After Thor: Ragnarok (2017), the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues primarily with Avengers: Infinity War (2018), followed by Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Captain Marvel (2019). These films advance the overarching storylines of Thanos, the Infinity Stones, and cosmic threats, while setting up Avengers: Endgame (2019) and later entries in Phase 4. Thor: Ragnarok itself is both a sequel to Thor: The Dark World (2013) and a tonal reset that introduces Hela and deepens the family conflict, directly influencing later Asgard-centered narratives. The sequence reflects a tightly interwoven timeline where each project contributes to larger character and plot arcs across multiple phases.
Immediate MCU Sequence After Thor: Ragnarok
Knowing what comes next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Thor: Ragnarok helps viewers follow character arcs and overarching plotlines. The following releases move through pivotal moments in Phase 3 and into Phase 4, shaping the fate of heroes, worlds, and the multiverse.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) is the direct narrative successor in terms of story impact, assembling Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to confront Thanos. It advances the Infinity Stone saga introduced in Thor: Ragnarok and delivers major turning points for Thor, Loki, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. The film’s events reshape the MCU landscape and raise the stakes for the subsequent Avengers film.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) follows shortly after the events of Civil War and concurrently with Infinity War, focusing on Scott Lang’s house arrest and Janet van Dyne’s quantum adventures. While lighter in tone, it deepens the quantum realm mechanics that later become important in both Avengers: Endgame and Phase 4 mysteries.
Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (2019) is set in the late 1990s, largely outside the immediate post-Ragnarok timeline, but it establishes Carol Danvers’s cosmic power level and her connection to Mar-Vell and the Kree–Skrull war. The film’s mid- and post-credits scenes link to the larger cosmic threads, including the Tesseract and the return of powerful beings and threats.
Contextual Position in the Cinematic Universe
Thor: Ragnarok functions as a bridge between earlier Asgard-centric stories and the multiversal stakes of later phases. Its tone, humor, and visual style distinguish it from prior Thor films and lay groundwork for Hela’s legacy, Valkyrie’s leadership, and the displaced survivors of Asgard. This reshapes Thor’s journey in subsequent films and informs the broader Cosmic Marvel arc explored in Guardians of the Galaxy and beyond.
The Next Films: A Release-Order Overview
For a clear view of the MCU’s post-Ragnarok path, the following table outlines key films, their release dates, and primary narrative contributions. This snapshot focuses on theatrical releases directly connected to the storyline momentum initiated by Thor: Ragnarok.
| Film | Release Date | Primary Role After Ragnarok |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers: Infinity War | April 27, 2018 (US) | Climax of the Infinity Stone arc; major character fates |
| Ant-Man and the Wasp | July 6, 2018 (US) | Quantum realm expansion; concurrent events with Infinity War |
| Captain Marvel | March 8, 2019 (US) | Cosmic origins and Tesseract history; Carol Danvers empowerment |
| Avengers: Endgame | April 26, 2019 (US) | Resolution of Infinity War consequences; time-heist narrative |
Thematic and Narrative Consequences
Thor: Ragnarok introduces Helga, the destruction of Asgard’s traditional structures, and a more wandering Thor. These choices ripple forward, making the events of Infinity War more personal for Thor and reshaping his motivations in Endgame. The film also sets up Valkyrie and Heimdall’s roles in subsequent stories, influencing how Asgardian survivors integrate into the broader galaxy and how the franchise handles themes of loss, reinvention, and found family.
Navigating Marvel’s Continuity
Because the MCU frequently runs storylines in parallel, pinning down a single canonical order can be complex. Thor: Ragnarok’s placement is anchored by in-story chronology (e.g., Infinity War’s immediate aftermath) and by production timelines. Generally, viewers can follow the outlined sequence to preserve narrative coherence, while acknowledging that some flashbacks and multiverse entries revisit earlier periods. This approach supports both new and longtime fans in maintaining context across phases.
Beyond Phase 3: Phase 4 and Future Storylines
Phase 4 expands the cosmos further, introducing the multiverse, new timelines, and legacy characters. The fallout of Thor: Ragnarok echoes in series and films like The Marvels (2023) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), where the consequences of lost worlds and leadership vacuums continue to affect character dynamics. Long-term, the legacy of Asgard and the lessons from Ragnarok remain central to Marvel’s evolving saga, underscoring the importance of each successive chapter.
Conclusion
What Marvel movie is after Thor: Ragnarok? In terms of story, it is Avengers: Infinity War, with Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel closely following in the release schedule and narrative timeline. Ragnarok’s impact persists through Phase 3 and into Phase 4, shaping character decisions, cosmic stakes, and the evolving structure of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.