In the last few years, Marvel’s popularity rose to levels that the company never met before, not even during the golden years of comic books.
The film industry has turned into the best partner for the great superhero stories that Marvel had been writing for decades.
And it isn’t the sole benefitting partnership for Marvel. The gaming industry has also produced successful gaming titles that continue to be played on multiple consoles. Marvel fans have also the chance to play for real money casino games like slots inspired by Spiderman or Iron Man movies. Besides the success due to the popularity of these characters, these games can also be played on mobile devices and casino platforms accept a large array of payment options which attract even more clients.
The popularity of superheroes is now growing even more with the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). A collection of intertwined movies that sums up more than 30 films since the 2008 movie of Iron Man.
One of the highest points of the MCU was even reached with the movie ‘Avengers: Endgame’ which was the highest-grossing movie of all time until Avatar was released.
With so many movies and a history line that’s connected between them, there’s an “optimal” way of watching the whole collection. The traditional way would be to watch them following the actual release date of every movie, just like millions of people did, and it’s completely accurate to do so. But there’s an order you can follow that respects the actual order of events of what’s happening in the movies. This order will give you a better picture of the whole narrative being developed by Disney, the producer of the films.
This list will be exclusively about Marvel movies but be aware that there have already been many TV series being released on Disney’s streaming platform, Disney Plus, that dive even more into the MCU. Series like WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Eternals, or Loki focus on specific Marvel characters from the MCU but aren’t strictly related to the narrative of the main MCU story.
Ready for a Marvel binge-watching? Let’s start!
1. ‘Captain America: The First Avenger, 2011
This is the farthest in history that the actual Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has gone. The first Captain America movie happens between 1943 and 1945.
2. ‘Captain Marvel’, 2019
The history of the origins of Carol Susan Jane Danvers takes place in 1995 with some flashbacks during the movie going back to 1989. The box office success of this movie will result in a sequel.
3. ‘Iron Man’, 2008
This is, chronologically, the first MCU movie to be released. It happens in 2010 and it introduces the legendary character of Iron Man interpreted by Robert Downey Jr.
4. ‘Iron Man 2’, 2010
The second Iron Man movie takes place a year after its prequel. Famously known for introducing to the MCU the character of the Black Widow, interpreted by Scarlett Johansson.
5. ‘The Incredible Hulk’, 2008
Soon after the events of Iron Man 2, the Hulk was first interpreted by Edward Norton who was fired by Marvel and replaced by Mark Ruffalo.
6. ‘Thor’, 2011
The first Marvel movie takes place during the same year as the year of its release (2011).
7. ‘The Avengers’, 2012
The first grand Marvel mashup in MCU history. This is the movie that marks the biggest leap in terms of popularity and box office success. A turning point for Marvel movies.
8. ‘Thor: The Dark World’, 2013
The return of Thor was marked by controversy as the director that was first meant to lead this movie (Patty Jenkins) said years after the release that she didn’t see herself making a good movie with that script. It’s one of the worst-rated Marvel movies.
9. ‘Iron Man 3’, 2013
Tony Stark is once more set to big challenges in a very emotional movie.
10.’Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2014
It’s the year 2014 in Washington for Captain America and this is the first movie directed by brothers Russo who left a big mark on Marvel movies.
11. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, 2014
A new group of superheroes makes its entrance in 2014. A movie that Steven Spielberg was publicly fond of it.
12. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’, 2017
This sequel happens in the first year (2014) as the first movie but doesn’t have much connection with the MCU.
13. ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, 2015
Avengers dissolve, Vision and the Scarlet Witch are introduced and the romance between the Hulk and the Black Widow sees the light.
14. ‘Ant-Man’, 2015
Take note that the intro of this movie happens in 1989, otherwise, everything happens in the year 2015.
15. ‘Captain America: Civil War’, 2016
This movie marks the debut of Tom Holland’s Spiderman and mostly happens in 2016 with many flashbacks to consider that take place in 1991.
16. ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’, 2017
Right after the events of ‘The Civil War’, a young Spiderman trying to live a normal teenage life.
17. ‘Black Widow’, 2021
Taking place in 2016, it serves as a farewell for the popular character interpreted by Scarlett Johansson.
18. ‘Black Panther’, 2018
Also happening in 2016 with the late Chadwick Boseman dealing with the events that succeeded the Civil War. Very successful in the Academy Awards.
19. ‘Doctor Strange’, 2016
Part of this movie takes place in 2016 but the main part occurs in 2017. This is the first movie about this character.
20. ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, 2017
A union of the God of Thunder, Loki, and the Hulk to prevent the destruction of Thor’s hometown, Asgard.
