MCU Phase 2: Iron Man 3 to Ant-Man
Phase 2 is six films, from Iron Man 3 (2013) to Ant-Man (2015). It follows the team after the first big battle, and brings in the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Updated October 2026
The mood gets darker and the Infinity Stones begin to matter. The Winter Soldier is the standout for how much it changes what comes after, and Age of Ultron pushes the Stones plot toward Phase 3.
Phase 2 titles
- Iron Man 3 (2013)Tony, still shaken by New York, faces a threat that cannot be solved with the suit alone. A personal, mostly standalone story.
- Thor: The Dark World (2013)An ancient enemy returns and Thor leans on Loki. Matters mainly for the Infinity Stones thread.
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)A spy thriller. Steve finds S.H.I.E.L.D. compromised and meets an old friend in a new role. Big consequences later.
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)A band of misfits fights over a dangerous orb. The cosmic side of the MCU turns funny and loud.
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)The team builds the AI that turns on them. Introduces Wanda, Pietro and Vision.
- Ant-Man (2015)A thief inherits a shrinking suit. A small-scale heist that opens the door to the Quantum Realm.