Phase 1 · Infinity Saga

The Avengers (2012)

Team-up · Big action · Funny

Directed by: Joss Whedon
Released: 2012-05-04
Length: 143 min

The quick take

Separate heroes are forced into the same room and have to figure out how to fight as one team. The payoff of years of setup, and still one of the most rewatchable entries.

Watch these first

Iron Man, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger give the best context.

Prep time: about 6 h 5 min.

The bigger picture

Years of separate stories merge when a threat arrives that no single hero can handle alone. Much of the fun is watching strong personalities clash before they learn to cooperate, building to one big city-wide battle.

Skip it or watch it?

Essential.

Where it sits

Release order

#6 of 59

Before: Captain America: The First Avenger

After: Iron Man 3

See the full release order list

Timeline order

#7 of 59

Before: Thor

After: Thor: The Dark World

See the full timeline order list

Official trailer

Watch on YouTube ↗

Where to watch

Disney+ ↗
Home to most Marvel Studios films and series.
Find it near you ↗
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Phase 2 · 2015

Avengers: Age of Ultron

A plan to protect the world goes wrong in a very human way. A crowded sequel that introduces new faces and plants the seeds of the team's later split.

Phase 2 · 2013

Iron Man 3

A hero shaken by what he went through in New York has to rebuild without his usual gear. A more personal, thriller-flavored take that plays with expectations.