The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) launched in 2008 with the groundbreaking release of Iron Man. Since that moment, it has grown into one of the most successful movie franchises in cinema history. Over time, Marvel introduced a wide range of new characters, thrilling plots, and deeply connected storylines. Iron Man 2 arrived in 2010, followed by Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011. By 2012, the major heroes united in The Avengers, which marked a major milestone for the MCU.
As the universe expanded, fans witnessed exciting new additions like Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, and Black Panther. Meanwhile, each new release built on the last, creating an ongoing narrative that kept audiences engaged. Eventually, this led to massive crossover events such as Infinity War and Endgame. As a result, the MCU has become a cultural phenomenon, continuing to grow with each phase and every film.
Phase 1: The Beginning (2008–2012)
- Iron Man (2008)
- Released: May 2, 2008
- Directed by: Jon Favreau
- Key Characters: Tony Stark/Iron Man, Pepper Potts
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Released: June 13, 2008
- Directed by: Louis Leterrier
- Key Characters: Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Betty Ross
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Released: May 7, 2010
- Directed by: Jon Favreau
- Key Characters: Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
- Thor (2011)
- Released: May 6, 2011
- Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
- Key Characters: Thor, Loki, Odin
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Released: July 22, 2011
- Directed by: Joe Johnston
- Key Characters: Steve Rogers/Captain America, Red Skull
- The Avengers (2012)
- Released: May 4, 2012
- Directed by: Joss Whedon
- Key Characters: The Avengers (Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye)
Phase 2: Expansion (2013–2015)
- Iron Man 3 (2013)
- Released: May 3, 2013
- Directed by: Shane Black
- Key Characters: Tony Stark, The Mandarin
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- Released: November 8, 2013
- Directed by: Alan Taylor
- Key Characters: Thor, Loki, Malekith
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Released: April 4, 2014
- Directed by: Anthony & Joe Russo
- Key Characters: Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Released: August 1, 2014
- Directed by: James Gunn
- Key Characters: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Released: May 1, 2015
- Directed by: Joss Whedon
- Key Characters: The Avengers, Ultron, Scarlet Witch
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Released: July 17, 2015
- Directed by: Peyton Reed
- Key Characters: Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Hank Pym, Hope van Dyne
Phase 3: The Infinity Saga (2016–2019)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Released: May 6, 2016
- Directed by: Anthony & Joe Russo
- Key Characters: Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- Released: November 4, 2016
- Directed by: Scott Derrickson
- Key Characters: Stephen Strange, The Ancient One, Wong
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Released: May 5, 2017
- Directed by: James Gunn
- Key Characters: Star-Lord, Ego, Yondu
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Released: July 7, 2017
- Directed by: Jon Watts
- Key Characters: Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Tony Stark, Vulture
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Released: November 3, 2017
- Directed by: Taika Waititi
- Key Characters: Thor, Hulk, Loki, Hela
- Black Panther (2018)
- Released: February 16, 2018
- Directed by: Ryan Coogler
- Key Characters: T’Challa/Black Panther, Killmonger, Shuri
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Released: April 27, 2018
- Directed by: Anthony & Joe Russo
- Key Characters: The Avengers, Thanos
- Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)
- Released: July 6, 2018
- Directed by: Peyton Reed
- Key Characters: Scott Lang, Hope van Dyne, Ghost
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Released: March 8, 2019
- Directed by: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck
- Key Characters: Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Nick Fury
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Released: April 26, 2019
- Directed by: Anthony & Joe Russo
- Key Characters: The Avengers, Thanos
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
- Released: July 2, 2019
- Directed by: Jon Watts
- Key Characters: Peter Parker, Mysterio, Nick Fury
Phase 4: The Multiverse Saga (2021–2022)
- Black Widow (2021)
- Released: July 9, 2021
- Directed by: Cate Shortland
- Key Characters: Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- Released: September 3, 2021
- Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
- Key Characters: Shang-Chi, Wenwu, Katy
- Eternals (2021)
- Released: November 5, 2021
- Directed by: Chloé Zhao
- Key Characters: Ikaris, Sersi, Thena
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Released: December 17, 2021
- Directed by: Jon Watts
- Key Characters: Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Doctor Strange
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- Released: May 6, 2022
- Directed by: Sam Raimi
- Key Characters: Doctor Strange, Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- Released: July 8, 2022
- Directed by: Taika Waititi
- Key Characters: Thor, Jane Foster/Mighty Thor
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- Released: November 11, 2022
- Directed by: Ryan Coogler
- Key Characters: Shuri, Namor, M’Baku
Phase 5: The Multiverse Continues (2023–2024)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Released: February 17, 2023
- Directed by: Peyton Reed
- Key Characters: Scott Lang, Hope van Dyne, Kang the Conqueror
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- Released: May 5, 2023
- Directed by: James Gunn
- Key Characters: Star-Lord, Rocket, Gamora
- The Marvels (2023)
- Scheduled: November 10, 2023
- Directed by: Nia DaCosta
- Key Characters: Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel
Phase 6: The Multiverse Continues (2024–2025)
Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
- Released: February 14, 2025
- Directed by: Julius Onah
- Key Characters: Sam Wilson/Captain America, President Thaddeus Ross (Red Hulk)decider.com
Thunderbolts (2025)*
- Released: May 2, 2025
- Directed by: Jake Schreier
- Key Characters: Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, U.S. Agent, Red Guardian
Ironheart (2025)
- Scheduled: June 24, 2025
- Platform: Disney+
- Key Characters: Riri Williams/Ironheart
Phase 7: New Beginnings (2025–2027)
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
- Scheduled: July 25, 2025
- Directed by: Matt Shakman
- Key Characters: Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm
Eyes of Wakanda (2025)
- Scheduled: August 6, 2025
- Platform: Disney+
- Key Characters: Explores Wakanda’s history and warriors
Marvel Zombies (2025)
- Scheduled: October 3, 2025
- Platform: Disney+
- Key Characters: Alternate universe versions of MCU heroes as zombies
Wonder Man (2025)
- Scheduled: TBA 2025
- Platform: Disney+
- Key Characters: Simon Williams/Wonder Man
Blade (2025)
- Scheduled: November 7, 2025
- Directed by: Yann Demange
- Key Characters: Eric Brooks/Blade
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
- Scheduled: July 31, 2026
- Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
- Key Characters: Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
- Scheduled: December 18, 2026
- Directed by: Russo Brothers
- Key Characters: Avengers team facing a new global threat
Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)
- Scheduled: December 17, 2027
- Directed by: Russo Brothers
- Key Characters: Multiverse-spanning ensemble of heroes and villains
