Definitive viewing order for the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

[fergusor]

Hi guys,

I'm just wondering if there a definitive viewing order to the films/tv shows/One Shots for the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

I've Googled it but each one I look at has slight variations so I thought I'd ask here.

I'd like to start watching everything in order sometime so a definitive list would be great.

Thanks,
Richard.

[Buzz201]

I think the definitive order is theatrical/television release date, take note that Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ties into Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, so you'll probably want to watch those in the middle of MAoS...

So, I believe it works out as:

01. Iron Man (2008)
02. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
03. Iron Man 2 (2010)
04. Thor (2011)
05. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
06. Marvel's The Avengers/Marvel Avengers Assemble (2012)
07. Iron Man 3 (2013)
08. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 1-7 (2013)
09. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
10. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 8-15 (2013-4)
11. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
12. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 16-22 (2014)
13. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

But it should still make sense if you watch them in any order (perhaps with the exception of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)...

[partridge]

If you are looking at chronological order, I don't think that's possible because elements of some of the films happen at different times; i.e. Captain America is mostly WW2, but the final scenes are later than IM, IM2 and Hulk

I would watch them in release order and be sure to watch all the end credit bits and one shots.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

I think the definitive order is theatrical/television release date, take note that Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ties into Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, so you'll probably want to watch those in the middle of MAoS...

Completely agree - if you wanted to watch them in strict chronological order (as in the timelines within the films) then you have to switch in the middle of films and that's definitely not how they should be watched. The order they were released is the definitive order and gives you all the right information and plot points when it should be given. However, the one-shots can be added in inbetween films pretty easily.

So, taking Buzz's list and adding in the One-Shots, it would be -

01. Iron Man (2008)
02. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
03. The Consultant (2011)
04. Iron Man 2 (2010)
05. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (2011)(though, technically, this is set between the end of Iron Man 2 and the post-credit sting but it's not worth switching discs just for that)
06. Thor (2011)
07. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
08. Agent Carter (2013)
09. The Avengers (2012)
10. Item 47 (2012)
11. Iron Man 3 (2013)
12. All Hail the King (2014)
13. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 1-7 (2013)
14. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
15. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 8-15 (2013-4)
16. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
17. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 16-22 (2014)
18. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

[Monkeyspoons Revenge]

Guardians of the Galaxy can go anywhere after Thor: The Dark World. It doesn't have to go at the end.

In my watch order I'd watch it after Thor 2 and before Cap 2. Thor 2 flows better into GotG and Cap 2 flows better into Avengers 2.

Thats my opinion anyway.

[matunter]

Hey Richard,

Marvel haven't released an official viewing order for the MCU but many fans such as myself have put together their own list. Here's the one I put together:

Iron Man [MOVIE]
The Incredible Hulk [MOVIE]
Iron Man 2 [MOVIE]
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer [ONE-SHOT]
Thor [MOVIE]
The Consultant [ONE-SHOT]
Captain America: The First Avenger [MOVIE]
Agent Carter [ONE-SHOT]
The Avengers [MOVIE]
Item 47 [ONE-SHOT]
Iron Man 3 [MOVIE]
All Hail the King [ONE-SHOT]
Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 1-7 [TV]
Thor: The Dark World [MOVIE]
Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 8-16 [TV]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier [MOVIE]
Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 17-22 [TV]
Guardians of the Galaxy [MOVIE]

Some fans disagree on the order to view the phase 1 films due to The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2 and Thor taking place within the same week (as revealed in the Comic Book tie-in titled 'Fury's Big Week'). Others also believe that Captain America: The First Avenger should be watched first as in takes place in the 1940s, long before Iron Man 1.

Within my list, I've put the films in the order that they were released as this is the order that fans and the general public slowly watched to see the MCU unfold and build up to The Avengers. I also think that watching Captain America: The First Avenger right before The Avengers instead of at the very beginning is preferable, because while the majority of the film is set in WW2, it's bookended by scenes that take place after all previous phase 1 movies, and leads directly into The Avengers.

Fortunately, phase 2 is much more straightforward as all the films are roughly set in the month/year that they were released.

The one-shots were pretty also easy to place as most of them deal with the direct aftermath of a movie.

Much like the phase 2 films, Agents of SHIELD was pretty much released in real time - so the episodes that were aired after Captain America: The Winter Soldier was released take place after the film.

Eventually this viewing order is likely to get really messy with the upcoming 1940s set 'Agent Carter' TV show, Agents of SHIELD Season 2 and the 5 Netflix shows starting with Daredevil next May.

I also have a list that includes the tie-in comics if you're planning on going hardcore.

Hope this helps!

edit: Buddy Ackerman pretty much nailed it, haha

[Groge511]

Originally Posted by Monkeyspoons Revenge

In my watch order I'd watch it after Thor 2 and before Cap 2. Thor 2 flows better into GotG and Cap 2 flows better into Avengers 2.

I didn't realise Age of Ultron was out already

[Natty]

What's the timeline going to be when The Inhumans comes out? Depending on the context, that could potentially be one of, if not the, first to watch.

Originally Posted by Groge511

I didn't realise Age of Ultron was out already

That's what I thought haha.

[Monkeyspoons Revenge]

Originally Posted by Groge511

I didn't realise Age of Ultron was out already

The events of Cap 2 will directly affect the world in Avengers 2. The way some of the characters are left at the end of the film and that they are in Avengers 2 means that a certain amount of links will be required. GotG won't link directly to Avengers 2 that much if at all.

Also the stinger to Thor 2 features GotG characters and the stinger to Cap 2 has Avengers 2 characters.

It's pretty obvious when you think about it. Like I said I think GotG flows better after Thor 2 and before Cap 2.

[nuttyhotspurs]

Originally Posted by matunter

I also have a list that includes the tie-in comics if you're planning on going hardcore.

PM sent!

[Geoff D]

I always watch Cap 1 first if I'm doing an MCU marathon. I know I'm not supposed to, but so much of that movie lays the groundwork of what is to come that it feels wrong putting it just before Avengers. Yeah, I know it ends with Rogers waking up in the present, but that leaves it as a nice little cliffhanger of sorts (and the Avengers trailer can be simply skipped over) while we then get on with the origination of Iron Man, Hulk and Thor. And the credits stinger of the latter (Loki appearing to control Dr Selvig) leads perfectly into Avengers IMO.

[88thCrazy]

Originally Posted by Groge511

I didn't realise Age of Ultron was out already

To be fair, the

[Show spoiler]Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch

tease flows better than

[Show spoiler]Howard The Duck

.

[Groge511]

Originally Posted by 88thCrazy

To be fair, the

[Show spoiler]Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch

tease flows better than

[Show spoiler]Howard The Duck

.

Did you not hear?

[Show spoiler]Howard is a new member of the Avengers

[thewerepuppygrr]

Originally Posted by matunter

I also have a list that includes the tie-in comics if you're planning on going hardcore.

Could you post that here, or send me a PM? I'd love to see that list, sounds awesome!

[matunter]

Originally Posted by nuttyhotspurs

PM sent!

Originally Posted by thewerepuppygrr

Could you post that here, or send me a PM? I'd love to see that list, sounds awesome!

I'll post it here!

Iron Man [MOVIE]
The Incredible Hulk [MOVIE]
Iron Man 2: Public Identity [COMIC]
Iron Man 2: Agents of SHIELD [COMIC]
Iron Man 2 [MOVIE]
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer [ONE-SHOT]
Thor [MOVIE]
The Consultant [ONE-SHOT]
Captain America: First Vengeance [COMIC]
Captain America: The First Avenger [MOVIE]
Agent Carter [ONE-SHOT]
Fury's Big Week [COMIC]
Black Widow Strikes [COMIC]
Fury's Big Week (Epilogue) [COMIC]
The Avengers [MOVIE]
Item 47 [ONE-SHOT]
Iron Man 3 Prelude [COMIC]
Iron Man 3 [MOVIE]
All Hail the King [ONE-SHOT]
Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 1-7 [TV]
Thor: The Dark World Prelude [COMIC]
Thor: The Dark World [MOVIE]
Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 8-16 [TV]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Infinite Comic [COMIC]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier [MOVIE]
Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 17-22 [TV]
Guardians of the Galaxy Prelude [COMIC]
Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite [COMIC]
Guardians of the Galaxy [MOVIE]

Many of the comics take place before, during and after many films making them harder to pinpoint, and while I haven't been through the entire list in this order myself, it should work without the comics spoiling something the films haven't shown yet.

One placement that some may disagree with is the Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite comic right before the film, instead of after Thor: The Dark World, which the comic picks up from. However, as there are a number of TV episodes and a film between Thor 2 and Guardians, some viewers might forget the events of Thor 2's post credits scene, and the Infinite comic serves as a refresher to the scene before leading right into Guardians of the Galaxy.

There are also in continuity comic adaptations of Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger which contain some extra scenes that the films don't show - making them a worthwhile read.