The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been established as not only a massive superhero franchise, but a vast cosmic one as well. Over the course of nine years of blockbusters, we've not only seen humans struggle with the complexities of good versus evil, but also a large number of alien species previously introduced in Marvel Comics. Because there are so many, however, it can be confusing to try and keep track of them all - which is what we've put together this handy little guide.

Sorted in order of appearance and primarily focusing on the most significant races/creatures we've seen, below we've put together a quick rundown that will help you get to know the various alien species of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Read on as we explore everything from film appearances, abilities, notable individuals, and more!

Editors Note: Drax and Mantis don't appear on this list because it has not yet been revealed what species they are in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As characters, their individual origin stories have changed a great deal from the comics, and it has not yet been canonically stated what it is they are or exactly where they come from. As that information is revealed, we will update this article!