Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
MovieEssential
A frail soldier becomes a super-soldier in WWII and takes the fight to Hydra's Red Skull. It was the 5th MCU film released, part of Phase One, and it’s #2 of 81 in story order. We rate it Essential: the main saga depends on it. At 2h 4m, it streams on Disney+ in the US.
| Directed by | Joe Johnston |
|---|---|
| Starring | Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones |
| Release date | July 22, 2011 |
| Runtime | 2h 4m |
| Age rating | PG-13, some material may be inappropriate for under 13 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 80% critics · IMDb 6.9/10 |
| Box office | $371M worldwide |
| Phase | Phase One |
| Saga | Infinity Saga |
| Story position | #2 of 81 in chronological order |
| Timeline setting | Set during World War II (1942–45) |
| Part of | Captain America movies in order |
| Post-credit scene | Yes |
Why it matters in the MCU
Introduces Captain America, the Tesseract (Space Stone), and sets up the Avengers.
Post-credit scene
Yes, stay through the credits. The box below says what happens, but it gives away part of the ending.
Spoiler What happens after the credits of Captain America: The First Avenger: tap to reveal
A modern-day tag teasing the Avengers initiative.
Where it fits in your watch
Captain America: The First Avenger FAQ
Can you skip Captain America: The First Avenger?
No. It’s Essential: it sets up Cap, the Infinity Stones and the Avengers.
When was Captain America: The First Avenger released?
Captain America: The First Avenger was released on July 22, 2011.
Where does Captain America: The First Avenger fit in the MCU timeline?
Captain America: The First Avenger is set during World War II (1942–45) and sits at #2 of 81 in story order.
Does Captain America: The First Avenger have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Stay through the credits for at least one extra scene. What happens in it is in the spoiler box on this page.
What to watch before Captain America: The First Avenger
To get the most out of Captain America: The First Avenger, these are the earlier titles it builds on, in release order:
- Iron Man (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
Where to watch Captain America: The First Avenger in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Disney+ |
|---|---|
| Rent or buy | Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
Where to watch Captain America: The First Avenger outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Disney+ | Rent: Apple TV, Rakuten TV, Sky Store |
| Canada | Disney+ | Rent: Apple TV, Amazon, CosmoGo |
| Australia | Disney+ | None needed |
| India | JioHotstar | None needed |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
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