Marvel has officially released a recommended watchlist of 15 movies and TV shows that fans should view to optimally experience the upcoming blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday. This curated selection aims to equip viewers with the necessary context for the film, despite initial suggestions that the movie might reset the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a "Phase Zero" state.
The official watchlist, available on Disney+, avoids mandating the viewing of all 38 released MCU films or extensive television series. Instead, it highlights 15 specific projects deemed most crucial for understanding the narrative leading up to Avengers: Doomsday. Among the prominent inclusions are direct predecessors like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The list also features films that directly introduce characters and teams central to the fight against Doctor Doom, including Thunderbolts/The New Avengers, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Deadpool & Wolverine. Notably, Fox's early X-Men films, X-Men and X2, are also recommended, suggesting a broader narrative connection.
Projects that have heavily explored multiversal themes, a key element likely to be present in Avengers: Doomsday, are also featured. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Loki are present, alongside Spider-Man: No Way Home. The inclusion of these titles points to the importance of understanding incursions and alternate realities within the MCU's evolving storyline.
Some selections on the list have raised particular interest due to their less direct connection to the immediate plotlines of recent MCU entries. The original Avengers film and Captain America: The First Avenger are included, despite their core narrative elements arguably being revisited or concluded in later installments like Endgame. These inclusions suggest a potential focus on foundational character relationships or early MCU events.
Marvel's official pre-Avengers: Doomsday watchlist consists of:
X-Men X2 Captain America: The First Avenger The Avengers Avengers: Infinity War Avengers: Endgame Loki Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Spider-Man: No Way Home Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Captain America: Brave New World Deadpool & Wolverine Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Thunderbolts The Fantastic Four: First Steps
While this official list offers a concentrated viewing path, commentary from IGN's News Editor Tom Phillips suggests that other films, such as The Marvels and X-Men: Days of Future Past, could also offer valuable context, particularly concerning multiversal events and the X-Men's own timeline manipulations. However, films like the Guardians of the Galaxy series, WandaVision, and the recently canceled Wonder Man were not included in the official compilation. Phillips ultimately advises that even a viewing of Endgame can serve as a solid foundation for those looking to catch up on the MCU before Avengers: Doomsday.