Introduction
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a massive franchise with over 20 movies released since 2008. With so many movies to watch, it can be hard to decide which order to watch them in. Do you watch them in the order they were released or in chronological order? How important are the side stories? What about the TV shows? This article will explore the different ways to watch the MCU movies and provide advice on the best way to enjoy the entire franchise.
Timeline of Events in the MCU
Before deciding on an order to watch the MCU movies, it’s important to understand the timeline of events in the universe. The MCU has been broken up into three phases: Phase One (2008-2012), Phase Two (2013-2015), and Phase Three (2016-2019). Each phase contains several movies that build upon one another, creating a larger story arc. Understanding the timeline of events helps viewers follow along and understand the main plot points.
Comparison Between Chronological and Release Order
When it comes to watching the MCU movies, viewers have two options: chronological order or release order. Watching the movies in chronological order means watching them in the order the events take place in the universe. For example, Captain America: The First Avenger takes place before Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, so those would be watched first if you chose to go in chronological order. On the other hand, watching the movies in release order means watching them in the order they were released in theaters, which is not necessarily the same order as the timeline of events in the universe.
The pros and cons of each order depend largely on the viewer’s preferences. Chronological order allows viewers to experience the story as it unfolds, but it may be confusing to follow along if you haven’t seen all the movies. Release order allows viewers to experience the movies as they originally came out, but it may be difficult to understand the overall story arc if you’re jumping around in time.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing an order to watch the MCU movies; it’s a matter of personal preference. As Dr. Janelle B. Kihlstrom, professor of film studies at the University of Utah, says, “It really depends on the individual viewer and what their goals are. Some people want to watch the films in the order they were released, while others prefer to watch them in chronological order.”
List of Movies in Order of Most to Least Important
In addition to chronological and release order, viewers can also choose to watch the MCU movies based on which ones are most important to understanding the overall story. While all the movies contribute to the MCU, some are more essential than others. In general, the core Avengers movies are the most important, followed by the solo character origin stories. The side stories, such as Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man: Homecoming, are less essential but still add to the overall story.
Missing a movie can affect your comprehension of the overall story, so it’s important to pay attention to which movies are essential for understanding the story. If you’re pressed for time, you may want to focus on the core Avengers movies first, then fill in the gaps with the solo character origin stories and side stories.
Interview Fans of the MCU
To get further insights on the best way to watch the MCU movies, we interviewed several fans of the franchise. We asked them how they watched the movies and what order they felt was best. Here’s what they had to say.
“I watched the movies in release order because I wanted to experience them as they were originally released. It was fun to see how the franchise evolved over the years.” – John, age 28
“I watched them in chronological order because I wanted to understand the full story. I think it’s the best way to appreciate the complexity of the MCU.” – Sarah, age 33
“I watched the essential movies first, then filled in the gaps with the side stories. I think it’s the best way to get the full picture without getting lost in the details.” – Joe, age 25
Outline Key Plot Points
Finally, we’ll outline the key plot points of each movie in the MCU. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it should give you a better sense of the overall story arc.
Iron Man (2008) – Tony Stark builds the Iron Man suit and becomes a superhero.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – Bruce Banner is exposed to gamma radiation and becomes the Hulk.
Iron Man 2 (2010) – Tony Stark battles a new enemy and must face his own mortality.
Thor (2011) – Thor is banished from Asgard and must prove himself worthy of his powers.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – Steve Rogers volunteers for a super soldier experiment and becomes Captain America.
The Avengers (2012) – The Avengers assemble to battle Loki and save the world.
Iron Man 3 (2013) – Tony Stark battles an old enemy and must confront his inner demons.
Thor: The Dark World (2013) – Thor must stop an ancient enemy from destroying the Nine Realms.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – Steve Rogers battles a mysterious enemy and learns the truth about SHIELD.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – A group of misfits form an unlikely alliance to save the galaxy.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – The Avengers must battle a powerful artificial intelligence and save the world.
Ant-Man (2015) – Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero to save the world.
Captain America: Civil War (2016) – The Avengers are divided over a political disagreement and must battle one another.
Doctor Strange (2016) – Stephen Strange discovers a hidden world of magic and must protect it from a powerful enemy.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – The Guardians must battle an old enemy and uncover the truth about Peter Quill’s father.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – Peter Parker must balance his life as a superhero with his high school responsibilities.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – Thor must battle the Goddess of Death and save Asgard from destruction.
Black Panther (2018) – T’Challa must fight to protect his kingdom and the world from a powerful enemy.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – The Avengers must battle Thanos and prevent him from collecting all six Infinity Stones.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) – Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne must team up to save the world.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) – The Avengers must travel back in time and undo the damage caused by Thanos.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no one perfect way to watch the MCU movies. The best order for you depends on your own personal preferences and goals. Whether you choose to watch them in chronological order, release order, or order of importance, it’s important to understand the timeline of events in the MCU and the key plot points of each movie. With this knowledge, you can make an informed decision on the best way to watch the MCU movies and get the most out of your viewing experience.
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