Disney+ Launches ‘Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday’ Playlist Highlighting the Essential Marvel Films

With just over 2 months to go until Earth’s Mightiest Heroes reassemble, Marvel fans are starting their rewatch plans. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives in theaters on December 18, and Disney+ is making sure audiences have plenty to catch up on before the big day.

The film, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, is the penultimate chapter of the Multiverse Saga before ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ arrives on December 17, 2027. Robert Downey Jr. leads the charge as Doctor Doom, while the story pulls together characters from across more than 2 decades of Marvel screen history.

Now Disney+ has rolled out a new “Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday” playlist. As shared by MCU Film News on X, the playlist highlights the essential films to watch before ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ in green, making it easier for fans to spot the must-see titles among the wider Marvel library.

The highlighted picks build on the official 15-title collection Disney+ first introduced in August. That list was made up of 14 films and 1 series. The essential titles include ‘X-Men’, ‘X2’, ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’, ‘The Avengers’, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’.

They also include ‘Loki’, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. Rounding out the list are ‘Captain America: Brave New World’, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, ‘Thunderbolts*’ and ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’.

Disney+ has a new "Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday" playlist. It highlights the essential films to watch before ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’ in green. https://t.co/JoKaUKfHBg

— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) October 8, 2026

The selection reflects just how big a crossover ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is expected to be. The film brings together the original X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and the New Avengers.

The 2 Fox-era X-Men films sitting at the top of the list suggest the mutants will play a significant role. Meanwhile, ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ and ‘The Avengers’ offer a refresher on the original versions of characters central to Marvel’s larger story.

New trailer for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ In theaters December 18 https://t.co/1wsiTk1Nnv

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) August 15, 2026

‘Loki’ is the only Disney+ series on the list. Tom Hiddleston’s show, which ran for 2 seasons, helped shape the rules of the multiverse that the saga now depends on. Not every fan agrees with Marvel’s choices. One notable absence is the entire ‘Iron Man’ trilogy, despite Downey’s huge importance to the franchise and his return as the villain.

Reassemble the team & relive the experience as Avengers Endgame: Encore returns to theaters September 25. Tickets now available for IMAX and Infinity Vision screens: https://t.co/pZZ4PiOyQb https://t.co/2wKSVG4FLz

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 25, 2026

Some fans were also surprised that ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ didn’t make the essential cut. One fan replied to the viral post arguing it is the most essential of all the X-Men films. That argument has some weight, since the film effectively reshaped the ending of the original X-Men trilogy. Other titles such as ‘The Marvels’ and ‘Agatha All Along’ are also missing from the core list.

The playlist is part of a larger campaign to build excitement ahead of release. Marvel has also published an official Countdown to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ watch guide on its website, describing it as a way to meet the film’s characters and explore the multiverse.

The studio has also launched an official Countdown to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ podcast. Alongside a countdown clock ticking toward December, the push shows Marvel wants every fan fully caught up.

The essential list may also serve as homework beyond this December. Because ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ sets the stage for ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, the same multiverse stories are likely to matter for both films.

That means fans who start their rewatch now could be preparing for the final 2 chapters of the Multiverse Saga at once. With roughly 15 titles to get through, there’s plenty of time to start before December 18.

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