Disney+ has announced the official list of Marvel movies and TV shows to watch before the release of Avengers Doomsday. The list includes 14 films and one TV series, but notably omits The Marvels.
The Complete Watchlist
The recommended viewing order begins with X-Men (2000) and X2 (2003), which are set in Earth-10005 and feature actors like Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, and Rebecca Romijn, who are reprising their roles in Avengers Doomsday.
Other films on the list include Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), Captain America: Brave New World (2025), Thunderbolts* (2025), and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025).
Why These Projects Matter
Captain America: The First Avenger is likely included because of the love story between Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter, which is central to the timeline changes in Avengers Endgame. The inclusion of The Avengers may provide context for timeline alterations during the Battle of New York, leading to Loki's variant being arrested by the TVA.
Loki is the only TV show on the list, and its two seasons are considered crucial, as they follow the Loki variant from Endgame who is imprisoned by the Time Variance Authority.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are included because their main characters are part of the Avengers in Doomsday. Spider-Man: No Way Home explores the multiverse concept, and there are rumors that Tobey Maguire may have a cameo in Doomsday.
At D23, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman confirmed that their characters from Deadpool & Wolverine will appear in Avengers Doomsday. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is included for its deep dive into alternate realities, with rumors that Scarlet Witch and female Loki might appear as Doctor Doom's henchmen.
Thunderbolts* features the New Avengers led by Florence Pugh's Black Widow, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place on Earth-828, where Robert Downey Jr.'s Victor von Doom originates.
The Surprising Omission
The Marvels (2022) is notably absent from the list, despite its end credits scene showing Monica Rambeau entering Earth-10005, where Kelsey Grammer's Beast appears. However, this scene is just a post-credits moment in a film otherwise unrelated to the multiverse.
All these movies and Loki are streaming on Disney+. Avengers Doomsday is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 18, 2026.
