Current count and what’s included
As of 2025, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) comprises approximately 36 released theatrical and streaming films that carry an MCU credit in the primary canon. This total includes core theatrical features, television-length films released on streaming under the Marvel Studios banner, and Special Presentations that advance the shared continuity. It excludes short-form content, theme park attractions, unproduced projects, and non-cameo appearances. The roster spans characters, ensembles, and milestone films that define the shared era. Below we break down the phases, provide a verifiable table, and outline what counts and what doesn’t, so the count remains clear and future updates are easy to track.
How we define an MCU movie
Official studio credit and canon status
To qualify in a structured list, an MCU movie must meet these criteria:
- Carries a Marvel Studios production or co-production credit on the feature itself, not just in marketing or distribution.
- Is intended as canon within the shared continuity and acknowledged in interviews, official databases, or press materials by Marvel Studios or Disney.
- Is a standalone film or special presentation, not short-form content, behind-the-scenes specials, or non-narrative features.
What to exclude
Excluded items are consistent and help keep the count stable over time:
- Short films, such as Marvel One-Shots, unless they are framed as Special Presentations and included in a phase total.
- Television series, miniseries, and animated shows, regardless of platform.
- Documentaries and non-fiction specials that do not present narrative story content.
- Fan projects, unproduced scripts, and rumored projects without studio confirmation.
List of MCU movies by phase and year
The table below reflects the current confirmed canon slate as of 2025, grouped by original phase intent and ordered by release. You can use this to verify how titles map to phases and to track upcoming additions.
| Metric | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Phase One (2008–2012) | Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers | Marvel Studios release slate |
| Phase Two (2013–2015) | Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man | Marvel Studios release slate |
| Phase Three (2016–2019) | Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel | Marvel Studios release slate |
| Phase Four (2021–2025) | Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Marvels, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | Marvel Studios slate; some titles classified as Special Presentations |
| Phase Five and beyond (2026–2027) | Thunderbolts*, Captain America: Brave New World, Deadpool & Wolverine, Blade | Announced slate; note that final classification may adjust until release or official confirmation |
| Special Presentations | Were framed as MCU entries in their campaigns (for list stability, include when officially labeled MCU features) | Marketing and studio announcements |
Count by phase
Using the definitions above, here is how the titles distribute across phases and years, with notes on boundary cases. The counts below sum to the 36-film total and can be updated as official announcements clarify status.
- Phase One: 6 films
- Phase Two: 6 films
- Phase Three: 9 films
- Phase Four: 11 films
- Announced or in production (as of 2025): 3 films tentatively assigned to Phase Five
Streaming and special formats
Several MCU features debuted on streaming platforms with feature-length runtimes and full narrative arcs. In this article, they are counted as films when they carry a primary MCU credit and advance continuity. Examples include films released on Disney+ under the “Marvel Studios” banner that are marketed and labeled as features rather than episodic series.
Common questions and edge cases
- What about Marvel’s Netflix series turned into films? These are television-first productions and are not counted as films, even if they later connect to the cinematic slate.
- Do mid- and post-credits scenes affect count? No; a film’s inclusion depends on its credit and narrative role, not on how many links it contains.
- How are multiverse variants treated? Features focusing on alternate versions are counted once per narrative film, not per variant cameo in another title.
- Are theme park exclusives included? No; these are experiential content and do not carry a theatrical or streaming release credit.
How the count may change
New announcements, reclassifications, or release strategies can shift tallies. Future updates should rely on:
- Official Marvel Studios press releases and feature credits.
- Disney and theater chain schedules for release confirmations.
- Consistent definitions that distinguish narrative features from series, specials, and short-form content.
Until a project is formally announced and released with an MCU credit, it should be treated as rumored or planned rather than counted in the current total. This keeps the list reliable and transparent for comparison purposes.