Marvel Requires 42 Hours of Homework Before Watching Avengers: Doomsday

Marvel and Disney+ have released an essential watchlist ahead of Avengers: Doomsday, which arrives in theaters on December 18. The curated lineup is designed to help fans revisit the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most important heroes, storylines, and multiverse connections before the next Avengers film.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe spans 38 movies and 25 series, featuring interconnected superhero stories, major crossovers, and multiverse adventures. With Avengers: Doomsday expected to draw on decades of Marvel history, casual viewers and longtime fans alike may benefit from revisiting the essential chapters first.

Marvel has officially counted down to the end with a Disney+ playlist featuring 15 official selections to help fans catch up before watching the new movie. The lineup includes superhero origin stories, major team-ups, and essential multiverse developments that could connect to the film’s apocalyptic storyline.

Marvel has also launched the Countdown to the Avengers: Official Doomsday Podcast, available on Disney+, YouTube, and major audio platforms. The weekly podcast revisits key events from the MCU’s Infinity Saga and offers additional context ahead of the film’s release.

Fans may be surprised to see the first two X-Men films included, since both predate the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their presence could be connected to speculation that Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Ian McKellen, and Alan Cumming may return for Avengers: Doomsday. The inclusion also highlights Marvel’s growing focus on characters and stories from across its wider cinematic multiverse.

The complete official watchlist takes approximately 42 hours to finish. Spread across the time leading up to the December release, that works out to fewer than three hours per week. Disney+’s decision to publish a movie homework list is also a smart way to build anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday while encouraging fans to revisit Marvel content on the streaming service.

All of the titles below are available to stream on Disney+ in many markets around the world. Availability may vary by region. Several films can also be rented or purchased digitally through services such as Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.