Introduction
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the world’s largest and most successful movie franchise. It’s been going strong since 2008, when the first Iron Man movie was released. Since then, the MCU has grown to include over 20 movies, ranging from superhero blockbusters to space epics. With so many movies in the MCU, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this article, we’ll explore what Marvel movie you should watch first, and provide a beginner’s guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
A Beginner’s Guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: What Movie Should I Watch First?
The MCU consists of a wide variety of movies, from action-packed superhero adventures to comedic romances. To get the full experience, it’s important to watch the movies in order. Not only will this ensure that you don’t miss any important plot points or character developments, but it will also help you appreciate the growth of the MCU as a whole. Let’s take a look at all the Marvel movies, and figure out what order you should watch them in.
Overview of all the Marvel Movies
The MCU consists of 22 movies, divided into three phases: Phase One (2008-2012), Phase Two (2013-2015), and Phase Three (2016-2019). The following list includes all the Marvel movies in order of release date:
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Iron Man 3 (2013)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Suggested Movie Order
If you’re a complete beginner to the MCU, the best way to watch the movies is in chronological order. This will ensure that you understand all the plot points and character arcs without missing anything important. Here’s the recommended order for watching the MCU movies:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Iron Man 3 (2013)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Ranking the Marvel Movies – What Should You Watch First?
Now that you have a basic understanding of the Marvel movies, let’s rank them from best to worst. This will help you figure out which ones are worth your time, and which ones you might want to skip. To make it easier, we’ll break down the rankings into three categories: story, character development, and overall enjoyment.
Ranking the Marvel Movies Based on Story
When it comes to story, the top-ranked Marvel movies are:
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Captain America: Civil War
- The Avengers
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Iron Man 3
- Thor: The Dark World
Ranking the Marvel Movies Based on Character Development
When it comes to character development, the top-ranked Marvel movies are:
- Avengers: Endgame
- Captain America: Civil War
- The Avengers
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Iron Man 3
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Black Panther
- Thor: The Dark World
- Avengers: Infinity War
Ranking the Marvel Movies Based on Overall Enjoyment
When it comes to overall enjoyment, the top-ranked Marvel movies are:
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Thor: Ragnarok
- The Avengers
- Iron Man 3
- Avengers: Endgame
- Captain America: Civil War
- Black Panther
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Thor: The Dark World
Get Started with Marvel Movies – Which One Should You Watch First?
Now that you have an idea of which Marvel movies are the best, it’s time to figure out which one to watch first. Depending on your interests, there are different franchises within the MCU that you might want to start with. Here’s a quick overview of the different Marvel movie franchises, and the suggested viewing order for each one.
Overview of the Different Marvel Movie Franchises
The MCU consists of several different franchises, including:
- The Iron Man Franchise: This franchise follows Tony Stark/Iron Man as he battles villains and saves the world. It consists of four movies: Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Iron Man 3 (2013), and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
- The Captain America Franchise: This franchise follows Steve Rogers/Captain America as he fights for justice and liberty. It consists of four movies: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
- The Thor Franchise: This franchise follows Thor Odinson as he protects Asgard and its people. It consists of three movies: Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Franchise: This franchise follows the Guardians of the Galaxy as they battle intergalactic threats. It consists of two movies: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).
- The Ant-Man Franchise: This franchise follows Scott Lang/Ant-Man as he fights crime and proves his worth. It consists of two movies: Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018).
- The Spider-Man Franchise: This franchise follows Peter Parker/Spider-Man as he balances his heroic duties with his everyday life. It consists of one movie: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
- The Black Panther Franchise: This franchise follows T’Challa/Black Panther as he defends Wakanda from enemies. It consists of one movie: Black Panther (2018).
- The Doctor Strange Franchise: This franchise follows Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange as he unlocks the mysteries of the universe. It consists of one movie: Doctor Strange (2016).
Suggested Viewing Order for Each Franchise
To get the most out of each franchise, it’s important to watch the movies in order. Here’s the recommended viewing order for each franchise:
- The Iron Man Franchise: Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Iron Man 3 (2013), Avengers: Endgame (2019).
- The Captain America Franchise: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Endgame (2019).
- The Thor Franchise: Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017).
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Franchise: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).
- The Ant-Man Franchise: Ant-Man (2015), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018).
- The Spider-Man Franchise: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
- The Black Panther Franchise: Black Panther (2018).
- The Doctor Strange Franchise: Doctor Strange (2016).
The Ultimate Marvel Movie Marathon: Where to Start?
If you’re looking for a real challenge, why not try an ultimate Marvel movie marathon? This is a great way to experience the entire MCU in one sitting. Here are some tips for planning a Marvel movie marathon:
- Choose a day when you’re free from other commitments. This will give you plenty of time to watch all the movies.
- Make sure you’re well-rested and well-fed. You’ll need plenty of energy to make it through the entire marathon.
- Invite some friends or family members to join you. This will make the marathon more enjoyable and memorable.
- Don’t forget to take breaks between movies. This will help you stay focused and alert throughout the marathon.
Recommended Movie Order
Here’s the recommended order for watching the movies during the marathon:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Iron Man 3 (2013)
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
A Marvel Fan’s Guide to Watching the Movies in Order
For longtime Marvel fans, watching the movies in order is a must. Not only will this help you appreciate the growth of the MCU, but it will also help you see how the different storylines and characters intersect. Here are some benefits of watching the movies in order, and a step-by-step guide to doing it.
Benefits of Watching the Movies in Order
Watching the Marvel movies in order offers several benefits, including:
- You’ll be able to follow the story arcs and character developments more easily.
- You’ll appreciate the growth of the MCU as a whole.
- You’ll gain a better understanding of the different Marvel universes.
- You’ll be able to spot subtle references and Easter eggs in later movies.
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