Avengers: Doomsday's Ultimate Viewing Guide: Every MCU Movie & Show You Need To Watch

Avengers: Doomsday will be in theaters from December 18, 2026, which means it's time to look back at the shows and films that will directly impact on the MCU's biggest crossover event of all time. As much as the Multiverse Saga has been somewhat disappointing for fans of the MCU and superhero movies in general, the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday appears to have restored hopes of bringing audiences back to the theaters.

With the Russo Brothers returning to Marvel after their extraordinary success directing Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and Robert Downey Jr. tackling a new role as Doctor Victor von Doom while his old friends, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, step back into their respective roles as Steve Rogers and Thor, there is a lot to get excited about.

But, as with any MCU film, the interconnected nature of the universe means that this film will directly tie in with some of the other developments that have been seen across the Multiverse Saga, and even stretch back to the final moments of the Infinity Saga.

Avengers: Doomsday Is A Sequel To Avengers: Endgame

As mentioned above, Avengers: Doomsday is set to link back to the Infinity Saga as the Russo Brothers have already stated that this movie will be set up as a sequel to the events of Avengers: Endgame. That is not to say that all of the rest of the Multiverse Saga is being dismissed, but there will be meaningful connections to the events of that earlier film and Doomsday.

So, in order to get the most out of the viewing experience, it is worth going back to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, as these movies came as two parts of one larger story. On top of this, in anticipation of the new release, Marvel is re-releasing Avengers: Endgame in theaters, along with some brand-new scenes that set the stage for Avengers: Doomsday.

As a core foundation, these are the single most important movies to watch to catch up on Avengers: Doomsday, but whether you choose to rewatch Endgame on Disney+ or in theaters closer to release, there are a handful of other projects from across the Multiverse Saga worth diving into to get a fuller picture of what comes next.

Thunderbolts* & The Fantastic Four: First Steps Brings New Superhero Teams To The Front Lines

As it stands, Avengers: Doomsday is set to see several incredible hero teams go head-to-head, such as a group of the original Fox X-Men versus a new team of Avengers. However, there are also important new teams that have already been introduced in the Multiverse Saga, such as The New Avengers and The Fantastic Four.

In order to catch up on the journeys of these heroes, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are two excellent entries that came out in 2025. These movies explore the origins of these teams and put them on a direct collision course that promises to tie in to Avengers: Doomsday, with both including a post-credits scene that is a direct link to Avengers: Doomsday.

As such, these movies hold a priority position as two more of the most important MCU projects to go back to before watching Avengers: Doomsday on the big screen.

Loki Season 1 & 2 Leads Directly Into The Multiverse Ending

Meanwhile, in the world of TV, there is only one Multiverse show that is realistically positioned as required viewing ahead of Avengers: Doomsday. Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston, sees a variant of the infamous character embark on a journey from a mischievous God with an ego to a powerful guardian of the Multiverse with the power to transcend time and space.

Loki's position in the MCU puts him in direct conflict with Doctor Doom, and with Hiddleston confirmed to return in Avengers: Doomsday, it's almost guaranteed that there will be an epic battle between two characters who hold the fate of the Multiverse in their hands.

Initially, season 1 of Loki was developed to introduce the character of Kang the Conqueror in a meaningful way, but with the departure of Johnathan Majors from the MCU and RDJ's return as the big bad villain of the Multiverse Saga, Loki season 2 puts the MCU in a strong position for what to expect next.

This is an absolutely spectacular show in the lineup of the MCU, and one of the most spectacular projects from the Multiverse in general. As much as it adds a great deal of context to what is coming, it's also well worth returning to just to admire the best interpretation and interaction with the Multiverse from this entire Saga.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Thor: Love & Thunder, & Captain America: Brave New World Add Important Context

Now, while everything that is mentioned above can fall into the category of required viewing, these entries are slightly less of a necessity. Yes, they add context to characters that will show up in Avengers: Doomsday, and they cover a lot of ground about where the world is after the Snap, but the degree to which these stories actually play into Doomsday's narrative is unknown.

Firstly, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduces Simu Liu to the MCU as Shang-Chi, a skilled fighter who is in possession of magical artifacts. Liu will return to Avengers: Doomsday, and while his story was one of the most well-received in this latest Saga, the character has not appeared in a live-action story since 2021.

Next, Thor: Love and Thunder is the fourth outing for Chris Hemsworth as the iconic God of Thunder, and the second film to be directed by Taika Waititi in the MCU. In a lot of ways, this movie is messy, but it does establish a new family dynamic that is expected to be important in Avengers: Doomsday.

Finally, Captain America: Brave New World follows Sam Wilson as he steps up to become the new Captain America. This film covers much of the same ground as was seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in a more condensed format, and it also introduces the concept of a new Avengers team.

Of all the projects currently released in the MCU, these are the ones that have the deepest ties to Avengers: Doomsday, and watching them will absolutely set you up for the best viewing experience when you do watch the film this December.