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 began in May 2016 with the release of Captain America: Civil War and concluded in July 2019 with the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home. 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). The creative team for Civil War and the crossover films Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019)—directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely—collaborated with the directors and writers of each film in Phase Three.

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 Homecoming and Far From Home, Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther in Black Panther (2018). All returned for Infinity War and Endgame. Between those two films, Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly respectively starred as Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne / Wasp in Ant-Man and the Wasp, while Brie Larson starred as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel in Captain Marvel (2019); all three returned for Endgame. Evans and Holland have the most appearances in the phase, each starring or making cameo appearances in five of the films.

The phase's eleven 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 of its release. The phase is seen as the franchise's best, with consistent quality and a cohesive overarching story. Marvel Studios created the Team Thor mockumentary shorts series to expand on Thor's portrayal in Ragnarok, while each film received tie-in comic books. Phases One, Two, and Three make up "The Infinity Saga" storyline.