The following

outline Outline or outlining may refer to: * Outline (list), a document summary, in hierarchical list format * Code folding, a method of hiding or collapsing code or text to see content in outline form * Outline drawing, a sketch depicting the outer edge ...

serves as an overview of and topical guide to the

Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appe ...

(MCU), an American

media franchise A media franchise, also known as a multimedia franchise, is a collection of related media in which several derivative works have been produced from an original creative work of fiction, such as a film, a work of literature, a television program, o ...

and

shared universe A shared universe or shared world is a fictional universe from a set of creative works where one or more writers (or other artists) independently contribute works that can stand alone but fits into the joint development of the storyline, charact ...

created by

Marvel Studios Marvel Studios, LLC, formerly known as Marvel Films, is an American film and television production company. Marvel Studios is the creator of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a media franchise and shared universe of films and television ser ...

and owned by

the Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16 ...

. The franchise began in 2008 with the release of the film ''

Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...

'' and has since expanded to include various

superhero film Superhero film/movie is a film genre categorized by the presence of superhero characters, individuals with extraordinary abilities who are dedicated to fighting crime, saving the world, or helping the innocent. It is sometimes considered a sub ...

s and television series produced by Marvel Studios, television series from

Marvel Television Marvel Television was an American television production company responsible for live-action and animated television shows and direct-to-DVD series based on characters from Marvel Comics. Marvel Television was formed as a division of Marvel En ...

, short films, digital series, literature, and other media. These are based on characters appearing in

American comic books An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

. Marvel Studios president

Kevin Feige Kevin Feige ( ; born June 2, 1973) is an American film and television producer. He has been the president of Marvel Studios and the primary producer of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise since 2007. The films he has produced have a co ...

produces every film and series from that studio for the MCU. The shared universe, much like the original

Marvel Universe The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Superhero teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardia ...

in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. The franchise has been commercially successful and has grossed over $31 billion at the global box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing media franchises and the highest-grossing film franchise of all time. This includes '' Avengers: Endgame'' (2019), which concluded its theatrical run as the highest-grossing film of all time. The franchise has received numerous accolades for its films and

television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...

, and has inspired other film and television studios to attempt similar shared universes. It has also spawned the creation of several themed attractions, documentary series, literary material, and multiple tie-in video games.

Organizations

– Creator of the MCU and the production company for its films, television series, and other media; currently part of Walt Disney Studios; the studio's television series have been released under the "

" label since late 2024 **

Marvel Studios Animation Marvel Studios Animation (also known as Marvel Animation) is a division of American production company Marvel Studios centered on development of its animated projects based on Marvel Comics. The division was created by Marvel Studios as a "min ...

– Division of Marvel Studios focused on producing animated television series, which have been released under the division's "Marvel Animation" label since 2024 *

– Production company for some television series from 2013 to 2020 that was folded into Marvel Studios in 2019

Influential people

Avi Arad Avi Arad (; ; born August 1, 1948) is an Israeli-American studio executive and producer of film, television and animation. He became the CEO of Toy Biz in the 1990s, was the chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment and is the founder, ...

– Founder of Marvel Studios *

David Maisel David Maisel is an American film and Broadway producer, entertainment businessman and the architect of the self-financed and self-producing Marvel Studios. He is the executive producer of ''Iron Man'', '' The Incredible Hulk'', '' Iron Man 2'', ...

– Founding Chairman of Marvel Studios *

– President of Marvel Studios and chief creative officer of

Marvel Entertainment Marvel Entertainment, LLC (formerly Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Marvel Enterprises, Inc.) was an American entertainment company founded in June 1998 and based in New York City, formed by the merger of #Marvel Entertainment Group, Marvel Ente ...

Louis D'Esposito Marvel Studios, LLC, formerly known as Marvel Films, is an American film and television production company. Marvel Studios is the creator of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a media franchise and shared universe of films and television ser ...

– Co-president of Marvel Studios *

Victoria Alonso Victoria Alonso (born 22 December 1965) is an Argentine film producer who formerly served as the president of physical and post-production, visual effects, and animation at Marvel Studios. Early life and education Victoria Alonso was born on ...

– Former president of production at Marvel Studios *

Jeph Loeb Joseph "Jeph" Loeb III () is an American film and television writer, producer and comic book writer. Loeb was a producer/writer on the TV series ''Smallville (TV series), Smallville'' and ''Lost (2004 TV series), Lost'', writer for the films ''C ...

– Former executive vice president of Marvel Television *

Stan Lee Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber ; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book author, writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Comics which later bec ...

– Creator or co-creator of many Marvel characters adapted in the MCU, who frequently made

cameo appearances A cameo appearance, also called a cameo role and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief guest appearance of a well-known person or character in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking one ...

Content

Feature films

Marvel Studios releases its films in groups called "Phases".

The Infinity Saga

The films from Phase One, Phase Two, and Phase Three are collectively known as "The Infinity Saga".

= Phase One

= Phase Two

= Phase Three

The Multiverse Saga

The films from Phase Four, Phase Five, and Phase Six are collectively known as "The Multiverse Saga". The Phases also include multiple television series and two specials streaming on

Disney+ The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

= Phase Four films

= Phase Five films

= Phase Six films

Future films

Television series

Marvel Television

= ABC series

= Netflix series

= Young adult series

= Adventure into Fear

Marvel Studios

All Marvel Studios series will be or are being released on

unless otherwise noted.

= Phase Four series

= Phase Five series

= Phase Six series

= Future series

Television specials

Television specials produced by Marvel Studios and released on

are marketed as "

Marvel Studios Special Presentations Marvel Studios Special Presentations are a series of television specials produced by Marvel Studios for Disney+, set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the franchise's films and television series. The Marvel St ...

Phase Four specials

Phase Six specials

Short films

Marvel One-Shots

= ''Team Thor''

''I Am Groot''

Digital series

''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' web series

Faux current affairs digital series

Tie-in comic books

Music

The original songs of the MCU are: * "

Live to Rise "Live to Rise" is a song recorded by American rock band Soundgarden for the 2012 film '' The Avengers''. The song was released by Hollywood Records on April 17, 2012, as a free digital download during its first week of availability at the iTune ...

" (2012) * "

All the Stars "All the Stars" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar and American singer SZA. Written alongside Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith and producers Sounwave and Al Shux, the song was released on January 4, 2018, as the lead single to the soundtrac ...

" (2018) * "

King's Dead "King's Dead" is a song by American rappers Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Future with English singer James Blake, from the soundtrack album of the Marvel Studios superhero film ''Black Panther'' and Jay Rock's third studio album '' Redemption''. ...

" (2018) * " Pray for Me" (2018) * "

Agatha All Along Agatha All Along may refer to: * "Agatha All Along" (song), a song from the miniseries ''WandaVision'' * ''Agatha All Along'' (miniseries), a spin-off series of the miniseries ''WandaVision'' {{dab ...

" (2021) * " Run It" (2021) * " Lift Me Up" (2022) * "

Slash Slash may refer to: * Slash (punctuation), the "/" character Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Slash (Marvel Comics) * Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'') Music * Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band * Nash th ...

" (2024) * "

The Ballad of the Witches' Road "The Ballad of the Witches' Road" is a song from the Marvel Studios Disney+ television miniseries ''Agatha All Along (miniseries), Agatha All Along'', written by composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Eight versions of the song were ...

" (2024)

Recurring cast and characters

Fictional universe

Timeline

The following diagram represents the

Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline The fictional timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise and shared universe is the Continuity (fiction), continuity of events for several List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, feature films, List of Marvel Cinematic Uni ...

for media released by Marvel Studios as well as the Netflix series by Marvel Television. Its placement is meant to represent when the majority of the project occurs. ''

Loki Loki is a Æsir, god in Norse mythology. He is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mythology), Laufey (a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to the goddess Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi (son of Lo ...

'' and '' What If...?'' are excluded from the diagram because they occur outside of the main timeline with no set timeframe. ''

Werewolf by Night The Werewolf by Night (also known as the Werewolf) is the name of two Werewolf, werewolves appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell, first appeared in ''Marvel Spotlig ...

'' is also excluded given the special explicitly does not indicate where it takes place in the MCU. Disney+'s timeline order places the first seasons of ''Loki'' and ''What If...?'' between ''Avengers: Endgame'' and ''WandaVision'', their second seasons after ''

The Marvels ''The Marvels'' is a 2023 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to the film '' Captain Marvel'' (2019), a continuation of the telev ...

'', and ''Werewolf by Night'' after '' Thor: Love and Thunder''; ''Werewolf by Night'' is also placed here in '' The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline''.

Features and in-universe elements

* "Avengers assemble" scene *

The Blip The Blip (also known as the Decimation and the Snap) is a fictional major event and period of time depicted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The Blip began in 2018 when Thanos, wielding all six Infinity Stones in the Infinity Gauntl ...

Infinity Stones The Infinity Stones are fictional items in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise, based on the Infinity Gems of the Marvel Comics. As expounded across several interwoven MCU multimedia titles, the six Infinity Stones are repu ...

Iron Man's armor Iron Man's armor is a fictional powered exoskeleton appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is built and worn by billionaire Tony Stark when he assumes the identity of the superhero Iron Man. The first armor was cre ...

Mjolnir and Stormbreaker Mjölnir (commonly written without diacritics as Mjolnir) and Stormbreaker, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), are sentient enchanted weapons of choice used by Thor. Both are melee weapons and were created out of Uru metal forged with the h ...

Multiverse The multiverse is the hypothetical set of all universes. Together, these universes are presumed to comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, energy, information, and the physical laws and constants that describ ...

Teams and organizations of the Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on superhero films and Superhero fiction, other series starring Superhero, various titular superheroes independently produced by Marvel Studios and b ...

Avengers Avenger(s) or The Avenger(s) may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes **Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Sag ...

** Ten Rings *

Species of the Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on superhero films and television series starring various titular superheros independently produced by Marvel Studios: based on characters that appe ...

Inspired media

Docuseries

''Marvel Studios: Legends''

''Marvel Studios: Assembled''

Shorts and television episodes

* " Bart the Bad Guy" (2020) * ''

The Good, the Bart, and the Loki ''The Good, the Bart, and the Loki'' (also known as ''The Simpsons: The Good, the Bart, and the Loki'') is an American animated short film based on the television series ''The Simpsons'' produced by Gracie Films and 20th Television Animation fo ...

'' (2021) * ''

Deadpool and Korg React ''Deadpool and Korg React'' is a 2021 American superhero promotional short film featuring the Marvel Comics characters Deadpool and Korg. The film was written and directed by Ryan Reynolds, with him and Taika Waititi respectively starring as De ...

'' (2021)

Theme park attractions

Avengers Campus Avengers Campus is a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)–themed area located at Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris, and being developed for Hong Kong Disneyland under the name Stark Expo. The Marvel-t ...

Iron Man Experience Iron Man Experience (Traditional Chinese: 鐵甲奇俠飛行之旅) is a 3D computer graphics, 3-D motion simulator attraction in Tomorrowland (Disney Parks), Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened on 11 January 2017. The attraction ...

** ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' – Mission: Breakout! ** Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! ** Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure ** Iron Man roller coaster * ''Guardians of the Galaxy'': Cosmic Rewind * '' Rogers: The Musical''

Tie-in video games

Reception and accolades

List of accolades received by Marvel Cinematic Universe films The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a film series, series of superhero films, independently produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in American comic books publ ...

Notes

References

External links

* * {{Subject bar , portal1=2000s , portal2=2010s , portal3=2020s , portal4=Film , portal5=Television , portal6=United States , portal7=Speculative fiction , portal8=Comics , portal9=Disney , display=Marvel Cinematic Universe , commons=y , commons-search=Marvel Cinematic Universe , wikt=y , wikt-search=MCU , d=Q642878 *