MCU Guy

Binge Watcher’s Guide
Marvel Cinematic Universe

A guide to what is good, what is important, what is skippable, and what do I need to know.

Use the following guide to plan which movies to enjoy on your trip through the MCU.

Rating Scale
  • 5 – Great : Generally a very good movie that stands on its own.
  • 4 – Solid : Enjoyable for most audiences.
  • 3 – Decent : A good flick, but results may vary from person to person.
  • 2 – Meh : Okay I guess, but only hardcore fans watch it more than once.
  • 1 – Woof : It’s something…
Importance Scale
  • 5 – Cornerstone : Critical world building and character development.
  • 4 – Foundational : Major events and information referenced in future movies.
  • 3 – Lore : Adds to the existing world with minor references later on.
  • 2 – Peripheral : Story that exists at the edges of what is officially cannon.
  • 1 – Technically : Inconsequential details, and mostly ignored as context.

MCU Movies

ReleaseTitleRatingImportanceGuide
May 2, 2008Iron Man5 – Great5 – CornerstoneMust Watch
June 13, 2008Incredible Hulk2 – Meh1 – TechnicallySkippable
May 7, 2010Iron Man 24 – Solid2 – PeripheralOptional
May 6, 2011Thor4 – Solid4 – FoundationalMust Watch
July 22, 2011Captain America: The First Avenger4 – Solid4 – FoundationalMust Watch
May 4, 2012The Avengers5 – Great5 – CornerstoneMust Watch
May 3, 2013Iron Man 33 – Decent2 – PeripheralOptional
November 8, 2013Thor: The Dark World2 – Meh2 – PeripheralSkippable
April 4, 2014Captain America: The Winter Soldier4 – Solid3 – LoreMust Watch
August 1, 2014Guardians of the Galaxy5 – Great5 – CornerstoneMust Watch
May 1, 2015Avengers: Age of Ultron4 – Solid4 – FoundationalMust Watch
July 17, 2015Ant-Man4 – Solid3 – LoreOptional
May 6, 2016Captain America: Civil War5 – Great5 – CornerstoneMust Watch
November 4, 2016Doctor Strange4 – Solid4 – FoundationalMust Watch
May 5, 2017Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 24 – Solid3 – LoreOptional
July 7, 2017Spider-Man: Homecoming4 – Solid4 – FoundationalMust Watch
November 3, 2017Thor: Ragnarok5 – Great4 – FoundationalMust Watch
February 16, 2018Black Panther5 – Great4 – FoundationalMust Watch
April 27, 2018Avengers: Infinity War5 – Great5 – CornerstoneMust Watch
July 6, 2018Ant-Man and the Wasp3 – Decent4 – FoundationalOptional
March 8, 2019Captain Marvel3 – Decent3 – LoreMust Watch
April 26, 2019Avengers: Endgame5 – Great5 – CornerstoneMust Watch
July 2, 2019Spider-Man: Far From Home4 – Solid3 – LoreMust Watch
July 9, 2021Black Widow3 – Decent3 – LoreOptional
September 3, 2021Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings4 – Solid3 – LoreOptional
November 5, 2021Eternals3 – Decent2 – PeripheralOptional
December 17, 2021Spider-Man: No Way Home5 – Great3 – LoreMust Watch
May 6, 2022Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness4 – Solid3 – LoreMust Watch
July 8, 2022Thor: Love and Thunder2 – Meh2 – PeripheralOptional
November 11, 2022Black Panther: Wakanda Forever3 – Decent3 – LoreOptional
February 17, 2023Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantomania2 – Meh3 – LoreSkippable
May 5, 2023Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 34 – Solid3 – LoreMust Watch
November 10, 2023The Marvels2 – Meh2 – PeripheralSkippable
July 26, 2024Deadpool & Wolverine4 – Solid3 – LoreOptional
February 14, 2025Captain America: Brave New World???
May 2, 2025Thunderbolts???

TV Shows

Marvel TV shows have not yet shown to be critical for following the MCU. If there’s a corner or aspect of the Marvel Universe that really resonates with you, the TV Shows give you another bite at the apple.

Recommended Series

These shows require minimum MCU content to enjoy. While there will be references to the MCU content, the bulk of the materiel stands well enough on it’s own to be enjoyed.

  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • Agent Carter
  • Daredevil
  • Jessica Jones
  • Luke Cage
  • Iron Fist
  • The Defenders
  • The Punisher
  • Moon Knight

Requires MCU Context

These shows require some initial knowledge or lore from the MCU to follow and enjoy.

  • WandaVision
  • The Falcon and Winter Soldier
  • Loki
  • What If…?
  • Hawkeye
  • Moon Knight
  • Ms. Marvel
  • She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
  • Secret Invasion
  • Echo
  • Agatha All Along