The Marvel Cinematic Universe has reached its peak, and Phase 4 is just around the corner. While fans are still eagerly awaiting the release of Black Widow alongside a number of Disney+ shows, there are plenty of other ways to catch up on the MCU in the meantime.
Whether it’s the TV shows or movies, there are a lot of different works to keep in mind when trying to track the progress of the MCU. This is a perfect time to binge some of these great pieces of media, so here are 10 things to watch so you’re ready for Phase 4.
Runaways (2017-2019)
The group of teenagers who nicknamed themselves the Runaways have been fighting a number of formidable threats over their three seasons. From their parents, to aliens to even Morgan le Fay, there’s been a wide array of challenges.
What’s more, the show references a number of other MCU properties, featuring the Darkhold, and even Cloak & Dagger for a major crossover. Needless to say, this is a great TV show to enjoy this universe from a completely different perspective.
Iron Man (2008)
The hero that kicked off this whole universe, Iron Man has completed his journey as one of the Avengers. It’s appropriate therefore that in catching up with the MCU, fans would have to watch the very first film once more.
Not only does Iron Man provide some context to other movies, including setting up Coulson and even Mysterio down the road, but it also introduces us to a world much larger than Stark could have ever predicted.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The Civil War was one of the most influential conflicts in this universe. It’s the real reason that the Avengers lost to Thanos as they were significantly divided. Captain America: Civil War also leads to the Sokovia Accords, the impact of which is felt across other films and shows.
What’s more, this the movie where Spider-Man debuts for the MCU, and it also features the rise of Zemo, who is going to be returning to Disney+ later this year. Overall there’s plenty here to get stuck into as fans continue to catch up on this ongoing narrative.
The Avengers (2012)
The Earth’s mightiest heroes teamed up for the first time ever in this action-packed film, which saw Loki try to take over the planet at the bidding of the Mad Titan, Thanos. There’s a lot to love here, and this is a pivotal point for Phase 1.
In fact, any MCU fan needs to watch The Avengers in order to appreciate how far the franchise has come. Those new to all of this will also find it beneficial to catch up on the first time all these heroes teamed up with each other.
Daredevil (2015-2018)
The man without fear kicked off the Netflix portion of this ever-expanding universe, and has become one of the most beloved characters that Marvel has put to screen thus far. The performances in Daredevil are phenomenal, and there’s definitely room to argue that Kingpin is the best MCU villain.
With rumors that Daredevil could appear once again in the future, it’s worth watching the three seasons of the show to watch these characters develop. Other key characters such as Elektra and Bullseye are also added to the mix.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
The Avengers may look out for Earth, but someone needs to protect humanity from threats further afield. Luckily, the misfits and criminals that make up the Guardians have space covered.
Responsible for bringing some of the weirdest characters to the MCU, as well as giving us some of the funniest moments to date, the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise manages to open up a completely different side to this universe.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-present)
The ongoing series, which is heading into its final season, has dealt with time travel, Inhumans, aliens, Hydra, life model decoys, Ghost Rider, the Darkhold, and so many other Marvel firsts that we’ve actually lost track.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is the TV show that manages to bind all of the MCU together, and even affects some of the movies, with the team finding the Helicarrier used to battle Ultron with. The series also carries on Coulson’s story nicely for fans of the character from Phase 1.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The second-to-last film of Phase 3, and really the end of the initial Avengers project, Avengers: Endgame is a full-on tribute to all those films that came before it. With time travel to different periods of the franchise, there’s a lot of fun to be had on this nostalgia trip.
It really ties up a lot of loose ends, though watching some of the other films on this list will be crucial to understanding the plot of this epic movie. It’s also great to see a number of heroes have the final chapter of their story written.
The Defenders (2017)
Bringing together the heroes from the Netflix shows seemed like a big challenge, but Marvel managed to achieve this by setting up the team of Iron Fist, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage to take on the villainous Hand.
It’s a big moment that shows the changing nature of the way the universe is being built. The Defenders is a great series for those who have been following all the Netflix shows over the years. Many fans are still hoping to see this team in action again in the future.
Venom (2018)
Venom is the only movie on this list definitively not in the MCU. It’s a Sony property, but thanks to the company’s negotiations with Disney, it seems that Venom could be crossing over with Spider-Man in the near future, alongside other characters like Morbius. This extension of the MCU means that fans will have to make sure they watch the symbiote-based movie too.
Although Venom garnered mixed reviews, the overall impact of the film was quite positive, with fans loving Tom Hardy’s iteration of the alien killer. To continue to understand how the MCU is shifting, this has to be on the binge list.
