its movement further down the line, possibly closer to the upcoming VisionQuest series.

Additional Viewing:
None.

45) Eternals

Eternals was a movie which likely should not have been made, or at least not made and released at the time it was. The characters were interesting
and evocative, and the concept was well-executed, but it opened doors that Marvel was clearly not prepared to deal with yet and unnecessarily
muddied the continuity that, above all else, is what had set the MCU apart from every franchise that came before it. Chronologically speaking, the
bulk of this movie, including its world-shattering conclusion, takes place only a week or two so after the events of Endgame, but the next Marvel
production to actually address or even acknowledge the massive consequences of its ending is Captain America: Brave New World, which takes
place 9 movies, 11 Disney+ shows and four years of in-universe time later (Avengers: Endgame concluded in mid-2023, while Captain America:
Brave New World takes place during the year 2027). Saying that Marvel didn’t know what to do with these characters is an understatement and we
still don’t know if any of the storylines hinted at (including the introduction of Kit Harrington’s Black Knight) will ever be fully explored. As a result of
all of this, Eternals was moved much further down the line to better suit the narrative and to keep viewers from wondering what the hell is going
on. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law actually has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to the events of Eternals, so if the film’s brief mention of its events as
taking place just after Endgame can be ignored, this is a much better place for it.

Additional Viewing:
None.

46) She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, S1 (D+, 9 episodes)

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law settles in as an Earth-bound comedy with ties to the original Hulk, reminding us that at least some of the OG Avengers
are still around. The series catches us up a little on the Abomination after his cameo in Shang-Chi, introduces us to the character Titania and gives us
another sneak-preview appearance of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil ahead of his own upcoming series. The show also overtly aligns with the themes of
the more liberal perspectives of previous productions like the Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder - perhaps not coincidentally, it was also as
poorly received as those prior efforts (if not more so) and, as things stand, any future seasons have been cancelled. Not knowing if we will ever even
see the Jennifer Walters character at this point, combined with the fact that nothing which took place in the show has been referenced by any other
Marvel property and that it does nothing to advance the overall storyline, this series is a strong candidate to be skipped entirely for the moment. If
she makes a rumored appearance in either of the upcoming Avengers films, this series may return to mandatory viewing. [NOTE: This show has
been moved from ‘optional’ to the regular viewing order with confirmation that She-Hulk will appear in at least one of the upcoming Avengers
movies.]

Additional Viewing:
None.

47) Ms. Marvel (D+, 6 episodes)

This generally under-rated series introduces us to yet another new character, but this one has some past and future ties with other MCU
productions, obviously referencing Captain Marvel and leading directly into the following film The Marvels. Miss Marvel continues the ongoing
set-up for a future ‘Young Avengers’ team in the wake of our earlier introduction to Kate Bishop in the Hawkeye series and America Chavez role in
Dr. Strange & the Multiverse of Madness. Its quirkiness and female perspectives fit in well after She-Hulk: Attorney at Law while the post-credit
scene of the final episode leads directly into The Marvels. During a run of admittedly subpar efforts, viewing Ms. Marvel here provides for at least
one bright spot.

Additional Viewing:
None.

48) The Marvels

Picking up immediately after the events of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, The Marvels reunites us with Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau as
well as catching us up with Nick Fury and the alien races of the Kree and the Skrulls. Not widely regarded as the finest entry in the Marvel franchise,
it nonetheless has some implications for the larger multiverse, including the beginnings of what will likely become a Young Avengers team and hints
of the long-awaited introduction of the X-Men into the MCU. Unfortunately, when the most exciting thing that happens in a movie takes place
during its end credit scene, that’s probably not a good sign.

Additional Viewing:
 None.

49) Secret Invasion (D+, 8 episodes)

Secret Invasion continues the theme of our involvement with the warring races of the imperialistic Kree and the shape-shifting Skrulls. The series
was an ultimate disappointment, especially considering the massive and far-reaching impact that it could and should have had, with most dramatic
moments and big reveals ultimately either feeling forced, contrived or inconsequential. Nonetheless, momentous events take place, including the
discovery that at least a couple of major characters (Rhodey/War Machine and Everett Ross) have secretly been replaced by Skrulls, some for quite
some time, leading one to look back on all their previous appearances in a different light. If this show had been properly planned and tie-ins
carefully seeded throughout the MCU continuity beforehand, this truly could have been an amazing series and would have provided a completely
different type of threat than Marvel fans had experienced up to this point. Unfortunately, the show landed somewhat flat and felt like it was just
thrown together in an effort to cash in on the name recognition of the well-known comic crossover event.

Additional Viewing:
None.

[50] Echo (D+, 5 episodes) - Optional

Echo was introduced way back in the Hawkeye Disney+ series, and this show delves into her origin and backstory. Technically set five months after
the events of Hawkeye, the series explores the aftermath of her conflict with Wilson Fisk as well as that of her native American upbringing, shown
in a series of flashbacks. Its ending leads directly into some of the events of the new Daredevil: Born Again series where Echo is expected to again
make an appearance in season 2, but the self-contained nature of the story leaves it as a candidate to be skipped in the larger Narrative Order. Still,
it should be noted that the show was well-received critically and makes its mark as the first Marvel Studios television release to receive a TV-MA
rating.

Additional Viewing:
None.

[51] Daredevil: Born Again, S1 (D+, 9 Episodes) - Optional

The new Daredevil series revives Charlie Cox in the titular role after his very successful run as part of the excellent Netflix series of Marvel shows.
This new series is intended to be a revival and sequel of that franchise and is a solid addition, if never quite achieving the grittiness and visceral
nature of the original run that made the character so popular. Numerous other characters return from the Netflix run, including Vincent D’Onofrio
as Wilson Fisk, Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Elden Hensen (Foggy Nelson), Ayelet Zurer (Vanessa), Wilson Bethal (Poindexter/Bullseye), John
Bernthal (Frank Castle/Punisher) and others. We also see the inclusion of a handful of minor characters from other Marvel franchises, such as Tony
Dalton as Swordsman from Hawkeye and Mohan Kapur as the father from Miss Marvel.

I have this series listed as ‘optional’ along with Echo, but that deserves a bit of an explanation. It’s only being separated out because it represents a
rather significant and lengthy departure from everything else currently going on in the MCU while remaining relatively self-contained to its own
story. Moreover, without any meaningful tie-ins to the greater MCU (yet), Echo, S1, Daredevil: Born Again, S1 & S2 and the upcoming Punisher
special would all likely be better if they were simply removed from the viewing order entirely and just enjoyed separately along with the 13 seasons
of Marvel Netflix show discussed below. Inserting it here feels like a huge left turn from the on-going events begun in Secret Invasion (to be
continued in the upcoming Armor Wars) or the upcoming events hinted at in the post-credit scene of The Marvels, which will have continuing
implications all the way to Avengers: Doomsday.

At the moment, the way this series and its brethren sit apart from the rest of the MCU makes it a very strong candidate to be moved to later or
possibly even some point earlier in the viewing order. Much will depend on the events that transpire in the upcoming Avengers films, but for now
I’m labeling it as optional - not because it isn’t a fine addition to the MCU, but because it doesn’t fit well into the larger narrative being told. This
could certainly change based on what occurs in the upcoming Avengers films.

Additional Viewing: While it is not technically necessary to watch the various Netflix series that I have referenced in various places earlier
in the viewing order, it absolutely helps in framing this new series and the shared history between various characters. If you’ve gotten to
this point without watching them and are interested in doing so, this is the viewing order for the full run of all 13 interconnected seasons:

1) Daredevil, S1 8) Jessica Jones, S2

2) Jessica Jones, S1 9) Luke Cage, S2
3) Daredevil, S2 10) Iron Fist, S2
4) Luke Cage, S1 11) Daredevil, S3
5) Iron Fist, S1 12) The Punisher, S2
6) Defenders, S1 13) Jessica Jones, S3
7) The Punisher, S1

All of these shows are presumed to have taken place before The Snap, though their exact placement is addressed earlier in the ‘Additional
Viewing’ sections of the viewing order. Depending on how well the new Daredevil series is received, we may see more of the characters
 from the Netflix run revived as well. For now, if you just want to prepare for the Daredevil: Born Again soft reboot, you can stick to the
seasons of Daredevil and The Punisher.

[52] Daredevil: Born Again, S2 (D+, 9 Episodes) - Optional

The second season of Daredevil: Born Again has not been released at the time of this writing but can be presumed to pick up where the first season
left off and will conclude the story begun there.

Additional Viewing:
None (see additional viewing for Season 1 above).

53) Captain America: Brave New World

Another of Marvel’s less-than-successful recent efforts, Captain America: Brave New World introduces us to the villain Samuel Sterns (who would
be known as The Leader, a recurring Hulk villain), as well as minor characters Sidewinder and Sabra, an Israeli superhero who was retconned as a
former Black Widow after inevitable conflict arose with the Arab league, particularly Palestinians. We finally get to see Thaddeus Ross in his role as
the Red Hulk and we reconnect with Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross again after a very long absence going all the way back to The Incredible Hulk. The film
was not successful at the box office for various reasons, but Anthonie Mackie continues to be likeable and charismatic in his turn as the ‘new’
Captain America. Most importantly, the film finally addresses the events that took place at the conclusion of Eternals, namely a massive celestial
sticking half in and half out of the ocean. ‘Celestial Island’, as it has become known, becomes the vehicle by which the MCU is introduced to
Adamantium, a substance almost as rich in comic lore as the character who made it famous (Wolverine).

Additional Viewing:
None.

54) Ironheart, S1 (D+, 6 Episodes)

At the time of this writing, the Ironheart series has not yet been released, but Ri-Ri Williams’ ties to Wakanda and her use of technology in the form
of an Iron Man-style suit makes her series a natural inclusion here after Captain America: Brave New World, before the monumental series of
events that will be beginning in Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four: First Steps. If elements of the show prove more time-specific, it may get moved to
later in the order.

Additional Viewing:
None.

55) Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts reunites various former villains and anti-heroes from throughout the MCU, including the Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian,
U.S. Agent, Ghost and the film franchise’s (terrible) version of Taskmaster to take on a potentially global threat in the form of the scientifically
enhanced Sentinel. We are once again treated to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ turn as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (don’t forget the ‘de’!) pulling the strings
as the team is assembled, manipulated and eventually introduced as the ‘New Avengers’ without their consent. Direct references between this film
and Captain America: Brave New World make it a natural follow-up, though I’m seriously considering playing Fantastic Four: First Steps between
them to give some context to its post-credit scene, especially since that scene takes place 14 months after the conclusion of the film.

Additional Viewing:
None.

56) Fantastic Four: First steps

Fantastic Four: First Steps is a relatively self-contained story taking place in an alternate universe (Earth-828 for those keeping score at home) that
introduces the Fantastic Four team and a world or timeline where they exist as the only known superheroes. The film follows their first encounter
with Galactus and their of the Silver Surfer, something which may or may not have future implications for the MCU as a whole. The film’s post-credit
scene briefly introduces Dr. Doom scene in

has not yet been released, but it is believed that, while the film will be somewhat self- contained, its conclusion will represent the beginning of a
chain of events that will have massive implications for the larger MCU, continuing on through Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Additional Viewing:
None.

[XX] Eyes of Wakanda (D+, 4 episodes) - Optional

The Eyes of Wakanda series consists of four episodes focusing on the mythology and history of the nation of Wakanda as seen through the eyes of
its warriors and even gives us a peek at a former version of Iron Fist, marking his first appearance in the MCU proper in any form. As this series does
not further the overall MCU narrative and is unlikely to be directly referenced by any other MCU production, it is currently considered optional in
the viewing order. In time, it may be moved to either before or after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever or possibly even Black Panther 3 when it is
eventually released.

Additional Viewing:
None.

[XX] Werewolf by Night - Optional

At present I’m withholding this one-shot from the viewing order because of its outlier nature. While it is an intriguing and enjoyable departure from
the usual fare, it remains at the moment a very skippable installment of the MCU as it doesn’t fit anywhere in the viewing timeline. This may change
should Marvel decide to explore additional elements of its ‘monster-verse’ down the road.

Additional Viewing:
None.