For a while now, one of the biggest complaints about the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been that staying current can feel less like following an epic saga and more like doing assigned reading. Between the flood of Disney+ series, theatrical releases, and standalone adventures, the Multiverse Saga has become increasingly sprawling. Asking viewers to revisit every corner of the franchise before “Avengers: Doomsday” arrives on December 18 is a tall order, even if the most committed Marvel fans will happily take on the challenge. To make the road a little less overwhelming, Disney+ has put together a recommended “Countdown to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’” watchlist, which we unpack in the video above.
Several titles on the list are exactly what MCU viewers would expect. “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” are essential franchise milestones, while “Fantastic Four: First Steps” earns its place after introducing the MCU’s Doctor Doom in a mid-credits scene. “Thunderbolts*,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and both seasons of “Loki” also make sense, especially given how heavily “Avengers: Doomsday” is expected to lean into multiverse mythology. Still, among the 15 movies and shows selected by Disney+, a few choices stand out as surprising — and a few absences are just as noticeable.
Of the MCU’s original big three, only Captain America gets a solo movie represented on the watchlist. The first “Avengers” film appears to be doing the heavy lifting as an entry point for Thor and Iron Man, even though Tony Stark himself is not expected to return. That said, Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom leaves room for some kind of thematic or narrative connection. Marvel Studios also included two Fox-era “X-Men” films, clearly laying the groundwork for the return of those legacy Marvel characters.
Doctor Strange and the X-Men feature heavily in the Doomsday watchlist
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The Disney+ “Doomsday” watchlist features the first two Fox “X-Men” movies, but skips the later prequel and reboot timeline entries, including “X-Men: First Class” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
Meanwhile, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” are both included, even though reports have been mixed about whether Peter Parker (Tom Holland), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), or Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) will appear in “Avengers: Doomsday.” Their inclusion is understandable from a multiverse perspective, since both films deal directly with fractured realities and crossover chaos. Even so, it is interesting to see them prioritized while other major branches of the MCU, such as the Thor films, are left off the list.
Marvel is almost certainly holding back plenty of surprises. Speculation around “Avengers: Doomsday” is already in overdrive, and with 2027’s “Avengers: Secret Wars” positioned as something of a second chapter, this film could be setting up a major cliffhanger or a game-changing finale. For the full breakdown of Disney+’s “Countdown to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’” watchlist, check out the video above.
