Doomsday until you've watched these 6 Marvel movies

Following a seven-year wait, 2026 will lastly see Earth’s Mightiest Heroes assemble as soon as extra for Avengers: Doomsday. The MCU’s most iconic figures will be part of forces to defend existence from the machinations of a plot by the long-anticipated villain Physician Doom, performed by Robert Downey Jr. Avengers: Doomsday will mark the start of the top of the Multiverse Saga that started in 2021.

Nonetheless, with over 37 motion pictures and 29 TV exhibits out there on Disney+, it may be daunting entering the MCU in 2026. Listed below are my private suggestions for what you must watch to know Avengers: Doomsday.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Avengers: Doomsday‘s core workforce will function returning heroes Captain America (Anthony Mackie), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd). The lineup may also function Shang-Chi, Simu Liu’s martial artist and present wielder of the Ten Rings. The character made his debut within the 2021 film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the place his difficult previous pushes him on a path to heroism.

As one of many much less well-established heroes amongst Doomsday’s solid, I really feel it’s important to revisit Shang-Chi’s debut film. Not solely will it let you refresh your reminiscence of one of many few new heroes who’ve acquired their very own film since Avengers: Endgame, however the film itself nonetheless stands as a strong function that reminds you of how the MCU used to deliver lesser-known characters into the limelight.

Launch Date: September 3, 2021
Runtime: 132 minutes
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers: Dave Callaham
Producers: Charles Newirth, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso
Franchise(s): Marvel Cinematic Universe

Simu Liu
Shaun / Shang-Chi
Tony Leung Chiu-wai
Xu Wenwu
Ben Kingsley
Trevor Slattery

Loki

Releasing throughout two seasons, Loki picked up on the whereabouts of Tom Hiddleston’s escaped villainous Loki variant, who slipped away throughout Avengers: Endgame‘s failed 2012 time heist. Rapidly apprehended by the universe-maintaining TVA group, this reality-less God of Mischief is recruited to seek out a fellow rogue Loki however quickly learns of a conspiracy detailing how the TVA will inevitably deliver the multiverse to its finish.

Whereas plans for the Multiverse Saga modified all through the Disney+ present’s manufacturing, Loki season 2 ended the collection with a newly redeemed Loki utilizing his energy to type a multiversal world-tree, Yggdrasil, via his magic, the place he sits and holds a fragile multiverse collectively. Because the literal core of the MCU’s multiverse, Loki’s function makes rewatching his collection important to understanding the ideas behind the Multiverse. What stays to be seen is whether or not Loki’s function will make him a defender towards Doom’s onslaught or a goal of the villain.

Launch Date: 2021 – 2022
Community: Disney+
Showrunner: Michael Waldron
Administrators: Kate Herron
Writers: Bisha Ok. Ali, Michael Waldron
Franchise(s): Marvel Cinematic Universe

Tom Hiddleston
Loki Laufeyson
Tara Sturdy
Miss Minutes (voice)
Sophia Di Martino
Sylvie / The Variant

Thunderbolts*

Removed from the time-slipping shenanigans of Loki and the TVA, Earth’s residents witnessed a shift within the steadiness of powers in Thunderbolts*. With no clear Avengers line-up in place and governments seeking to make their very own defenders within the energy vacuum, a workforce of anti-heroes are thrust collectively when the Sentry challenge threatens to envelop the world in darkness. This mission in the end sees them acknowledged because the New Avengers, establishing them as Earth’s new mightiest heroes within the face of any menace that will come.

Thunderbolts* stands as among the finest post-Endgame MCU tasks—an underrated story about discovering goal and dealing with demons that didn’t get the popularity it deserved on the field workplace. As one of many final MCU motion pictures launched earlier than Doomsday, the function units the established order because the New Avengers should combat to show themselves worthy of the mantle. Nonetheless, as seen in its post-credits scene, Yelena Belova’s (Florence Pugh) group of misfits could have multiple world’s issues to grapple with, as they watch a well-known vessel enter their environment.

Launch Date: Might 2, 2025
Runtime: 127 minutes
Director: Jake Schreier

Florence Pugh
Yelena Belova
Sebastian Stan
Bucky Barnes
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Lewis Pullman
Robert Reynolds

The Implausible 4: First Steps

The latest MCU film to launch on the time of writing, The Fantastic Four: First Steps launched the titular workforce as the primary heroes of the retro-inspired Earth-828. 4 years into their superhero profession, the conception of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm’s (Vanessa Kirby) youngster brings the approaching of Galactus (Ralph Ineson) to their world, leaving the dad and mom, Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) to combat for his or her household and the destiny of the world.

You can’t have Victor Von Doom with out his predominant foes, so Marvel’s First Household was all the time going to be a vital a part of the subsequent Avengers film. Alongside the primary workforce, First Steps featured the institution of Latveria as an influence on Earth-828 and the bodily debut of Doom in a post-credits scene the place he interacts with the Energy Cosmic-imbued Franklin, instantly main into the occasions of Doomsday by hinting at how the villain will cross universes to enact his plan.

Launch Date: July 25, 2025
Runtime: 115 minutes
Director: Matt Shakman

Pedro Pascal
Reed Richards / Mister Implausible
Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Girl
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Factor
Joseph Quinn
Johnny Storm / Human Torch

X2

Alongside a return to Earth-828, Avengers: Doomsday may also bridge the hole between Earth-616 and the universe of FOX’s genre-redefining X-Men movies. The Marvels arrange the approaching incursion with a universe-displaced Monica Rambeau being taken in on the X-Mansion and positioned beneath the care of Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, and it has been confirmed Channing Tatum’s Gambit will return following his debut in Deadpool & Wolverine, however the primary mutant line-up will encompass Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellen), Cyclops (James Marsden), Mystique (Rebecca Romjin), and Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming). Whereas there are over 13 X-Males motion pictures to select from as samples of this universe in motion, the most effective one which includes a comparable character line-up is 2003’s X2.

The second entry within the authentic X-Males film trilogy, X2 noticed the X-Males pressured on the run and having to work with Magneto when Brian Cox’s Colonel William Stryker units out to wipe out Mutantkind utilizing the powers of a robust and unstable mutant. Not solely does its uneasy alliance finest match the workforce roster set to tackle Doom within the upcoming crossover, however it nonetheless stands as the most effective of the primary X-Males motion pictures due to its story difficult how Xavier and his workforce fought for mutant rights. With their Doomsday trailer that includes a Magneto monologue the place he questions whether or not how one faces their finish will outline them, it’s clear that the X-Males will face troublesome decisions in the event that they wish to save their world as soon as extra.

Launch Date: April 27, 2003
Runtime: 133 minutes
Director: Bryan Singer
Writers: Dan Harris, David Hayter
Producers: Avi Arad, Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Stan Lee
Prequel(s): X-Males
Sequel(s): X-Males: The Final Stand, X-Males: First Class, X-Males: Days of Future Previous, X-Males Apocalypse

Hugh Jackman
Logan / Wolverine
Patrick Stewart
Professor Charles Xavier
Brian Cox
William Stryker
Ian McKellen
Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto

Black Panther: Wakanda Endlessly

Releasing in 2023, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever returned viewers to the titular nation in one of many MCU’s most emotional entries thus far. Within the wake of T’Challa’s passing, the folks of the hidden nation are introduced into battle with the underwater realm of Talokan and their chief, Namor (Tenoch Huerta). Between her grief and anger towards the onslaught from beneath the waves, Letitia Wright’s Shuri is pressured to take her place as Wakanda’s defender, turning into the brand new Black Panther as a brand new daybreak rises on the nation.

Regardless of Wakanda Endlessly concluding with an uneasy truce between Wakanda and Namor, that peace was seemingly transient, as Earth-616’s most superior nation has already been confirmed to be the positioning of a serious historic second within the MCU. The ultimate presently launched Doomsday teaser depicts present chief M’Baku (Winston Duke) welcoming Ben Grimm to their world, which implies that Wakanda often is the nexus of the upcoming crossover, particularly with the Implausible 4 already being pursued by the New Avengers. With simply over 10 months till Avengers: Doomsday debuts in theaters, these Marvel tasks are must-sees to set you up for the start of the top of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we all know it.