MCU Viewing Guide
Phase One
“Mr. Stark, you’ve become part of a bigger universe. You just don’t know it yet.”
Those words, spoken by Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury at the end of 2008’s Iron Man, were the first hints that the story of Tony Stark was not the only tale to tell in what is now known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Historically the MCU has been categorized into different phases, the first of which consists of six movies and a handful of shorts. The MCU Phase One introduced viewers to the first live action version of The Avengers, Marvel's premier superhero team. More importantly, this phase demonstrated how a series of film franchises could exist in the same world, reference each other, and crossover at key moments, much like the Marvel Comics they are based on.
Characters like Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye each appeared at least once in the five films leading up to the The Avengers. This unprecedented crossover event was the culmination of several character arcs and storylines that had been developing for years, but it was still only the beginning.
Film: Iron Man
Official Synopsis
Iron Man tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.
Viewing Order
While other entries in the MCU chronologically take place either partially or completely before Iron Man, we recommend starting with this movie. This is the first film produced with the intention of being part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, and in ways both small and large everything that comes after builds off of the foundation laid out in this story.
Iron Man Easter Eggs and References
film: The incredible hulk
Official Synopsis
Scientist Bruce Banner desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him: The Hulk. Living in the shadows—cut off from a life he knew and the woman he loves, Betty Ross—Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of his nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and brutally exploit his power.
Viewing Order
The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, and Thor all take place roughly during the same week—often a surprising fact because this is never explicitly stated in the films. So, out of these three movies, why does The Incredible Hulk come first? A few reasons. Not only was it released in theaters long before the others, a majority of the film truly does take place before the others with one notable exception: the final scene happens shortly after Iron Man 2, but we'll get to that later.
The Incredible Hulk Easter Eggs and References
film: iron man 2
Official Synopsis
With the world now aware that he is Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark faces pressure from all sides to share his technology with the military. He is reluctant to divulge the secrets of his armored suit, fearing the information will fall into the wrong hands.
With Pepper Potts and James Rhodes by his side, Tony must forge new alliances and confront a powerful new enemy.
Viewing Order
Picking up about six months after the events of the first movie, Iron Man 2 takes place in 2010 roughly during the same week as both The Incredible Hulk and Thor. Because some of The Incredible Hulk happens before this movie, and the post-credits scene leads directly into Thor, watching Iron Man 2 in between makes the most sense.
Iron Man 2 Easter Eggs and References
one-shot: A funny thing happened on the way to thor's hammer
Synopsis
S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson finds himself in a precarious situation on the way to his next assignment.
Viewing Order
This short film takes place shortly before Thor, while Agent Coulson is on his way to New Mexico to investigate the mysterious artifact first teased at the end of Iron Man 2.
Film: Thor
Official Synopsis
As the son of Odin, king of the Norse gods, Thor will soon inherit the throne of Asgard from his aging father. However, on the day that he is to be crowned, Thor reacts with brutality when the gods' enemies, the Frost Giants, enter the palace in violation of their treaty. As punishment, Odin banishes Thor to Earth. While Loki, Thor's brother, plots mischief in Asgard, Thor, now stripped of his powers, faces his greatest threat.
Viewing Order
Thor picks up right before the post-credits scene teased at the end of Iron Man 2. Though the film quickly flashes back in time several hundreds years to reveal the earliest events we’ve seen so far in the MCU, the bulk of the story happens at the end of what’s subsequently been referred to as “Fury’s Big Week,” the relentless chain of events which began in The Incredible Hulk and continued through Iron Man 2.
Thor Easter Eggs and References
one-shot: The Consultant
Synopsis
Agent's Coulson and Sitwell come up with a unique approach to get General Thunderbolt Ross on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s side.
Viewing Order
Taking place soon after the events of the previous three movies, this short film flashes back to the scene between Tony Stark and Thunderbolt Ross in The Incredible Hulk in an attempt to explain what that conversation was all about.
Film: Captain America: The First Avenger
Official Synopsis
It is 1941 and the world is in the throes of war. Steve Rogers wants to do his part and join America's armed forces, but the military rejects him because of his small stature. Finally, Steve gets his chance when he is accepted into an experimental program that turns him into a super-soldier called Captain America. Joining forces with Bucky Barnes and Peggy Carter, Captain America leads the fight against the Nazi-backed HYDRA organization.
Viewing Order
Some fans will argue that Captain America: The First Avenger should be the first movie in this guide. That’s because the majority of the film takes place during World War II. But, watching it first doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. There are framing sequences that take place in the present day after the events of the previous films, and the post-credits scene is actually a teaser trailer for The Avengers, the next movie on the list.
Captain America: The First Avengers Easter Eggs and References
Film: The Avengers
Official Synopsis
When Thor's evil brother, Loki, gains access to the unlimited power of the energy cube called the Tesseract, Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., initiates a superhero recruitment effort to defeat the unprecedented threat to Earth.
Joining Fury's "dream team" are Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye.
Viewing Order
This one’s simple. Every other movie in Phase 1 builds towards The Avengers in ways both big and small, and this movie lays the groundwork for everything still to come in Phase 2 and beyond. It’s since been confirmed that this movie takes place roughly when it came out in the Spring of 2012.
The Avengers Easter Eggs and References
one-shot: Item 47
Synopsis
When an alien weapon from the Battle of New York is used in a bank robbery, Agent Sitwell and S.H.I.E.L.D. intervene.
Viewing Order
While not a particularly exciting way to close out the first phase of the MCU, this short film deals with one aspect of the aftermath caused by Loki’s invasion in The Avengers, so it makes sense to get it out of the way here before moving on.