It began with 2008's "Iron Man," a film that introduced the world to Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark with the hint that he could be part of something greater. Over 30 films later, the story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still being told,

For existing fans, we can't blame you for wanting to watch Thor: Ragnarok here or Captain America: The Winter Soldier there. And if anyone just wants to watch the first film in a series—say, Black Panther or Guardians of the Galaxy—those movies tend to stand very nicely on their own.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe may have begun in 2008 with Iron Man, a billionaire playboy genius and philanthropist who fights injustice. But over the course of 16 years and 30-plus movies, the MCU has not only brought scads of comic book heroes and villains to theaters,

T he Marvel Cinematic Universe is no longer one of Hollywood's biggest franchises - it is it's biggest franchise of all time, grossing over $31 billion and counting at the box off

Still, though, the lasting appeal of the MCU is that this is a cinematic universe that fits together in a degree that has never even been attempted before. The world-building is p