MCU 101: How to prepare for Avengers Doomsday in a reasonable manner 

So, are you ready for Avengers Doomsday? Whether you are completely new to the MCU, have watched a few films here and there, or even if you just want a casual rewatch, this is the guide for you. The countdown is ticking, the conspiracies are brewing, and the suspense is growing, let’s start the journey!

Doomsday might be the biggest superhero movie moment to happen since Avengers: Infinity War (2018). The collision with the X-Men universe is something that I cannot wait for, as well as something that has been building up for a long time. We saw Evan Peter’s Quicksilver slip into Wandavision (2021), and Professor X’s brief yet incredible performance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), but now we will see this on a greater scale. The main film you should watch to understand these characters would be the second X-Men film, X2 (2003), as these specific characters reappear in Doomsday. If you want more from this amazing universe then I would recommend X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014).

No, you do not need to watch every MCU film in lots of different orders, but if you would like to see every origin story, feel free

From here, we ought to go back to the basics. No, you do not need to watch every MCU film in lots of different orders, but if you would like to see every origin story, feel free!

We will begin at the beginning with the first Iron Man (2008), a key character to the MCU. It would be wrong to not include this film in the lineup.

Not an Iron Man fan? This may be a controversial suggestion, but if you do not care for certain characters then skip right ahead to the end of ‘Phase One’ and enjoy The Avengers (2012).

The next two key watches are Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). I have chosen these films because they stand out and are relevant to Doomsday in particular. Captain America: The Winter Soldier introduces you to Bucky Barnes who has become a central part of the MCU over the past few years. Additionally, you will be able to come to terms with and understand the political ins and outs of Marvel’s ‘Phase One’ and ‘Phase Two’.

Age of Ultron … is key to understanding the sentimental value behind all of the fighting and magic

Then we move onto Age of Ultron, which is a devastatingly beautiful Avengers film. This one is key to understanding the sentimental value behind all of the fighting and magic. You will see the familial aspects of these films and understand why we love and care for these characters so much. Sadly, the first Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) film is not included in this list purely because their presence has not been confirmed for Doomsday (so far, at least).

Next, it is essential to watch Captain America: Civil War (2016) and both Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Endgame (2019). Once again, this gives you the context that you need to understand the film we are all anticipating, as well as allowing you to understand characters and timelines.

I would especially recommend watching the re-release of Endgame, which is the Encore version (2026), as it will give you snippets into Doomsday.

Before you watch Endgame, you must watch Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) which will introduce you to the ‘quantum realm’, a setting which leads into conversations concerning the multiverse. Additionally, Spiderman: No Way Home (2021) is essential to broaden your understanding of how the multiverse works.

Loki … is a fundamental watch as I believe that he will be one of our crucial focus points in Doomsday

After watching Spiderman, it is best for you to watch Wandavision (2021) and then Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness (2022). I will not say much on these two; it is best to go in blind when watching these. Next is Black Panther Wakanda Forever (2022), and – probably most important – both seasons of Loki (2021-2023). This is a fundamental watch as I believe that he will be one of our crucial focus points in Doomsday.

Now we will journey into the more complex (and most recent) realms of the MCU. ‘Phase Five’ sparks many controversial debates within the Marvel fandom. However, I truly believe that this phase offers some of the best of the MCU. For example, Captain America: Brave New World (2025), The Fantastic Four First Steps (2025), and Thunderbolts (2025) are some phenomenal works which really feel like core Marvel films. They take us back to ‘Phase One’ whilst also preparing us for the roles that these characters will take on in Doomsday.

This list may seem slightly daunting, but it is probably better than having to watch the entirety of the MCU. Now, grab your popcorn, turn on Disney+, and get ready for Doomsday!