10 MCU Films Fans Need to Watch Before Avengers: Doomsday

The release date is nearing as production on the long-awaited crossover film nears completion. This movie kicks off a two-part finale to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga. With the return of the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr., plus cast members from the *X-Men* movies, *Doomsday* is shaping up to be a truly massive cinematic event.

We don’t yet know exactly which stories from the recent phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be important when the Multiverse Saga concludes, but some movies are more crucial than others. With so many MCU films available—nearly forty!—here are ten you definitely need to watch before *Avengers: Doomsday* arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.

Avengers: Endgame Sets the Stage for Doomsday

Although *Avengers: Endgame* wrapped up the story of Thanos and the Infinity Stones, it might play a crucial role in how the current Multiverse Saga ends. The 2019 film shows the Avengers finally defeating Thanos after he eliminated half of all life. But during their fight, they unintentionally created multiple alternate timelines. These timelines could become a major issue as the multiverse starts to collapse, leading to the events of *Avengers: Doomsday*. While Captain America attempts to fix these timelines, his own trip back in time to be with Peggy Carter could create a new one, potentially causing problems in the next *Avengers* movie.

As a huge fan, it’s bittersweet knowing *Endgame* was Robert Downey Jr.’s last time playing Iron Man. While he’s not officially reprising the role, I’m expecting some kind of link to his new character, Doctor Doom. Honestly, I think rewatching Tony Stark’s story in *Endgame* is crucial before seeing *Doomsday* – I have a feeling the movie will drop some clues about Doctor Doom’s origins and what motivates him to target our Earth!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is Essential to the Multiverse Saga

Originally, *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings* was likely intended to help set up Kang the Conqueror as the big villain for the Multiverse Saga. Director Destin Daniel Cretton was once chosen to direct *Avengers: The Kang Dynasty*, but that film is now being made as *Avengers: Doomsday*. Despite the change, Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi will still be a significant character in the new movie, alongside other returning heroes.

The movie *Shang-Chi* does more than just introduce a new hero—it also marks the first appearance of the Ten Rings, which are set to be a key part of how the Multiverse Saga ends. The scene after the credits suggests the rings are constantly sending a signal to something unknown. This mystery will likely be important in *Avengers: Doomsday*, making *Shang-Chi* crucial to Doctor Doom’s story, just as it would have been for Kang’s.

Spider-Man: No Way Home Offers a Taste of What the Multiverse Saga Can Offer

Many fans consider *Spider-Man: No Way Home* to be one of the strongest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga so far, and it’s notable for really exploring the potential of the Marvel multiverse. The movie brought back previous Spider-Man actors Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, along with iconic villains from their films. Now, four years later, *No Way Home* might lay the groundwork for future storylines in *Avengers: Doomsday*.

While not perfect, *No Way Home* definitely shows what’s possible as the Multiverse Saga continues. Fans are excited about the potential return of beloved characters from outside the MCU, and *Doomsday* is already bringing in cast members from the *X-Men* movies. *No Way Home* provides a good example of how these characters can be integrated into the MCU. Plus, there’s talk that Garfield and Maguire might reappear in a future *Avengers* film, making *No Way Home* even more important to watch before *Doomsday* arrives.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Sets the Rules for the Multiverse

While *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* didn’t fully satisfy all fans, the 2022 film is going to be very important for the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday* movie. The film follows Doctor Strange and his student, America Chavez, as they travel through different universes to protect her. During their journey, they uncover key information about the dangers of the multiverse.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness establishes key rules for the multiverse as it moves toward the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The most important of these is the concept of ‘incursions’ – devastating collisions between parallel universes. The movie’s post-credit scene shows that the main MCU timeline (Earth-616) is on a path to an incursion, which will likely be central to the plot of Doomsday. The film also introduces America Chavez, a unique individual who can travel between universes, and her abilities will almost certainly be crucial when the Avengers confront Doctor Doom.

The Marvels’ Post-Credits Scene Is Vital for Avengers: Doomsday

While *The Marvels* didn’t resonate with all audiences, it plays a crucial role in setting up the events of *Avengers: Doomsday*. The film brings together three of the MCU’s strongest heroes – Captain Marvel, Photon, and Ms. Marvel. Although their on-screen adventure is enjoyable, it’s the scene after the credits that will be most significant for understanding what happens in *Doomsday*.

When Photon bravely fixes a tear in space-time, she unexpectedly ends up in another universe – one that seems to be the world of the X-Men movies. With the recent release of *The Marvels*, fans now know the X-Men will be important in the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday* film. This means *The Marvels* sets the stage for the long-awaited crossover between the X-Men and the Avengers.

Deadpool & Wolverine Introduces New Rules for the Multiverse

Deadpool & Wolverine really dives into the idea of the multiverse more than any other Marvel Cinematic Universe film so far. The movie follows Deadpool (Wade Wilson) and a different version of Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, as they travel through various timelines and a strange place called the Void. Their adventures bring them into conflict with the Time Variance Authority, an organization viewers first met in the Disney+ series *Loki* – which is also a helpful show to watch before the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday* movie.

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve been picking apart *Deadpool & Wolverine*, and it’s packed with stuff that’s going to be *huge* for *Doomsday*! The movie throws around this idea of ‘anchor beings,’ and it feels like that’s going to be a really important piece of the puzzle for the next *Avengers* film. We also get a deeper look at Earth-10005 – the X-Men’s home world – which is definitely coming back in *Doomsday*. Plus, it introduces a bunch of new characters who seem destined to join the team in the next *Avengers* movie. Beyond Deadpool and Wolverine – who everyone’s expecting to show up as the Multiverse Saga wraps up – the film also brings in , and it looks like they’ll finally be teaming up with the rest of the X-Men when they return in *Doomsday*.

Captain America: Brave New World Sets the Scene for the Next Avengers Team

As a huge Marvel fan, I really enjoyed this installment! It’s primarily Sam Wilson’s story as he truly steps into the role of Captain America after taking over from Steve Rogers. But beyond that, it does a lot to build towards the next *Avengers* film. What I found especially interesting was how deeply it explores the world *after* *Endgame* – how everyone’s dealing with the return of all those people, what’s happened to the Avengers as a team, and even the introduction of Adamantium. It really feels like a crucial piece of setting the stage for what’s coming next in the MCU.

A key element of the story in *Brave New World* is that the Avengers have been inactive for several years. The team disbanded sometime after *Endgame*, leaving the world vulnerable. These events motivate Sam Wilson to reassemble the Avengers, a plotline that will likely be central to the beginning of *Avengers: Doomsday*, where Captain America will focus on building a new team of powerful heroes to fight Doctor Doom.

Thunderbolts* Introduces the MCU’s New Avengers

*Thunderbolts* is the team-up movie fans have been waiting for in the Multiverse Saga. The film assembles a group of antiheroes and former villains, initially known as the Thunderbolts, who eventually become the New Avengers. The first team includes familiar faces from Phases 4 and 5 like Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell). The movie also introduces Sentry, played by Lewis Pullman, who is set to be one of the MCU’s strongest heroes yet.

I’m so excited about *Thunderbolts*! It feels like it’s perfectly setting up the New Avengers to really take center stage – they’re even moving into the Avengers’ old tower, now called the Watchtower! And it sounds like all six members of the team will be back for *Avengers: Doomsday*, which suggests they’re going to be incredibly important to what happens. Apparently, the post-credits scene in *Thunderbolts* is a direct lead-in to *Doomsday*, with the Fantastic Four arriving and a conflict brewing between the New Avengers and Sam Wilson’s team. Honestly, you really shouldn’t skip *Thunderbolts* before seeing *Doomsday* – plus, it’s genuinely one of the best Marvel movies we’ve gotten in a while!

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Teases Doctor Doom’s Plan

Though *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* is set in an alternate reality (Earth-838), it’s crucial for understanding how the MCU’s Multiverse Saga concludes. The movie not only introduces a key new superhero team, but also features the debut of Franklin Richards, the son of Reed and Sue Storm. Even at a young age, Franklin is incredibly powerful, possessing immense cosmic abilities.

The mid-credits scene in *The Fantastic Four* strongly hints at connections to the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday*, revealing Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and showing him meeting Franklin. It seems Doom is interested in Franklin’s incredible cosmic powers, possibly to use them for his own evil schemes. The filmmakers have also emphasized how important the Fantastic Four and their home dimension will be in the next *Avengers* movie, confirming that Reed Richards will play a key role and that we’ll revisit Earth-838. If you’re planning to see *Doomsday*, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* is a great film to watch beforehand.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day May Include Teases for Avengers: Doomsday

The next Spider-Man movie, *Brand New Day*, is scheduled to release in theaters on July 31, 2026. Though details are scarce, it’s a crucial film because it’s the final MCU movie to be released before *Avengers: Doomsday* later that year. Fans should definitely see it, as it might contain clues about what’s coming in the next big Avengers team-up.

It’s unclear what hints we might find, but the recent Marvel movies have included scenes directly teasing the next *Avengers* film. If *Brand New Day* follows this trend, it could offer a sneak peek at *Doomsday* to keep fans excited while they wait. There’s also speculation that Doctor Doom might appear in *Brand New Day*, though this hasn’t been confirmed. Regardless, with *Brand New Day* and *Doomsday* releasing so close together, audiences are likely to see the new *Spider-Man* movie when it comes out next summer.

2025-10-10 02:15