6 MCU Movies & Shows To Rewatch Before Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania

These are the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows to rewatch before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania releases. The third film in the Ant-Man trilogy is the biggest installment of the franchise to date. After the movies played a role in ending Phases 2 and 3, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania begins MCU Phase 5. It does so by taking the franchise’s main characters back to the Quantum Realm and having them encounter Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), which sets him up to be the main villain of the Multiverse Saga.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the 31st MCU movie released by Marvel Studios, but it is the 42nd MCU property overall thanks to the influx of TV shows and Specials that have come. Since all of these projects exist in the same shared universe, the desire to be fully caught up on the state of the MCU before seeing Ant-Man 3 could seem overwhelming. However, not all are necessary to watch before Phase 5 begins. Here are the MCU movies and shows to rewatch before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – or watch for the first time to be familiar enough with the overall franchise.

Related: Wait, Is Ant-Man & Wasp: Quantumania Another MCU Multiverse Movie?

1 Ant-Man

The first Ant-Man movie should be the first MCU movie on an Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania rewatch. There were 11 other films released by Marvel Studios before this, but none of them are crucial to understanding the specific story that the Ant-Man franchise is about. That is why the original 2015 Ant-Man is the best place to start. It introduces Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang and shows his origin in becoming Marvel’s shrinking hero. Ant-Man also features the first appearances of Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) as they become key figures in Scott’s life.

In addition to introducing the Ant-Man franchise’s main characters, there are larger implications that come with the first movie. This is where Marvel Studios brought the Quantum Realm into the MCU and briefly teased the dimension where time and space act differently. Considering how important the Quantum Realm will be to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, understanding the history of it will be crucial. The film is also responsible for featuring Corey Stoll as Yellowjacket, who returns as MODOK in the trilogy capper, and introduces Scott’s daughter Cassie, who will suit up in the Phase 5 film.

2 Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War is worth including in any MCU rewatch before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The first movie of Phase 3 is where Scott Lang became more involved with the larger universe and interacted with the Avengers. It included pivotal moments in Ant-Man’s life beyond that, including the first transformation of him as Giant-Man. Captain America: Civil War is also responsible for Scott Lang falling into legal trouble again for going against the Sokovia Accords and needing to be broken out of The Raft by Captain America.

3 Avengers: Infinity War (Optional)

It could be worth including Avengers: Infinity War in a MCU movie rewatch before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but it also is more optional. Neither Ant-Man nor any characters from his main franchise appear in the movie, but it is mentioned that Scott is on house arrest after Captain America: Civil War. The reason to rewatch Avengers: Infinity War would mostly be because of the universe-altering events of its finale, which directly tie into Ant-Man’s future. However, those pressed for time can also skip the film and get the necessary context for Ant-Man’s story and the wider MCU in later entries.

Related: Endgame Theory Makes Cassie Lang’s MCU Story Even More Heartbreaking

4 Ant-Man and the Wasp

It would not be a proper Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania MCU rewatch if its direct predecessor in the franchise was not included. Ant-Man and the Wasp plays a big role in Scott Lang’s MCU story, but it is arguably even more important for Hope van Dyne. This is where she finally becomes Wasp after the Ant-Man post-credits scene tease. The entire movie revolves around trying to re-enter the Quantum Realm to hopefully find Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) decades after she went subatomic. The search for Hope’s mother allowed the sequel to elevate her to co-lead status, hence the franchise’s Ant-Man and the Wasp name upgrade.

Seeing Hope’s evolution into becoming Wasp will be good to know heading into Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but it is Janet’s story that could be the most important. The threequel is set to build on the idea that Janet lived in the Quantum Realm for years to be the basis of her knowing about Kang the Conqueror. Ant-Man 3 will also further explore the sequel’s teases of societies and other lifeforms existing in the Quantum Realm. The movie’s ending also proves to be very important for the franchise’s future, as Scott is left trapped in the Quantum Realm while Hope, Hank, and Janet were dusted by Thanos’ snap.

5 Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame is a crucial entry in an MCU rewatch before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The film is responsible for explaining Scott’s escape from the Quantum Realm, which allows him to play a significant role in inventing time travel to save the universe. The exploration of the Quantum Realm as a place that allows for time travel could be important for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and explaining Kang’s mission. Scott’s role in this movie is also what helps make him a bigger celebrity by the time Ant-Man 3 happens.

6 Loki Season 1

Loki season 1 is the only MCU show included in this Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania rewatch. The adventures of Loki traveling the multiverse are not expected to factor into Ant-Man 3 in a sense where Tom Hiddleston or another main actor appearing in the movie. However, the show was responsible for introducing the first Kang variant in the MCU with He Who Remains. Since Loki season 1’s ending included teases of a Multiversal War, more dangerous Kang variants, and much more, there is a lot of backstory on Jonathan Majors’ villain to be familiar with that could help Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania​​​​​​.

Related: Kang’s Scars Could Explain His Origin & Set Up A Major Character

7 When To Start Your Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Rewatch

The time to start an Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania rewatch of the MCU movies and shows suggested above is somewhat dependent on when each person plans to watch the Phase 5 starter. The movie officially releases in theaters on February 17th, but opening night preview showings are also happening on the 16th. If someone plans to see the film on opening night and wants to watch one of the suggested properties per day, the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania MCU rewatch should begin on February 10th. Some may need to begin a day earlier if they want to split Loki‘s six episodes into two days.

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