Avengers: Doomsday is not far off, and fresh out of D23, viewers have been given a closer look at Victor von Doom assembling Sentinels and giving the Avengers, X-Men, and company a remarkably tough time.
Naturally, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has expanded quite a bit over the past few years. Now juggling numerous television shows, feature films, and a vast array of fresh characters, figuring out what is truly mandatory viewing before a theatrical release can sometimes feel overwhelming. Fortunately, in anticipation of Avengers: Doomsday, Disney+ has put together a curated must-watch list designed to ensure your Marvel knowledge is fully up to speed by the time Doom makes his entrance.
The Complete Disney+ Watchlist
Notably, Fox's first two X-Men and X2 films are included on the roster, meaning newcomers do not need to get bogged down in the intensely complex overarching mutant lore. Fans will also need to take a trip all the way back to the very beginning with Captain America: The First Avenger, alongside foundational entries like The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, though Age of Ultron is notably absent (though it remains a worthy candidate to check out ahead of VisionQuest).
Key Cinematic and Television Additions
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also makes the cut, and given that promotional footage suggests Shuri, M'Baku, and Namor could play major roles in the upcoming team-up feature, brushing up on the geopolitical state of Wakanda is a smart move. The collection also leans heavily into recent favorites, with Loki standing as the sole television series required viewing. Viewers will also dive back into alternate realities via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, alongside returning favorites like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Captain America: Brave New World, Deadpool & Wolverine, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Preparation Time Before the Release Date
For anyone feeling anxious about having to marathon every single MCU project ever produced to understand Doomsday, the pressure is off with a generous four-month window to catch up. These picks serve vital narrative purposes, whether reintroducing the massive roster of characters populating Doomsday or setting up critical plot threads. Given Reed Richards' powerful words directed at Victor in recent trailers, revisiting The Fantastic Four: First Steps is heavily recommended. Fans have plenty of time to work through the official watchlist before the man himself arrives on December 18.
