Would someone explain superhero films to me?

[BridlingtonSand]

I am aware that there are different superheros. I think that there are two 'families'(?), so some are grouped together as Marvel and some belong to another group.

Also, am I right in thinking that they can be watched in a certain order? And sometimes superheros from previous films come together in a later film?

Can someone explain all of this to me? And advise me what films should be watched in what order?

Marvel

Captain America: The First Avenger – This movie essentially introduces the concept of superheroes and takes place decades before any other movie. Watch it first.
Iron Man
Iron Man 2
The Incredible Hulk (could skip)
Thor
The Avengers
Iron Man 3
Thor: The Dark World
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Ant-Man
Doctor Strange
Captain America: Civil War
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Thor: Ragnarok
Black Panther
Avengers: Infinity War
Ant-Man and the Wasp

X-Men

X2: X-Men United

X-Men: The Last Stand

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men: First Class

The Wolverine

X-Men: Days Of Future Past

Deadpool

X-Men: Apocalypse

Logan

Deadpool 2

Dc

Man of Steel (2013)
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Suicide Squad (2016)
Wonder Woman (2017)
Justice League (2017)

Yes, there is Marvel and all the superheroes in that group make up the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), so they are all inter-linked. There has been 21 films released so far (and some TV shows) the final part of this phase Avengers End Game is due to be released soon and we are all very excited.

You can watch the films in a few different orders (google has some suggestions) but mainly there are two ways. You can watch them in release order or you can watch in chronological order. For example Captain America is first as it's set in the 1940s. Captain Marvel was released last week but actually comes 2nd after Captain America as it's set in the 1990s. But it doesn't matter much if you watch it last like I did as it's like a prequel.

Then there is DC. DC make much better TV shows like The Flash and Arrow, but the films are not so good (Batman V Superman)

Sorry bit of a geek. Haven't are seen Captain Marvel yet, though it takes place in the 90s I Think it is stand a lone but will answer some backstory questions.

WonderWoman is DC though and that is a brilliant film. The best DC film in my opinion

If you're going to watch both end credit scenes for each film you have to watch them in release order. Or there'd be major spoilers.

tribal
I think captain marvel is leading us into the next Avengers, End Game.

I've seen Captain Marvel. If you watched it before Infinity War you'd ruin the plot.

There are lots that don't belong to either marvel or dc either.... Watchmen, hell boy, tank girl etc....

And it isn't a stand alone.

Unbreakable, split, glass. In that order.

I agree with PP, you should watch the Marvel films in order of release, they have post-credit scenes, which if you watched out of order means spoilers.

DH and I watched the Marvel films in chronological order of when they were set (not released), we’ve really enjoyed it. Yet to see Captain Marvel. I particularly liked Guardians of the galaxy. No spoilers but when we got to the end of Infinity War our faces looked like this:

Yeh, the post credit scenes need to be watched as they usually lead to the next film in the series. Very clever. Sometimes funny.

I loved Ant Man.

Watching the series Agent of shield was also good when it was first on tv as they set up the episodes to coincide with the films too.

Yes, the post credit scenes would give spoilers if watched out of release order.

Captain Marvel is brilliant. I think it works perfectly well as a stand alone. You could watch it before Infinity War. The end credit scene is related to Infinity War but doesn't really give away the plot, you just wouldn't understand it.

Thank you everyone, with special mention to Trinalbcnotanonman. This was an even more complicated situation than I thought.

So am I right in thinking I can just watch in order of Trinal's post 2? I guess the other problem is that it depends what I can get my hands on. I have Netflix and Prime - do the films tend to be available on either of them?

I love the old Superman films with Christopher Reeve. Funny dialogue and enjoyable plots and crazy but funny villains.