Marvel's Official Avengers: Doomsday Watchlist Is Weirder Than You Think

It's been a common refrain lately that keeping up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe has felt more like homework than an immersive, shared story. The massive number of Disney+ shows and one-off films has spread the franchise thin over the course of the Multiverse Saga, and it's unrealistic to expect people to watch everything in preparation for "Avengers: Doomsday" on December 18 (though plenty of devoted fans surely will). In an effort to offer a shorter, easier path, Disney+ has released a recommended "Countdown to 'Avengers: Doomsday'" watchlist, which we break down in the video above.

Many of the included films are ones you'd expect to see — "Avengers: Infinity War," "Avengers: Endgame," "Fantastic Four: First Steps" (which introduced the MCU's Doctor Doom in a mid-credits scene), "Thunderbolts*," "Deadpool & Wolverine," and both seasons of "Loki," a solid compass rose for all the multiverse lore that will supposedly come to a head in the upcoming film. But of the 15 movies and shows on the list, there are also some curious inclusions, and some notable omissions.

Only Captain America gets a solo film from the original three MCU series, with the first "Avengers" theoretically acting as a catch-all on-ramp for Thor and Iron man (the latter of whom is unlikely to appear, but because Robert Downey Jr. is playing Doctor Doom, there could be connections). Marvel Studios also picked two of the Fox "X-Men" movies, setting up those legacy characters for their grand return.

The first two Fox X-Men films are both featured on the Disney+ "Doomsday" watchlist, though none of the prequel/reboot timeline films, like "X-Men: First Class" or "X-Men: Days of Future Past," are included.

Additionally, both "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and "Spider-Man: No way Home" are featured, despite conflicting reports as to whether Peter Parker (Tom Holland), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), or Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) will even appear in the film. Sure, both movies have major multiverse storylines, but it's a curious choice when other options like the Thor films have been omitted.

There are surely surprises in store. Predictions for "Avengers: Doomsday" are already running rampant, and with 2027's "Secret Wars" acting as a "part two" of sorts, there could be a pretty dramatic ending in place for this year's film. Check out the video above for our full breakdown of the "Doomsday" watchlist on Disney+.