Let’s be honest: your kids are going to want to dive into the worlds of Star Wars and the Avengers. With characters from these franchises adorning everything from snack bags to party supplies, it’s only a matter of time before they start begging to watch these films. So, where do you begin? The sheer volume of superhero movies can add up to over 60 hours of viewing time. The real challenge lies in figuring out the best order to watch them without leaving your kids feeling like they missed anything significant.
Star Wars Viewing Order
Starting with Star Wars, blogger Lisa Mitchell has a streamlined viewing order that focuses on maximizing enjoyment and narrative efficiency:
- Episode IV: A New Hope
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
You may notice that Episode I, featuring Jar Jar Binks and a rather annoying young Anakin, is absent. Skipping it not only saves you two hours but also cuts out a lot of unnecessary storyline fluff. Instead, this order presents a clear narrative focusing on Luke Skywalker’s journey and the pivotal reveal about Darth Vader, which will prompt your audience to ponder why he turned to darkness. This question leads smoothly into the next two films on the list.
Marvel Cinematic Universe Viewing Order
Now, let’s talk about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unlike Star Wars, the Marvel films don’t follow one continuous storyline. Each character—like Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man—has their own narratives that occasionally intertwine. Here’s a suggested order to watch the Marvel films:
- Iron Man
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Thor
- The Avengers
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
While this list does include seven movies, which totals around 14 hours of explosive superhero action, it’s actually a significant cut from the original lineup. You’ve avoided five films, two TV shows, and a Netflix series. No longer will you have to adjust to three different actors playing Bruce Banner. This list opts out of two Iron Man films and the second Thor movie, as well as omitting the lengthy 60 hours of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and other shows.
By trimming the fat, you gain clarity in the narrative. Even without the extra Iron Man movies, what emerges is a focused story about Tony Stark’s transformation, starting from his arrogant beginnings to becoming a more complex hero, albeit still a bit self-absorbed. While Guardians of the Galaxy and Winter Soldier may not directly connect to Stark’s arc, they are arguably some of the best films in the collection. With the time saved, you could easily watch them twice!
Additional Resources
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In summary, whether you’re navigating the galaxy far, far away or the superhero battlegrounds, there are efficient ways to watch these epic films without feeling overwhelmed.