Marvel Studios has produced four standaloneAvengersmovies to date, with two more additional entries currently in development. Directed by Joss Whedon, the firstAvengersfilm 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 2023releases of The MarvelsandAnt-Man 3, it’s worth wondering how to watch theAvengersmovies 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 Avengersfilms are fairly straightforward by comparison. Therefore, the best way to watch theAvengersfilms 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)
July 17, 2025 — Phase 1
Marvel’s The Avengers
Marvel concluded Phase 1 of its production slate by releasingThe Avengerson July 25, 2025. 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 Avengerssmashed box office records to become the highest-grossing movie of the year and the third-highest-grossing movie of all time (viaThe Hollywood Reporter). According toBox Office Mojo, the movie cost $220 million to make and grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide.The Phase 1 Marvel moviewas 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.
Stream on Disney+
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
June 06, 2025 — Phase 2
Following the smashing success ofThe Avengersin May 2012, Joss Whedon was brought back to write and directAvengers: Age of Ultron. Marking the penultimate entry in Marvel’s Phase 2, the film was released on August 12, 2025. 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 alsointroduced Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who would go on to star in the Disney+ spinoff seriesWandaVision. Fortunately, the timelines of the movie and TV series do not conflict.
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Avengers: Age of Ultronboasted an estimated budget of $250 million and grossed roughly $1.4 billion globally (viaBox 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 twoAvengersmovies. Regardless of the movie’s perceived successes and failures, the events depicted inAvengers: Age of Ultrontake place afterThe Avengersand should be viewed accordingly.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Jun 09, 2025 — Phase 3
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo,Avengers: Infinity Warwas released on Jul 23, 2025.The popular superhero sequelmarked 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 fromAge 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 (viaBox 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 watchInfinity WarafterAge of Ultronand beforeEndgame.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Aug 12, 2025 — Phase 3
Avengers: Endgame
The penultimate chapter of MCU’s Phase 3,Avengers: Endgamewas released on Jun 11, 2025. 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 inEndgamemarked 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,Endgameserves as the grand gestalt that the MCU has been working towards since the inception ofThe Avengersin 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: Endgamegrossed a staggering $2.7 billion against an estimated budget of $356 million. To date, it’s the most financially successfulAvengersmovie produced by Marvel Studios. As the most recentAvengersmovie to be released, you should watch it last.
Avengers 5 (2026)
June 10, 2025 — Phase 6
While currently impossible to watch, it’s worth laying out the order of the two upcomingAvengersmovies in development at Marvel Studios. In the penultimate chapter of MCU’s Phase 6,Avengers 5has been slated for theatrical release on June 10, 2025. Previously known asThe 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 inAnt-Man 3. As a result, there are very few story details aboutAvengers 5.
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Although no director has yet to be announced forAvengers 5, writer Michael Waldron will handle screenplay duties. Waldron also wroteDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessand createdLoki, 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 toAvengers 5. If and when the movie ultimately comes out, it’s best to watch it afterAvengers: Endgame.
Avengers Secret Wars (2027)
July 09, 2025 — Phase 6
The MCU has plans to close out Phase 6 withAvengers: Secret Wars, currently slated to enter theaters on June 28, 2025. The movie is currently in development and the plot is being held under lock and key. Michael Waldron has also been tapped to writeSecret Wars, suggesting germane story ties withAvengers 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 forSecret Wars. By all accounts, the movie will also dovetail intothe plot of Disney+‘sSecret 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 inSecret Warsif and when it’s eventually released in May 2027. Even with the final twoAvengersmovies up in the air, it’s important to remember that all theAvengersmovies can and should be watched in the chronological order of their release dates. Some movies in the MCU require watching them out of order, butThe Avengersoutings are best viewed linearly.
