Marvel phases explained

How many phases are in the MCU?

The McuWatch Road covers MCU Phases 1 through 6, plus the Fox X-Men and Deadpool & Wolverine groups. Phases 1–3 are commonly called the Infinity Saga, and Phases 4–6 the Multiverse Saga (Deadpool & Wolverine, a Phase 5 film, is counted there too).

• Infinity Saga watch order on the Road: 24 titles (24 movies, 0 shows), about 52 hr 10 min total runtime.
• Multiverse Saga watch order on the Road: 27 titles (14 movies, 13 shows), about 95 hr 33 min total runtime.

1. Phase 1 (2008–2012)

The origin run. Meet the founding team and the tone of the whole saga.

6 titles (6 movies, 0 shows) · 4 Essential · about 12 hr 24 min

2. Phase 2 (2013–2017)

The world widens: cosmic corners, spycraft and the first cracks in the team.

7 titles (7 movies, 0 shows) · 4 Essential · about 14 hr 53 min

3. Phase 3 (2016–2021)

The saga peaks. Alliances fracture and the biggest threats arrive.

11 titles (11 movies, 0 shows) · 8 Essential · about 24 hr 53 min

4. Phase 4 (2021–2022)

Grief, legacy and the first real look at a multiverse.

11 titles (6 movies, 5 shows) · 5 Essential · about 39 hr 41 min

5. Phase 5 (2023)

New teams, new rules, and the groundwork for what comes next.

4 titles (3 movies, 1 shows) · 2 Essential · about 11 hr 19 min

6. Fox X-Men (2000–2014)

The separate mutant film universe now folded into the story.

5 titles (5 movies, 0 shows) · 4 Essential · about 10 hr 6 min

7. Deadpool & Wolverine Context (2016–2024)

The bridge between the mutant films and the current multiverse.

4 titles (4 movies, 0 shows) · 2 Essential · about 8 hr 12 min

8. Phase 5 Continued (2024–2026)

The final stretch of setup before the Phase 6 event films.

6 titles (2 movies, 4 shows) · 2 Essential · about 24 hr 35 min

9. Phase 6 (2025–2026)

Direct lead-in material for the finale.

5 titles (2 movies, 3 shows) · 2 Essential · about 17 hr 50 min