What Marvel Movies Do I Need to Watch Before Endgame
We are now 21 films deep into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the 22nd pic— Avengers: Endgame —is the culmination of everything that's come before. That's a mighty exciting prospect to longtime fans of the MCU, only besides a daunting one to people who maybe haven't seen every Marvel Studios movie thus far. What to picket earlier Endgame is a hot button question. While the completionists would fence it'south essential to have seen all 21 films before heading into Avengers: Endgame, non everybody has that kind of time, and to be honest, there are a scattering of MCU movies that are fairly inessential. Beyond that, while there are some Marvel movies that are utterly delightful—like Thor: Ragnarok and Iron Human three —they don't seem to accept much begetting on the plot of Endgame, and thus could be skipped if demand-be.
So given the enormity of Endgame, we idea it might be helpful to put together a list of what to watch before Endgame in social club to sympathize just what exactly is going on in the Avengers sequel. Again, ideally one would merely watch all 21 Curiosity movies, only for those who just want to be able to enjoy Avengers 4 without existence dislocated, the beneath list is a "bare necessities" rundown. Behold, the xi Marvel movies you need to see earlier Avengers: Endgame.
Iron Human (2008)
2008's Iron Man is where this all began, and it provides the foundation for everything that came after. While there's likely not much that will exist revisited plot-wise from the Jon Favreau-directed film, it fully establishes the MCU'southward "lead" Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and sets upward the rules and tone of this universe that all subsequent films would follow. There'southward as well the possibility that there volition be a nod or two to this picture in Endgame given that the Avengers sequel is being billed as a "culmination." And if Tony Stark does indeed bite the grit? Expect a callback to the picture show that started it all.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Captain America: The Kickoff Avenger (2011)
If Tony Stark is the "lead" of the MCU, then Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is the co-lead. And then it's probably best to feel the origin story of Captain America in the World War 2-gear up Captain America: The First Avenger . Near people seem to call up Steve Rogers will die in Endgame, so experiencing the hero's origin story will only make that leave more impactful. Plus, from a plot point of view, The First Avenger is where the Tesseract is a major plot point. This shiny box-like object has been the primal MacGuffin of the MCU thus far, playing a major office in The Avengers , Avengers: Infinity State of war , and Helm Marvel , so it stands to reason it could evidence important when Endgame rolls around.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
So if we're skipping Thor and Iron Homo 2 , and so 2012's Marvel'due south The Avengers serves equally your perfect introduction to the residuum of the main MCU heroes to get you primed and ready for what's to come. Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Nick Fury, and Agent Coulson all come into focus in The Avengers, and the picture besides depicts the beginning time the titular team had to assemble to salve the Earth. And, again, the Tesseract plays a central role.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
As time has worn on, Captain America: The Wintertime Soldier has had less bearing on the plot of the MCU, but at the fourth dimension of its release it was pretty major. It reveals that Due south.H.I.E.L.D.—the government agency that oversaw all of the Avengers' movements—has been compromised since World War II and may or may not take been doing evil deeds effectually the earth. But on a character level, The Wintertime Soldier furthers the evolution of Steve Rogers and offers more shading to Scarlett Johansson'south Black Widow—two of the cadre members of The Avengers.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Thor: The Nighttime World (2013)
Yes, actually. The less said most how this much-maligned sequel plays a role in Endgame the meliorate, but if yous oasis't seen this one in a while or steered articulate due to its reputation, it wouldn't injure to give Thor: The Dark World a spin. Hey, despite its bug, it still has a really fun 3rd act set piece!
Is It Streaming?: Aye, on Disney+.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
2014'due south Guardians of the Galaxy was groundbreaking in many ways, and I don't think we understood at the time merely how significant the film would exist to the future of the MCU. It introduced the catholic side of the Marvel universe in a major way, revealing the various planets and alien beings who are fighting for skilful (or bad) at the same time that our heroes are protecting this little ol' planet we call Globe. We also run across in Infinity War that Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the adopted girl of Thanos (Josh Brolin), plays a major role in the endgame of the MCU, and Guardians of the Milky way lays downwards the necessary emotional stakes to make the touch on of Infinity War that much stronger.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Joss Whedon's 2015 sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron is one of the more than divisive entries in the MCU, only if we're talking about homework prep for Avengers 4, information technology'due south a fairly necessary installment. Not only does information technology further the graphic symbol development of our core team, but it fleshes out Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye and Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner is a big mode, introduces the supremely powerful Vision (Paul Bettany), and brings Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch into the fold. The Ultron of it all yous tin have or leave, but from a pure character perspective, Historic period of Ultron is pretty crucial.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Helm America: Civil State of war (2016)
So nosotros skipped both Iron Man sequels merely are including all the Captain America movies. That'due south because the Avengers films give Robert Downey Jr.'south Tony Stark a great bargain of screentime and so you already get a strong sense of his character through those, and the Helm America sequels take been used to further the plot of the MCU in major ways. 2016's Captain America: Civil War sets up the emotional stakes leading into the final ii Avengers films, as information technology explains why the Avengers team bankrupt apart and allows you to understand how hard it's going to be for the core team to reconcile in Endgame. This movie as well introduces Pismire-Man (Paul Rudd), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), and Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) into the mix since we're skipping those individual films every bit non-essential from a plot perspective.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Evidently. This is basically Part i to Endgame'south Function 2, so you actually tin can't skip this one.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Captain Marvel (2019)
The nigh recent MCU picture, Captain Curiosity proved to be far more essential to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe than some may have expected. The picture show is ready in the 90s, just information technology serves as a keen showcase for Nick Fury while too unveiling the origin story for the near powerful character in the entire MCU: Brie Larson'south Carol Danvers. It's pretty articulate that she'due south going to be the missing piece that's primal to undoing Thanos' destruction from Infinity War, then experiencing Captain Curiosity volition give you a ameliorate understanding of what Carol'due south all about, what her powers are, and where she's been all this time.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
Extra Credit: Ant-Human being and the Wasp (2018)
Okay then this i is kind of "extra credit" given that we aren't sure it'll pay off, but information technology might. The theory goes that in Avengers: Endgame, because of the suits seen in the trailer, the heroes will venture to the Quantum Realm in gild to disengage Thanos's snap. Emmet-Human and the Wasp is a very slight motion picture (it's fun, merely quite unsubstantial in relation to the rest of the MCU), simply it does deal pretty a scrap with the specifics of the Breakthrough Realm and even shows characters venturing in there to rescue Janet van Dyne. So if the aforementioned theory is correct, this one will give you a better agreement of that whole quantum business. If that theory is bogus, this ane will give you lot Paul Rudd as Giant-Man stomping through San Francisco.
Is It Streaming?: Yes, on Disney+.
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Source: https://collider.com/marvel-what-to-watch-before-endgame/