More than 14 years later, the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to dominate at the box office. It seems people can’t stop talking about it, even if they claim they are suffering from franchise fatigue. But with more than 30 films in a deeply interconnected franchise, it can be intimidating for newcomers to jump aboard the MCU hype train. As Marvel Studios moves full steam ahead with new films and TV shows, there’s a lot to catch up on.
That’s why we’ve listed several options below for those looking to get started on the MCU. Which option is best depends entirely on your personal preference and what you want to get out of your MCU experience. Some viewers will want to watch it all, while others will pick and choose what most interests them. Here is the best place to start if you’re just becoming a fan now.
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Option 1: Chronological Order
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If you’re someone who watches films in chronological order, you’ll probably want to start with 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. This film takes place during World War II, introducing the heroic Steve Rogers (Captain America) and the evil terrorist organization known as HYDRA. While Captain America: The First Avenger technically isn’t mandatory viewing, it’s not recommended you skip over this one as both Steve Rogers and Hydra play large roles in the MCU. In fact, Captain America goes on to become the leader of the Avengers, the flagship superhero team of the entire MCU.
Once you’re done with Captain America: The First Avenger, next up is 2019’s Captain Marvel followed by 2008’s Iron Man. While Captain America is credited as the first Avenger, it’s actually Captain Marvel that inspired the name of the iconic superhero team. At the same time, Iron Man becomes the most prominent face of the early MCU. You can find a “Marvel Cinematic Universe in Timeline Order” section on Disney+ that will help guide your viewing.
Option 2: Order of Release
Watching in order of release is always a safe bet, so you might want to start with 2008’s Iron Man. The film is widely regarded as one of the best films in the MCU, thanks to the direction of Jon Favreau, the perfect casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, and visual effects that continue to hold up today. As the first film in the MCU, this is a great place to start as you won’t have to worry yet about all the shared-universe shenanigans. With that being said, Iron Man’s post-credits scene does give you a small glimpse at what’s to come, setting up 2008’s The Incredible Hulk and a sequel in 2010’s Iron Man 2.
Option 3: Following a Character’s Journey
This option gets you right in and immediately watching the characters that you’re most interested in. You can choose a character and begin watching from their first appearance, then move on to the film that they’re in next. Essentially you are following a specific character on their journey throughout the MCU. For example, if you are interested in the story of the new Black Panther, Shuri, you would begin with her MCU debut in 2018’s Black Panther. Shuri then appears in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame before leading 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. When watching the Avengers films, you won’t be able to pick up on everything that’s happening with the characters outside the Black Panther franchise, but this is the best way to get to Shuri’s story.
Spider-Man is one of the most popular Marvel heroes, and you’ll be pleased to know that his journey is relatively accessible to newcomers. The web-head is introduced in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and later receives his own solo film, 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. If you trace Spider-Man’s path, you will move on to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame after watching Spider-Man: Homecoming. Since Spider-Man at first doesn’t know what’s going on, you’ll be learning about what’s happening right alongside him. Spidey then returns in two sequels: 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home and 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. Follow the path described, and you’ll be caught up on Spider-Man in no time.
Option 4: Standalone Stories
Interconnected storylines are a huge part of Marvel’s appeal, but to new fans, they are often a barrier to entry. Some see themselves as having to do homework beforehand so that they can properly enjoy a film. It’s important to note that a Marvel film or series being connected to something you haven’t watched doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to follow along. But if you’re still looking for something that’s more standalone, you should definitely consider Moon Knight.
Moon Knight is a Disney+ miniseries consisting of six episodes that does not cross over with any other MCU project. Series executive producer Grant Curtis describes the show as having “no attachment to the current MCU” (via The Direct), and instead focusing on a brand-new adventure. There are no storylines or characters that make their way into the show from somewhere else. Everything is new, so viewers won’t have an inferior watch experience because they haven’t been keeping up with the Marvel universe.
