Are you trying to prepare for the release of Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th, but simply too lost in the amount of MCU content produced? Fear not! I come to save you with an “essentials only” watch list that includes all the films highlighted by Disney and Marvel, as well as some of my own picks to make everything a bit more tidy.
Some things to know first:
Avengers: Doomsday will feature heroes from multiple universes: the main Marvel Cinematic Universe (Universe 616), the Fantastic Four: First Steps universe (Universe 828), and Fox’s X-Men universe (Universe 10005). This means that while doing your MCU rewatch, you’ll need to incorporate some of the Fox films that were not previously canon due to rights issues going on until Disney bought out Fox. With that straightened out, let’s get into the essentials.
X-Men and X-2:
These two films establish the Fox era X-Men. You can leave out X-Men: The Last Stand for multiple reasons. One, the events of this film were undone in X-Men: Days of Future Past (not an essential viewing but is easily the best X-Men film, therefore I highly recommend it) and two, the movie is hot garbage.
Logan:
This may be the greatest comic book film ever made, so everyone should watch it because of how incredible it is. It also kickstarts the plot of Deadpool and Wolverine.
Spider-Man 1 through 3 (Sam Rami and Tobey Maguire era):
With ongoing rumours that Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man has some sort of role in Doomsday, it is better to be safe than sorry. Plus these movies are absolutely fantastic.
Captain America: The First Avenger:
If I am being honest, I don’t know why this is here. However, Marvel themselves have deemed this essential viewing for the movie so there has to be something important in here. It could very well be just the relationship between Steve and Peggy Carter.
Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron
How can you prepare for Avengers: Doomsday without watching The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron? The events of these films lead directly into the next film.
Captain America: Civil War:
Avengers: Infinity War shows you why the Avengers are split up. Without this movie, you are simply lost going into that.
Avengers: Infinity War:
You cannot watch Endgame without seeing Infinity War first.
Avengers: Endgame Encore:
The Russo brothers have stated that Doomsday is a direct result of the events of Endgame. I am highlighting the re-release version here due to the four extra post credit scenes. This will be available to stream on Disney Plus on November 13th. The encore version also has a new colour grading that makes it a lot more colourful and less grey.
Spider-Man: Far From Home and No Way Home:
To understand No Way Home you must watch Far From Home, there is no way around that. Spider-Man: No Way Home is our first film experience of the Marvel Multiverse. It is also just so much fun to watch.
Shang-Chi:
Shang-Chi will be a member of Captain America’s Avengers team. This is his only other appearance in the MCU, therefore, essential viewing.
Loki Seasons 1 and 2:
Besides being arguably tied as Marvel’s best project ever with Daredevil, the show explains the multiverse, introduces us to the TVA, and explains where Loki is right now. Loki will play a massive role in Avengers: Doomsday.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever:
This film introduces Shuri as the new Black Panther after the tragic passing of the original Black Panther actor: Chadwick Boseman. We also get to meet Namor here who has a role in Doomsday. As of right now, we are unsure how big or small that role is.
Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness:
Here we get our first taste of what an incursion is and what causes one. Incursions are going to be the ticking clock in Avengers: Doomsday. This is basically the infinity stones of the multiverse saga.
Deadpool and Wolverine:
The void gets introduced in this film which is said to have some sort of role in the upcoming Avengers movie. Along with this, we are also introduced to a new term in anchor beings. Channing Tatum’s Gambit will join Fox’s X-Men team and, oh, Hugh Jackman is back as Wolverine, He’s gonna do this till he’s 90!
Captain America: Brave New World:
This film establishes Joaquin Torres as the new Falcon and that Sam Wilson is attempting to rebuild the Avengers. It is important to see Sam in the Captain America role after being given the shield from Steve at the end of Endgame.
Thunderbolts*:
The Thunderbolts are set to play a massive role in Doomsday. This explains who they are and their connection to the Avengers.
Fantastic Four: First Steps:
Our first introduction to the Fantastic Four and an entirely new universe. The post credits scene is also our first Doctor Doom tease. Doctor Doom in Doomsday has also been confirmed to be from this universe.
VisionQuest:
I am only including this for the post credits scene at the end of the finale. While the show is absolutely exceptional, it doesn’t seem to have any impact on the story of Doomsday. That 30 second post credits scene, however, is one of the most essential things you need to see before Doomsday.
Not Essential But Recommended:
There are a few projects I didn’t included as essential, however, there are things in them that impact projects that I have deemed essential. The first is WandaVision: so you can see how Wanda got to where she is in Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness. The second is The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: due to the introduction to John Walker. Thirdly, I want to shoutout The Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2: Andrew’s Spider-Man has a significant role in that film and I feel it is important to understand his time as Spider-Man to feel the impact he has on Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. If you complete this list, you will be fully prepared to walk into the theatre on December 18th for the newest MCU installment as you watch Doctor Doom try to eliminate all the characters you’ve ever had an attachment to.