How To Watch The MCU In Chronological Order

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The franchise also includes television series, short films, digital series, and literature.

This timeline will be split into chapters. the chapters will have a number of the movies and TV shows in them.

THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILERS

Chapter One: In The Beginning

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

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When a terrifying force threatens everyone across the globe, the world's greatest soldier wages war on the evil HYDRA organization led by the villainous Red Skull.

This movie opens in 1942, where we meet the main villain, Red Skull. He gets his hands on the thing he desires most, The Tesseract. After that the main plot of the movie begins set during 1942 to 1945.

Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger (Official Trailer)

2. Agent Carter: One-Shot (2013)

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British operative Peggy Carter joins the nascent S.H.I.E.L.D. organization in search of the "Zodiac" key. Agent Carter also battles her misogynistic, bureaucratic boss, Agent Flynn.

This One-Shot takes place in 1946, one month before the Agent Carter show.

3. Agent Carter Season 1 (2015)

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The first season takes place in 1946, with Peggy Carter having to balance the routine office work she does for the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) in New York City with secretly assisting Howard Stark, who finds himself framed for supplying deadly weapons to enemies of the United States.

This season takes place in 1946.

Marvel's Agent Carter - Season 1 (Official Trailer)

4. Agent Carter Season 2 (2016)

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It is July 1947 and Chief Daniel Sousa has been in Los Angeles for over six months establishing the Auerbach Theatrical Agency as a front for the Strategic Scientific Reserve there; Rose Roberts accompanies him and continues her role as the first line of defence.

This season takes place in 1947.

Marvel's Agent Carter - Season 2 (Official Trailer)

5. X-Men: First Class (2011)

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The first class of X-Men, led by two very powerful mutants named Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Eric Lensherr (Magneto), join together to stop a ruthless and powerful dictator from thrusting Russia and the U.S. into nuclear war. But Eric has his own agenda, and it soon rips him and his best friend apart.

The movie opens in 1944 in Auschwitz, during the second World War, until the main plot of the movie takes place in 1962.

X-Men: First Class (Official Trailer)

6. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

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The early years of James Logan, featuring his rivalry with his brother Victor Creed, his service in the special forces team Weapon X, and his experimentation into the metal-lined mutant Wolverine. Two mutant brothers, Logan and Victor, born 200 years ago, suffer childhood trauma and have only each other to depend upon.

The movie begins in 1891, featuring James Logan (Wolverine) and his brother Victor Creed living their traumatic childhood. Soon after, the main part of the movie begins during 1973 and 1979.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Official Trailer)

7. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

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The movie opens in a post-apocalyptic future in 2023 where Sentinels are taking over the whole world. In desperate need, the X-Men seek help from fellow mutants.

The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.

They send Wolverine (Logan) back in time to the year 1973, and that is when the main plot of the movie is set, while some parts take place in 2023.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (Official Trailer)

8. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

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Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto, to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven with the help of Professor X must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

The movie is set in 1983 in the new timeline after Wolverine (Logan) changed something in the timeline in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

X-Men: Apocalypse (Official Trailer)

9. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

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Dark Phoenix tells the origin story about how Jean Grey becomes the Phoenix. The story revolves around Jean struggling with mental illness after a cosmic force enhances her psychic powers, which unlocks trauma from her childhood that causes both her mind and her powers to become unstable.

The movie is set in 1992, exactly 9 years after the previous event.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (Official Trailer)

10. Captain Marvel (2019)

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Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. After crashing an experimental aircraft, Air Force pilot Carol Danvers is discovered by the Kree and trained as a member of the elite Starforce Military under the command of her mentor Yon-Rogg.

The movie is set in 1995.

Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel (Official Trailer)

11. Blade (1998)

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In a world where vampires walk the earth, Blade has a goal. His goal is to rid the world of all vampire evil. When Blade witnesses a vampire bite Dr. Karen Jenson, he fights away the beast and takes Jenson back to his hideout.

This movie takes place in 1998.

Blade (Official Trailer)

12. Blade II (2002)

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The film follows the vampire Blade in his continuing effort to protect humans from vampires, finding himself in a fierce battle against an extremly savage, powerful mutant vampire who seeks to commit global genocide of both vampire and human races. Blade and his human allies are coerced into joining forces with a special elite group of vampires.

The movie takes place in 2000.

Blade II (Official Trailer)

13. Spider-Man (2002)

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After being bitten by a genetically-modified spider, a shy teenager (Peter Parker) gains spider-like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful enemy.

The movie is set a year before it was released. It is set in 2001.

Spider-Man (Official Trailer)

14. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

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Set two years after the events of Spider-Man, the film finds Peter Parker struggling to stop scientist Dr. Otto Octavius from recreating the dangerous experiment that killed his wife and left him neurologically fused to mechanical tentacles, while also dealing with an existential crisis between his dual identities that appears to be stripping him of his powers.

The movie is set in the year 2003.

Spider-Man 2 (Official Trailer)

15. Daredevil (2003)

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Attorney Matt Murdock is blind, but his other four senses function with superhuman sharpness. By day, Murdock represents the downtrodden. At night, he is Daredevil, a masked vigilante, a relentless avenger of justice. When Wilson Fisk hires Bullseye to kill Daredevil, Murdock must rely on his own senses and search out the conspirators against justice -- which may include his own girlfriend, Elektra.

The movie takes place in 2003.

Daredevil (Official Trailer)

16. X-Men (2000)

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In a world where both Mutants and Humans fear each other, Marie, better known as Rogue, runs away from home and hitches a ride with another mutant, known as Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine. Professor Charles Xavier, who owns a school for young mutants, sends Storm and Cyclops to bring them back before it is too late.

The movie is set 3 years after its initial release. It is set in 2003.

X-Men (Official Trailer)

17. X-Men 2 (2003)

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The plot, concerns the genocidal Colonel William Stryker leading an assault on Professor Xavier 's school to build his own version of Xavier's mutant-tracking computer, Cerebro, in order to destroy every mutant on Earth and to save the human race from them, forcing the X-Men to team up with the Brotherhood of Mutants to stop Stryker and save the mutant race.

The movie is set a few months after X-Men in the year 2003.

X-Men 2 (Official Trailer)

18. Madame Web (2024)

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Cassandra Webb is a New York City paramedic who starts to show signs of clairvoyance. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she must protect three young women from a mysterious adversary who wants them dead.

This movie takes place in 2003.

Madame Web (Official Trailer)

19. Spider-Man 3 (2007)

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A strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge. Peter Parker has finally managed to piece together the once-broken parts of his life, maintaining a balance between his relationship with Mary-Jane and his responsibility as Spider-Man.

The movie is set 2 years before its release. It's set in 2005.

Spider-Man 3 (Official Trailer)

20. Fantastic Four (2005)

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Scientist Reed Richards persuades his arrogant former classmate, Victor Von Doom, to fund his experiments with cosmic energy. On Von Doom's space station, the crew -- including astronaut Ben Grimm, researcher Sue Storm and pilot Johnny Storm -- are exposed to a mysterious cosmic storm that bestows super powers upon them. As they cope with their transformations, Von Doom vows his revenge.

The movie takes place in 2005.

Fantastic Four (Official Trailer)

21. Elektra (2005)

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Elektra the warrior survives a near-death experience, becomes an assassin-for-hire, and tries to protect her two latest targets, a single father and his young daughter, from a group of supernatural assassins. In the ultimate battle between good and evil stands a warrior who makes the choice that tips the balance.

The movie takes place in late 2005.

Elektra (Official Trailer)

22. Blade: Trinity (2004)

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Blade finds himself alone surrounded by enemies, fighting an up hill battle with the vampire nation and now humans. He joins forces with a group of vampire hunters who call themselves the Nightstalkers. The vampire nation awakens the king of vampires Dracula from his slumber with intentions of using his primitive blood to become day-walkers.

It is set in 2006.

Blade: Trinity (Official Trailer)

23. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

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In the 1980s, Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto meet a young Jean Grey at her parents' house to invite her to join their school, the X-Mansion. Jean's parents believe she is sick, and they are only too happy to be rid of her.

Then, around 26 years later, the main plot begins in 2006, the year this movie is set.

X-Men: The Last Stand (Official Trailer)

24. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

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Reed, Susan, Johnny and Ben face an intergalactic messenger who has arrived to prepare Earth for its destruction. While the enigmatic being wreaks havoc around the world, the heroic quartet must also contend with the unexpected return of their enemy, Victor Von Doom.

The movie takes place in 2007.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Official Trailer)

25. Iron Man (2008)

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After being kidnapped by a powerful terrorist organization, brilliant industrialist Tony Stark narrowly escapes using an iron suit he crafted from scrap metal and spare parts. Upon returning home, he devotes all of his time and resources to perfecting the iron man suit, and using it to fight evil, sometimes in the place where he least expects it.

This movie was also the first movie Marvel Studios made. The movie is set in 2010.

Marvel's Iron Man (Official Trailer)

26. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

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The Incredible Hulk is set around the same time as Iron Man. We know this because of a post-credit scene during the movie's credits.

After surviving a deadly gamma radiation accident, scientist Bruce Banner travels the world in search for a cure to his inner force of rage that turns him into a massive green monster known as the Hulk.

The movie is set in 2010 like Iron Man.

The Incredible Hulk (Official Trailer)

27. The Consultant: One-Shot (2011)

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Agents Coulson and Sitwell plan to derail General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross from interfering with S.H.I.E.L.D. affairs with a special person.

This One-Shot takes place in 2010, right after the events of The Incredible Hulk.

28. Iron Man 2 (2010)

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In Iron Man 2, the world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands.

Most people would watch this before The Incredible Hulk, because of Iron Man 2's 6 month gap between the opening and main plot of this movie. But, the main plot starts after The Incredible Hulk in 2011. So, this movie is set in 2011.

Marvel's Iron Man 2 (Official Trailer)

29. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer: One-Shot (2011)

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Agent Coulson stops at a convenience store and deals with a coincidental robbery during his visit.

This One-Shot takes place in 2011, before the events of Thor.

30. Thor (2011)

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Thor is cast out of Asgard by his father Odin and sent to Midgard (Earth) as punishment for his arrogance and disobedience in his battle. He loses his powers of the hammer until it returned to him on Earth and he pulls it from the ground.

Thor is set a few months after Iron Man 2 in 2011, and this movie ultimately sets up The Avengers (or Avengers Assemble).

Marvel's Thor (Official Trailer)

31. The Avengers (2012)

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The Avengers is a movie featuring Captain America (Steve Rogers), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Thor, Hawkeye (Clint Barton), and Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) team up and battle against Loki The God of Mischief.

When the Tesseract, a cube of pure energy with the power to destroy the Earth, is stolen by the nefarious God of Mischief, Loki, S.H.I.E.L.D. leader Nick Fury embarks on a daring recruitment effort spanning the globe to assemble a team of the world’s most powerful superheroes to get it back.

The Avengers is also known as Avengers Assemble in Europe. The movie is set 1 year after the events of Thor. It is set in 2012.

Marvel's The Avengers (Official Trailer)

32. Item 47: One-Shot (2012)

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SHIELD agent Sitwell is assigned to recover an abandoned Chitauri weapon being used by a couple robbing a bank.

This One-Shot takes place in 2012 after the events of The Avengers.

Chapter Two: The Aftermath

33. Iron Man 3 (2013)

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Iron Man 3 follows the events of The Avengers (or Avengers Assemble) the Christmas of 2012. The movie follows Tony's traumatic memories from the battle of New York and nearly dying during it.

Tony Stark (Iron Man) is up against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle.

This movie is set during the Christmas of 2012.

Marvel's Iron Man 3 (Official Trailer)

34. All Hail the King: One-Shot (2014)

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A documentary filmmaker interviews "Mandarin" impersonator Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) to unlock the secrets of his past and find out if the terrorist group the Ten Rings really exists.

This final One-Shot takes place in early 2013 after the events of Iron Man 3.

35. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 1-7 (2013)

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson assembles a small team of agents to investigate a mysterious group called the Rising Tide. In doing so, they encounter Mike Peterson, a man who has acquired superhuman powers.

These 7 episodes are set in early 2013.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 1 (Official Trailer)

36. Thor: The Dark World (2013)

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When the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster. Thousands of years ago, a race of beings known as Dark Elves tried to send the universe into darkness by using a weapon known as the Aether.

The movie takes place in 2013.

Marvel's Thor: The Dark World (Official Trailer)

37. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

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The Amazing Spider-Man follows the origin story of a different universe's Peter Parker's beginnings as the world-renowned wall-crawler. After being bitten by a radio-active spider, Peter acquires amazing abilities which will help him achieve things one could only dream about.

The movie takes place in the year 2013.

The Amazing Spider-Man (Official Trailer)

38. The Wolverine (2013)

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Wolverine comes to Japan to meet an old friend whose life he saved years ago, and gets embroiled in a conspiracy involving yakuza and mutants. In modern day Japan, Wolverine is out of his depth in an unknown world as he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed.

The movie takes place in 2013.

The Wolverine (Official Trailer)

39. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 8-16 (2013)

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson assembles a small team of agents to investigate a mysterious group called the Rising Tide. In doing so, they encounter Mike Peterson, a man who has acquired superhuman powers.

These 9 episodes take place in 2014.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 1 (Official Trailer)

40. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

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As Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

The movie takes place in 2014.

Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Official Trailer)

41. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episodes 17-22 (2013)

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson assembles a small team of agents to investigate a mysterious group called the Rising Tide. In doing so, they encounter Mike Peterson, a man who has acquired superhuman powers.

These final 6 episodes of season 1 are set in 2014.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 1 (Official Trailer)

42. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

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A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe. After stealing a mysterious orb in the far reaches of outer space, Peter Quill from Earth is now the main target of a manhunt led by the villain known as Ronan the Accuser.

The movie takes place in 2014.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (Official Trailer)

43. I Am Groot Season 1 (2022)

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It's hard to be the little guy, but when accidentally uncovers a civilization of miniature blue aliens, the tables are turned. Groot sets out to paint a family portrait of himself and the Guardians, and goes to great lengths to collect art supplies and forge his masterpiece.

This season takes place in late 2014.

I Am Groot - Season 1 (Official Trailer)

44. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

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A few months after the Guardians' first rodeo, they struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord's encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego. After saving Xandar from Ronan's wrath, the Guardians are now recognized as heroes.

The movie takes place in late 2014.

Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Teaser Trailer)

45. I Am Groot Season 2 (2023)

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Baby Groot finds himself exploring the universe and beyond aboard the Guardians' spaceships, coming face-to-face — or nose-to-nose — with new and colourful creatures and environments.

This season takes place in late 2014, right after the events of season 1.

Marvel Studios' I Am Groot - Season 2 (Official Trailer)

46. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

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Confident in his powers as Spider-Man, Peter Parker embraces his new role as a hero and spends time with Gwen Stacy in between protecting New York from criminals. However, his greatest battle yet is about to begin. With the emergence of Electro, Peter must confront him, who is a far more powerful than he is. And when his old friend Harry Osborn returns, Peter comes to realize that all his enemies have one thing in common: Oscorp.

The movie takes place in 2014.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Official Trailer)

47. Daredevil Season 1 (2015)

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The first season of Daredevil, follows the early days of Matt Murdock (Daredevil), a lawyer-by-day who fights crime at night, juxtaposed with the rise of crime lord Wilson Fisk.

The first season is set in 2015.

Marvel's Daredevil - Season 1 (Official Trailer)

48. Jessica Jones Season 1 (2015)

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In the first season, Jessica Jones was on the trail of her arch-nemesis and rapist Kilgrave. The purple man with the powers to make any person follow his commands left a trail of destruction in his wake, including destroying the good and hope that was within Jessica.

The first season is set in 2015.

Marvel's Jessica Jones - Season 1 (Official Trailer)

49. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episodes 1-19 (2014)

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Fitz and Simmons are reunited while Morse, who is Hunter's ex-wife, joins the team. Skye's father delivers the Obelisk to Whitehall himself and offers to join forces with Hydra. During a United Nations meeting on S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra agents posing as S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives attack and kill several world representatives.

These 19 episodes are set in 2015.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 2 (Teaser)

50. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

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When Tony Stark tries to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (The Avengers) are put to the ultimate test when the villainous Ultron emerges. It’s up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

This movie takes place in 2015.

Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron (Teaser Trailer)

Chapter Three: The Fallout

51. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episodes 20-22 (2014)

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Fitz and Simmons are reunited while Morse, who is Hunter's ex-wife, joins the team. Skye's father delivers the Obelisk to Whitehall himself and offers to join forces with Hydra. During a United Nations meeting on S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra agents posing as S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives attack and kill several world representatives.

These last 3 episodes take place in 2015.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 2 (Teaser)

52. Ant-Man (2015)

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A con artist named Scott Lang gets a shot at redemption when his mentor asks him to protect a super-powered suit. Donning the stunning technology, which shrinks him down to minuscule size, he fights off villains seeking to steal the invention, and organizes a heist that could save the world.

This movie is set in 2015.

Marvel's Ant-Man (Official Trailer)

53. Daredevil Season 2 (2017)

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Just when Matt Murdock (Daredevil) thinks he is bringing order back to the city, new forces are rising in Hell's Kitchen. Now the Man Without Fear must take on a new adversary in Frank Castle and face an old flame – Elektra Natchios.

The second season takes place in 2015.

Marvel's Daredevil - Season 2 (Final Trailer)

54. Luke Cage Season 1 (2016)

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When a sabotaged experiment gives him super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage becomes a fugitive attempting to rebuild his life in Harlem and must soon confront his past and fight a battle for the heart of his city.

The first season is set during the end of 2015 and the start of 2016.

Marvel's Luke Cage - Season 1 (Official Trailer)

55. Iron Fist Season 1 (2017)

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In the first season, after being presumed dead for 15 years, Danny Rand (Iron Fist) returns to New York City to reclaim his family company from Harold Meachum and his children Ward and Joy. When a threat emerges, Rand must choose between his family's legacy and his duties as the Iron Fist.

The first season is set in 2016.

Watch Marvel's Iron Fist on Disney+

56. The Defenders Season 1 (2017)

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This is the story of four solitary figures, Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist (Danny Rand), burdened with their own personal challenges, who realize they just might be stronger when teamed together. — ahmetkozan A group of superheroes with different abilities team up to fight an evil that endangers their cities and perhaps the world.

This first season is set in 2016.

Watch Marvel's The Defenders on Disney+