Outline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

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 $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, 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

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 Entertainment
Louis D'Esposito – Co-president of Marvel Studios
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".

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+.

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 Disney+ 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 Disney+ are marketed as "Marvel Studios Special Presentations".

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

Various composers have created the film and television scores of the MCU films, television series, One-Shots, Special Presentations, and other related projects of the MCU, primarily released by Marvel Studios's record label Marvel Music. Original songs have also been created specifically for use in the franchise, while Brian Tyler and Michael Giacchino have both scored fanfares for the Marvel Studios production logo.

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

List indicators

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in at least three MCU films/series and received main billing credit in at least two franchises.

A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the media, or that the character's presence has not yet been confirmed.

A ^P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
A ^V indicates a voice-only role.

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.