The following outline serves as an overview of and topical guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), an American media franchise and shared universe created by Marvel Studios and owned by the Walt Disney Company. The franchise began in 2008 with the release of the film Iron Man and has since expanded to include various superhero films and television series produced by Marvel Studios, television series from Marvel Television, short films, digital series, literature, and other media. These are based on characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige produces every film and series from that studio for the MCU. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe 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 $30 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. It has inspired other film and television studios to attempt similar shared universes, and also spawned the creation of several themed attractions, documentary series, literary material, and multiple tie-in video games.
Organizations Marvel Studios – 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 "Marvel Television" label since late 2024 Marvel Studios Animation – Division of Marvel Studios focused on producing animated television series, which have been released under the division's "Marvel Animation" label since 2024 Marvel Television – Production company for some television series from 2013 to 2020 that was folded into Marvel Studios in 2019
Influential people
Avi Arad – Founder of Marvel Studios David Maisel – Founding Chairman of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige – President of Marvel Studios and chief creative officer of Marvel Louis D'Esposito – Co-president of Marvel Studios Brad Winderbaum – Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios, former Vice President of Production and Development Victoria Alonso – Former president of production at Marvel Studios Jeph Loeb – Former executive vice president of Marvel Television Stan Lee – Creator or co-creator of many Marvel characters adapted in the MCU, who frequently made cameo appearances
Content
Feature films
Marvel Studios releases its films in groups called "Phases", with three phases making up a "Saga".
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 three television specials streaming on Disney+.
Phase Four films
Phase Five films
Phase Six films
Phase Seven films
Future films
Television series Marvel Television series
ABC series
Netflix series
Young adult series
Adventure into Fear
Marvel Studios series
Television series produced by Marvel Studios are released exclusively on Disney+, unless otherwise noted, and as part of their corresponding Phases.
Phase Four series
Phase Five series
Phase Six series
Future series
Television specials
Television specials produced by Marvel Studios and released on Disney+ are marketed as "Marvel Studios Special Presentations" and "Marvel Television Special Presentations".
Phase Four specials
Phase Six special
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" (2012) "All the Stars" (2018) "King's Dead" (2018) "Pray for Me" (2018) "Agatha All Along" (2021) "Run It" (2021) "Lift Me Up" (2022) "Slash" (2024) "The Ballad of the Witches' Road" (2024)
Recurring cast and characters
Fictional universe Timeline The following diagram represents the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline 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 and What If...? are excluded from the diagram because they occur outside of the main timeline with no set timeframe. Werewolf by Night 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, 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 Infinity Stones Iron Man's armor Multiverse Teams and organizations of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers Ten Rings Species of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
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 (2021) Deadpool and Korg React (2021)
Theme park attractions Avengers Campus Iron Man Experience Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure Iron Man roller coaster Avengers Assemble: Flight Force Avengers Infinity Defense 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 List of accolades received by Iron Man List of accolades received by The Avengers List of accolades received by Guardians of the Galaxy List of accolades received by Black Panther List of accolades received by Avengers: Infinity War List of accolades received by Avengers: Endgame List of accolades received by Spider-Man: No Way Home List of accolades received by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever List of accolades received by Marvel Cinematic Universe television series List of accolades received by WandaVision List of accolades received by Loki List of box office records set by Avengers: Infinity War List of box office records set by Avengers: Endgame
Notes
References
External links