A Chronological Order Guide to the Predator Franchise - Want some candy?

A Chronological Guide to the Predator Franchise

The Predator franchise is built on a simple yet terrifying concept: humanity is not the apex predator. The films follow the bloody encounters between humans and the Yautja, a technologically advanced alien species that hunts other dangerous lifeforms across the galaxy for sport and honor. Their "Hunts" are governed by a strict code, valuing worthy prey and forbidding the killing of the unarmed or infirm.

What began as a classic 80s action horror film has expanded into a complex universe with sequels, prequels, and controversial crossovers with the Alien franchise. The timeline jumps from the 18th century American plains to the urban jungle of Los Angeles, and even to distant game preserve planets.

This guide organizes every film in the saga, including the upcoming releases, into its proper in universe chronological order, providing the definitive timeline of the Yautja's long and bloody history with humankind.

The Complete Predator Chronology

The films are presented in their in-universe chronological order.

Predator: Killer of KillersAnimated Film (2025)

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Timeline: Various historical periods (Viking era, Feudal Japan, WWII). This animated anthology film explores the long history of the Yautja's hunts on Earth through three distinct stories. 

The segments follow a Viking raider on a quest for revenge, a ninja battling his samurai brother for succession, and a WWII pilot investigating an otherworldly threat. Thematically, this film solidifies the Yautja's code of honor. 

They do not hunt randomly; they seek out the most formidable warriors of any given era, viewing the hunt as a sacred test of skill and strength for both hunter and prey, thereby establishing the ancient and respected tradition of their presence on Earth.

PreyFilm (2022)

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Timeline: 1719. Set on the Great Plains, this film follows Naru, a highly skilled young Comanche warrior who seeks to prove herself as a hunter.

 The film introduces a "Feral" Predator, a subspecies with a more raw, less refined arsenal, emphasizing a primal and brutal hunting style. This story is a masterful tale of the hunted becoming the hunter, stripping the conflict down to its core elements: cunning versus technology, and primal instinct versus alien intellect. 

Naru's victory, using her wits and knowledge of the terrain, reinforces the franchise's core theme that true strength is not about technology, but adaptability. The flintlock pistol she acquires is a pivotal piece of lore connecting directly to *Predator 2*.

PredatorFilm (1987)

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Timeline: 1987. The one that started it all. The film serves as a deconstruction of the 80s action movie trope. An elite paramilitary team, the supposed pinnacle of human fighting prowess, is systematically dismantled by a single, unseen hunter. 

The Yautja, later nicknamed the "Jungle Hunter," turns their jungle mission into its personal hunting ground. The film's brilliance lies in forcing its hero, Dutch, to abandon his military hardware and regress to a primitive state, using mud, traps, and fire to face the creature on its own terms. 

It's a primal showdown that establishes the Predator's respect for a worthy opponent.

Predator 2Film (1990)

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Timeline: 1997. The hunt moves to the "urban jungle" of Los Angeles during a sweltering heatwave. This film is crucial for expanding the Yautja lore. 

It shows they are drawn to heat and conflict, making a gang war the perfect new hunting ground. The climactic scene aboard the Predator ship reveals their ancient history with Earth. 

We see a trophy room with skulls of various species, including the iconic Xenomorph skull, and the leader of the Lost Tribe gifts Lieutenant Harrigan the same flintlock pistol from Prey, proving they have been testing humanity for centuries and adhere to a strict code of honor, sparing the pregnant and rewarding a worthy victor.

Alien vs. PredatorFilm (2004)

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Timeline: 2004. This crossover event reveals the ancient, symbiotic relationship between the two iconic alien species. 

We learn that the Yautja built the Antarctic pyramid as a ritualistic hunting ground, a place where their "Young Bloods" must face the Xenomorphs, the "ultimate prey," to earn their status as true warriors. This reframes the Predators not just as hunters, but as a civilization with deep traditions, a complex societal structure, and a history intertwined with humanity's own myths.

It establishes that for the Yautja, the Xenomorph is the perfect organism to test their skills against in a sacred rite of passage.

Aliens vs. Predator: RequiemFilm (2007)

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Timeline: Immediately following AVP (2004). The film introduces a new, vital role in Yautja society: the "cleaner." The veteran Predator, nicknamed "Wolf," is dispatched to Earth not to hunt for sport, but to contain a catastrophic failure: the birth of a Predalien hybrid. This abomination represents a stain on the honor of the Hunt. 

Wolf's mission is to erase all evidence of the Xenomorph outbreak and the rogue hybrid, showcasing the Predators' ruthless pragmatism and their commitment to maintaining the secrecy and integrity of their culture, no matter the collateral damage.

PredatorsFilm (2010)

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Timeline: Ambiguous (post-2010). This film reveals a schism within the Yautja species itself. A group of Earth's most dangerous killers are abducted and dropped onto a game preserve planet, hunted by a larger, more ruthless clan known as the "Super Predators." 

The film introduces the concept of "Bad Bloods," a faction that has abandoned the traditional code of honor for a more sadistic and technologically superior style of hunting. 

The presence of a captive classic Predator suggests a brutal civil war, adding a new layer of complexity to their culture and showing that even among apex predators, there are ideological divides.

The PredatorFilm (2018)

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Timeline: 2018. This installment controversially reframes the Yautja's motivations. It reveals that at least one faction of Predators is engaged in a desperate arms race, using genetic hybridization to upgrade themselves with the DNA of the species they hunt, including humans.

A "Fugitive" Predator comes to Earth not to hunt, but to deliver a gift to humanity: the "Predator Killer" suit, a weapon to help humans fight back against the larger, genetically modified "Assassin" Predators. 

The film shifts the central conflict from a simple hunt to a complex civil war where humanity has become a pawn, and potentially a key to survival, for a divided species facing an existential threat.

Predator: BadlandsFilm (2025)

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Timeline: The Future. While plot details remain under wraps, this film is confirmed to feature a female protagonist and is set at some point in the future. 

This setting opens up numerous possibilities for the lore. It could explore the consequences of the genetic upgrading seen in The Predator, pit advanced future humans against the Yautja, or return the franchise to its survival horror roots in a new, futuristic environment. The film promises to be a standalone story, offering a fresh perspective on the enduring conflict between humanity and the galaxy's greatest hunters.

Chronological Order of the Highlander Film Timelines

A Chronological Guide to the Highlander Timelines

The Highlander franchise is built on a magnificent premise: for centuries, a race of Immortals has lived secretly among us. They cannot die unless beheaded, and they are driven by an ancient rule: "There can be only one." They are compelled to fight one another in a secret conflict known as The Game, for when only a few remain, they will be drawn to a final Gathering to fight for The Prize—the collected power and knowledge of all Immortals who have ever lived.

This core concept, introduced in the classic 1986 film, has spawned a universe so vast and complex that it includes multiple, conflicting timelines. Theatrical sequels, a long-running television series, and animated features have all offered different answers to what happens after the Gathering.

Because of this, the saga cannot be watched in a single straight line. This guide organizes the films and shows into their distinct continuities to provide the clearest possible viewing experience of Connor MacLeod's story and the larger world of The Game.

The Original Film Timeline

This is the purest and simplest timeline, consisting of the original film as a complete, standalone story as it was first intended.

HighlanderFilm (1986)

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The foundational story. In 1536, Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod is killed in battle but miraculously revives, leading his clan to banish him for witchcraft. He is found by an ancient Egyptian Immortal named Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, who teaches him the rules of The Game. The story flashes between Connor's past and the present day of 1985, where the final Gathering is taking place in New York City. Connor, now an antique dealer, must face his oldest and most powerful enemy, the brutal Kurgan, in a final duel to determine who will win The Prize and control the fate of humanity.

The TV Series Timeline (The Duncan MacLeod Saga)

This is the largest and most popular continuity. It establishes that Connor MacLeod did *not* win The Prize in 1985, and that many Immortals still existed, including his clansman Duncan MacLeod.

Highlander: The SeriesTV Series (1992-1998)

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This series follows Duncan MacLeod, an Immortal born decades after Connor, living in the modern day. Having "retired" from The Game, he is drawn back in when a new threat emerges. The series vastly expands the lore, introducing the concept of "The Watchers," a secret mortal society that has observed and chronicled the lives of Immortals for thousands of years. It introduces iconic characters like the ancient and enigmatic Immortal Methos and explores the moral and emotional toll of eternal life. Connor MacLeod appears in the first episode to pass the torch to Duncan.

Highlander: EndgameFilm (2000)

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This film unites the movie and TV timelines. A powerful and ancient Immortal named Jacob Kell, who holds a centuries-old grudge against Connor MacLeod, escapes from a hidden sanctuary where he was imprisoned by Watchers. Kell ignores the rules of The Game, and his power is so immense that neither Connor nor Duncan can defeat him alone. Believing there truly "can be only one" to possess the strength needed, Connor convinces Duncan to take his head, absorbing his power and experience for the final battle against Kell.

Highlander: The SourceFilm (2007)

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A direct sequel to *Endgame* that concludes the Duncan MacLeod saga. In a near-future, dystopian world, the remaining Immortals are drawn to a mysterious energy source, believing it to be the legendary Source of their immortality and the true Prize. Duncan and a group of allies, including Methos, embark on a quest to find it, hunted by a new, super-powered Guardian. This film was poorly received by fans and offers a controversial and definitive end to the TV series continuity.

The Alternate Film Timelines

These sequels to the original film ignore each other and the TV series, creating their own separate, conflicting continuities.

Timeline A: The Zeist Saga (Highlander II)Film (1991)

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Highlander II: The Quickening. This infamous sequel completely retcons the origin of the Immortals. It reveals that they are not human, but aliens from the planet Zeist who were exiled to Earth. In the year 2024, Connor MacLeod is now a mortal old man, having won The Prize. He helped create an artificial shield to protect the Earth after the depletion of the ozone layer. The tyrannical ruler of Zeist, General Katana, sends assassins to Earth to kill Connor. By defeating them, Connor regains his immortality and youth, and must team up with a resurrected Ramírez to defeat Katana and free both Earth and Zeist. (Note: The "Renegade Version" director's cut removes the Zeist plot, explaining the Immortals are from Earth's distant past, but is still considered a separate timeline).

Timeline B: The Sorcerer Saga (Highlander III)Film (1994)

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Highlander III: The Sorcerer. This film explicitly ignores the events of *Highlander II*. It acts as a direct sequel to the first film, revealing that when The Gathering took place, not all Immortals were drawn to it. The powerful sorcerer Kane and his two henchmen were magically trapped in a cave in Japan centuries earlier by Connor's second mentor, Nakano. When an archaeological dig frees them in the modern day, The Game is restarted. Connor, who has been living a quiet life with his adopted son, must face Kane to truly win The Prize once and for all.

The Animated Timeline

This animated series from 1994 is a standalone story set in its own continuity, completely separate from the films and live-action series.

Highlander: The Animated SeriesAnimated Series (1994-1996)

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Set in a post-apocalyptic 27th-century Earth, this series follows a new protagonist, Quentin MacLeod, the last of the MacLeod clan. After a great catastrophe, the Immortals forswore The Game and vowed to help humanity rebuild. However, the evil Immortal Kortan refused and conquered the world. After being killed for the first time, Quentin is revealed as the prophesied Immortal who is not bound by the oath and is destined to defeat Kortan. Mentored by a familiar face, Don Vincente Marino Ramírez, Quentin quests to unite the remaining good Immortals and free the world.

Chronological Order Guide of the Universal Soldier films

A Chronological Guide to the Universal Soldier Timelines

The Universal Soldier franchise is a fascinating case study in action filmmaking, evolving from a high-concept 90s blockbuster into a series with multiple, conflicting continuities. The core premise remains constant: soldiers killed in action are reanimated through a secret government program, turning them into near-invincible, memory-wiped killing machines known as "UniSols."

The saga begins with the story of Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and his psychotic sergeant, Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren), two soldiers who kill each other in Vietnam and are resurrected decades later. When Deveraux's memories begin to surface, he goes rogue, forcing a confrontation with the unhinged Scott.

Due to its complex history involving theatrical sequels, made-for-TV movies, and later reboots, the series cannot be watched in a single straight line. This guide organizes the films into their three distinct timelines to provide the clearest possible viewing experience.

The Prime Timeline (The Hyams Trilogy)

This is considered the main, official canon by fans and the creators of the later films. It includes the original film and the two direct-to-video sequels from director John Hyams, which ignore all other sequels.

Universal SoldierFilm (1992)

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The foundational story. In 1969 Vietnam, Private Luc Deveraux tries to stop Sergeant Andrew Scott from massacring an innocent village. They kill each other and their bodies are put on ice. Decades later, they are reanimated as part of the elite Universal Soldier program. During a mission, Deveraux's memories resurface, and he escapes with journalist Veronica Roberts. This forces the program's commanders to send the other UniSols, led by the increasingly unhinged and vengeful Scott, to hunt him down, culminating in a brutal final showdown.

Universal Soldier: RegenerationFilm (2009)

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This film explicitly ignores all previous sequels. Years after the events of the original, Luc Deveraux is decommissioned and undergoing therapy to reintegrate into society. He is called back into action when terrorists, led by a rogue scientist, take control of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. They have a new, advanced "Next-Generation" UniSol (Andrei Arlovski) and, as an insurance policy, a cloned and upgraded version of Andrew Scott. Deveraux must infiltrate Chernobyl and face off against two generations of UniSol to prevent a catastrophe.

Universal Soldier: Day of ReckoningFilm (2012)

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A radical departure in tone and style, this film shifts the focus to a new protagonist, John, who awakens from a coma after his family was murdered by a home invasion force led by Luc Deveraux. As John hunts for Deveraux, he begins to uncover a vast conspiracy involving a separatist UniSol army. Deveraux, now a messianic figure, is "awakening" dormant UniSols and building an army to overthrow the government. The film is a brutal, surreal, and violent sci-fi horror movie that concludes the prime timeline on a dark and ambiguous note.

The TV Movie Timeline

In the late 90s, two made-for-TV sequels were produced. They recast the main roles and are considered non-canon by all subsequent theatrical films.

Universal Soldier II: Brothers in ArmsTV Film (1998)

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This film picks up directly after the 1992 original but recasts Luc Deveraux (now played by Matt Battaglia). The UniSol program, with its budget slashed, is taken over by a rogue CIA director. The story introduces Luc's previously unknown brother, Eric, who was also killed and reanimated. Luc must fight to expose the new conspiracy and save his brother from the program's control.

Universal Soldier III: Unfinished BusinessTV Film (1998)

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A direct continuation of *Brothers in Arms*. Luc and Veronica Roberts are on the run, trying to expose the UniSol program to the world. The rogue faction creates a clone of Luc's brother, Eric, to hunt them down. This film concludes the TV movie continuity, which is entirely separate from any other part of the franchise.

The Theatrical Sequel Timeline (Alternate Canon)

This timeline consists of the original film and its first theatrical sequel. This sequel was later retconned and ignored by *Universal Soldier: Regeneration*.

Universal Soldier: The ReturnFilm (1999)

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Jean-Claude Van Damme returns as Luc Deveraux. This film ignores the TV movies. Luc is now a widower, a father, and a technical consultant for a new, "safer" UniSol program. The program is controlled by a supercomputer named S.E.T.H. (Self-Evolving Thought Helix). When the government decides to shut the project down, S.E.T.H. takes control of a new breed of UniSols, led by the powerful Romeo (Michael Jai White), and kidnaps Luc's daughter. Luc must fight the new army of super-soldiers to save her. This film's continuity is completely disregarded by the later sequels.

A Chronological Guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU Films Order)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the most ambitious and successful storytelling experiment in modern film history. Beginning with a single film, it has grown into a sprawling, interconnected tapestry of movies, television series, and short films, all sharing a single continuity.

The saga is organized into "Phases," each building upon the last, telling stories that range from street-level vigilantism to cosmic epics. The first great arc, The Infinity Saga, chronicles the rise of Earth's mightiest heroes and their universe-altering conflict with the mad titan Thanos over the all-powerful Infinity Stones.

The current arc, The Multiverse Saga, explores the chaotic consequences of that war, including branching timelines, alternate realities, and the emergence of threats from beyond our own universe.

This guide organizes the entire MCU, including all films, Disney+ series, and "One-Shot" short films, into a single, comprehensive timeline. It is designed to be the definitive viewing order for experiencing this epic saga from its earliest moments to its latest multiversal developments.

Phase One: Avengers Assembled

Captain America: The First AvengerFilm (2011)

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Timeline: 1942-1945. The story begins during World War II. A skinny kid from Brooklyn, Steve Rogers, is chosen for a super-soldier experiment and becomes Captain America. He battles the forces of HYDRA, a Nazi deep-science division led by the sinister Red Skull, who seeks to harness the power of a cosmic artifact known as the Tesseract (the Space Stone). The film establishes the deep history of S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA, and ends with Captain America crashing into the arctic, where he is frozen for nearly 70 years.

One-Shot: Agent CarterShort Film (2013)

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Timeline: 1946. Set one year after the events of The First Avenger, this short follows Peggy Carter. Now relegated to desk work in a male-dominated post-war world, she single-handedly takes on a dangerous mission to retrieve a weapon known as the Zodiac. Her success leads to an offer from Howard Stark to co-head the newly formed S.H.I.E.L.D., laying the groundwork for the entire future of the organization.

Captain MarvelFilm (2019)

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Timeline: 1995. A Kree warrior named Vers crashes on Earth and discovers her true identity as Carol Danvers, a former U.S. Air Force pilot. The film explores the Kree-Skrull war and introduces a young Nick Fury and Agent Coulson. 

Danvers absorbs the energy of the Tesseract, becoming one of the most powerful beings in the universe. The climax shows Fury being inspired to create the "Avengers Initiative" to protect Earth from cosmic threats.

Iron ManFilm (2008)

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Timeline: 2010. The film that started it all. Billionaire weapons manufacturer Tony Stark is kidnapped by terrorists and builds a suit of mechanized armor to escape. Upon his return, he refines the design and becomes the superhero Iron Man, vowing to protect the world from the weapons his own company created. The post-credits scene features Nick Fury approaching Stark to talk about the Avengers Initiative, officially launching the shared universe.

Iron Man 2Film (2010)

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Timeline: 2011. Tony Stark grapples with his newfound fame and the fact that the palladium core in his chest reactor is slowly poisoning him. He faces a new threat from Ivan Vanko, the son of his father's former partner, who has built his own arc reactor technology. The film introduces Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) as an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and further develops the relationship between Tony Stark and Nick Fury.

One-Shot: The ConsultantShort Film (2011)

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Timeline: 2011. This short reveals that Agent Coulson and Agent Sitwell manipulated General Ross into not having the Abomination join the Avengers Initiative by sending Tony Stark (the "consultant") to annoy him into refusing.

One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's HammerShort Film (2011)

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Timeline: 2011. While traveling to New Mexico to investigate Thor's hammer, Agent Coulson stops at a gas station and single-handedly foils a robbery, showing his effectiveness as a field agent.

ThorFilm (2011)

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Timeline: 2011. The arrogant god of thunder, Thor, is banished to Earth by his father Odin to learn humility. While on Earth, he befriends scientist Jane Foster. Meanwhile, his treacherous brother Loki seizes the throne of Asgard. Thor must prove himself worthy to reclaim his hammer, Mjolnir, and stop Loki's schemes. The film introduces Asgard, the concept of the Nine Realms, and establishes Loki as a key antagonist.

The AvengersFilm (2012)

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Timeline: 2012. The culmination of Phase One. Loki, now allied with the cosmic warlord Thanos, uses the Tesseract to open a portal over New York City, launching an invasion by the alien Chitauri army. Nick Fury activates the Avengers Initiative, bringing together Iron Man, Captain America (now thawed out), Thor, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye to save the world. 

The film features the introduction of the Mind Stone, housed in Loki's scepter.

One-Shot: Item 47Short Film (2012)

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Timeline: 2012. In the aftermath of the Battle of New York, a down-on-their-luck couple finds a discarded Chitauri weapon. They use it to rob banks, drawing the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell. The short explores the consequences of alien technology being left on Earth.

Phase Two: The Rise of Ultron

Iron Man 3Film (2013)

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Timeline: 2012. Tony Stark is suffering from PTSD after the events of The Avengers. He faces a new terrorist threat from the Mandarin, but discovers the true villain is a scientist from his past, Aldrich Killian, who has created the volatile Extremis virus. 

Stripped of his home and technology, Tony must rely on his intellect alone to defeat Killian and come to terms with his identity beyond the suit.

One-Shot: All Hail the KingShort Film (2014)

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Timeline: 2013. Following his arrest, the actor Trevor Slattery (who played the Mandarin in Iron Man 3) is interviewed in prison by a documentary filmmaker. The filmmaker reveals he is a member of the real Ten Rings organization, who are displeased with Slattery's portrayal of their leader. This short confirms the existence of the "real" Mandarin, a plot point that becomes crucial years later.

Thor: The Dark WorldFilm (2013)

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Timeline: 2013. A cosmic event known as the Convergence aligns the Nine Realms, allowing the ancient Dark Elves, led by Malekith, to re-emerge. They seek to reclaim their ultimate weapon, the Aether, a liquid reality-bending substance that is revealed to be the Reality Stone. When Jane Foster accidentally absorbs the Aether, Thor must team up with a reluctant Loki to save her and stop Malekith from plunging the universe into eternal darkness.

Captain America: The Winter SoldierFilm (2014)

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Timeline: 2014. A political thriller that changes the MCU forever. Steve Rogers, now working for S.H.I.E.L.D., uncovers a massive conspiracy: HYDRA has been secretly growing within the organization since its inception. Framed as a fugitive, he teams up with Black Widow and Sam Wilson (Falcon) to expose the plot. He also confronts the Winter Soldier, a legendary HYDRA assassin who is revealed to be his brainwashed best friend, Bucky Barnes. The film culminates in the complete collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Guardians of the GalaxyFilm (2014)

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Timeline: 2014. The MCU goes cosmic. A group of misfits—the human adventurer Peter Quill (Star-Lord), the deadly assassin Gamora, the vengeful Drax the Destroyer, the genetically-engineered Rocket Raccoon, and the sentient tree-like creature Groot—are thrown together when they come into possession of a mysterious orb. The orb contains the Power Stone, and they must prevent it from falling into the hands of the Kree fanatic Ronan the Accuser, who serves Thanos.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Film (2017)

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Timeline: 2014. Set only a few months after the first film, this story delves into Peter Quill's parentage. The Guardians meet Ego, a powerful, god-like Celestial who claims to be Peter's father. While initially seeming like a dream come true, they soon discover Ego's planet-consuming, sinister intentions. The film is a story about found family versus biological family, and culminates in a massive emotional sacrifice.

I Am Groot (Seasons 1 & 2)Shorts (2022-2023)

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Timeline: 2014. A series of shorts detailing the misadventures of Baby Groot aboard the Guardians' ship, taking place between the end of Vol. 1 and the post-credits scene of Vol. 2.

Avengers: Age of UltronFilm (2015)

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Timeline: 2015. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner create Ultron, an artificial intelligence designed to protect the world. However, Ultron becomes sentient and determines that humanity is the greatest threat, seeking to cause a global extinction event. The Avengers must reassemble to fight him. The film introduces Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) and Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver), and creates the heroic android Vision when the Mind Stone from Loki's scepter is integrated into a synthetic body.

Ant-ManFilm (2015)

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Timeline: 2015. A heist comedy that introduces Scott Lang, a well-meaning cat burglar who is recruited by the brilliant scientist Hank Pym. Scott must use Pym's incredible shrinking suit to become Ant-Man and steal a similar technology from Pym's former protégé, Darren Cross. The film introduces the Quantum Realm, a subatomic dimension where the concepts of time and space become irrelevant. This concept is initially presented as a danger but becomes critically important to the future of the saga.

Phase Three: The Infinity Saga Finale

Captain America: Civil WarFilm (2016)

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Timeline: 2016. After the catastrophic events of previous films, the world's governments demand that the Avengers sign the Sokovia Accords and submit to UN oversight. The team is fractured: Tony Stark, wracked with guilt, supports the accords, while Steve Rogers, distrustful of authority after the HYDRA infiltration, refuses. This ideological conflict turns into an all-out physical battle between the heroes. The film introduces both Black Panther and Spider-Man to the MCU and ends with the Avengers completely broken and disbanded.

Black WidowFilm (2021)

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Timeline: 2016. Set in the immediate aftermath of Civil War, this film follows Natasha Romanoff as she goes on the run. She is forced to confront her past and the dark secrets of the "Red Room" program that turned her into an assassin. She reunites with her "family" of Russian spies—Yelena Belova, Melina Vostokoff, and Alexei Shostakov (the Red Guardian)—to take down the man who still controls the Black Widow program, Dreykov.

Black PantherFilm (2018)

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Timeline: 2016. Following the death of his father in Civil War, T'Challa returns to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to assume the throne. His claim is challenged by Erik Killmonger, a powerful and charismatic outsider with a legitimate and tragic connection to Wakanda's past. The film is a deep exploration of tradition, responsibility, and isolationism, as T'Challa must decide whether Wakanda should finally open itself up to the world.

Spider-Man: HomecomingFilm (2017)

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Timeline: 2016. A few months after his introduction in Civil War, Peter Parker tries to balance his life as a high school student with his new role as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Eager to prove himself and become a full-fledged Avenger, he takes on the Vulture, a villain who salvages and sells advanced alien technology. The film is a classic coming-of-age story that grounds the MCU with a street-level perspective, under the mentorship of a reluctant Tony Stark.

Doctor StrangeFilm (2016)

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Timeline: 2016-2017. Dr. Stephen Strange, a brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon, has his hands—and his career—destroyed in a car accident. Seeking a cure, he travels to Kamar-Taj and discovers the mystic arts. He learns to bend reality and becomes a master sorcerer, tasked with protecting the world from mystical threats. The film introduces magic and alternate dimensions to the MCU in a significant way, and reveals the Eye of Agamotto, Strange's powerful amulet, to be the Time Stone.

Thor: RagnarokFilm (2017)

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Timeline: 2017. A vibrant, comedic reinvention of the character. Thor discovers he has a long-lost, incredibly powerful older sister, Hela, the goddess of death. She destroys his hammer and banishes him to the garbage planet of Sakaar. There, he is forced to become a gladiator and must fight his "friend from work," the Hulk, who has been missing since Age of Ultron. Thor must embrace his true power as the god of thunder to escape, save his people, and prevent Ragnarok, the prophesied destruction of Asgard.

Ant-Man and the WaspFilm (2018)

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Timeline: 2018. While under house arrest for his role in Civil War, Scott Lang is pulled back into action by Hank Pym and his daughter, Hope van Dyne (the Wasp). They need his help to build a tunnel into the Quantum Realm to rescue Janet van Dyne, the original Wasp, who has been trapped there for decades. The post-credits scene is crucial: just as they succeed, Thanos's snap happens, turning Hank, Janet, and Hope to dust while Scott is left stranded in the Quantum Realm.

Avengers: Infinity WarFilm (2018)

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Timeline: 2018. The beginning of the end. The mad titan Thanos begins his final, brutal quest to collect all six Infinity Stones. He believes that by wiping out half of all life in the universe, he can bring balance and prosperity. The film is a sprawling, desperate battle across the cosmos as the scattered heroes of the MCU try—and fail—to stop him. It culminates in one of the most shocking endings in film history, as Thanos successfully assembles the Infinity Gauntlet and snaps his fingers, wiping out half of all life, including many of our heroes.

Avengers: EndgameFilm (2019)

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Timeline: 2018-2023. Five years after the "Blip," the remaining heroes are broken. The universe is in a state of quiet despair. A chance discovery allows Scott Lang to escape the Quantum Realm, where he reveals that time passes differently, presenting a possibility: a "time heist." The team travels back through time via the Quantum Realm to "borrow" the Infinity Stones from different points in the past. Their plan works, but they accidentally allow a past version of Thanos to travel to their present. The film culminates in the largest battle in MCU history, the heroic sacrifices of both Black Widow and Iron Man, and the triumphant return of all the heroes who were lost.

Phase Four: The Multiverse Saga Begins

Loki (Season 1)TV Series (2021)

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Timeline: Outside of normal time, branching from 2012. This series is the most critical for understanding the multiverse. The version of Loki who escaped with the Tesseract in Endgame's time heist is immediately apprehended by the Time Variance Authority (TVA), an organization that exists outside of time and prunes timelines that deviate from the "Sacred Timeline." Loki is forced to help hunt a dangerous variant of himself: Sylvie. Their journey unravels the truth about the TVA and leads them to its creator, "He Who Remains," a variant of the future conqueror Kang. Sylvie's decision to kill him shatters the Sacred Timeline, causing it to branch into an infinite number of parallel universes—officially beginning the multiverse.

WandaVisionTV Series (2021)

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Timeline: 2023. Three weeks after Endgame, a grief-stricken Wanda Maximoff subconsciously unleashes her immense power, creating a perfect, sitcom-inspired reality in the town of Westview where Vision is still alive. The series is a powerful exploration of grief and trauma as S.W.O.R.D. tries to break through her magical hex. It culminates in Wanda fully embracing her identity as the immensely powerful reality-warping witch known as the Scarlet Witch and taking possession of the Darkhold, a book of dark magic.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsFilm (2021)

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Timeline: 2024. The film introduces Shang-Chi, a man living a quiet life in San Francisco who is forced to confront the past he ran away from. He is the son of Xu Wenwu, the centuries-old, immortal leader of the Ten Rings organization and wielder of the powerful, mystical ten rings. The story is a deep dive into a new corner of the MCU, blending martial arts action with Chinese mythology. It establishes the Ten Rings as a major mystical power and hints at their otherworldly origins.

The Falcon and the Winter SoldierTV Series (2021)

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Timeline: 2024. Six months after being given the shield by an elderly Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson struggles with the idea of becoming the new Captain America. Meanwhile, Bucky Barnes tries to atone for his past as the Winter Soldier. They team up to stop the Flag Smashers, a group of super-soldiers who believe the world was better during the Blip. The series is a complex exploration of legacy, race, and patriotism, culminating in Sam finally embracing the mantle and becoming the new Captain America.

EternalsFilm (2021)

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Timeline: Spans 7,000 years, main story in 2024. This film rewrites the history of the MCU. It introduces the Eternals, a group of immortal, super-powered aliens sent to Earth thousands of years ago by the god-like Celestials to protect humanity from monstrous creatures called Deviants. The story follows them in the present day as they reunite to face a new threat and discover the true, terrifying purpose of their mission: to prepare Earth for the "Emergence" of a new Celestial, which will destroy the planet. The film introduces cosmic lore on an immense scale.

Spider-Man: Far From HomeFilm (2019)

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Timeline: 2024. Eight months after Endgame, Peter Parker is grieving the loss of his mentor, Tony Stark. While on a school trip to Europe, he is recruited by Nick Fury to help Quentin Beck (Mysterio), a hero from an alternate Earth, fight elemental creatures. However, Peter discovers that Mysterio is a fraud, a disgruntled former Stark employee using advanced holographic technology to create the threats. Though Peter defeats him, Mysterio posthumously releases a video framing Spider-Man for his murder and revealing Peter Parker's secret identity to the entire world.

Spider-Man: No Way HomeFilm (2021)

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Timeline: 2024. With his life in chaos, Peter asks Doctor Strange to cast a spell to make the world forget he is Spider-Man. The spell goes wrong and cracks open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other realities who know Peter Parker's identity (from the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield film series). To save his reality, Peter must make the ultimate sacrifice: he has Doctor Strange cast a final spell that makes everyone, including his closest friends, forget who he is entirely, leaving him truly alone.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessFilm (2022)

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Timeline: 2025. Doctor Strange must protect America Chavez, a teenager with the unique ability to punch holes between universes. They are being hunted by the Scarlet Witch, who, corrupted by the Darkhold, wants to steal America's power to travel to a reality where her children are real. The film is a horror-tinged trip through the multiverse, showcasing different realities and culminating in Wanda sacrificing herself to destroy the Darkhold across all universes.

HawkeyeTV Series (2021)

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Timeline: Christmas 2024. Clint Barton's past as the ruthless vigilante Ronin comes back to haunt him when a young, skilled archer named Kate Bishop stumbles upon his old suit. Clint is forced to team up with his new, over-eager protégé to confront enemies from his past, including Yelena Belova (from Black Widow) and the crime boss Kingpin. The series is a street-level Christmas story about mentorship and dealing with the consequences of one's actions.

Moon KnightTV Series (2022)

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Timeline: 2025. Steven Grant, a meek museum gift shop employee, discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and shares a body with Marc Spector, a ruthless mercenary who is the avatar for the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. The series is a psychological thriller and supernatural adventure as Steven/Marc must navigate their fractured identity to stop a cult leader from releasing the vengeful goddess Ammit.

She-Hulk: Attorney at LawTV Series (2022)

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Timeline: 2025. Jennifer Walters, a lawyer and cousin of Bruce Banner, accidentally gets cross-contaminated with his blood and gains the ability to turn into She-Hulk. The series is a fourth-wall-breaking legal comedy that follows Jennifer as she navigates her new life, representing super-powered clients and dealing with the bizarre legal ramifications of a world full of heroes and villains. 

It features appearances by Abomination and Daredevil.

Ms. MarvelTV Series (2022)

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Timeline: Fall 2025. Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teenager and massive Avengers fan from Jersey City, discovers an ancient family bangle that unlocks superhuman abilities. The series is a vibrant coming-of-age story that explores her heritage as she learns to control her new powers. The finale reveals that she is not just powered by the bangle, but that she has a "mutation" in her genes, officially introducing mutants to the MCU.

Thor: Love and ThunderFilm (2022)

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Timeline: 2025. Thor's attempts at a peaceful retirement are interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a villain determined to kill all gods. To combat this threat, Thor must team up with King Valkyrie, Korg, and his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who, to his surprise, is now wielding his restored hammer Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. The film explores themes of love, loss, and faith, as Jane battles both Gorr and her own terminal cancer.

Werewolf by NightSpecial (2022)

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Timeline: 2025. Presented in black and white, this Halloween special is a loving homage to classic monster movies. It follows a secret cabal of monster hunters who gather for a competitive hunt to determine their new leader. The special introduces classic supernatural Marvel characters like Jack Russell (Werewolf by Night) and Man-Thing to the MCU, opening up the horror corner of the universe.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday SpecialSpecial (2022)

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Timeline: Christmas 2025. To cheer up a still-depressed Peter Quill, Mantis and Drax travel to Earth to kidnap his childhood hero, the actor Kevin Bacon, as a Christmas present. It's a lighthearted, comedic special that further solidifies the found-family dynamic of the Guardians.

Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverFilm (2022)

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Timeline: 2025. In the wake of King T'Challa's death, a grieving Wakanda must defend itself from world powers seeking to steal its vibranium. Their actions awaken a new threat: Namor, the powerful, winged king of the hidden undersea nation of Talokan. The film is a profound meditation on grief and legacy, as Shuri must overcome her own loss to embrace the mantle of the Black Panther and protect her nation from a war with a powerful new rival.

Phase Five: The Kang Dynasty Looms

Ant-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaFilm (2023)

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Timeline: 2026. Scott Lang, now a famous author, finds his life of peace interrupted when he, his daughter Cassie, and the Pym-van Dyne family are accidentally pulled into the Quantum Realm. There, they discover a vast, hidden universe and come face-to-face with its tyrannical ruler: Kang the Conqueror, a brilliant and ruthless variant of "He Who Remains" who was exiled there by his other selves. The film establishes Kang as the new major threat of the Multiverse Saga.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3Film (2023)

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Timeline: 2026. The emotional finale for the original Guardians team. When Rocket is critically injured, the team must go on a desperate mission to save him, which forces them to confront his traumatic past at the hands of his creator, the obsessive and cruel High Evolutionary. It is a dark, emotional, and ultimately beautiful story about found family, animal cruelty, and accepting one's past, serving as a farewell to the Guardians as we know them.

Secret InvasionTV Series (2023)

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Timeline: 2026. A grounded, paranoid spy thriller. Nick Fury returns to Earth to deal with a clandestine invasion by a radical faction of Skrulls who are secretly replacing key figures in world governments. Trusting no one, Fury must uncover the conspiracy before the Skrulls can provoke a global war and claim Earth for themselves. The series delves into Fury's character and the political complexities of a world where anyone could be an enemy in disguise.

Loki (Season 2)TV Series (2023)

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Timeline: Outside of normal time. Picking up immediately after Season 1, Loki and the TVA must deal with the catastrophic fallout of the branching timelines, which threaten to destroy all of reality. The season is a mind-bending, time-slipping adventure that sees Loki learning to control his new abilities. It culminates in him making a tremendous sacrifice, destroying the Temporal Loom and taking its place, becoming a living anchor for all the timelines and transforming from the God of Mischief into the God of Stories, the protector of the multiverse.

The MarvelsFilm (2023)

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Timeline: 2026. The powers of Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel), Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) become entangled, causing them to swap places every time they use them. They must team up to stop a Kree revolutionary who is creating wormholes to steal resources from other planets. The film is a lighthearted cosmic adventure that brings together three generations of heroes. The post-credits scene is a major event, showing Monica Rambeau stranded in an alternate universe where she meets a variant of her mother and the X-Man, Beast.

EchoTV Series (2024)

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Timeline: 2025. Following the events of Hawkeye, Maya Lopez returns to her hometown in Oklahoma to escape the consequences of her actions in New York. The series follows her as she reconnects with her Native American roots and confronts her past, all while being hunted by the forces of her "uncle," the ruthless crime lord Wilson Fisk (Kingpin). It's a gritty, street-level story about family and heritage.

Here;s the MCU in Chronological order which attempts to cover how some films have multiple time lines in play:

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a masterclass in long-form storytelling, weaving together dozens of films into a single, cohesive timeline. While watching them in release order is a perfectly valid experience, viewing the films in chronological order offers a unique perspective, allowing you to follow the story as it unfolds for the characters within the universe. This guide presents the definitive chronological viewing order, complete with insights into each film's specific time-related events, from flashbacks and time jumps to the universe-shattering implications of time travel and the multiverse.

Title of Film	Year it is mostly set	Year of release	Chronological & Temporal Commentary
Captain America: The First Avenger	1942-1945	2011	This is the foundational story of the MCU's timeline. The bulk of the film is a period piece set during World War II. Its final moments create the MCU's first major time displacement, freezing Steve Rogers for nearly 70 years. His awakening in 2011 establishes the core "man out of time" theme that defines his character arc.
Captain Marvel	1995	2019	A 90s-set prequel that fills in a crucial gap in the timeline. It details Nick Fury's backstory, the origins of the Tesseract on Earth, and provides the inspiration for the "Avengers Initiative." The mid-credits scene makes a significant jump to 2018, directly linking Carol Danvers to the post-Snap world of Avengers: Endgame.
Iron Man	2010	2008	The film that launched the MCU. It follows a linear progression, setting the modern-day baseline for the universe and establishing the technology and characters that will dominate the next decade of storytelling.
Iron Man 2	2011	2010	Takes place during a period fans have dubbed "Fury's Big Week," where the events of this film, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor all happen concurrently, showcasing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s struggle to manage multiple emerging threats.
The Incredible Hulk	2011	2008	Runs parallel to Iron Man 2 and Thor. The battle at Culver University is even shown on a S.H.I.E.L.D. monitor in Iron Man 2, cementing its place in this compressed, chaotic week.
Thor	2011	2011	Features a prologue set in 965 A.D. showing the ancient war between Asgardians and Frost Giants. The main action on Earth concludes "Fury's Big Week," with Agent Coulson leaving Tony Stark in New Mexico to investigate Thor's hammer.
The Avengers	2012	2012	The first major chronological milestone. It follows a linear narrative, uniting the heroes established in Phase One. The Battle of New York becomes a pivotal, fixed point in the MCU timeline, referenced for years to come.
Iron Man 3	2012	2013	Set during the Christmas season six months after the Battle of New York, directly exploring the psychological fallout and PTSD Tony Stark suffers from his near-death experience.
Thor: The Dark World	2013	2013	The main story is linear, but it's framed by a prologue set thousands of years in the past (2987 B.C.) explaining the history of the Dark Elves and the Aether (the Reality Stone).
Captain America: The Winter Soldier	2014	2014	A direct sequel to The Avengers set two years later. Its narrative is linear but deeply rooted in the past, revealing that HYDRA has been secretly operating within S.H.I.E.L.D. since its inception after WWII.
Guardians of the Galaxy	2014	2014	Opens with an emotionally resonant prologue on Earth in 1988 before jumping 26 years into the future. This jump firmly establishes the cosmic side of the MCU as being concurrent with the events on Earth.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2	2014	2017	Unusually, this sequel is set only a few months after the first film, keeping the Guardians' timeline tightly contained and focusing on their development as a found family before they intersect with the wider MCU.
Avengers: Age of Ultron	2015	2015	Follows a linear timeline. The film features Scarlet Witch inducing hallucinatory visions in the Avengers, which serve as flashbacks (for Steve Rogers) and prophetic glimpses of a dark future (for Thor), influencing their subsequent actions.
Ant-Man	2015	2015	The story is set concurrently with and in the immediate aftermath of Age of Ultron. A crucial prologue set in 1989 establishes Hank Pym's history with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the mysterious Quantum Realm.
Captain America: Civil War	2016	2016	Set a year after Age of Ultron. The plot is driven by past events, from the destruction in Sokovia to a newly discovered mission tape from 1991 that reveals the Winter Soldier's role in the death of Tony Stark's parents.
Black Widow	2016	2021	An "interquel" set in the immediate aftermath of Civil War, following Natasha Romanoff on the run. The film opens with a flashback to her childhood in 1995. The post-credits scene jumps forward to post-Endgame, directly setting up the Hawkeye series.
Spider-Man: Homecoming	2016	2017	Opens during the cleanup of the Battle of New York in 2012 before jumping forward to follow Peter Parker a few months after his introduction in Civil War.
Black Panther	2016	2018	Takes place just one week after the events of Civil War. A prologue set in Oakland in 1992 is critical to the film's central conflict, establishing the story of N'Jobu and his son, Erik Killmonger.
Doctor Strange	2016-2017	2016	The narrative unfolds over approximately one year. Its most significant temporal element is the climax, where Strange uses the Time Stone to trap the cosmic entity Dormammu in a time loop, a dimension where time otherwise doesn't exist. This showcases time as a weapon.
Thor: Ragnarok	2017	2017	Set two years after Age of Ultron. The film introduces the concept of non-linear time flow on the planet Sakaar, where "time works different." This explains how Loki arrived weeks before Thor despite being separated by only seconds. The ending leads directly into Infinity War.
Ant-Man and the Wasp	2018	2018	The main story takes place just before Infinity War. However, the mid-credits scene is one of the most crucial in the MCU, occurring simultaneously with Thanos's Snap. Scott Lang becomes trapped in the Quantum Realm, where time passes differently, which not only saves him but makes him the key to reversing the Snap in Endgame.
Avengers: Infinity War	2018	2018	The culmination of the first ten years, unfolding over a frantic couple of days. The film's ending, "The Snap," creates a five-year time gap that fundamentally alters the universe.
Avengers: Endgame	2018-2023	2019	The most temporally complex film. It begins in 2018, jumps five years to 2023 ("The Blip"), and then features the "Time Heist," where heroes travel back to 2012, 2013, and 2014. This introduces the MCU's rules of time travel: changing the past creates branched realities, it does not alter your own present. The film ends with Steve Rogers traveling back to the 1940s to live out his life in an alternate timeline.
Spider-Man: Far From Home	2024	2019	Set eight months after "The Blip," making it the first film to explore the social and logistical chaos of half the population suddenly returning after a five-year absence.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings	2024	2021	The main story is set in the post-Blip present. However, the narrative is heavily reliant on flashbacks that span over a thousand years, detailing Wenwu's long life due to the Ten Rings and Shang-Chi's traumatic childhood.
Eternals	2024	2021	Features the largest timescale of any MCU film. While the present-day story is set post-Blip, the film jumps back and forth across 7,000 years, showing the Eternals' influence on ancient human civilizations and revealing their true, cosmic purpose.
Spider-Man: No Way Home	2024	2021	Picks up immediately where Far From Home left off. This film cracks open the multiverse, not through intentional travel, but by pulling characters (villains and heroes from Sony's previous Spider-Man film series) from other universes into the main MCU timeline.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness	2025	2022	Takes place a few months after No Way Home. As the title suggests, the film is a direct exploration of the multiverse, featuring characters traveling across several different universes. It introduces key multiversal concepts like "dreamwalking" and "incursions" (universes colliding and destroying each other).
Thor: Love and Thunder	2025	2022	Set after Thor has spent considerable time with the Guardians of the Galaxy post-Endgame. The narrative is linear, focusing on Thor's personal journey.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever	2025	2022	Set after T'Challa's off-screen death, the film deals with its immediate aftermath. The mid-credits scene reveals a time skip, showing that T'Challa had a son who has been living in secret for several years.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania	2025	2023	Most of the film is set in the Quantum Realm, a sub-atomic dimension that exists outside the normal flow of time and space. This is where the time-traveling villain, Kang the Conqueror, was exiled, making this dimension a key battleground for the future of the multiverse.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3	2026	2023	Follows a linear timeline set after the events of the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. The film's emotional core is built on extensive flashbacks to Rocket's traumatic past, which are not tied to specific years but are crucial for his character arc.
The Marvels	2026	2023	Set after the events of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. The primary temporal/spatial anomaly is the entanglement of the main characters' light-based powers, causing them to switch places across space instantly. The post-credits scene is a major multiversal event, showing Monica Rambeau stranded in the parallel reality of Fox's X-Men universe.