Watch guide
Not every Marvel title — just the ones that help you understand Doomsday.
Start here. The minimum you need.
2025Movie~115 min
Marvel's First Family defend their retro-futuristic Earth from Galactus.
Why it matters: Introduces the MCU's Fantastic Four — Doom's oldest rivals in the comics — whose cast is part of Doomsday.
2021Series6 episodes
A Loki variant is captured by the TVA and uncovers who really controls time.
Why it matters: Explains the TVA and the Sacred Timeline, and ends with the multiverse breaking open.
2019Movie~181 min
The surviving Avengers attempt a time heist to undo Thanos's snap.
Why it matters: The last full Avengers assembly — it explains where the team stands going into Doomsday.
2025Movie~127 min
A team of misfits — Yelena, Bucky, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent and Ghost — face Bob, a man with godlike power.
Why it matters: Ends with the team branded the “New Avengers” and a post-credits scene that points straight at the Fantastic Four.
Adds important context.
2023Series6 episodes
The TVA struggles to hold a branching timeline together.
Why it matters: Shows what Loki's choices mean for the multiverse as a whole.
2022Movie~126 min
Doctor Strange travels across universes to protect a girl who can move between them.
Why it matters: Introduces incursions — collisions between universes — a key multiverse concept.
2024Movie~128 min
Deadpool is pulled into the TVA's business and teams up with a reluctant Wolverine.
Why it matters: Bridges the Fox X-Men universe and the MCU through the TVA, and introduces Channing Tatum's Gambit.
2025Movie~118 min
Sam Wilson's first film as Captain America, facing a conspiracy around President Ross.
Why it matters: Sam decides to rebuild the Avengers, and the post-credits scene warns of other worlds.
2022Movie~161 min
Wakanda mourns its king and clashes with Namor's hidden underwater kingdom, Talokan.
Why it matters: Introduces Namor and Namora and makes Shuri the new Black Panther — all part of the Doomsday cast.
2026MovieEndgame + ~4 min of new scenes
The September 2026 theatrical re-release of Endgame with new footage shot during Doomsday's production.
Why it matters: Its new scenes feature Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom ahead of Doomsday.
2021Series6 episodes
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes deal with the legacy of Captain America's shield.
Why it matters: Sam accepts the shield, and John Walker (U.S. Agent) and Joaquín Torres debut — all four are in Doomsday.
For fans who want the full picture.
2000Movie~104 min
Professor X and Magneto clash over the future of mutantkind.
Why it matters: The original film for several X-Men actors named in the Doomsday cast.
2018Movie~149 min
Thanos hunts the Infinity Stones as the Avengers try to stop him.
Why it matters: Sets up Endgame — and puts Thor, Steve, Bucky, Shuri and M'Baku side by side in Wakanda's battle.
2021Series9 episodes
Animated stories showing how familiar events could have played out in other universes.
Why it matters: A fun, low-stakes way to understand variants and alternate universes.
2023Movie~125 min
Scott and Cassie Lang are pulled into the Quantum Realm and face Kang the Conqueror.
Why it matters: Scott and Cassie's most recent film — both are confirmed for Doomsday.
2021Movie~132 min
A martial-arts master confronts his father and the power of the Ten Rings.
Why it matters: Shang-Chi's only film so far — and he's in the Doomsday trailer.
2003Movie~133 min
The X-Men and Magneto join forces against William Stryker.
Why it matters: Nightcrawler's only appearance before Doomsday, alongside Xavier, Magneto, Cyclops and Mystique.
2021Movie~134 min
Natasha Romanoff reunites with the Red Room "family" she grew up with.
Why it matters: Introduces Yelena Belova and Red Guardian, two pillars of the New Avengers.
2018Movie~134 min
T'Challa takes the throne of Wakanda and faces a challenger with a claim to it.
Why it matters: The first film for Shuri and M'Baku, and the best introduction to Wakanda.
2011Movie~124 min
A frail Brooklyn volunteer becomes the super-soldier Captain America in World War II.
Why it matters: Where Steve, Peggy and Bucky's story begins — all three return in Doomsday.
2006Movie~104 min
A mutant “cure” splits the world, and the X-Men face Magneto and a transformed Jean Grey.
Why it matters: Kelsey Grammer's main outing as Beast, and where Mystique's story with Magneto ended.
