MCU Viewing Guide
Phase Three
“We’re in the endgame now.”
Film: Captain America: Civil War
Official Synopsis
Steve Rogers is leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.
Viewing Order
Captain America: Civil War is the perfect entry to kick off Phase 3 as it sets up a radically new status quo for the Avengers that will play out through the remainder of the Infinity Saga, and it introduces several new heroes who will soon get their own movies. The movie unfolds throughout May of 2016.
Film: Black Panther
Official Synopsis
King T'Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country's new leader. However, T'Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country.
When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakanadan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war."
Viewing Order
The movie makes a clear reference to an event that happened in Captain America: Civil War taking place a week earlier. Because of this, it’s clear Black Panther should be viewed immediately after and takes place over several weeks in the early Summer of 2016.
Film: Spider-Man: Homecoming
Official Synopsis
A young Peter Parker begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero Spider-Man. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May, under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark.
Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine–distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man–but when the Vulture emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.
Viewing Order
While this movie includes some scenes set during and immediately after Captain America: Civil War, the bulk of the movie takes place months later in the Fall of 2016 as Peter heads back to school for his sophomore year.
This movie also infamously states that it takes place 8 years after the Battle of New York depicted in The Avengers. This has since been acknowledged by Marvel Studios as a mistake, with the movie only taking place 4 years after.
Series: The Punisher Season 1
Official Synopsis
After exacting revenge on those responsible for the death of his wife and children, Frank Castle uncovers a conspiracy that runs far deeper than New York's criminal underworld. Now known throughout the city as the Punisher, he must discover the truth about injustices that affect more than his family alone.
Viewing Order
The first season of The Punisher begins in the Fall of 2016, roughly a year since we last saw Frank Castle in Daredevil.
Film: Doctor Strange
Official Synopsis
World-famous neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange's life changes forever after a horrific car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he is forced to look for healing, and hope, in an unlikely place—a mysterious enclave known as Kamar-Taj. He quickly learns that this is not just a center for healing but also the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying our reality. Before long Strange—armed with newly acquired magical powers—is forced to choose whether to return to his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.
Viewing Order
Unlike most MCU movies, Doctor Strange takes place over a relatively long period of time, beginning in sometime in 2016 and ending much later in the year or even early 2017. While it could be placed at the beginning of Phase 3, it makes sense here especially because the post-credits scene teases Thor: Ragnarok.
Film: Thor: Ragnarok
Official Synopsis: Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela.
But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk!
Film: Avengers: Infinity War
Official Synopsis: An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time.
The Avengers and their super hero allies must willing to sacrifice it all in an attempt to defeat the power of Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Film: ant-man and the wasp
Official Synopsis: In the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from their past.
Film: Captain Marvel
Official Synopsis: The story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, “Captain Marvel” is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Film: Avengers: Endgame
Official Synopsis: The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios' grand conclusion to twenty-two films.