How to Watch Every Avengers Movie in Chronological Order and By Release Date (2025)

Marvel Studios has produced four standalone Avengers movies to date, with two more additional entries currently in development. Directed by Joss Whedon, the first Avengers film marked the final entry in MCU's Phase 1, beginning a chronology of events that will eventually conclude with the end of Phase 6 in 2027. As Marvel goes back to the drawing board to rectify the reputational harm left in the wake of the disappointing 2023 releases of The Marvels and Ant-Man 3, it's worth wondering how to watch the Avengers movies that have already been released relative to the two new movies in development.

While the chronology of MCU's timeline can get a bit fuzzy and require a non-linear viewing order, The Avengers films are fairly straightforward by comparison. Therefore, the best way to watch the Avengers films is to begin in order of release date and follow each sequel until Phase 6 ultimately concludes in 2027. Without further introduction, here is a more in-depth guide on how and where to watch all four Avengers films and when the final two movies will be released.

The Avengers (2012)

May 4, 2012 — Phase 1

Marvel's The Avengers

PG-13

Release Date

April 25, 2012

Director

Joss Whedon

Cast

Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Mark Ruffalo , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Jeremy Renner

Runtime

142

Main Genre

Superhero

Marvel concluded Phase 1 of its production slate by releasing The Avengers on May 4, 2012. Written and directed by Joss Whedon, the film finds Marvel's most formidable superheroes joining forces to prevent Loki (Tom Hiddleston) from invading Earth, becoming King, and enslaving humans. Thanks to the star-studded collection of such Marvel superheroes as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), and more, casual and hardcore comic book fans flocked to the cinema in droves.

In what arguably shook up the entire landscape of Hollywood's economic blueprint, The Avengers smashed box office records to become the highest-grossing movie of the year and the third-highest-grossing movie of all time (via The Hollywood Reporter). According to Box Office Mojo, the movie cost $220 million to make and grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide. The Phase 1 Marvel movie was praised for its committed performances, scintillating action scenes, and Oscar-nominated visual effects that admirably recreate the tone, tenor, and tableau of comic books. For those looking to watch the Avengers movies in order, this is the only place to start.

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Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

May 1, 2015 — Phase 2

Following the smashing success of The Avengers in May 2012, Joss Whedon was brought back to write and direct Avengers: Age of Ultron. Marking the penultimate entry in Marvel's Phase 2, the film was released on May 1, 2015. The plot concerns Tony Stark and Bruce Banner's attempts to prevent the supervillain Ultron (James Spader) from unleashing a deadly digital program designed to seize control of the world. The movie also introduced Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who would go on to star in the Disney+ spinoff series WandaVision. Fortunately, the timelines of the movie and TV series do not conflict.

RELATED: Every MCU Villain Who Needs to Return and Why

Avengers: Age of Ultron boasted an estimated budget of $250 million and grossed roughly $1.4 billion globally (via Box Office Mojo). While the movie was financially successful, it cost more to make than the original and didn't earn as much money. Between the financial results and the slightly worse critical reviews, Joss Whedon was ultimately replaced by brothers Joe and Anthony Russo for the next two Avengers movies. Regardless of the movie's perceived successes and failures, the events depicted in Avengers: Age of Ultron take place after The Avengers and should be viewed accordingly.

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Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Apr. 27, 2018 — Phase 3

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Infinity War was released on Apr. 27, 2018. The popular superhero sequel marked the seventh entry in MCU's Phase 3 and arguably advanced the most ambitious plot in the franchise up to then. The plot involves the Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin) attempting to erase the multiverse from existence by obtaining six powerful infinity stones. To prevent Thanos' evil plot, The Avengers join forces for the first time on screen in three years and wage an epic war for superiority and survival. The dramatic cliffhanger that the Russo's left fans on the edge of their seats with remains one of the most influential storylines in the MCU.

Although the budget was increased dramatically from Age of Ultron, the financial risks paid off at the box office when the movie turned its $321 million price tag into a $2 billion global behemoth (via Box Office Mojo). As one of the most acclaimed Avengers movies to date, the film drew praise for Brolin's terrifying performance, the breathtaking action sequences, and the Russo brothers' deft ability to tie multiple storylines and character arcs into one coherent and satisfying whole. As for the dramatic effect of the movie, it's imperative to watch Infinity War after Age of Ultron and before Endgame.

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Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Apr. 26, 2019 — Phase 3

Avengers: Endgame

PG-13

Release Date

April 26, 2019

Director

Anthony Russo , Joe Russo

Cast

Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Mark Ruffalo , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Jeremy Renner , Josh Brolin , Don Cheadle , Paul Rudd , Benedict Cumberbatch , Chadwick Boseman , Brie Larson , Tom Holland , Karen Gillan , Zoe Saldana , Evangeline Lilly , Tessa Thompson , Rene Russo , Elizabeth Olsen , Anthony Mackie , Sebastian Stan , Tom Hiddleston , Danai Gurira , Benedict Wong , Pom Klementieff , Dave Bautista , Letitia Wright , John Slattery , Tilda Swinton , Jon Favreau , Hayley Atwell , Natalie Portman , Marisa Tomei , Taika Waititi

Runtime

181 Minutes

Main Genre

Adventure

The penultimate chapter of MCU's Phase 3, Avengers: Endgame was released on Apr. 26, 2019. The film immediately picks up where the cliffhanger left fans dangling at the end of Infinity War. With huge emotional stakes and heartfelt goodbyes to some of the Avengers' most iconic members, the final MCU showdown in Endgame marked the end of an era in several ways. It not only gave way to Phase 4, but it also ended the iconic run of franchise stalwarts like Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man.

Indeed, Endgame serves as the grand gestalt that the MCU has been working towards since the inception of The Avengers in 2012. The Russos took what was established by Whedon and went to great lengths to tie up every loose end and outstanding character arc and pull them together in one exhilarating and highly entertaining finale. The emotional impact of several superheroes' fates in the film is hard to shake even five years after the movie was released. All in all, Avengers: Endgame grossed a staggering $2.7 billion against an estimated budget of $356 million. To date, it's the most financially successful Avengers movie produced by Marvel Studios. As the most recent Avengers movie to be released, you should watch it last.

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Avengers 5 (2026)

May 1, 2026 — Phase 6

While currently impossible to watch, it's worth laying out the order of the two upcoming Avengers movies in development at Marvel Studios. In the penultimate chapter of MCU's Phase 6, Avengers 5 has been slated for theatrical release on May 1, 2026. Previously known as The Kang Dynasty, Marvel is reworking the story as a result of the legal fallout for Jonathan Majors, who was slated to star as the titular villain Kang the Conqueror after playing the role in Ant-Man 3. As a result, there are very few story details about Avengers 5.

RELATED: 10 Great Actors Who Could Replace Jonathan Majors as Kang in the MCU

Although no director has yet to be announced for Avengers 5, writer Michael Waldron will handle screenplay duties. Waldron also wrote Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and created Loki, the original series for MCU and Disney+, assuring fans that he has intimate knowledge and familiarity with the characters and their mythology. While no official casting announcements have been made, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Tenoch Huerta are tentatively attached to Avengers 5. If and when the movie ultimately comes out, it's best to watch it after Avengers: Endgame.

Avengers Secret Wars (2027)

May 7, 2027 — Phase 6

The MCU has plans to close out Phase 6 with Avengers: Secret Wars, currently slated to enter theaters on May 7, 2027. The movie is currently in development and the plot is being held under lock and key. Michael Waldron has also been tapped to write Secret Wars, suggesting germane story ties with Avengers 5, which is scheduled for release one year prior. Although Jonathan Majors was initially set to play Kang the Conqueror, his removal from the MCU left the studio to go back to the drawing board for Secret Wars. By all accounts, the movie will also dovetail into the plot of Disney+'s Secret Invasion.

While the plot details are currently unknown, such Marvel mainstays as Anthony Mackie, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Dominique Thorne, and Iman Vellani are slated to star in Secret Wars if and when it's eventually released in May 2027. Even with the final two Avengers movies up in the air, it's important to remember that all the Avengers movies can and should be watched in the chronological order of their release dates. Some movies in the MCU require watching them out of order, but The Avengers outings are best viewed linearly.

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