The Marvel Cinematic Universe is vast, very vast. It includes 23 movies and will have 29 at the end of 2021. The latter is therefore divided into several phases which follow a narrative arc. Here is the list of all the films that make up phase 1 of the MCU, in order of release, with several information (synopsis, simplified technical sheet, and global distribution) about them.
This phase follows the debut of the original Avengers. Most of the films in this phase are origin-story in order to set up this universe. It will end in style with the Avengers movie, which brings together all the previously introduced superheroes.
IRON MAN
Tony Stark, a genius inventor, arms dealer, and billionaire playboy, is kidnapped in Afghanistan. Forced by his captors to craft a fearsome weapon, he secretly constructs revolutionary high-tech armor which he uses to escape. Understanding the power of this armor, he decides to improve it and use it to bring justice and protect the innocent.
TECHNICAL SHEET
- Directed by : Jon Favreau
- Screenplay: Matt Holloway, Art Marcum, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby
- Art direction: David F. Klassen, Richard F. Mays, Suzan Wexler
- Photography: Matthew Libatique
- Music: Ramin Djawadi
- Producer: Avi Arad, Kevin Feige
- Production company: Marvel Studios and Fairview Entertainment
- Budget: 140 million USD
- Box office: 585.2 million USD
- Duration: 126 minutes
- Released: April 30, 2008 (France) and May 2, 2008 (United States)
DISTRIBUTION
- Robert Downey Jr.: Tony Stark / Iron Man
- Gwyneth PaltrowPepper Potts
- Terrence HowardJames “Rhodey” Rhodes
- Jeff Bridges: Obadiah Stane
- Shaun Toub: Ho Yinsen
- Jon FavreauHarold “Happy” Hogan
- Leslie BibbChristine Everhart
- Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
- Faran Tahir as Raza
- Sayed Badreya as Abu Bakaar
- Gerard Sanders: Howard Stark
- Paul BettanyJARVIS (voice)
- Stan Lee: himself, confused with Hugh Hefner
- Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD (post-credits scene)
THE INCREDIBLE HULK
Scientist Bruce Banner is desperate for an antidote to the radiation that created the Hulk. He lives in the shadows and travels the planet in search of a cure. The Hulk’s destructive force attracts General Thaddeus E. Ross and his right-hand man Blonsky who dream of using him for military purposes. They attempt to develop a serum to create super-powered soldiers.
TECHNICAL SHEET
- Directed by: Louis Leterrier
- Screenplay: Zak Penn, Edward Norton
- Photography: Peter Menzies Jr.
- Music: Craig Armstrong
- Producers: Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd and Kevin Feige
- Production company: Marvel Studios and Valhalla Motion Pictures
- Distributor: Universal Pictures
- Budget: 150 million USD
- Box office: 263.4 million USD
- Duration: 114 minutes
- Output : UNITED STATES)
DISTRIBUTION
- Edward Norton: Bruce Banner/Hulk
- Liv TylerElizabeth “Betty” Ross
- Tim Roth: Emil Blonsky / The Abomination
- William Hurt: General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross
- Tim Blake NelsonSamuel Sterns
- Ty Burrell: Leonard “Doc” Samson
- Christina CabotMajor Kathleen “Kat” Sparr
- Peter MensahGeneral Joe Greller
- Paul SolesStanley
- Debora Nascimento as Martina
- Lou Ferrigno: Hulk (voice in VO ) / the security guard at the university where Betty works (cameo)
- Stan Lee: the man who drinks the soda contaminated by Bruce Banner (cameo)
- Robert Downey Jr.: Tony Stark / Iron Man (cameo)
IRON MAN 2
The world now knows that billionaire inventor Tony Stark and superhero Iron Man are one. However, despite the pressures, Tony is unwilling to divulge his armor’s secrets, fearing the information will land in the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts and James Rhodey Rhodes at his side, Tony will forge new alliances and take on almighty new forces.
TECHNICAL SHEET
- Directed by: Jon Favreau
- Screenplay: Justin Theroux
- Photography: Matthew Libatique
- Music: John Debney
- Producer: Kevin Feige
- Co-production: Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham
- Production companies: Marvel Studios and Fairview Entertainment
- Budget: 200 million USD
- Box office: 623.9 million USD
- Duration: 125 minutes
- Released: April 28, 2010 (France) and May 7, 2010 (United States)
DISTRIBUTION
- Robert Downey Jr.: Tony Stark / Iron Man
- Gwyneth PaltrowPepper Potts
- Don CheadleJames “Rhodey” Rhodes
- Scarlett Johansson: Natalie Rushman/Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
- Sam RockwellJustin Hammer
- Mickey Rourke: Ivan Vanko/Whiplash
- Jon FavreauHarold “Happy” Hogan
- Leslie BibbChristine Everhart
- Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
- John Slattery: Howard Stark
- Paul BettanyJARVIS (voice)
- Stan Lee: Journalist mistaken for Larry King
- Samuel L. Jackson: Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD
- Elon Musk: himself (cameo in Monaco)
- Max Favreau as Peter Parker (little boy with Iron-Man mask)
THOR
In the kingdom of Asgard, Thor is a warrior as powerful as he is arrogant. While his reckless acts, which sparked an ancestral war, caused him to be banished to Earth by Odin, his father, he is condemned to live among men. However, when the forces of evil, coming from Asgard, are about to be unleashed on Earth, Thor will have to behave like a real hero.
- Director : Kenneth Branagh
- Screenplay: J. Michael Straczynski, Mark Protosevich, Don Payne, Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz
- Photography: Haris Zambarloukos
- Music: Patrick Doyle
- Producers: Kevin Feige, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso and Craig Kyle
- Production Company: Marvel Studios
- Budget: 150 million USD
- Box office: 449.3 million USD
- Duration: 114 minutes
- Released: April 27, 2011 (France) and May 6, 2011 (United States)
DISTRIBUTION
- Chris HemsworthThor
- Natalie PortmanJane Foster
- Tom HiddlestonLoki
- Anthony Hopkins as Odin
- Stellan Skarsgård: Dr. Erik Selvig
- Kat Dennings: Darcy Lewis
- Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
- Colm Feore: Laufey
- Rene Russo: Frigga
- Idris Elba as Heimdall
- Ray StevensonVolstagg
- Jaimie Alexander: Sif
- Joshua DallasFandral
- Tadanobu Asano: Hogun
- Jeremy RennerClint Barton/Hawkeye
- Maximiliano Hernandez: Jasper Sitwell
- Stan Lee (cameo)
CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST AVENGER
1941. The Second World War is raging. After unsuccessfully trying to enlist in the army to fight alongside the Allies, Steve Rogers, frail and timid, volunteers to participate in an experimental program that will transform him into a super soldier known as Captain America. Under the command of Colonel Chester Phillips, he prepares to face the Nazis’ secret scientific organization, alongside Bucky Barnes and Peggy Carter.
- Directed by : Joe Johnson
- Screenplay: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
- Photography: Shelly Johnson
- Music: Alan Silvestri
- Producer: Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard
- Production Company: Marvel Studios
- Budget: 140 million USD
- Box office: 370.6 million USD
- Duration: 124 minutes
- Released: August 17, 2011 (France) and July 22, 2011 (United States)
DISTRIBUTION
- Chris Evans: Steve Rogers/Captain America
- Hayley AtwellPeggy Carter
- Hugo Weaving: Johann Schmidt / Red Skull
- Sebastian StanJames “Bucky” Barnes
- Tommy Lee JonesColonel Chester Phillips
- Stanley Tucci: Dr. Abraham Erskine
- Dominic Cooper: Howard Stark
- Toby Jones: Dr. Arnim Zola
- Richard Armitage: Heinz Kruger
- Neal McDonough: Timothy “Dum Dum” Dugan
- Derek LukeGabe Jones
- Kenneth ChoJim Morita
- JJ FeildJames Montgomery Falsworth
- Bruno Ricci: Jacques Last
- Samuel L. Jackson: Nick Fury
- Michael Brandon: Senator Brandt
- Anatole TaubmanRoeder
- Natalie DormerLorraine
- Jenna-Louise Coleman: Connie
- Stan Lee: A General (cameo)
AVENGERS
Nick Fury, the director of SHIELD, the organization that preserves peace in the world, wants to form a team of diehards to prevent the destruction of the world. Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow are present. The new team, dubbed the Avengers, may seem tight-knit, but its illustrious members still have to learn to work together.
- Directed by : Joss Whedon
- Screenplay: Joss Whedon and Zak Penn
- Art direction: Benjamin Edelberg, Jann K. Engel, Gregory S. Hooper, Billy Hunter, Randy Moore
- Photography: Seamus McGarvey
- Music: Alan Silvestri
- Producer: Kevin Feige
- Production Company: Marvel Studios
- Distributor: The Walt Disney Company
- Budget: 220 million USD
- Box office: 585.2 million USD
- Duration: 143 minutes
- Released: April 25, 2012 (France) and May 4, 2012 (United States)
DISTRIBUTION
- Robert Downey Jr.: Tony Stark / Iron Man
- Chris Evans: Steve Rogers/Captain America
- Chris HemsworthThor
- Mark Ruffalo: Bruce Banner/Hulk
- Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
- Jeremy Renner: Clint Barton/Hawkeye
- Tom HiddlestonLoki
- Samuel L. Jackson: Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD
- Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
- Cobie SmuldersMaria Hill
- Stellan Skarsgård: Dr. Erik Selvig
- Gwyneth PaltrowPepper Potts
- Lou Ferrigno: Hulk (original voice)
- Jerzy SkolimowskiGeorgi Luchkov
- Alexis Denisof: The Other
- Paul BettanyJARVIS
- Damion Poitier: Thanos (post-credits scene)
- Stan Lee: cameo
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