How many Marvel movies are there, exactly
As of 2025, the number of theatrical movies released by Marvel Studios under the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) banner is 33. This total reflects films produced and distributed by Marvel Studios, beginning with Iron Man in 2008 and continuing through 2025 releases. Movies from other studios that incorporate Marvel characters—such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and other Sony-linked releases—are typically labeled as Marvel movies by general audiences but are not produced by Marvel Studios. The count below focuses on canonical MCU features produced and distributed by Marvel Studios, which is the standard reference for asking how many Marvel movies there have been.
By the numbers: MCU feature films count
The most durable way to answer how many Marvel movies exist is to count major theatrical features produced by Marvel Studios. This approach avoids confusion around television projects, short films, or rereleases. Below is a concise breakdown by phase, followed by a table with verified release years and cumulative totals.
Phase 1 (2008–2012): Foundation
Phase 1 established the shared universe with Iron Man and introduced the core ensemble. It concludes with The Avengers, which solidified the model.
Phase 2 (2013–2015): Expansion
Phase 2 tested wider cosmic and espionage tones and set up cross-franchise conflict, culminating in Age of Ultron.
Phase 3 (2016–2019): Peak and divergence
Phase 3 balanced franchise growth with emotional climaxes, including two Avengers assemblies and radical timeline shifts in Endgame.
Phase 4 (2021–2022): New directions
Phase 4 experiments with genre and structure while introducing multiversal concepts and fresh teams.
Phase 5 (2023–2025): Continuity and legacy
Phase 5 resolves ongoing arcs and reconfigures the lineup ahead of the next creative chapter.
Quick reference: Count per phase
- Phase 1: 4 movies
- Phase 2: 5 movies
- Phase 3: 11 movies
- Phase 4: 6 movies
- Phase 5: 7 movies (as of 2025)
Marvel Studios movies: verified table
The table below lists theatrical features produced by Marvel Studios, with release years and cumulative counts to clarify how totals evolve.
| Phase | Movie | Year | Cumulative MCU count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iron Man | 2008 | 1 |
| 1 | The Incredible Hulk | 2008 | 2 |
| 1 | Iron Man 2 | 2010 | 3 |
| 1 | Thor | 2011 | 4 |
| 1 | Captain America: The First Avenger | 2011 | 5 |
| 1 | The Avengers | 2012 | 6 |
| 2 | Iron Man 3 | 2013 | 7 |
| 2 | Thor: The Dark World | 2013 | 8 |
| 2 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | 2014 | 9 |
| 2 | Guardians of the Galaxy | 2014 | 10 |
| 2 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | 11 |
| 2 | Ant-Man | 2015 | 12 |
| 3 | Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | 13 |
| 3 | Doctor Strange | 2016 | 14 |
| 3 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | 2017 | 15 |
| 3 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | 2017 | 16 |
| 3 | Thor: Ragnarok | 2017 | 17 |
| 3 | Black Panther | 2018 | 18 |
| 3 | Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | 19 |
| 3 | Ant-Man and the Wasp | 2018 | 20 |
| 3 | Captain Marvel | 2019 | 21 |
| 3 | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | 22 |
| 3 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | 2019 | 23 |
| 4 | Black Widow | 2021 | 24 |
| 4 | Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | 2021 | 25 |
| 4 | Eternals | 2021 | 26 |
| 4 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | 2021 | 27 |
| 4 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | 2022 | 28 |
| 4 | Thor: Love and Thunder | 2022 | 29 |
| 4 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | 2022 | 30 |
| 4 | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | 2023 | 31 |
| 4 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | 2023 | 32 |
| 5 | Captain America: Brave New World | 2025 | 33 |
| 5 | Thunderbolts* | d>2025 | 34 |
Beyond the MCU label: What counts as a Marvel movie
When people ask how many Marvel movies there are, they sometimes include films where Marvel characters appear but are not produced by Marvel Studios. Examples include titles licensed from other studios or co-produced arrangements. For clarity:
- MCU features: Produced and distributed by Marvel Studios (counted above).
- Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU): Spider-Man: No Way Home and Madame Web, set in a shared Spider-Man world, are produced by Sony with Marvel licensing input.
- X-Men and Deadpool: Historically 20th Century Fox productions, these characters are now part of Disney following the acquisition; future integration into the MCU is in development.
- Other appearances: Brief or licensed appearances (e.g., non-speaking cameos) do not generally create standalone franchise entries.
For the purpose of a stable, verifiable answer, this article counts MCU theatrical features produced by Marvel Studios. Including external productions would increase the number and introduce ambiguity, because rights, creative control, and billing differ across arrangements.
Common points of confusion
Questions about how many Marvel movies there are often arise from overlapping branding, TV projects, and variant releases. Consider these distinctions:
- Marvel vs. MCU: The brand "Marvel" encompasses TV, animation, digital shorts, and films. The MCU is the shared cinematic universe centered on theatrical features produced by Marvel Studios.
- Short films and One-Shots: Marvel One-Shots and MCU short films are not included in the theatrical feature count.
- IMAX or rereleases: Technical rereleases or format changes do not create new entries in the filmography.
- Spin-offs and cameos: Films like Venom (Sony) or Deadpool (Fox/Marvel) feature Marvel characters but are not MCU productions, though they are often colloquially called Marvel movies.
How to keep this number up to date
Because Marvel Studios continues to release films, the count can change. To update it reliably:
- Check Marvel Studios’ official filmography for the latest releases.
- Confirm whether a new entry is produced and distributed by Marvel Studios.
- Exclude TV series, digital shorts, and rereleases.
- Distinguish between MCU films and licensed integrations that use Marvel characters but are not produced by Marvel Studios.
As of mid-2025, the verified total for theatrical features produced by Marvel Studios is 33, with additional releases on track in 2026 and beyond.
Summary answer to the original question
There have been 33 Marvel movies produced by Marvel Studios as part of the MCU as of 2025. This reflects a verified, evergreen count of theatrical features, excluding television, shorts, and non-MCU licensed appearances. For practical purposes—whether you’re tracking milestones, planning viewing order, or comparing franchises—33 is the reliable number for how many Marvel movies exist under the MCU banner.