Marvel Studios has produced so many projects over the years that we now have to do “homework” just to watch a single film; Disney has officially released a “countdown” watch list for Avengers: Doomsday. This isn’t just a random fan-made list; it is a clear signal from Disney that watching these titles is essential to fully understanding and experiencing Avengers: Doomsday. One thing becomes abundantly clear: Marvel Studios isn’t just connecting the MCU; they are bringing together elements from the old X-Men universe, the multiverse, Wakanda, Namor, and a host of other characters, orchestrating a massive collision of worlds. Avengers: Doomsday is set to release in December, so before it arrives, there are specific movies and one crucial series spanning two seasons that you need to watch to ensure you get the best possible experience from the film. Now, let’s talk about our exclusive topic: 15 Essential MCU Movies Before Avengers: Doomsday | Complete Watchlist.
01) X-Men (2000)
This original X-Men film (released in 2000) lays the foundation for characters like Professor X, Magneto, Cyclops, and Mystique. Why should you watch it now? Because the original actors portraying these characters Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), James Marsden (Cyclops), and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) are set to return in Avengers: Doomsday. This is the version of the characters we saw long ago. Watching X-Men essentially helps you understand the relationships between these figures; that way, when these superheroes appear alongside the MCU heroes in Avengers: Doomsday, it won’t feel like they have just randomly materialized out of nowhere.
02) X2: X-Men United (2003)
If X-Men (2000) served as an introduction, then this film takes the dynamics and develops them much more seriously. It explores the complex relationship between Professor X and Magneto. The conflict between mutants and humans, combined with the internal bonds shared by the X-Men, adds emotional depth to the returning characters. That is why watching X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003) is essential to fully understand the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
03) Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
This is Steve Rogers’ origin story, but its significance becomes even more compelling when viewed through the lens of the Doomsday concept. We already know that Captain America has been the moral symbol of the Marvel Universe, and with our hero Captain America (Steve Rogers) set to return in Avengers: Doomsday, this movie is essential not just for understanding the origins of S.H.I.E.L.D., but also for grasping the ideology Steve Rogers represents. When the classic Captain America returns amidst a new generation of heroes, the resulting comparisons will naturally be fascinating. Given that Steve Rogers has been the central figure in every MCU story, this is a film you absolutely cannot afford to miss.
04) The Avengers (2012)
Then comes our favorite film, where we first saw Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye come together as a team. If we look at the trailer for Avengers: Doomsday today, the situation feels like an extreme version of that earlier scenario. While the original film brought six superheroes together in a single room, Doomsday is bringing multiple teams, universes, and generations together onto one battlefield.
You can think of the first Avengers film as a smaller-scale version of Avengers: Doomsday; it is the movie that helps you understand the concepts of a cinematic universe and a superhero team-up.
05) Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
This is where the stakes go cosmic. We see the story of Thanos and the Infinity Stones, the collision of the Avengers and the Guardians, and an ending that no one saw coming. I consider this the best film of the Infinity Saga. Infinity War established a villain whose ideology actually won the audience over to his side; similarly, Doomsday is being built around a villain who is no ordinary supervillain. You see, a fight against Doctor Doom won’t just be about physical blows; he is a supervillain who views himself the same way Thanos viewed himself.
06) Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Watching the films in the correct order makes it much easier to fully grasp the story. Endgame brought the original Avengers era to a close, delivering a powerful, emotional conclusion to the arcs of major characters like Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, and Natasha. Ironically, however, we are now set to see Robert Downey Jr. return not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom. To truly appreciate the emotional weight of this development, watching Avengers: Endgame is essential. It is crucial to understand how Steve Rogers and the concept of time travel connect to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday; consequently, Endgame is a must-watch. In fact, viewing this film before Avengers: Doomsday is considered vital, as you simply won’t be able to make sense of Avengers: Doomsday without it.
07) Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Tension Rings (2021)
Now it is very important to look at the important part of the multiverse saga. You have to start watching from here first. Disney has also officially included this film in Doomsday. The story of Shang-Chi starts like an origin movie but till now the mystery of 10 rings remains a mystery for us, it is still unresolved for us. Like we know that Shang-Chi is returning in Doomsday and we have also seen him with an important character in the trailer. I personally feel that there could be some big connection between the 10 Rings and Doctor Doom, which makes this film very important.
08) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Based on my assessment and the trailers we’ve seen, it is safe to say that this film’s importance to Avengers: Doomsday is going to be twofold. First, we see Shuri officially established in the role of Black Panther. Second, Namor and Talokan are introduced. Characters from both these sides play a crucial role in the conflict of Doomsday. After watching Wakanda Forever, you gain insight into Shuri’s emotional state and understand the perspective from which Namor views the world. Consequently, when you watch Doomsday and see the characters from Wakanda and Talokan interacting with the other heroes, they certainly won’t feel like side characters. This film is significant, so be sure to watch it before Doomsday hits theaters.
09) Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
This film is significant because it centers on the new Captain America, Sam Wilson. We have already been introduced to this new Captain America, and the passing of Steve Rogers’ shield represents a massive transition for the MCU. Brave New World shows us how Sam Wilson navigates his new identity. Since Sam Wilson is set to emerge as a major leader of the Avengers in Avengers: Doomsday, skipping his journey of becoming the new Captain America would mean missing out on understanding the impact and backstory of this new role which is precisely why this film is so important.
10) Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
If you don’t want to be caught off guard when seeing the classic X-Men characters in the Doomsday film, then watching this movie is crucial in fact, it is practically mandatory. Deadpool & Wolverine has directly connected Fox’s Marvel characters to the MCU via the multiverse. By bringing together Wade Winston Wilson, Wolverine, the TVA, and various realities, the film demonstrates a vital point: Marvel isn’t simply rebooting legacy characters; instead, it is utilizing their existing histories and storylines through the multiverse. The return of the original X-Men in Doomsday can be seen as the next step in this brilliant approach. Within the MCU’s multiverse framework, all the Marvel movies released throughout history exist in their own separate universes.
11) Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
The very title highlights the multiverse, and this film is considered the foundational work for the upcoming Doomsday storyline. It depicts Doctor Strange grappling with alternate universes, incursions, and the perilous consequences affecting reality. Furthermore, the film establishes that events in one universe can destroy another and trigger incursions. The massive crossover event in Doomsday is set to escalate this multiverse chaos to a critical level. Essentially, this film serves as a crash course on the multiverse ahead of Doomsday, making it crucial for a proper understanding of the concept.
12) Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
This film is significant because it brought together Spider-Men and villains from different universes into a single story. We have already seen how it directly connects to the Multiverse plot involving Doctor Strange. If multiple universes and characters are to interact in Doomsday, this film provides the essential background for that experience. Peter Parker’s status within the MCU and the nature of his identity are set to be pivotal turning points in Doomsday. While it hasn’t been officially confirmed which version of Spider-Man will appear in Doomsday, sources suggest we might see Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man though only time will tell. In the meantime, you should watch this film, as it is crucial for understanding the context leading up to Doomsday.
13) Thunderbolts* (2025)
This film is directly significant for the New Avengers featuring Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, John Walker, and, most importantly, Sentry. They come together as a team, and by the end of the movie, a major shift in status occurs: this new group emerges to be known as the Avengers. Furthermore, the structure originally Stark Tower, which later became Avengers Tower serves as their headquarters in this film, effectively becoming the New Avengers Tower. Their role in the Doomsday film is crucial because Marvel no longer relies on a single traditional team; instead, as we have seen, there is a collection of multiple hero groups: Sam Wilson’s side, the Thunderbolts*, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the original legacy characters.
14) The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
The Fantastic Four are the MCU’s newest major family of heroes, and the film introduces them in an alternate, retro-futuristic 1960s setting. Understanding this team’s dynamic will be crucial for Avengers: Doomsday; the entire Fantastic Four team is confirmed, and the movie’s ending establishes a connection involving Doctor Doom and Franklin Richards that links it directly to Avengers: Doomsday. Just as Endgame had a direct connection, The Fantastic Four: First Steps connects to Doomsday in a similar way. Furthermore, the trailer confirms that the Fantastic Four team already knows everything there is to know about Doctor Doom.
15) Loki (2021)
It would be a huge mistake to overlook the Loki series. In the context of Doomsday, Loki is arguably the most important entry on this entire list. Seasons 1 and 2 explain the structure of the multiverse, timelines, variants, the TVA, and Loki’s own transformation; ultimately, his role becomes inextricably linked to the survival of timelines and realities and the multiverse itself. We’ve already caught a glimpse of Loki in the trailer, and his appearance in Avengers: Doomsday is confirmed. That is why understanding Loki’s story will be immensely helpful in decoding Avengers: Doomsday. I highly recommend watching both seasons back-to-back after Avengers: Endgame, as grasping the events of Doomsday likely won’t be possible without having seen this show.
Final Verdict
So, this is the watchlist you need to go through before the Avengers: Doomsday movie arrives; it ensures that when you watch the film, you understand exactly which superheroes are involved and why. This isn’t just a random list of the best superhero movies in the Marvel Universe; rather, it familiarizes you with every character connected to Doomsday. In a way, you could view this as a roadmap provided by Disney for Marvel fans, yet the list remains concise enough that even a non-fan could grasp the basics and enjoy the movie. Even if you have already seen these films, there is still time before Avengers: Doomsday premieres; consider this your “homework” watching these 15 movies will make it much easier for you to decode Avengers: Doomsday when it finally arrives. Avengers: Doomsday is set for a worldwide release on December 18, 2026.
