What to watch before Avengers: Doomsday: essential movies and series to arrive prepared
Updated: September 28, 2026
You don't need to rewatch the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe to understand Avengers: Doomsday. However, there are several movies and series that help in understanding the characters, the multiverse, and the connections Marvel is preparing for this new gathering of Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men.
The good news is that there is a fairly manageable route.
If you want to arrive at Avengers: Doomsday with the necessary context, the most useful journey includes Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Deadpool & Wolverine, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Of all of them, there is one that deserves special attention: The Fantastic Four: First Steps, because Marvel has explicitly explained that this film leads directly into Avengers: Doomsday.
What to watch before Avengers: Doomsday?
The fast track
For those who don't want to face an endless Marvel marathon, this is the selection that provides the most context:
| Order | Title | What it contributes to Doomsday | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avengers: Infinity War | The great conflict of the Avengers and Marvel's cosmic scale | Essential |
| 2 | Avengers: Endgame | Consequences of Infinity War and starting point for much of the new phase | Essential |
| 3 | Loki – Seasons 1 & 2 | TVA, timelines, and how the multiverse works | Essential |
| 4 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | Variants, alternate realities, and rules of the multiverse | Highly recommended |
| 5 | Deadpool & Wolverine | The connection to other realities and the return of X-Men-linked characters | Highly recommended |
| 6 | Thunderbolts* | Introduces and develops several characters who are part of the new Marvel generation | Recommended |
| 7 | The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Introduces the group Marvel has confirmed as a direct piece of Doomsday | Essential |
The selection follows a specific logic: it's not about revisiting every story in the MCU, but about following Avengers + multiverse + X-Men + Fantastic Four, which are precisely the major axes that converge in Doomsday.
1. Avengers: Infinity War
Why watch Infinity War before Doomsday?
Avengers: Infinity War is one of the fundamental films for understanding the scale that the great threats of the Marvel universe can reach.
The film brings together the Avengers and other heroes against Thanos, whose goal is to obtain the six Infinity Stones. Marvel presented the story as a conflict that affects not just Earth, but all of existence.
Beyond remembering specific characters, Infinity War serves to recapture the feeling that in Marvel, a threat can simultaneously involve heroes from completely different backgrounds.
This is important because Avengers: Doomsday once again proposes a story of extraordinary dimensions, this time with characters coming from different corners of the franchise.
What is useful to remember:
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The relationship between the Avengers and cosmic-scale threats.
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The general functioning of the Infinity Stones.
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The evolution of Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor, Bruce Banner, and company.
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The magnitude of the consequences that a conflict between different Marvel forces can cause.
You don't need to study the plot scene by scene. What's important is to recapture the Avengers' context before entering the multiverse era.
2. Avengers: Endgame
If Infinity War establishes the great conflict, Endgame shows its consequences.
Marvel defines it as the culmination of the story developed over 22 films and puts the surviving Avengers before a final battle after the devastation caused by Thanos.
To prepare for Doomsday, Endgame also has another value: it helps to understand why many of the subsequent stories no longer take place within a Marvel world exactly like the one that existed before.
Endgame and the start of a new stage
The film doesn't explain everything that is to come on its own, but it provides the reference point you need to understand characters like Loki and the subsequent evolution of the MCU.
That is why Infinity War and Endgame continue to form a highly recommended block, even if Doomsday isn't simply a direct continuation of them.
In a short marathon, watch both.
3. Loki: Seasons 1 and 2
This is where the truly important part for understanding the multiverse begins.
The first season of Loki takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame and places Loki within the Time Variance Authority, while the story introduces fundamental concepts related to timelines and the structure of the Marvel universe.
The second season delves even deeper into that scenario and leads Loki to face an increasingly complex multiverse. Marvel officially describes this stage as a story in which the character navigates an expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse.
Do you have to watch both seasons?
Yes, to understand the context of the multiverse well, it is worth watching both.
The main advantage of Loki is that it doesn't limit itself to presenting alternate worlds as a simple narrative surprise. The series spends much more time explaining how timelines work and what happens when multiple possibilities exist.
That makes it especially useful for a viewer who wants to arrive at Doomsday understanding the concept rather than just recognizing a few cameos.
Is Loki essential to understand the plot of Doomsday?
There is no official confirmation that every plot element of Loki will translate directly into Doomsday. Therefore, it is best to approach it as the best piece of context for the multiverse, not as a supposed secret explanation for the film.
4. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
If Loki explains the multiverse from a more conceptual perspective, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness makes it the center of a cinematic adventure.
Marvel presents the film as a story directly related to the multiverse and starring Doctor Strange, Wanda Maximoff, and America Chavez.
What does it contribute before Avengers: Doomsday?
Mainly, three things:
Alternate realities.
It helps to understand that there is no single possible version of a character or a world.
Variants.
The film plays with different versions of characters and the consequences of crossing between realities.
The visual and narrative logic of the multiverse.
This is especially useful when a future film brings together characters historically associated with different continuities.
You don't need to turn this movie into an independent guide to Wanda or Doctor Strange. For the preparation for Doomsday, its value is above all in understanding what it really means for Marvel to start crossing universes.
5. Deadpool & Wolverine
This is one of the most interesting pieces of the entire preparation because it serves as a bridge between the MCU and the cinematic legacy of the X-Men.
Marvel defines Deadpool & Wolverine as a story in which Wade Wilson puts on the Deadpool suit again to fight for the survival of his world alongside Wolverine.
But its importance for Doomsday goes beyond Deadpool and Wolverine.
Kevin Feige later explained that Deadpool & Wolverine was a first approach to the return of characters associated with the old X-Men films and that Doomsday would delve deeper into that interaction.
Why is it so important?
Because Deadpool & Wolverine helps to understand that Marvel is no longer treating the different cinematic generations as completely isolated compartments.
Do you need to watch all the previous X-Men films?
No. For a first preparation, Deadpool & Wolverine allows you to enter that conversation without having to watch the entire mutant saga at once.
However, anyone who wants to better recognize the legacy of characters and performers associated with the X-Men can later expand the marathon with some of the franchise's classic films.
6. Thunderbolts*
Another recommended title is Thunderbolts*, especially for those who want to arrive at Doomsday having located various characters from the current generation of Marvel.
The film brings together Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker, among others, and poses a joint mission for a group very far from the classic Avengers lineup.
Is it essential?
Not at the same level as Infinity War, Endgame, Loki, or The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Its utility is different: it serves to refresh the situation of several contemporary characters who are part of the current Marvel stage and who appear related to the large cast announced for Doomsday. The official Disney file includes, among others, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, and Lewis Pullman.
It is, therefore, a film of character context, not an essential piece to understand the concept of the multiverse.
7. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The movie you shouldn't skip
If there is one title that must be on any list of what to watch before Avengers: Doomsday, it is The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Marvel has presented this film as the official introduction of the First Family into the MCU and has confirmed that Pedro Pascal plays Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn plays Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Ben Grimm.
But there is an even more important reason to watch it.
Kevin Feige stated that the film leads directly to Avengers: Doomsday. He also explained that the Fantastic Four will return in Doomsday alongside the Avengers and the X-Men.
What do you need to learn here?
You don't need to memorize the entire history of the Fantastic Four from the comics.
The important thing is to know:
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who Reed Richards is;
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who Sue Storm is;
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who Johnny Storm is;
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who Ben Grimm is;
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how their dynamic as a team works;
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what relationship they have with their universe;
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and what role Reed plays within Marvel's scientific and cosmic framework.
In addition, First Steps takes place in a universe with its own retro-futuristic aesthetic, which allows one to understand that not all the characters we will see in Doomsday necessarily come from the same narrative environment.
Why is it more important than many previous films?
Because here we are not talking only about a connection suggested by fans.
Marvel has publicly explained that The Fantastic Four: First Steps directly prepares for the arrival of the characters in Avengers: Doomsday.
That is why it should occupy a priority place in any previous marathon.
The recommended order to watch the movies before Avengers: Doomsday
For those who want to follow a logical route without trying to reproduce the entire history of the MCU, this would be a good order:
Essential route
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Avengers: Infinity War
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Avengers: Endgame
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Loki – Season 1
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Loki – Season 2
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
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Deadpool & Wolverine
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Thunderbolts*
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
This order does not pretend to be a complete chronology of the MCU. It is a thematic route designed to arrive at Doomsday with the necessary context.
First, you recover the Avengers. Then, you understand the transition to the multiverse. Next, you enter the side of alternate realities and X-Men. Finally, you meet the Fantastic Four that Marvel has confirmed as a direct part of Doomsday.
What to watch before Avengers: Doomsday if I have little time?
Not everyone has seven free nights to do a Marvel marathon.
In that case, this is the shortened route:
If you can only watch 3 titles
1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Because Marvel has confirmed its direct connection to Doomsday.
2. Loki – Seasons 1 & 2
Because it is the best way to regain context on the multiverse from a story focused specifically on timelines.
3. Deadpool & Wolverine
Because it helps to understand the bridge between the MCU and the X-Men legacy.
If you can add three more movies
Complete the preparation with:
Avengers: Infinity War → Avengers: Endgame → Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
With those six pieces, you will have a much more complete base without turning the preparation into a review of the entire saga.
Do you have to watch all Marvel movies before Doomsday?
No. There is no practical need to review the dozens of MCU films and series to arrive prepared for Avengers: Doomsday.
In fact, trying to include absolutely everything can make the viewer lose sight of what is important.
The route that deserves the most attention is the one formed by four large blocks:
| Block | What to watch | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers | Infinity War + Endgame | Regain the core of the Avengers |
| Multiverse | Loki + Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | Understand variants, realities, and timelines |
| X-Men | Deadpool & Wolverine | Connect with the mutant legacy |
| Fantastic Four | The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Meet the group that links directly to Doomsday |
What about the classic X-Men movies?
There is an important difference here between needing context and wanting to enjoy all the nods.
It is not essential to do a full marathon of the X-Men movies to understand what happens in Doomsday. Deadpool & Wolverine functions as a sufficiently useful gateway to discover the return of that part of the Marvel universe.
But there is a second route for the more completist fan.
Additional mutant route
You can add some of the classic X-Men films if you want to better recognize the mutants' cinematic history and the legacy of the performers who are once again linked to Doomsday.
The selection makes sense, especially because the official cast of Doomsday includes names linked to that era of X-Men, among them Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, and James Marsden. Disney includes them in the film's announced cast.
Mind you: the fact that a performer appears in the official cast does not allow for automatic assumptions about which version of the character they will play or what role they will have in the story, unless Marvel or Disney have confirmed it.
Which movies are not necessary to prepare for Avengers: Doomsday?
A good guide should also tell you what you can leave out.
You do not need an indiscriminate marathon of every movie released after Endgame.
For example, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania develops Kang and the Quantum Realm and was presented by Marvel as the beginning of Phase 5.
That makes it a relevant movie within the overall MCU story, but it is not essential for the compact route we are proposing for Doomsday.
The difference is important: a movie can be part of the general continuity and still not be necessary to answer the specific question of what to watch before a film.
Doctor Doom: the other reason to do this marathon
The conversation surrounding Doomsday is not focused solely on the Avengers.
One of the major focal points is Doctor Doom / Victor von Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. according to promotional material gathered during the research. The report positions this relationship as one of the main interests of the film.
And this is where The Fantastic Four: First Steps gains importance again.
In Marvel, Doctor Doom maintains a historically significant relationship with Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four. That is why getting to know the First Family beforehand helps one understand why the appearance of Doom is so relevant within this story.
There is no need to turn this preparation into a comic book class. It is enough to understand that Reed Richards and Victor von Doom belong to one of the classic rivalries of the Marvel universe, and that the Fantastic Four now occupy a central place in the movie.
What is known about Avengers: Doomsday and what is still theory?
This is one of the questions that is best clarified before getting into the theories.
Confirmed
Marvel and Disney have officially confirmed:
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the film;
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the directing of Anthony and Joe Russo;
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the screenplay by Stephen McFeely;
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the presence of a cast formed by characters from different areas of Marvel;
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the participation of the Fantastic Four;
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the presence of actors associated with the X-Men;
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and the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the project.
Not confirmed
It is not advisable to present as facts:
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the specific fate of certain characters;
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who will die;
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who will disappear;
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a specific theory about Franklin Richards;
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the complete plot of the incursions;
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details about Secret Wars that have not been officially released.
Fan theory
Marvel communities have proposed numerous hypotheses about the multiverse, Franklin Richards, the legacy of certain characters, and the relationship between Doomsday and Secret Wars.
These are interesting topics to discuss, but they should be presented as theories, not as confirmed spoilers.
Will Avengers: Doomsday be the gateway to Secret Wars?
The connection with Avengers: Secret Wars is one of the biggest topics of conversation among fans.
However, one must distinguish between what is officially announced and what is being interpreted from the comics, trailers, and community theories.
So we can conclude: it makes sense to talk about the connection; it does not make sense to invent plot details that Marvel has not yet confirmed.
The ultimate marathon before Avengers: Doomsday
If you are a Marvel fan and want to reach the premiere having covered practically all the major pillars, this would be the expanded route:
Level 1: essential
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Avengers: Infinity War
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Avengers: Endgame
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Loki – Seasons 1 and 2
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Deadpool & Wolverine
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Level 2: recommended
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
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Thunderbolts**
Level 3: for completist fans
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Classic X-Men movies
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Other titles related to the characters you want to revisit before the premiere
In this way, preparation stops being an endless list and becomes a meaningful journey.
What to watch before Avengers: Doomsday: the definitive answer
The most efficient route is Infinity War, Endgame, Loki (seasons 1 and 2), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Deadpool & Wolverine, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
If you have to shorten the list even further, stick with Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps to recover the concepts that help the most in understanding Marvel's current landscape.
And among all of them, there is one especially clear priority: The Fantastic Four: First Steps, because Marvel has explained that this film leads directly into Avengers: Doomsday.
The key is not to have watched absolutely everything Marvel has released, but to arrive at the movie understanding who the characters are, how the multiverse works, and why Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men are now converging.
Frequently asked questions
What movies should I watch before Avengers: Doomsday?
The most useful ones are Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Deadpool & Wolverine, Thunderbolts, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It is also highly recommended to watch Loki, seasons 1 and 2, to better understand the multiverse.
Which is the most important movie to watch before Avengers: Doomsday?
The Fantastic Four: First Steps occupies a special place because Marvel has confirmed that the movie leads directly into Avengers: Doomsday.
Do I need to watch Loki before Avengers: Doomsday?
It is highly recommended. Loki helps you understand the Time Variance Authority, timelines, and how the multiverse works, and the first season takes place after Avengers: Endgame.
Do I need to watch Deadpool & Wolverine before Avengers: Doomsday?
It is recommended, especially to understand the connection between the MCU and the cinematic legacy of the X-Men. Kevin Feige noted that Deadpool & Wolverine was a first approach to that return before delving deeper into it with Doomsday.
Do I have to watch all the X-Men movies before Doomsday?
It is not necessary for basic preparation. Deadpool & Wolverine offers a more direct entry point. The classic X-Men movies are a recommended expansion for those who want to know that legacy better.
Do I have to watch Thunderbolts* before Doomsday?
It is not essential, but it helps to position several characters from Marvel's current stage. In it, Marvel introduces Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker, among others.
What is the relationship between The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday?
It is a direct relationship: Marvel has explained that First Steps leads into Avengers: Doomsday and that the Fantastic Four will appear alongside the Avengers and the X-Men.
Will Avengers: Doomsday be connected to Secret Wars?
The connection is part of the conversation and fan theories, but specific plot details should not be presented as confirmed as long as Marvel has not made them official.
