Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Three

Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The MCU is the shared universe in which all of the films are set. The phase, which began with Captain America: Civil War in May 2016, features individual superhero films that build to the crossover films Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). It includes two Spider-Man films that were co-productions between Marvel Studios and Columbia Pictures, including Spider-Man: Far From Home which ended Phase Three in July 2019. Phases One, Two, and Three make up "The Infinity Saga" storyline.

Kevin Feige produced every film in the phase, with Amy Pascal also producing Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Far From Home, and Stephen Broussard also producing Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely collaborated with the creative teams for each film in the phase. The films star Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America in Civil War, Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange (2016), Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man in the Spider-Man films, Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther in Black Panther (2018), Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne / Wasp in Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Brie Larson as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel in Captain Marvel (2019); all returned for one or both of the crossover films. Evans and Holland have the most appearances in the phase, each starring or making cameo appearances in five films.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed the films except for the Spider-Man films, which were released by Sony Pictures Releasing. The phase's films grossed over US$13.5 billion at the global box office and received generally positive critical and public responses. Endgame became the highest-grossing film at the time. The phase is seen as the franchise's best, with consistent quality and a cohesive overarching story. Each feature film received tie-in comic books and some were marketed using the in-universe news shows WHIH Newsfront and The Daily Bugle. Marvel Studios also released the Team Thor mockumentary shorts series which expand on Thor's portrayal in Ragnarok.[edit]

Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comprises eleven films released between 2016 and 2019, forming the climax of the Infinity Saga. The phase opens with Captain America: Civil War (May 2016), which fractures the Avengers after global governments demand oversight following collateral damage from previous battles. Tony Stark supports the Sokovia Accords, while Steve Rogers opposes them, believing they would compromise the team's ability to act independently. The conflict escalates when Bucky Barnes is framed for a bombing, leading to a brutal airport battle between Team Cap and Team Stark. The film introduces T'Challa as Black Panther and Tom Holland's Peter Parker as Spider-Man, setting up their standalone films.

Doctor Strange (November 2016) follows brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon Stephen Strange, who loses the use of his hands in a car accident. Seeking a cure, he discovers the mystic arts under the Ancient One and learns to manipulate time and reality. Strange must protect the Eye of Agamotto from the zealot Kaecilius and the Dormammu of the Dark Dimension. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (May 2017) explores Peter Quill's parentage when his celestial father Ego appears. The Guardians must decide whether Ego's offer of godlike power is genuine while facing the Ravagers led by Yondu.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 2017) sees Peter Parker balancing high school life with his superhero duties under Tony Stark's mentorship. He confronts Adrian Toomes, a salvage operator who sells illegal alien weaponry. Thor: Ragnarok (November 2017) finds Thor imprisoned on the planet Sakaar by the Grandmaster. He must escape and return to Asgard to stop his sister Hela, the goddess of death, who has returned to claim the throne. Black Panther (February 2018) follows T'Challa's return to Wakanda to assume the throne after his father's death. He faces a challenge from Erik Killmonger, a Wakandan exile with a radical vision to use the nation's vibranium technology to liberate oppressed people worldwide.

Avengers: Infinity War (April 2018) brings Thanos to Earth in pursuit of the six Infinity Stones. The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and Black Panther's forces split into groups to stop him. Thanos's quest is deeply personal, he believes wiping out half of all life is necessary to save the universe from overpopulation. The film ends with Thanos succeeding, snapping his fingers and causing half of all living beings to disintegrate, including many heroes. Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 2018) takes place between Civil War and Infinity War. Scott Lang is under house arrest after violating the Sokovia Accords. He teams up with Hope van Dyne and Hank Pym to rescue Janet van Dyne from the Quantum Realm, interrupted by the villainous Ghost.

Captain Marvel (March 2019) is a prequel set in the 1990s, following Carol Danvers, a Kree warrior with amnesia who crash-lands on Earth. She discovers her true identity as a human Air Force pilot and her powers from an explosion of a Tesseract-powered engine. Carol must stop the shapeshifting Skrulls and the Kree's genocidal Accuser Ronan, ultimately embracing her humanity. Avengers: Endgame (April 2019) picks up five years after the Snap. The remaining Avengers discover a way to travel through time using the Quantum Realm. They split into teams to retrieve the Infinity Stones from different points in history, hoping to undo Thanos's genocide. Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2019) concludes Phase Three. Peter Parker goes on a school trip to Europe, hoping to take a break from heroism. He is recruited by Nick Fury to help Quentin Beck battle elemental monsters, learning to live up to Tony Stark's legacy.[edit]