Phase Two

Phase Two is the second part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Phase One. From 2013 to 2015, the Phase Two films grossed $5.2 billion ($5,245,789,655) worldwide, supassing the Phase One films. The next group of films is called Phase Three.

Synopsis
The second phase focuses on the post-Battle of New York exploits of the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., and also introduces the Guardians of the Galaxy and further explains the origin of the Infinity Stones. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the terrorist group HYDRA is revealed to have been operating within S.H.I.E.L.D., resulting in the agency's collapse. Now acting without assistance from S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers work solo in order to bring down HYDRA, but unintentionally spawn a more dangerous adversary in the form of the hostile artificial intelligence, Ultron. This phase also introduces the characters of Scott Lang and Hank Pym and shows how they plan a heist to protect Pym's Ant-Man technology from Darren Cross as Lang takes on the mantel of the Ant-Man.

Iron Man 3
When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

Thor: The Dark World
When Jane Foster is targeted by the denizens of the dark world Svartalfheim and a mysterious weapon called the Aether, Thor sets out a quest to protect her at all costs.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and teams up with Natasha Romanoff, AKA Black Widow, to battle a powerful but shadowy enemy in present-day Washington, D.C.

Guardians of the Galaxy
In outer space, Peter Quill, a man taken from Earth as a child, joins up with a rag-tag group of extraterrestrial misfits in order to take down Ronan, a sadistic leader of the alien Kree who seeks an object that could potentially threaten the entire galaxy.

Avengers: Age of Ultron
In a world where HYDRA continues to gain power and control, Tony Stark builds an advanced A.I to combat the organization. Plans go awry when the machine becomes self-aware and targets the Avengers.

Ant-Man
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats.

Trivia

 * Each Phase Two movie features at least one character having their hand cut off in homage to The Empire Strikes Back, the second act of the Star Wars saga.
 * Iron Man 3 - Tony Stark cuts off Aldrich Killian's forearm using the Silver Centurion's hidden blade.
 * Thor: The Dark World - Loki cuts off Thor's hand in an illusion to trick Malekith. Malekith himself later has his arms removed by Erik Selvig's teleporters.
 * Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Bucky Barnes has his arm removed from his body in the accident where he fells from the Schnellzug EB912, which is then completely removed by HYDRA.
 * Guardians of the Galaxy - Gamora cuts both of Groot's arms off on Xandar. Later, Nebula cuts her own bionic hand off to flee from the Battle of Xandar.
 * Avengers: Age of Ultron - Ultron cuts off Ulysses Klaue's arm in a fit of rage after Klaue compares him with Tony Stark.
 * Ant-Man - Darren Cross right arm is the first part of himself to shrink before he implodes to the subatomic Quantum Realm.
 * Although not officially part of Phase 2, Season Two of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Season One of Daredevil, both of which aired during Phase 2, feature characters having their hand cut off:
 * Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.01: Shadows - Lance Hunter cuts off Isabelle Hartley's arm after she touched the Diviner and her arm started petrifying.
 * Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.22: S.O.S. Part Two - Phil Coulson holds a Terrigen Crystal which slowly starts petrifying his hand, prompting Alphonso Mackenzie to cut it off with an axe to save him.
 * Daredevil: 1.07 Stick - Stick cuts the hand off a Japanese man affiliated with Nobu's Clan.
 * Unlike Phase One, every Phase Two movie has killed the main villain.