MCU Phase 3 in Order Chronologically and by Release Date

After two profitable phases, the Marvel Cinematic Universe determined to actually develop with Phase 3. Unlike each prior phases which every contained six movies, Phase 3 almost doubled that with 11 movies. Starting in 2017 the MCU output went from two movies a 12 months to 3. With the build-up to the arrival of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, Phase 3 launched a batch of latest heroes. Four main franchises based mostly on Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Captain Marvel have been launched, and superpowered supporting gamers like Valkyrie, Wasp, Shuri, Mantis, Korg, Wong, and extra joined the universe in preparation for the occasion movie years within the making.

The MCU Phase 3 is without doubt one of the extra complicated phases, as as a substitute of enjoying out so as of launch like Phase 2, Phase 3 options many tales overlapping with each other. It additionally options two movies that, on the broader timeline, would happen in earlier phases. For anybody seeking to make sense of the sophisticated timeline of the MCU Phase 3, right here is learn how to watch the movies in chronological order or, if you happen to’d choose, by order of launch.

MCU Phase 3 Movies in Chronological Order

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel was one of many final Phase 3 movies launched, however chronologically when it comes to the MCU, it takes place earlier than each movie besides Captain America: The First Avenger. The majority of the film takes place in 1995 as Carol Danvers uncovers the mysteries of her previous in how she acquired her superpowers. She can be drawn right into a battle between two alien factions: The Kree Empire and the Skrulls, which might be vital characters within the upcoming Secret Invasion.

Captain Marvel’s standing as an MCU prequel means it might probably reply many questions on the universe. The movie exhibits a younger Nick Fury and even explains how he misplaced his eye. It additionally reveals that the Avenger’s Initiative is called after Carol Danvers as her name signal was “Avenger.” One fascinating factor to notice is Carol Danvers was given her powers and was believed to be lacking in 1989, the identical 12 months Hank Pym give up S.H.I.E.L.D. With the Tesseract misplaced and Ant-Man quitting, it was a tough 12 months for the spy group.

Finally, the movie’s mid-credit scene jumps ahead to after the occasions of Avengers: Infinity War, with the pager Nick Fury summoning Captain Marvel to Earth, setting the stage for Avengers: Endgame.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 takes place six months after the primary movie which means it could technically be a part of Phase 2’s timeline earlier than Avengers: Age of Ultron. This quick time leap between the primary and second movie permits the sequel to zero in on the thought of discovered household that’s the coronary heart of the Guardians of the Galaxy motion pictures. The workforce got here collectively within the first film, however sustaining the household unit will not be all the time straightforward.

Related: MCU Phase 1 in Order Chronologically and by Release Date

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is vital in establishing Nebula and Gamora’s childhood relationship below Thanos which is vital for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. It additionally introduces Peter Quill’s father Ego who’s a Celestial: a species first talked about in Guardians of the Galaxy and that turns into extra important within the Phase 4 movie Eternals. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has one mid-credit scene with a teenage Groot that takes place 4 years after the remainder of the film, indicating it’s earlier than Avengers: Infinity War.

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Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War was the primary movie launched as a part of Phase 3 and is a vital entry, with lots of the following movies spinning immediately out of this battle. The movie has the superhero neighborhood divided about laws that may dictate when and the place they’d be allowed to function: with Iron Man main one facet in favor of registration whereas Captain America defies the principles to assist his buddy Bucky. The film ends with an emotional climactic showdown between Captain America and Iron Man with the Avengers damaged aside.

Important MCU dates embody the truth that Tony Stark’s mother and father died in 1991 by the hands of the Winter Soldier, marking a turbulent time within the MCU. The different is that the movie appears to happen one 12 months after the occasions of Avengers: Age of Ultron with the brand new Avengers workforce consisting of Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon, War Machine, Scarlet Witch, and Vision has developed a powerful workforce dynamic. It additionally introduces two new heroes to the MCU: Black Panther and Spider-Man, whose solo adventures would be the subsequent entries on the listing.

Black Panther

Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming may theoretically happen proper after Captain America: Civil War, however the three-month leap in Spider-Man: Homecoming hints that Black Panther could come first. The movie sees T’Challa return to Wakanda following the demise of his father and take his rightful place on the throne of Wakanda whereas additionally coping with an invading menace.

The film’s opening prologue is about in 1992, one 12 months after Howard and Maria Stark have been killed by the Winter Soldier. It additionally establishes that Ulysses Klaw first seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron had been holding on to the Vibranium for years earlier than Ultron acquired it. The film’s ending options T’Challa realizing that Wakanda can not maintain on to its isolationist views and opens the borders of Wakanda to the remainder of the world, setting the stage for main ramifications within the MCU.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming brought about quite a lot of confusion for followers when it first was launched. The film’s prologue is about in 2012 immediately after The Avengers, with Adrian Toomes cleansing up after the Battle of New York. Yet the film’s title card says eight years later, however that math did not fairly add up. Marvel Studios producer Kevin Feige stated this was only a easy error and for now’s simply ignored.

What is evident is that Spider-Man: Homecoming takes place three months after Captain America: Civil War, with Peter Parker making an attempt to show himself a superhero to Iron Man. The film options loads of enjoyable world-building easter eggs for followers, together with a Captain America PSA that was supposedly filmed after The Avengers based mostly on his costume.

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Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange doesn’t specify precisely when it takes place, however some clues could trace at its precise placement. Seeing how the movie spans quite a lot of time with Stephen Strange’s accident and numerous surgical procedures earlier than he even takes up studying sorcerer it’s secure to say that Doctor Strange spans many months if not a complete 12 months.

However, the first motion of the movie, with Strange studying magic and saving the world seemingly takes place after the occasions of Captain America: Civil War and subsequently Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Doctor Strange is notable for introducing the ultimate infinity stone within the type of the time stone. The film’s mid-credit scene leads immediately into the brand new movie on the listing, Thor: Ragnarök.

Thor: Ragnarök

Thor: Ragnarök specifies that it has been two years because the occasions of Avengers: Age of Ultron for each Thor and the Hulk. Thor: Ragnarök massively upends not solely the Thor franchise however the MCU in main methods that may have long-lasting repercussions. Odin’s demise results in Thor’s long-lost sister Hela being unleashed, Asgard needing to be destroyed to cease her, and Thor and Loki lastly making amends simply in the beginning goes to hell.

Related: MCU Phase 2 in Order Chronologically and by Release Date

The film begins a personality arc for Bruce Banner and the Hulk to finally merge, introduces Valkyrie and Korg to the MCU, and likewise fittingly redefines Thor’s character arc as a person outlined by loss which might be carried over into the subsequent two movies. The film’s mid-credit scene options the Asgardian vessel being ambushed by Thanos’ ship.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

While Ant-Man and the Wasp was launched after Avengers: Infinity War and the movie’s mid-credit scene takes place throughout Avengers: Infinity War climax, nearly all of the film takes place earlier than it. Like Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming, Ant-Man and the Wasp offers with the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, with Scott Lang about to be completed along with his home arrest and must reconnect along with his former mentor Hank Pym and romantic curiosity Hope Van Dyne to rescue Janett Van Dyne from the Quantum Realm.

While Ant-Man and the Wasp might need simply appeared like a palette cleanser after Avengers: Infinity War, the film has turn out to be probably the most vital entries for the MCU. The Quantum Realm turned the important thing plot system for undoing the snap in Avengers: Endgame. The Quantum Realm might be explored additional in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which can correctly introduce the new MCU large dangerous Kang the Conqueror. Ghost, the first villain of Ant-Man and the Wasp, will subsequent seem in Thunderbolts.

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Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War was a second when superheroes wanted to unite. Various characters like The Avengers, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and the Guardians of the Galaxy are introduced collectively to cease Thanos from wiping out half of all life within the universe. Yet due to the occasions of Captain America: Civil War, the heroes will not be united and as a substitute combat Thanos on three separate fronts.

The film’s surprising ending of Thanos snapping his fingers and half of the universe, together with many fan-favorite characters, getting dusted, was one of many largest cliffhangers in movie historical past, with audiences ready a 12 months to see how the heroes would make up for his or her loss.

Avengers: Endgame

The opening moments of Avengers: Endgame takes place throughout the rapid aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War with a few month passing earlier than the heroes take the combat to house to confront Thanos solely to find he destroyed the Infinity Stones and the Avengers have really misplaced.

Then the film makes the daring inventive selection to leap ahead in time 5 years to 2023. This showcases some main modifications for the characters, together with Tony Stark having a daughter, Bruce Banner and the Hulk merging into one being, and New Asgard having established itself. The film is the massive climactic showdown with all of the MCU franchises at that time really uniting to combat Thanos to save lots of the universe. By the top, in style heroes like Iron Man, Black Widow, and Captain America are gone, however the future seems vibrant as a complete new host of heroes has stepped as much as defend the world, with numerous tales left to be advised.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

While it could appear to be Avengers: Endgame can be the ultimate observe to finish Phase 3, it’s Spider-Man: Far From Home that brings the Phase and the whole Infinity Saga to an in depth. This movie picks up with the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, showcasing how the world is reacting to the sudden disappearance and reappearance of the world’s inhabitants. At the middle is Peter Parker, who simply needs to be a traditional child occurring trip however has the duty of the world seeking to him as the brand new main superhero of the world.

The film takes place in the summertime following Avengers: Endgame in 2024, so there are various Phase 4 initiatives that may chronologically happen earlier than it. The essential villain Mysterio ties the movie again not solely to the primary movie of Phase 3 in Captain America: Civil War but additionally to the very first MCU film Iron Man, making it a becoming remaining chapter. Spider-Man, Marvel’s most well-known superhero, brings Phase 3 to a conclusion.

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MCU Phase 3 Movies in Release Order

• Captain America: Civil War – May 6, 2016
• Doctor Strange – November 4, 2016
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017
• Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7, 2017
• Thor: Ragnarök – November 3, 2017
• Black Panther – February 18, 2018
• Avengers: Infinity War – April 27, 2018
• Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018
• Captain Marvel – March 8, 2019
• Avengers: Endgame – April 26, 2019
• Spider-Man: Far From Home – July 2, 2019