clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

How to watch all 21 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Stream from the comfort of home

If you buy something from a Polygon link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

The Avengers (2012) - the Avengers looking up from a Manhattan street Marvel Studios/Disney

Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26, capping a Marvel Cinematic Universe arc 10 years and 21 films in the making. That’s a lot of story to remember, even for a series that loves to keep reminding audiences about its lore.

Some dedicated fans will get an MCU refresher at nearly 60-hour marathon screenings leading up to Avengers: Endgame. But those of us who want to re-experience all of the MCU’s up and downs — but can’t take off work for three days to sit in a theater — will have to turn to streaming services.

Starting in November, the dedicated streaming hub for all things Disney (including Marvel) will be the Disney Plus subscription service. In anticipation of this new platform, Disney yanked much of its massive library off of existing services. Which means, with the exception of a few recent films, the only way to stream Marvel movies is to buy or rent a digital copy from services like Amazon and iTunes — at least until Disney Plus launches.

Because of Netflix’s deal with Disney, MCU films released in 2017 and 2018 will stay on the service through the end of 2019. Netflix subscribers can catch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Ant-Man and The Wasp for the next several months. (Technically, Sony distributed Spider-Man: Homecoming, which has an exclusive deal with Starz.) And even though Disney owns a majority stake in Hulu, the only MCU movie streaming on that service right now is Iron Man 2, which is also available via Amazon Prime Video.

If that all sounds complicated — it is! Below we’ll try to simplify your rewatch, breaking down where each film in the MCU is available to stream, rent, or buy.

Iron Man (2008)

Iron Man (2008) screenshot Marvel Studios

The blockbuster that started it all, Iron Man kicks off the MCU with our favorite genius billionaire playboy philanthropist’s origin story.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

The Hulk, visibly very angry, on a burning street in The Incredible Hulk (2008). Image: Marvel Studios/Universal Pictures

Yes, it’s technically part of the MCU. Edward Norton was, of course, replaced by Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers and all subsequent Marvel films.

Stream it here: DirecTV
Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Iron Man 2 (2010)

A still from Iron Man 2 in which Tony Stark is holding up his right hand charging a repulsor ray Image: Marvel Studios

The second Iron Man movie introduced two new MCU heroes: Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow and James Rhodes aka War Machine. Plus, Tony (and the audience) learns that his dad, Howard Stark, was a founding member of SHIELD.

Stream it here: Amazon Prime Video | Hulu | Epix
Rent/Buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Thor (2011)

Thor (2011) screencap Marvel Studios

We saw his signature hammer in Iron Man 2’s post-credit scene, but our first introduction to the God of Thunder is in his standalone, Thor. We also become acquainted with the MCU’s villain-turned-hero-turned-villain-turned-hero, Loki, when he stages a coup in Asgard.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) screencap Image: Marvel Studios

Cap’s origin story is where we learn about Hydra and the Tesseract, two MacGuffins crucial to the MCU’s overarching narrative.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers (2012) - the Avengers looking up from a Manhattan street Marvel Studios/Disney

Capping off Phase One, The Avengers sees our heroes teaming up for the first time. They prevent Loki from invading Earth and recover the Tesseract, cleaning the slate for Phase Two.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Robert Downey Jr. lounges on a couch next to an Iron Man suit in Iron Man 3. Image: Marvel Studios

The third Iron Man kicks off Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, focusing on the fallout from the Battle of New York that serves as The Avengers’ denouement.

Stream it here: DirecTV
Rent/vuy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Thor: The Dark World (2013) screencap Marvel Studios

Loki’s redemptive arc starts in the sequel to Thor, when the God of Mischief teams up with his brother to defeat the Dark Elves. But then he fakes his own death and impersonates Odin, so he’s still moderately villainous at this point.

Stream it here: DirecTV
Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier - the Winter Soldier holding Captain America’s shield Image: Marvel Studios

The assassin known as the Winter Soldier is revealed to be Cap’s BFF Bucky Barnes, who’s been brainwashed by Hydra. And we’re introduced to his new BFF, Sam Wilson, aka Falcon.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

the Guardians of the Galaxy Image: Marvel Studios

The first Guardians movie introduces us to Star-Lord and his crew. It’s also the first real glimpse we get of the mad titan himself, Thanos, outside of an Avengers post-credits scene.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

The Vision, in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) Marvel Studios/Disney

The sequel to The Avengers is where we meet the soon-to-be star-crossed lovers, Wanda Maximoff and Vision, who will join the team by the end of the film.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Ant-Man (2015)

Ant-Man Marvel Studios

Phase Two ends with Scott Lang’s introduction to the MCU. Ant-Man also establishes the crime-fighting duo of Ant-Man and the Wasp, though it’s not until the sequel that we’ll see Hope Van Dyne suit up as the classic Avengers hero.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

captain america civil war - steve rogers and tony stark Image: Marvel Studios

Phase Three kicks off with the third Captain America movie, which sees our heroes face off against each other. It’s also the first time we meet Black Panther and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, who will each get their own Phase Three films.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Doctor Strange (2016)

doctor strange casting a green glyph in Doctor Strange Image: Marvel Studios

This origin story introduces the former neurosurgeon with mystical powers, Dr. Stephen Strange, along with his teacher-slash-sidekick, Master Wong.

Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

guardians of the galaxy vol 2 baby groot Image: Marvel Studios

The Guardians sequel introduces a new hero, the empath Mantis, and the sort-of new hero, Baby Groot.

Stream it here: Netflix
Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Spider-Man: Homecoming - Iron Man and Spider-Man Sony Pictures

Thanks to a major deal with Sony, Spider-Man finally gets an MCU-approved standalone with Spider-Man: Homecoming, where the teen web-slinger is mentored by Tony Stark.

Stream it here: Starz | DirecTV
Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Thor: Ragnarok - Hulk, Thor, Valkyrie, Loki Image: Marvel Studios

Thor tries to prevent the apocalyptic Ragnarok, with help from Hulk, Loki, and our newest hero, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson).

Stream it here: Netflix
Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther walks through burning wreckage Marvel Studios

Next, Prince T’Challa gets his own movie, which introduces us to Wakanda and its protective force, the Dora Milaje, led by Okoye. We also meet T’Challa’s younger sister, technology expert Shuri.

Stream it here: Netflix
Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Avenger: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War - close-up of Thanos looking down Marvel Studios/Disney

The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy team up to defeat Thanos. Marvel originally announced the movie as Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1, with Endgame completing the story as Part 2.

Stream it here: Netflix
Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Ant-Man and the Wasp Image: Marvel Studios/Disney

Ant-Man was conspicuously absent in Avengers: Infinity War (though theories abound as to how he could be a particularly useful asset in defeating Thanos.) This movie was released after Infinity War, though Ant-Man and the Wasp takes place before the events of the Avengers film.

Stream it here: Netflix
Rent/buy it here: Amazon | iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | YouTube

Captain Marvel (2019)

captain marvel (brie larson) in the desert Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios

Carol Danvers’ origin story is still in theaters, and won’t be available to stream before Endgame is released. But Disney has confirmed that Captain Marvel will be streaming on Disney Plus at launch.

See Captain Marvel in theaters.

The next level of puzzles.

Take a break from your day by playing a puzzle or two! We’ve got SpellTower, Typeshift, crosswords, and more.