Entertainment/Marvel Cinematic Universe films
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films are produced by Marvel Studios and are based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. It is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time.
Marvel Studios releases its films in groups called "Phases". The films from Phase One through Phase Three are collectively known as "The Infinity Saga". The films from Phase Four through Phase Six are collectively known as "The Multiverse Saga".
Kevin Feige has produced every film in the series.
The Films
The Infinity Saga
Phase One
Iron Man (2008)
Billionaire industrialist Tony Stark builds himself a suit of armour after he is taken captive by a terrorist organization. Free from his captors, he decides to upgrade and don his armour in order to hunt down weapons that were sold under the table.
Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.
James “Rhodey” Rhodes Terrence Howard
Obadiah Stone Jeff Bridges
Virginia “Pepper” Potts Gwyneth Paltrow
Directed by Jon Favreau
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
After being exposed to gamma radiation that causes him to transform into the monstrous Hulk, scientist Bruce Banner goes on the run and isolates himself from his love, Betty Ross. Hunted by the military, Banner seeks to cure himself and prevent his condition from being weaponised.
Bruce Banner Edward Norton
Betty Ross Liv Tyler
Emil Blonsky / Abomination Tim Roth
Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross William Ross
Directed by Louis Leterrier
Iron Man 2 (2010)
After Tony Stark reveals himself to be Iron Man, the U.S. government demands he hand over his technology. Meanwhile, a rival industrialist and a Russian scientist conspire to use his own technology against him.
Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.
James “Rhodey” Rhodes / War Machine Don Cheadle
Virginia “Pepper” Potts Gwyneth Paltrow
Ivan Vanko / Whiplash Mickey Rourke
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson
Justin Hammer Sam Rockwell
Nick Fury Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by Jon Favreau
Thor (2011)
Thor, crown prince of Asgard, is banished to Earth and stripped of his powers after he reignites a dormant war. As his brother, Loki, plots to take the throne for himself, Thor must prove himself worthy and reclaim his hammer Mjolnir.
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Jane Foster Natalie Portman
Loki Tom Hiddleston
Erik Selvig Stellan Skarsgard
Odin Anthony Hopkins
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
In 1943, Steve Rogers is deemed physically unfit to enlist in the U.S. Army and fight the German Reich in World War II. Recruited for a secret military operation, he is physically transformed into a super-soldier dubbed Captain America and must battle the Red Skull, head of a Nazi science division known as Hydra.
Steve Rogers / Captain America Chris Evans
Johann Schmitt / Red Skull Hugo Weaving
Peggy Carter Hayley Atwell
Bucky Barnes Sebastian Stan
Chester Phillips Tommy Lee Jones
Directed by Joe Johnston
The Avengers (2012)
Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., gathers the superheroes Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye to fight Thor's brother Loki, who plots to subjugate the Earth.
Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Steve Rogers / Captain America Chris Evans
Bruce Banner / Hulk Mark Ruffalo
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson
Clint Barton / Hawkeye Jeremy Renner
Loki Tom Hiddleston
Directed by Joss Whedon
Phase Two
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Tony Stark faces a powerful enemy, the Mandarin, who attacks and destroys his mansion. Left to his own devices and battling posttraumatic stress disorder, Stark struggles to get to the bottom of a series of mysterious explosions.
Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.
James “Rhodey” Rhodes / Iron Patriot Don Cheadle
Virginia “Pepper” Potts Gwyneth Paltrow
Aldrich Killian Guy Pearce
Maya Hansen Rebecca Hall
Directed by Shane Black
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Thor reunites with astrophysicist Jane Foster as a series of portals, linking worlds at random, begin to appear. He discovers that Malekith and his army of Dark Elves have returned after thousands of years, and they seek a powerful weapon known as the Aether. Thor must join forces with his now-imprisoned brother Loki to stop them.
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Jane Foster Natalie Portman
Loki Tom Hiddleston
Erik Selvig Stellan Skarsgard
Malekith Christopher Eccleston
Directed by Alan Taylor
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Steve Rogers, now working with S.H.I.E.L.D., teams up with Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow and Sam Wilson / Falcon to expose a deep conspiracy which involves a mysterious assassin known only as the Winter Soldier.
Steve Rogers / Captain America Chris Evans
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson
Nick Fury Samuel L. Jackson
Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier Sebastian Stan
Sam Wilson / Falcon Anthony Mackie
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Peter Quill / Star-Lord and a group of misfits, including Gamora, Rocket, Drax the Destroyer and Groot, fight to keep a powerful orb from the clutches of the villainous Ronan.
Peter Quill / Star-Lord Chris Pratt
Gamora Zoe Saldana
Drax the Destroyer Dave Bautista
Groot Vin Diesel
Rocket Bradley Cooper
Ronan the Accuser Lee Pace
Yondu Udonta Michael Rooker
Nebula Karen Gillan
Directed by James Gunn
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye must work together as the Avengers to defeat Ultron, a technological enemy bent on human extinction, while encountering the powerful twins Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, as well as the new entity Vision.
Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Steve Rogers / Captain America Chris Evans
Bruce Banner / Hulk Mark Ruffalo
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson
Clint Barton / Hawkeye Jeremy Renner
Pietro Maximoff Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Wanda Maximoff Elizabeth Olsen
Directed by Joss Whedon
Ant-Man (2015)
Thief Scott Lang must aid his mentor Dr. Hank Pym in safeguarding the mystery of the Ant-Man technology, which allows its user to decrease in size but increase in strength, from various menaces and plot a heist to defend the Earth.
Scott Lang / Ant-Man Paul Rudd
Hope van Dyne Evangeline Lilly
Hank Pym Michael Douglas
Darren Cross / Yellowjacket Corey Stoll
Jim Paxton Bobby Cannavale
Directed by Peyton Reed
Phase Three
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The Avengers become fractured into two opposing teams, one led by Steve Rogers and another by Tony Stark, after extensive collateral damage prompts politicians to pass an act regulating superhuman activity with government oversight and accountability for the Avengers while also facing against a new enemy, Helmut Zemo, who seeks revenge upon the Avengers.
Steve Rogers / Captain America Chris Evans
Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson
Bucky Barnes / Winter Solider Sebastian Stan
Clint Barton / Hawkeye Jeremy Renner
Sam Wilson / Falcon Anthony Mackie
T'Challa / Black Panther Chadwick Boseman
Vision Paul Bettany
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
Doctor Strange (2016)
After Stephen Strange, the world's top neurosurgeon, is involved in a car accident that ruins his career, he sets out on a journey of healing, where he encounters the Ancient One, who teaches Strange the use of Mystic Arts and to defend the Earth from mystical threats.
Dr. Stephen Strange Benedict Cumberbatch
Karl Mordo Chiwetel Ejiofor
Christine Palmer Rachel McAdams
Wong Benedict Wong
Kaecilius Mads Mikkelsen
Ancient One Tilda Swinton
Directed by Scott Derrickson
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
The Guardians of the Galaxy travel throughout the cosmos and struggle to keep their newfound family together while helping Peter Quill learn more about his true parentage and facing against new enemies.
Peter Quill / Star-Lord Chris Pratt
Gamora Zoe Saldana
Drax the Destroyer Dave Bautista
Baby Groot Vin Diesel
Rocket Bradley Cooper
Yondu Udonta Michael Rooker
Nebula Karen Gillan
Stakar Ogord Sylvester Stallone
Ego Kurt Russell
Directed by James Gunn
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Peter Parker tries to balance being the hero Spider-Man with his high school life under guidance of Tony Stark as he deals with the threat of the Vulture.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man Tom Holland
Adrian Toomes / Vulture Michael Keaton
Michelle Zendaya
Happy Hogan Jon Favreau
Aaron Davis Donald Glover
Ned Jacob Batalon
Directed by John Watts
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor, trapped on another world without Mjolnir, must survive a gladiatorial duel against the Hulk and return to Asgard in time to stop the villainous Hela and the impending Ragnarok.
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Loki Tom Hiddleston
Hela Cate Blanchett
Heimdall Idris Elba
Grandmaster Jeff Goldblum
Valkyrie Tessa Thompson
Bruce Banner / Hulk Mark Ruffalo
Directed by Taika Waititi
Black Panther (2018)
T'Challa returns home as sovereign of the nation of Wakanda only to find his dual role of king and protector challenged by a long-time adversary in a conflict that has global consequences.
T'Challa / Black Panther Chadwick Boseman
N'Jadaka / Erik "Killmonger" Stevens Michael B. Jordan
Nakia Lupita Nyong'o
Okoye Danai Gurira
Everett K. Ross Martin Freeman
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The Avengers join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to try to stop Thanos from collecting all of the Infinity Stones.
Thanos Josh Brolin
Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Steve Rogers / Captain America Chris Evans
Bruce Banner / Hulk Mark Ruffalo
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson
James “Rhodey” Rhodes / War Machine Don Cheadle
Dr. Stephen Strange Benedict Cumberbatch
Peter Parker / Spider-Man Tom Holland
T'Challa / Black Panther Chadwick Boseman
Gamora Zoe Saldana
Nebula Karen Gillan
Loki Tom Hiddleston
Vision Paul Bettany
Wanda Maximoff Elizabeth Olsen
Sam Wilson / Falcon Anthony Mackie
Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier Sebastian Stan
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Scott Lang tries to balance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, when Hope van Dyne and Hank Pym present him with a new mission, requiring him to team up with Van Dyne as the Wasp.
Scott Lang / Ant-Man Paul Rudd
Hope van Dyne/ Wasp Evangeline Lilly
Luis Michael Pena
Janet van Dyne Michelle Pfeiffer
Bill Foster Laurence Fishburne
Directed by Peyton Reed
Captain Marvel (2019)
Carol Danvers becomes Captain Marvel, one of the galaxy's strongest heroes, after the Earth is caught in the centre of an intergalactic conflict between two alien worlds.
Carol Danvers / Vers / Captain Marvel Brie Larson
Nick Fury Samuel L. Jackson
Talos Ben Mendelsohn
Maria Rambeau Lashana Lynch
Supreme Intelligence and Dr. Wendy Lawson Annette Bening
Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
After half of all life in the universe was killed due to the actions of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, the remaining Avengers and their allies must reassemble to revert those actions in one final stand.
Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Steve Rogers / Captain America Chris Evans
Bruce Banner / Hulk Mark Ruffalo
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson
Clint Barton / Hawkeye Jeremy Renner
James “Rhodey” Rhodes / War Machine Don Cheadle
Scott Lang / Ant-Man Paul Rudd
Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel Brie Larson
Rocket Bradley Cooper
Nebula Karen Gillan
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Peter Parker goes on a school trip to Europe with his friends. While abroad, he is recruited by Nick Fury to team up with Quentin Beck to battle the Elementals.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man Tom Holland
Nick Fury Samuel L. Jackson
Quentin Beck / Mysterio Jake Gyllenhaal
Happy Hogan Jon Favreau
Directed by John Watts
The Multiverse Saga
Phase Four
Black Widow (2021)
Natasha Romanoff finds herself alone and forced to confront a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Romanoff must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson
Yelena Belova Florence Pugh
Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian David Harbour
Melina Vostokoff Rachel Weisz
Rick Mason O-T Fagbenle
Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster Olga Kurylenko
Directed by Cate Shortland
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
When Shang-Chi is drawn into the clandestine Ten Rings organization, he is forced to confront the past he thought he left behind.
Xu Shang-Chi / Shaun Simu Liu
Katy Awkwafina
Xu Wenwu Tony Leung
Trevor Slattery Ben Kingsley
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Eternals (2021)
After the return of half the population ignites "the emergence", the Eternals – an immortal alien race created by the Celestials who have secretly lived on Earth for over 7,000 years – reunite to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants.
Sersi Gemma Chan
Ikaris Richard Madden
Kingo Kumail Nanjiani
Thena Angelina Jolie
Ajak Salma Hayek
Sprite Lia McHugh
Directed by Chloe Zhao
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Peter Parker's life and reputation are turned upside down following his identity being exposed at the hands of Mysterio. Seeking help from Stephen Strange to try and fix everything, things soon become much more dangerous when the multiverse breaks open, allowing villains from alternate realities who have previously fought versions of Spider-Man to arrive.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man Tom Holland
Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson Zendaya
Dr. Stephen Strange Benedict Cumberbatch
Norman Osborn / Green Goblin Willem Dafoe
Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus Alfred Molina
Peter Parker / Spider-Man Toby Maguire
Peter Parker / Spider-Man Andrew Garfield
Directed by Jon Watts
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Dr. Stephen Strange protects America Chavez, a teenager capable of traveling between universes in the multiverse, from Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch.
Dr. Stephen Strange Benedict Cumberbatch
Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch Elizabeth Olsen
Karl Mordo Chiwetel Ejiofor
Wong Benedict Wong
America Chavez Xochitl Gomez
Christine Palmer Rachel McAdams
Directed by Sam Raimi
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Thor attempts to find inner peace but ends up recruiting Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster – who has become the Mighty Thor – to help stop Gorr the God Butcher from eliminating all gods.
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Jane Foster / Mighty Thor Natalie Portman
Valkyrie Tessa Thompson
Gorr the God Butcher Christian Bale
Zeus Russell Crowe
Korg Taika Waititi
Directed by Taika Waititi
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
The leaders of the kingdom of Wakanda fight to protect their nation in the wake of King T'Challa's death, and a new threat emerges from the hidden undersea nation of Talokan.
Shuri / Black Panther Letitia Wright
Nakia Lupita Nyong’o
Okoye Danai Guirra
M’Baku Winston Duke
Ramonda Angela Bassett
Namor Tenoch Huerta
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Phase Five
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, along with Hope's parents Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne and Lang's daughter Cassie, go on a new adventure exploring the Quantum Realm that pushes their limits and pits them against Kang the Conqueror.
Scott Lang / Ant-Man Paul Rudd
Hope van Dyne Evangeline Lilly
Cassie Lang Kathryn Newton
Hank Pym Michael Douglas
Janet van Dyne Michelle Pfeiffer
Kang the Conqueror Jonathan Majors
Directed by Peyton Reed
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
The Guardians of the Galaxy are adjusting to life on Knowhere, but when parts of Rocket's past resurface, Peter Quill must lead the Guardians on a dangerous mission to protect him that could lead to the team dissolving.
Peter Quill / Star-Lord Chris Pratt
Drax the Destroyer Dave Bautista
Groot Vin Diesel
Rocket Bradley Cooper
Nebula Karen Gillan
Mantis Pom Klementieff
The High Evolutionary Chukwudi Iwuji
Directed by James Gunn
The Marvels (2023)
While investigating a wormhole linked to the Kree, Monica Rambeau's powers become entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Carol Danvers. The trio team up to determine why they are swapping places with each other every time they use their powers.
Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel Brie Larson
Monica Rambeau Teyonah Parris
Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Iman Vellani
Dar-Benn Zawe Ashton
Emperor Dro'ge Gary Lewis
Nick Fury Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by Nia DaCosta
Upcoming films
Phase Five
Deadpool 3 (May 2024)
Captain America: Brave New World (July 2024)
Thunderbolts (December 2024)
Blade (February 2025)
Phase Six
Fantastic Four (2025)
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2026)
Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)
MCU at the Academy Awards
Black Panther won three Academy Awards in 2019 –
Best Costume Design (Ruth E. Carter)
Best Original Score (Ludwig Goransson)
Best Production Design (Production Design: Hannah Beachler; Set Decoration: Jay Hart)
Black Panther was the first superhero film and MCU film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever won one Academy Award in 2023 –
Best Costume Design (Ruth E. Carter)
Angela Bassett was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, which made her the first person in a Marvel Studios movie to be nominated for an Academy Award in any acting category.
List of highest-grossing MCU films
| Rank | Film | Worldwide box office |
| 1 | Avengers: Endgame | $2.8 billion |
| 2 | Avengers: Infinity War | $2.05 billion |
| 3 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | $1.9 billion |
| 4 | The Avengers | $1.5 billon |
| 5 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | $1.4 billion |
| 6 | Black Panther | $1.3 billion |
| 7 | Iron Man 3 | $1.2 billion |
| 8 | Captain America: Civil War | $1.15 billion |
| 9 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | $1.13 billion |
| 10 | Captain Marvel | $1.128 billion |
