The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most successful franchise in cinema history, with fourteen years of content, which includes twenty-nine films and seven Disney+ series, and plenty more on the way for the foreseeable future.
While the MCU's growth has been fantastic for existing fans, it can prove tremendously intimidating for those who have not yet been initiated into the fandom. Nevertheless, there are several installments of the MCU that are perfect for newcomers to begin with.
Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man is the very first entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, the film follows the progression of a wealthy and selfish weapons manufacturer into a bona fide hero with a suit of armor that is capable of protecting innocent people from those who would wish them harm.
As the starting point of the MCU, new viewers can find everything that they will come to love about the franchise in this singular movie. With a modest budget and a leading man vying to make a comeback, Iron Man is the rare franchise film that is not bogged down by special effects or worldbuilding, telling a self-sufficient story that holds up over a decade after its release.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Captain America: The First Avenger is the first outing for Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, a young man from Brooklyn who undergoes experimental testing to become the nation's very first super soldier during World War II. Evans is joined in this film by other recognizable faces in Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, and Tommy Lee Jones.
The First Avenger is a unique film among the Marvel Cinematic Universe, acting as the franchise's only true period piece, set almost entirely in the 1940s. The movie proves to be one of the most thematic of its genre, emphasizing the importance of having a good heart over outward strength, an idea which would inform much of Captain America's story arc throughout the rest of his time in the series.
The Avengers (2012)
The Avengers marks the first time that the Marvel Cinematic Universe's greatest heroes united onscreen as the eponymous team. This dysfunctional selection of superheroes comes together to defend the Earth from an alien invasion orchestrated by the mischievous Loki, who is working for an unknown entity in search of unimaginable power.
The Avengers is a film full of popular characters and iconic lines that are sure to hook viewers that may not have enjoyed each Avenger's prior solo appearances. Audiences looking to fast-track their journey through the MCU will find themselves entertained by Earth's Mightiest Heroes during their first team-up, still able to keep up with the story without five films' worth of groundwork.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy takes a major departure from previous MCU movies, exploring the franchise on a galactic scale. With major stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper uniting to form the titular ragtag team, the Guardians must stop the evil Ronan (Lee Pace) while also forging a surprising familial bond along the way.
James Gunn's first entry in the MCU is a breath of fresh air in the series, setting its own zany yet heartfelt tone and masterfully setting up what would become one of the most beloved tentpoles in the MCU. Guardians of the Galaxy also sports one of the MCU's greatest soundtracks ever, comprised of dozens of hit classic rock songs that will keep even the most unwilling viewers tapping their toes.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man: Homecoming is the first of Marvel Studios' rebooted Spider-Man trilogy, putting Tom Holland squarely in the spotlight. Taking the form of a coming-of-age high school flick, Peter Parker must learn how to become his own hero while living in the shadow of his mentor, Tony Stark, while unraveling the plot of the villainous Vulture (Michael Keaton).
Marvel's most popular character proves remarkably capable of carrying his own corner of the MCU with ease, establishing Spider-Man's world as one of the most interesting in the universe. Fans of Sam Raimi and Marc Webb's respective Spider-Men will no doubt be entertained by this fresh take on the character, setting him up for a major role in future films.
WandaVision (2020)
The first of Marvel's original Disney+ series, WandaVision takes a departure from previous entries in the MCU. Emulating the styles of various classic sitcoms from throughout the decades, the series weaves a compelling mystery over nine episodes, with supporting characters Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) finally given lead roles.
Viewers who don't typically enjoy superhero action flicks will be intrigued by WandaVision's slow burn as the mystery of the show's setting unravels over the course of several episodes. Beginning with hilarious parodies of well-known television sitcoms, WandaVision inches darker and darker with each episode, eventually transforming into one of the most emotionally-resonant entries in the MCU so far.
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduced Marvel's very first Asian-American leading man in Simu Liu, who portrays the powerful eponymous superhero. The film follows Shang-Chi as he attempts to stop his father (Tony Leung) from inadvertently unleashing a powerful evil on the world in a desperate attempt to resurrect his late wife.
Shang-Chi may fall into many of the tropes that other MCU films have become known for, but the film still proves to be a unique entry. At its heart, Shang-Chi is a film about family and its effects on individuals, whether good or bad. And, with minimal connections to other corners of the franchise, viewers need very little foreknowledge of prior MCU stories to enjoy Sim Liu's superhero debut.
Eternals (2021)
Eternals revolves around a group of superhumans that serve as the inspiration for mythological entities whilst living among humans for centuries. Directed by Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao and sporting an all-star cast led by Gemma Chan, Eternals introduces audiences to an entirely new and unexplored corner of the MCU.
Eternals may have received divided reviews from fans and critics, but the film is nevertheless unique. Zhao's film throws away many of the common traits of other Marvel movies, delivering one of the most philosophical and visually stunning installments of the franchise yet, while also introducing several new heroes to the cinematic universe.
Moon Knight (2022)
Moon Knight is one of the MCU's latest Disney+ series, following Oscar Isaac's Steven Grant as he comes to realize that he is actually an alternate identity of mercenary Marc Spector, who also happens to be the avatar of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. Marc and Steven must unite as Moon Knight to stop the rising power of cult leader Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke) before he frees the malevolent goddess Ammit from her captivity.
Moon Knight carves its own place in the MCU, devoid of any connection to the larger franchise, and thereby tells a tight and emotional tale of identity and self-acceptance. Additionally, Isaac delivers an award-worthy performance in his debut as the character, who will certainly become a major player in the future of the franchise.
Ms. Marvel (2022)
Ms. Marvel is the latest streaming series released by Marvel Studios, which follows the life of Jersey City high schooler and Avengers enthusiast Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). Over the course of six episodes, Kamala discovers an ancient family secret that links her to become her own superhero, modeled after her idol, Captain Marvel (Brie Larson).
A fresh style and heartfelt story of familial bonding make Ms. Marvel one of the most enjoyable entries in Marvel's Phase 4. Despite narrowing viewership numbers, the Disney+ series is truly some of Marvel's finest work, which explores concepts never before touched on by the franchise. The show's stellar cast is led by the magnificent Vellani, who is perhaps the franchise's best representative of the crossover between actor and role since Robert Downey Jr.'s casting in Iron Man.