Marvel’s next major crossover, Avengers: Doomsday, is scheduled to arrive on December 18. Ahead of its release, Disney+ has assembled a 15-title viewing guide designed to refresh audiences on the characters, timelines and multiverse storylines expected to matter.
The suggested programme spans almost two decades of Marvel films and television, and represents more than 41 hours of viewing. With roughly four months to prepare, it is less a casual reminder and more an extensive piece of blockbuster homework—rather like working through a substantial arcade news backlog.
Disney+ lists the collection as “Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday”. It was added to the Marvel section in the United States, although its presentation appears inconsistent: the web app may show only nine entries, and reportedly only when signed out, while the mobile app can display all 15 when used in the correct country.
The selection begins with the original X-Men and its 2003 sequel, X2. Both films are expected to provide useful context for characters returning in Doomsday, in some cases with their original performers. The list then moves to Captain America: The First Avenger, followed by three major Avengers films.
The complete Avengers: Doomsday watch list
- X-Men
- X2
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- The Avengers
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Loki
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Captain America: Brave New World
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Thunderbolts*
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The middle section is where the guide becomes less predictable. Alongside Loki, it includes Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: No Way Home. The sequence continues with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Captain America: Brave New World, and Deadpool & Wolverine, with the latter’s mutant connections providing an apparent reason for its inclusion.
The final three recommendations are Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The list therefore combines established multiverse material with newer films that may help establish the characters and conflicts heading into the next Avengers chapter.
Why Loki season two matters
Avengers: Doomsday and the planned 2027 film Avengers: Secret Wars are intended to conclude the MCU’s long-running Multiverse Saga. That storyline has created opportunities for characters from outside the core Marvel timeline to enter the wider narrative, including the Fantastic Four and the earlier generation of X-Men.
A significant part of the saga’s timeline rules and structure was developed in season two of Loki. The character’s new position within the timeline-preserving TVA, together with the season’s ending, makes the series an important piece of preparation for understanding what may follow—even though it has been divisive among viewers.
Shang-Chi is another less obvious choice. Its place in the recommended order suggests that Marvel considers the film more relevant to the coming storyline than its initial connection to the broader MCU may have indicated.
What the guide leaves out
Several films associated with the Multiverse Saga are absent. These include Eternals and The Marvels. The latter’s wider MCU links were largely channelled through Nick Fury, which may help explain why it does not appear in this particular preparation list.
For Australian viewers, the Disney+ collection may not appear in exactly the same form as the US version. The service’s regional availability and app presentation can differ, so checking the Marvel section on the platform is sensible before treating the 15 titles as a fixed local catalogue.
A sizeable pre-release assignment
The full run includes early X-Men films, the original Avengers arc, multiverse-focused stories and the newest entries leading towards Doomsday. Viewers can approach it chronologically as presented, or prioritise Loki season two, No Way Home, Deadpool & Wolverine and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for the strongest multiverse context.
If you are planning a long movie marathon, our arcade videos offer a shorter way to fill the breaks between films. And if the crossover inspires a home entertainment upgrade, the arcade machine buying guide can help with the practical decisions.
The Disney+ collection is available here, although access and the number of displayed titles may depend on region, account status and device.
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