Definitive viewing order for the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

[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)