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 while introducing several new heroes who will soon get their own movies. The events of this movie unfold 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, 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 the second season of 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 early in 2016 and ending much later in the year or even in 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.
Series: Jessica Jones Season 2
Official Synopsis
New York City private investigator Jessica Jones is beginning to put her life back together after murdering her tormentor, Kilgrave. Now known throughout the city as a super-powered killer, a new case makes her reluctantly confront who she really is while digging deeper into her past to explore the reasons why.
Viewing Order
The second season of Jessica Jones begins a little less than a year after we last saw Jessica in The Defenders, placing it in the Spring of 2017.
Series: Luke Cage Season 2
Official Synopsis
After clearing his name, Luke Cage has become a celebrity on the streets of Harlem with a reputation as bulletproof as his skin. But being so visible has only increased his need to protect the community and find the limits of who he can and can’t save. With the rise of a formidable new foe, Luke is forced to confront the fine line that separates a hero from a villain.
Viewing Order
There are a few references in the second season of Luke Cage that place it toward the end of Summer in 2017.
Series: Iron Fist Season 2
Official Synopsis
Season 2 furthers the transformation of Danny, a character with a fish out of water coming of age story making his way in a harsh new world, battling to work out who he is. This season, Danny has promised that with Matt Murdock gone, he will step up and protect his city. But a sinister plot twist threatens his very identity and he must conquer his villains to protect the town and people he holds close to his heart.
Viewing Order
The second season of Iron Fist takes place over several weeks toward the end of 2017.
Series: Daredevil Season 3
Official Synopsis
Missing for months, Matt Murdock reemerges a broken man, putting into question his future as both vigilante Daredevil and lawyer Matthew Murdock. But when his archenemy Wilson Fisk is released from prison, Matt must choose between hiding from the world, or embracing his destiny as a hero.
Viewing Order
This season is one of the most difficult to place in the entire Defenders saga. While much of the dialogue in the season implies it has only been months since the events of The Defenders, which occurred in Spring of 2016, Matt Murdock is still missing in the second season of Iron Fist, meaning this season actually takes place in late 2017, more than a year later since Daredevil was presumed dead.
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!
Viewing Order
This film begins in mid to late 2017 given Thor states he has spent two years searching for information about the Infinity Stones, a quest he began at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, the mid-credits scene takes place months later in the Spring of 2018, occurring only moments before the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War.
Series: The Punisher Season 2
Official Synopsis
Missing for months, Matt Murdock reemerges a broken man, putting into question his future as both vigilante Daredevil and lawyer Matthew Murdock. But when his archenemy Wilson Fisk is released from prison, Matt must choose between hiding from the world, or embracing his destiny as a hero.
Viewing Order
This season picks up roughly a year and a half after season one, placing it in the Spring of 2018, about a month before the momentous events of Avengers: Infinity War.
Series: Jessica Jones Season 3
Official Synopsis
Missing for months, Matt Murdock reemerges a broken man, putting into question his future as both vigilante Daredevil and lawyer Matthew Murdock. But when his archenemy Wilson Fisk is released from prison, Matt must choose between hiding from the world, or embracing his destiny as a hero.
Viewing Order
This season takes place about a year from the previous one, and occurs concurrently and slightly after the second season of The Punisher in the Spring of 2018.
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.
Viewing Order
This movie takes place two years after the events of Captain America: Civil War as Scott Lang finishes out the remaining days of his house arrest for violating the Sokovia Accords, placing it in the Spring of 2018.
One major caveat is the post-credits scene which takes place concurrently with the final moments of Avengers: Infinity War, so unless you want to be spoiled, save that to watch later.
Film: Avengers: Infinity War
Official Synopsis
As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment—the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
Viewing Order
Avengers: Infinity War takes place in late Spring of 2018, beginning mere moments after the Thor: Ragnarok mid-credits scene.
Film: Captain Marvel
Official Synopsis
Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom.
Viewing Order
Similarly to Captain America: The First Avenger, this film primarily serves as a flashback to introduce a new hero—Captain Marvel—before she reemerges into the present day of the MCU. So while it technically takes more than a decade before the original Iron Man, it serves as a nice break here in between Avengers films, especially given the return of this character was teased in the Avengers: Infinity War post-credits scene. In addition, the mid-credits scene in this movie takes place shortly before the beginning of Avengers: Endgame.
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.
Viewing Order
The final installment in the Infinity Saga picks up in mid-2018, just days after the startling conclusion to Avengers: Infinity War, and lest we spoil anything, it’s better not to say anything more about when it takes place.