14 Years Later, One of the Greatest Franchise-Starters of All Time Assembles on Streaming

3 weeks ago 15

Published Mar 5, 2026, 5:43 PM EST

14 years later, the movie that essentially proved that modern shared-universe blockbusters could work is getting that familiar second-wave surge. And although it keeps getting the surge on and off, 2026 is important because that’s when the MCU’s cornerstone Avengers: Doomsday comes in.

The team-up that pulled Nick Fury’s (Samuel L. Jackson) recruitment plan into a full-scale global crisis and turned six solo heroes into one unified blockbuster engine is trending right now. The current chart movement is small but sharp. On Disney+ in the U.S., the film in question is back in the Top 10 at #10 today (March 4). On the Apple TV Store, the spike is even louder in specific markets: it hit #1 in Lebanon on March 4, landed #4 in Qatar, and moved #2 yesterday to #3 today (March 4) in Uganda, while also popping up earlier at #9 in Botswana (February 26).

The title is none other than The Avengers (2012). Rewatching it now arguably hits different as well because you can see the blueprint being drawn in real time: Tony’s (Robert Downey Jr.) ego sharpening the plan, Steve’s (Chris Evans) leadership stabilizing the chaos, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) learning Earth’s stakes, Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) becoming the wildcard weapon, and Natasha (Scarlett Johansson)/Clint (Jeremy Renner) anchoring the human cost. And with Avengers: Doomsday looming in 2026, this is the MCU’s origin of the crossover movie, the one fans return to when they want to remember what it feels like when Marvel actually earns the assemble.

James Marsden Recently Teased That ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Will Be a Treat for ‘X-Men’ Fans

As per Entertainment Tonight, James Marsden says X-Men fans can count on being blown away by Avengers: Doomsday, teasing that Marvel and the Russo brothers are “upping the ante” and “giving everybody what they want.” He doesn’t spill plot, but the subtext is loud: this is being positioned as a true event for legacy mutants, in addition to so much more. Marsden frames it like a payoff for longtime viewers, new scale, new combinations, and spectacle built to justify bringing the old guard back into the MCU conversation. Marsden made the comments while promoting Your Friends and Neighbors Season 2 (returning April 3).

The Avengers is available to stream on Disney+. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release in U.S. theaters on December 18, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.