All the Avengers Films in Chronological Order
From the Chitauri portal above New York to the cosmic reboot promised by Secret Wars, the Avengers saga counts six tentpole films that redefined the modern blockbuster. This guide walks through each of them in chronological release order: release date, directors, plot summary, impact on the saga, and related merchandise. Everything you need to (re)watch the whole franchise in the right order before Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters.
- The Avengers (2012)
- Age of Ultron (2015)
- Infinity War (2018)
- Endgame (2019)
- Doomsday (2026)
- Secret Wars (2027)
- Comparison table
- Films shop
- FAQ
1. The Avengers May 2012
The film that created the "team-up superhero movie" genre
Released on May 4, 2012, The Avengers is the culmination of the MCU's Phase 1: Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and Hulk join forces with Black Widow and Hawkeye, under Nick Fury's direction, to repel the Chitauri invasion orchestrated by Loki and the scepter linked to the Mind Stone. The Battle of New York, the film's climax, remains one of the most iconic action sequences in superhero cinema.
The first film to bring together so many heroes already established in their own franchises, The Avengers proved the "Marvel Cinematic Universe" bet launched by Iron Man in 2008. See how the Avengers first met and the team's origins.
2. Avengers: Age of Ultron May 2015
Creating an artificial intelligence that goes horribly wrong
Three years after New York, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to build a global defense program using Loki's scepter, recovered from Hydra. The result: Ultron, an AI convinced that humanity is its own greatest threat. Released May 1, 2015, this second installment introduces Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Vision, and closes with the creation of the Sokovia Accords, which will split the team apart in Civil War.
It's also the film that popularized the term "New Avengers," as the team is reshuffled by the film's end. To understand this film's direct legacy: Ultron, the AI That Wanted to Destroy Humanity and Vision, the AI That Became an Avenger.
3. Avengers: Infinity War April 2018
The film that rewrote the rules of the blockbuster
Ten years of the MCU converge in this third installment, released April 27, 2018. Thanos, the Mad Titan, hunts down the six Infinity Stones across the galaxy to achieve his "balance." The Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Wakandans join forces to stop him — in vain. The film ends with the first "Snap" in MCU history, wiping out half of all life in the universe in one of the boldest endings ever filmed for a blockbuster.
Directed by the Russo brothers, who would return to direct Doomsday and Secret Wars eight years later. See Thanos's Snap: what really happened.
4. Avengers: Endgame April 2019
The highest-grossing film in cinema history (at release)
Released April 26, 2019, Endgame concludes the "Infinity Saga" that began in 2008. The surviving Avengers devise a way to time-travel and retrieve the Infinity Stones before the Snap, in order to undo the damage caused by Thanos. The final battle, bringing together nearly every hero in the MCU on a single battlefield, remains an unmatched peak of fan service and emotion, marking the exit of several of the franchise's founding heroes.
Endgame dethroned Avatar at the global box office upon release, confirming the commercial power of ten years of narrative buildup. For the next chapter of the timeline: the Marvel Multiverse explained.
5. Avengers: Doomsday Dec. 18, 2026
The triumphant return of the Russo brothers, seven years after Endgame
Set for release on December 18, 2026, Avengers: Doomsday marks the return of Infinity War and Endgame's directors at the helm of the saga. The Avengers, the Wakandans, the Fantastic Four, the New Avengers, and the X-Men must join forces to face Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. in a spectacular casting twist that flips his iconic role as Tony Stark / Iron Man.
This fifth film officially marks the end of the Multiverse Saga, with a massive cast bringing together several generations of Marvel heroes never before assembled on screen. Our dedicated page: Avengers: Doomsday (2026), everything to know about the film.
6. Avengers: Secret Wars Dec. 17, 2027
The film meant to reset everything
One year after Doomsday, Avengers: Secret Wars will be released on December 17, 2027, to conclude the Multiverse Saga that began with Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Based on intentions announced by Marvel Studios, this sixth film is set to merge several multiverse realities into a single timeline, paving the way for a new chapter of the MCU after more than a decade of shared continuity.
Also directed by the Russo brothers, this Doomsday / Secret Wars diptych is already regarded as the most ambitious cinematic event Marvel Studios has ever attempted. To follow multiverse news: The Marvel Multiverse, Simply Explained and X-Men and Fantastic Four in the MCU.
Avengers Films Comparison Table
| Film | Release | Director(s) | Main villain |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Avengers | May 4, 2012 | Joss Whedon | Loki |
| Avengers: Age of Ultron | May 1, 2015 | Joss Whedon | Ultron |
| Avengers: Infinity War | April 27, 2018 | Anthony & Joe Russo | Thanos |
| Avengers: Endgame | April 26, 2019 | Anthony & Joe Russo | Thanos |
| Avengers: Doomsday | December 18, 2026 | Anthony & Joe Russo | Doctor Doom |
| Avengers: Secret Wars | December 17, 2027 | Anthony & Joe Russo | To be confirmed |
The Whole Avengers Saga in Posters
Relive every chapter of the saga: official posters for each of the 6 films, from The Avengers (2012) to Secret Wars (2027).
By film
Best-selling posters & prints
Frequently Asked Questions About the Avengers Films
What order should I watch the Avengers films in?
For release order (recommended for discovering the saga): The Avengers (2012), Age of Ultron (2015), Infinity War (2018), Endgame (2019), Doomsday (2026), then Secret Wars (2027). For an in-universe chronological order covering every MCU film, check out our Guide to the MCU in Chronological Order.
Do I need to have seen every Marvel film before Avengers: Doomsday?
It's not required, but strongly recommended, since Doomsday brings together characters from several franchises (X-Men, Fantastic Four, New Avengers). See our guide X-Men and Fantastic Four in the MCU to catch up on these universes before release.
Who directs Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars?
Both films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who return to the helm of the saga seven years after Avengers: Endgame (2019).
When does Avengers: Doomsday come out?
The worldwide release is set for December 18, 2026. Find all the details on our page Avengers: Doomsday, everything to know about the film.
Where can I find posters for all the Avengers films?
Our All Avengers Films collection brings together posters, prints, and merchandise for each of the saga's 6 films, from the first 2012 installment to the upcoming releases.
Keep exploring the Avengers universe
- All the Avengers Heroes: The Complete Guide
- The Avengers Villains: The Complete Guide
- The Guide to the MCU in Chronological Order
- Avengers: Doomsday (2026) — Everything to Know
- The Infinity Gauntlet: Complete Guide
- The Origins of the Avengers
- Who Is Doctor Doom? Origin and Powers
- X-Men and Fantastic Four in the MCU
- The Avengers Universe
- The Marvel Multiverse Explained
- The Infinity Stones Explained
- Thanos's Snap Explained
From the Battle of New York in 2012 to the cosmic reboot promised by Secret Wars in 2027, the Avengers saga will have taken fifteen years to tell the biggest story ever attempted in cinema. Check out all our guides to the heroes and the villains who populate these six films, and gear up with our complete collection dedicated to the Avengers films.