MCU Chronological Watch Order

by Darkpoet1792 • Created 6 years ago • Modified 3 years ago

This is my chronological watch order for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For me, that includes any film or television show made by Marvel Studios starting in 2008 with Iron Man, the one-shots also made by Marvel Studios, the following TV shows; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (AoS), Agent Carter, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, The Punisher, Inhumans, Cloak & Dagger, Runaways and the spinoff web series Slingshot and WHIH Newsfront. If you don't consider any of these properties canon, then you may exclude them when watching through.

This list will have spoilers for all properties up to this point in time, so if you'd like to avoid spoilers, just follow the description order without looking at the explanations for a properties placement below the description.

Some of these properties overlap or run concurrently with other properties, so I decided to place those specific properties where there's no narrative interference. Captain America: The First Avenger and Marvel's AoS Slingshot both start and end in the present day (for it's time) however because the majority of those events take place in the past, I've decided to place them accordingly. This may lead to spoilers for certain other properties, so you may move where you watch something around if need be. Most of these placements revolve around release dates (specifically for AoS) and while I do add dates (mostly months) for a majority of the properties, this isn't 100% accurate and just my take on it. Because this universe is so large, with many different people and companies creating these stories, mistakes are made and so if there's something I consider a mistake within these properties, I will include it in the explanations. If you do find any errors in my order, feel free to let me know and I will explain or change my list accordingly.

March 1942- September 1945
Captain America: The First Avenger

April 7th 1946-1948
Agent Carter Season 1
Agent Carter Season 2
Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter

1995
Captain Marvel

August - November 25th 2010
Iron Man

May 6th - June 4th 2011
Iron Man 2
Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer
Thor
The Incredible Hulk
Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant

May 4th-12th 2012
The Avengers
Marvel One-Shot: Item 47

December 23rd-30th 2012
Iron Man 3

June 2013
Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King

September 24th - November 12th 2013
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 1-7

November 13-19th 2013
Thor: The Dark World
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 8

November 26th - December 10th 2013
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 9-10

January 5th - April 1st 2014
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 11-16

April 1st-8th 2014
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 17

April 10th - May 13th 2014
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 18-22

September 2014
Guardians of the Galaxy

September 23rd - December 9th 2014
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 1-10

December 2014
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

January - May 2015
Daredevil Season 1
Jessica Jones Season 1

March 3rd - April 28th 2015
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 11-19

April 28th - May 5th 2015
Avengers: Age of Ultron

May 5th-12th 2015
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 20-22

July 7th-16th 2015
WHIH Newsfront Promo
WHIH Newsfront Top Stories
WHIH Newsfront EXCLUSIVE: 2012 VistaCorp Break-In Security Footage Involving Cyber-Criminal Scott Lang
WHIH Newsfront WIRED Insider Interviews Darren Cross, CEO of Pym Technologies
WHIH Newsfront EXCLUSIVE: Scott Lang Interview

July 17th-31st 2015
Ant-Man

September 29th - December 8th 2015
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 3 Episode 1-10

March 18th - May 2016
Daredevil Season 2

March 8th - May 3rd 2016
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 3 Episode 11-19

April 22nd - May 3rd 2016
WHIH Newsfront AVENGERS IMPACT: A WHIH Newsfront Special Report
WHIH Newsfront The Cost of Saving the World
WHIH Newsfront The Avengers and The White House
WHIH Newsfront Exclusive: President Ellis Discusses The Avengers
WHIH Newsfront Breaking News: Attack in Lagos.

May 3rd - August 28th 2016
Captain America: Civil War

May 10th-17th 2016
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 3 Episode 20-22

April - July 2016
Luke Cage Season 1

July 2016
Iron Fist Season 1

August 2016
The Defenders Season 1

September 5th-9th 2016
Black Panther

February 2nd - September 2016
Doctor Strange

September 2016
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Slingshot Season 1 Episode 1-6

September 20th - October 18th 2016
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4 Episode 1-4

October 2016
Spider-Man: Homecoming

October - November 24th 2016
The Punisher Season 1

October 25th - December 7th 2016
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4 Episode 5-9

October 2016 - February 2017
Cloak & Dagger Season 1

January 17th - April 25th 2017
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4 Episode 10-22

July 2017
Jessica Jones Season 2

August - October 2017
Luke Cage Season 2

August - December 2017
Runaways Season 1

October - December 2017
Iron Fist Season 2
Cloak & Dagger Season 2

April 25th - December 2017
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5 Episode 1-10

October 2017 - January 2018
Daredevil Season 3

December 2017 - February 2018
Runaways Season 2

November 2017 - March 2018
The Punisher Season 2

December 2017 - March 2018
Jessica Jones Season 3

March - April 26th 2018
Thor: Ragnarok

March 2nd - April 20th 2018
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5 Episode 11-18

March - April 28th 2018
Ant-Man and The Wasp

April 24th- May 21st 2018
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5 Episode 19-22
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Endgame (First 20 minutes)

May 10th - July 19th 2019
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6 Episode 1-10

October - November 2023
Avengers: Endgame
WandaVision

April 2024
The Falcon & The Winter Soldier

June 2024
Spider-Man: Far From Home

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1. Captain America: The First Avenger
20112h 4mPG-1366Metascore
6.9 (931K)
Steve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum". But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization.
DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsChris EvansHugo WeavingSamuel L. Jackson
The majority of this film takes place from March 1942 to September 2nd (and 3rd, presumably) 1945. The beginning and end of this film takes place during Fury's Big Week (May 24th - 30th of 2011). If you wish to view the past section of this film as a flashback, feel free to watch it after The Consultant.
2. Agent Carter
2015–201618 epsTV-PGTV Series
7.8 (92K)
In 1946, Peggy Carter is relegated to secretarial duties in the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR). When Howard Stark is accused of treason, he secretly recruits Peggy to clear his name with the help of his butler, Edwin Jarvis.
CreatorsChristopher MarkusStephen McFeelyStarsHayley AtwellJames D'ArcyEnver Gjokaj
Agent Carter Season 1 takes place a year after Steve's "death", placing it in 1946.
S1E1 - There's a slight continuity error in this episode. A newspaper says it's June 7th, 1946. Therefore Episode 1 would take place June 7th and 8th. However in episode 5, April 27th is 2 days from now, placing that on the 25th. What I've come to discover is that if you use the 7th on the newspaper from Ep 1, and watch through to episode 5, the night day cycle adds up to be the 25th. So, because the characters stated it is indeed April, we can ignore the June on the newspaper (even if it's slightly annoying). Though with how well the actual dates line up, I'm thinking they did mean for it to be April, but didn't feel like reprinting an entire newspaper for that change.
This episode takes place April 7th-8th, 1946.

S1E2 - This episode takes place on April 9th-10th, 1946.

S1E3 - This episode takes place on April 11th-12th, 1946.

S1E4 - This episode takes place on April 20th-22nd, 1946.

S1E5 - This episode takes place on April 25th-28th, 1946.

S1E6 - This episode takes place on April 29th-30th, 1946.

S1E7 - This episode takes place on April 30th - May 1st, 1946.

S1E8 - This episode takes place on May 1st-2nd, 1946.

Agent Carter Season 2 takes place a year after S1, in July of 1946.

S2E1 - This episode takes place July 13th-14th, 1947.

S2E2 - This episode takes place July 15th, 1947.

S2E3 - This episode takes place July 15th-16th, 1947.

S2E4 - This episode takes place July 16th, 1947.

S2E5 - This episode takes place July 16th-17th, 1947.

S2E6 - This episode takes place July 17th-18th, 1947.

S2E7 - This episode takes place July 18th, 1947.

S2E8 - This episode takes place July 19th, 1947.

S2E9 - This episode takes place July 19th, 1947.

S2E10 - The final episode takes place July 19th-20th, 1947.
3. Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter
201315mNot RatedVideo
7.4 (14K)
Frustrated at being marginalized at work, Peggy Carter goes on an unauthorized solo field mission.
DirectorLouis D'EspositoStarsHayley AtwellBradley WhitfordDominic Cooper
This One-Shot contains the first error (imo), as it states this takes place one year after Steve's "death", even though this has to take place after the show. Unfortunately this error is because when developing the show, they didn't expect a S2.
So, how I've decided to look at this is simple, it takes place a year after S2 in 1948. Agent Flynn is the new chief after Chief Thompson is murdered. Flynn just ignores everything that came before him about Carter because he's sexist and doesn't believe any of the reports about Carter. I figure placing it a year after S2 gives Peggy and Sousa enough time to investigate what seems like a dead end on Thompson's murder, then having her leave for New York and being put under Agent Flynn, 3 months before this.
We also have Howard referring to the organization as S.H.I.E.L.D. and it's still the S.S.R. during S1 & 2. If you disagree with the way I look at this One-Shot, then that's fine. All you have to do is pick which one is canon or non-canon, or only consider S1 canon. Or just not care at all about these tiny things because you're not as obsessed as I am :)
4. Captain Marvel
20192h 3mPG-1364Metascore
6.8 (636K)
Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.
DirectorsAnna BodenRyan FleckStarsBrie LarsonSamuel L. JacksonBen Mendelsohn
My theory was wrong XD

Captain Marvel takes place in 1995.
5. Iron Man
20082h 6mPG-1379Metascore
7.9 (1.2M)
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowTerrence Howard
I've placed this film from August to November of 2010. The months I know are correct as the film opens in August. Tony's captured and held captive in a cave for 3 months placing the rest of the film is in November, specifically November 24th as that's when Coulson's meeting is with the day after being the 25th. 6 months after that is his birthday, May 29th of the next year.
While this film was released in 2008, that placement causes inconsistencies throughout the films and shows.
First, Iron Man 2 happens 6 months later and is apart of Fury's Big Week, which occurs a year before The Avengers. We know The Avengers happens in 2012 (around the 4th of May) making Fury's Big Week in 2011. So this film has to take place in 2010.
And I didn't forget Vision's line in Civil War, I'll get to that then.
6. Iron Man 2
20102h 4mPG-1357Metascore
6.9 (901K)
With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.
DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Mickey RourkeGwyneth Paltrow
I've placed this film in the May 25th (6 months after Iron Man 1 exactly) to June 4th of 2011 time frame as it takes place during Fury's Big Week and on Tony Stark's birthday which is May 29th in the MCU. Tony mentions his birthday was last week so I just went ahead and picked a random date in the week after. The majority of this film takes place before the other films this week.
7. Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer
20114mNot RatedVideo
7.1 (11K)
Agent Coulson stops at a convenience store and deals with a coincidental robbery during his visit.
DirectorLeythumStarsClark GreggJessica ManuelJeff Prewett
This One-Shot takes place during Fury's Big Week and follows Agent Coulson from where we left him in Iron Man 2, on May 30th to where we see him in Thor, around June 2nd.
8. Thor
20111h 55mPG-1357Metascore
7.0 (932K)
The powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.
DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsChris HemsworthAnthony HopkinsNatalie Portman
This film takes place during Fury's Big Week, running concurrently with the end of Iron Man 2. I place it from May 30th (the day after Tony's birthday) to June 4th, as that's about how many days and nights pass when watching the film.
9. The Incredible Hulk
20081h 52mPG-1361Metascore
6.6 (543K)
Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.
DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsEdward NortonLiv TylerTim Roth
This film takes place during Fury's Big Week, with most of the film running concurrently with the end of Iron Man 2 and Thor. This film has the opening in Brazil & Guatemala on the 6th, 7th and 8th of May. Him arriving in the US is 17 days after that, being the 25th and the rest of the film is from there to June 4th. While some choose to watch this before Thor, I decided not to as it breaks up the flow of following Agent Coulson from Iron Man 2 through Thor.
10. Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant
20114mNot RatedVideo
6.4 (11K)
Agents Coulson and Sitwell plan to derail General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross from interfering with S.H.I.E.L.D. affairs with a very special person.
DirectorLeythumStarsClark GreggMaximiliano HernándezDeborah Knox
This One-Shot takes place during Fury's Big Week, running concurrently with the end of The Incredible Hulk on June 4th.
11. The Avengers
20122h 23mPG-1369Metascore
8.0 (1.5M)
Earth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.
DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett Johansson
This film takes place a year after Fury's Big Week, around May 3rd to May 6th of 2012.
12. Marvel One-Shot: Item 47
201212mNot RatedVideo
6.6 (13K)
S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sitwell is assigned to recover an abandoned Chitauri weapon being used by a young couple robbing a bank.
DirectorLouis D'EspositoStarsLizzy CaplanJesse BradfordMaximiliano Hernández
This One-Shot takes place shortly after The Avengers. I decided to place it a week after, May 12th of 2012.
13. Iron Man 3
20132h 10mPG-1362Metascore
7.1 (931K)
When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
DirectorShane BlackStarsRobert Downey Jr.Guy PearceGwyneth Paltrow
This film takes place around Christmas time of 2012, 6 months after The Avengers. I placed it from the 23rd to the 30th as 3 days, 4 nights pass during the movie and the Vice President and his family are opening gifts during the film. This film is in 2012 and not 2013 because the opening is New Years Eve 1999 going into the year 2000, and the present day is 13 years after that. 13 years after would be New Years Eve 2012 going into 2013.
Since this film takes place during Christmas, it makes more sense to place it in Christmas of 2012 and not 2013 because Extremis is introduced in this film and is used heavily in the 1st half of AoS S1, which happens before Christmas 2013.
14. Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King
201414mNot RatedVideo
7.2 (14K)
A documentary filmmaker interviews the now-famous Trevor Slattery from behind bars.
DirectorDrew PearceStarsBen KingsleyScoot McNairyLester Speight
This One-Shot takes place 6 months after Iron Man 3, in June of 2013.
15. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
2013–2020136 epsTV-PGTV Series
7.5 (231K)
The missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.
CreatorsMaurissa TancharoenJed WhedonJoss WhedonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenBrett Dalton
S1E1-7 - This first batch of episodes takes place from September 24th - November 12th of 2013. Episode 1 & 2 taking place on the 24th & 25th of 2013.

S1E8 - This episode takes place the same day as the Battle in London during Thor: The Dark World, November 19th of 2013.

S1E9-10 - These 2 episodes take place from November 26th to December 10th of 2013.

S1E11-16 - These episodes take place from January 5th to April 1st of 2014.

S1E17 - This episode takes place from April 1st to 8th of 2014.

S1E18-22 - These episodes take place from April 10th to May 13th of 2014.

S2E1-10 - The first half of Season 2 takes place from September 23rd to December 9th of 2014.

S2E11-19 - These episodes take place from March 3rd to April 28th of 2015.

S2E20-22 - The final episodes of AoS Season 2 takes place from May 5th to 12th of 2015.

S3E1-10 - The 1st half of Season 3 takes place from September 29th to December 8th of 2015.

S3E11-19 - These episodes take place from March 8th to May 23rd of 2016.

S3E20-22 - The last 3 episodes of AoS Season 3 take place from May 10th-17th of 2016.

S4E1-4 - These episodes take place from September 20th to October 18th of 2016.

S4E5-9 - These episodes take place from October 25th to December 7th of 2016.

S4E10-22 - The final 2 arcs of AoS takes place from January 17th to April 25th of 2017.

S5E1-10 - The opening arc of AoS takes place in 2091 but time still passes while they're gone. The time that passed is from April 25th to December of 2017.

S5E11-18 - These episodes take place from March 2nd to April 20th of 2018

S5E19-22 - These episodes take place concurrently with Avengers Infinity War, from April 24th to the 28th of 2018.

S6E1-10 - These episodes take place a year after, from May 10th to July 19th of 2019.
16. Thor: The Dark World
20131h 52mPG-1354Metascore
6.7 (751K)
When the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster.
DirectorAlan TaylorStarsChris HemsworthNatalie PortmanTom Hiddleston
This film takes place from November 13th to the 19th of 2013 with the ending of the film taking place on the same day as AoS S1E8, where our S.H.I.E.L.D. team cleans up after Thor's defeat of Malekith.
17. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
20142h 16mPG-1370Metascore
7.7 (933K)
As Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.
DirectorsAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett Johansson
This film takes place from April 1st to 8th of 2014 before, during, and after the events in AoS S1E16 & 17.
18. Guardians of the Galaxy
20142h 1mPG-1376Metascore
8.0 (1.3M)
A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.
DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley Cooper
This film takes place in September of 2014, sometime before the 23rd.
19. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
20172h 16mPG-1367Metascore
7.6 (793K)
The Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord's encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.
DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattZoe SaldañaDave Bautista
This film takes place 3 months after Guardians of the Galaxy, placing it in December of 2014.
20. Daredevil
2015–201839 epsTV-MATV Series
8.6 (504K)
A blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night. Matt Murdock fights the crime of New York as Daredevil.
CreatorDrew GoddardStarsCharlie CoxVincent D'OnofrioDeborah Ann Woll
Season 1 of Daredevil takes place before and concurrently with the 2nd half of AoS Season 2, from January to May of 2015.

Season 2 of Daredevil takes place and runs concurrently with the 2nd half of AoS Season 3 from March 18th to May of 2016. The 1st 4 episodes take place before AoS S3E14, if you'd like to watch those then continue with S.H.I.E.L.D.

Season 3 was hard to place, other than the opening. I've decided to place it a little over a year after Defenders, putting the 1st episode taking place over 7 months, with Matt recovering during that time. Everything after that takes place from October 2017 to January of 2018.
21. Jessica Jones
2015–201939 epsTV-MATV Series
7.8 (233K)
Following the tragic end of her brief superhero career, Jessica Jones tries to rebuild her life as a private investigator, dealing with cases involving people with remarkable abilities in New York City.
CreatorMelissa RosenbergStarsKrysten RitterRachael TaylorEka Darville
Season 1 of Jessica Jones also takes place before and concurrently with AoS Season 2 and Daredevil Season 1 from March to May of 2015.

Season 2 of Jessica Jones takes place 17 years after her accident. We're also told it's the summer and school's out, placing this in July of 2017.

Season 3 of Jessica Jones takes place from December 2017 to March of 2018 shortly after both Luke Cage and Iron Fist Season 2.
22. Avengers: Age of Ultron
20152h 21mPG-1366Metascore
7.3 (958K)
When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it's up to Earth's mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.
DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark Ruffalo
This film takes place from April 28th to May 5th of 2015.
23. WHIH News Front
2015–201610 epsTV-PGTV Series
6.6 (1.1K)
A series of news bulletins on events within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as presented by reporter Christine Everhart.
StarsLeslie BibbAl MadrigalPaul Rudd
The 1st 5 video/episodes of this Newscast take place from July 7th to 16th of 2015, leading up to Scott Lang's release at the beginning of Ant-Man.
Promo-Scott Lang Interview

The next 5 video/episodes of this Newscast take place from April 22nd to May 3rd of 2016, with the 3rd taking place on the day of the Bombing at Lagos in Captain America Civil War.
Avengers Impact-Attack in Lagos.
24. Ant-Man
20151h 57mPG-1364Metascore
7.2 (749K)
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.
DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddMichael DouglasCorey Stoll
This film takes place from July 17th to 31st of 2015, starting a day after Scott's interview on WHIH Newsfront.
25. Captain America: Civil War
20162h 27mPG-1375Metascore
7.8 (887K)
Political involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
DirectorsAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett Johansson
This film takes place from May 3rd to August 28th of 2016.

To explain from above Vision's line in this film about Tony revealing himself as Iron Man 8 years ago, there's a couple ways we take this information.

First is that it's 100% fact and Iron Man happens in 2008, which is mostly fine except that multiple other films have it taking place in 2010, to line up properly (specifically Phase 1)
Second is we can ignore this line as this is the only film that actually places Iron Man in 2008 with this line of dialogue.
Third is to assume he meant to say 6 years and not 8... because he's secretly Ultron this whole time and Ultron doesn't want us to have a cohesive universe.

As I mentioned in the opening description, there are some errors in this universe. In my opinion, I consider this the 2nd error in the MCU as it directly contradicts where Iron Man 2, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, and multiple TV shows place The Avengers, being in 2012. You can see why The Avengers taking place in 2012 means Iron Man has to take place in 2010 above, in the Iron Man description box. Let me know how you guys view this, and how wrong I really am below XD