The Best Way to Watch the MCU Post Phase 3 (non-spoiler)
The first 3 phases of the MCU are very well connected, and offer a unique experience when watching them all in order. Post phase 3 however, there has quite evidently been less of a sense of cohesion between projects. There are some projects or events that happened in 2021 that don't get fully resolved or revisited until 2025. What I've found is best to do is to watch all the movies and shows that mostly closely reference each other. I divided all of the phase 4-6 projects into sagas that share an overall story. I feel this would give as close to a viewing experience as possible to the phases 1-3 in the mcu, but in much smaller chunks.
The Avengers Saga outlines the core earth-based Avengers who will be appearing in Avengers Doomsday. It's also a good way to keep track of the Thunderbolts/New Avengers and their origin stories. These are the projects that most closely reference each other, excluding Shang Chi. He will have his own section, since that movie does not reference any of the movies here. The Eternals is only necessary as the aftermath is referenced in Captain America 4, but none of the characters have made their live-action return since.
- The Avengers Saga:
Black Widow
Hawkeye
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The Eternals
Captain America: Brave New World
Thunderbolts
Fantastic Four: First Steps
The projects in the Magic and Multiverse Saga are some of the best that the MCU has released, and is overall a great story.
- The Magic and Multiverse Saga:
WandaVision
Spiderman: No Way Home
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Agatha all along
Vision Quest (2026)
The Marvels Saga is best watched after the Magic Saga. One of the 3 main leads in The Marvels is introduced in WandaVision, but that Saga tells a different overall story. Secret Invasion is quite bad however, I highly recommend just skipping.
- Marvels:
Ms Marvel
Secret Invasion
The Marvels
As we all know, Kang was supposed to be the main villain in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. This is the original set up to that story before it was scrapped and turned into Doomsday. There are also concepts and characters in Loki that are heavily referenced in Deadpool and Wolverine, and will likely be brought up again in Doomsday
- The Kang Dynasty:
Loki Season 1
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Loki Season 2
Deadpool and Wolverine
Thor is confirmed for Doomsday, but his movie only connects and references to the Guardians projects. It's best to watch them all together
- The Asgardians of the Galaxy:
Thor Love and Thunder
Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3
Shang Chi is confirmed for Doomsday, and Hulk is confirmed for Spiderman 4. Since Hulk and Abomination have small cameos in Shang Chi, it's best to watch them all together
- The Hulks (kinda):
Shang Chi
She-Hulk
Wonder Man (2026)
Spiderman 4 (2026)
This one isn't entirely MCU, but i personally LOVE Daredevil. If you're a nut and want to watch everything that's out there from start to finish, this is the best way to do so
Daredevil Saga:
Daredevil S1-S2
The Defenders
Daredevil S3
Hawkeye
Spiderman No Way Home (cameo)
She-Hulk (ep 8-9)
Echo
Daredevil Born Again
These next few projects are stand-alone, and do not connect or reference to any of the other projects in the wider MCU. They can be watched at any time in any order, except for a slight few:
*Ironheart (After Wakanda Forever)
What If
*Marvel Zombies (The series is based off of What-if S1E5)
Moon Knight
Werewolf by Night
Eyes of Wakanda
I Am Groot
X-Men 97
Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman
As a quick summary, here is how i recommend watching every Saga:
1. The Avengers Saga
2. The Magic and Multiverse Saga
3. The Marvels Saga
4. The Kang Dynasty
5. The Asgardians of the Galaxy
6. The Hulks
However you chose to watch, everything leads to Doomsday.
The Avengers Saga outlines the core earth-based Avengers who will be appearing in Avengers Doomsday. It's also a good way to keep track of the Thunderbolts/New Avengers and their origin stories. These are the projects that most closely reference each other, excluding Shang Chi. He will have his own section, since that movie does not reference any of the movies here. The Eternals is only necessary as the aftermath is referenced in Captain America 4, but none of the characters have made their live-action return since.
- The Avengers Saga:
Black Widow
Hawkeye
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The Eternals
Captain America: Brave New World
Thunderbolts
Fantastic Four: First Steps
The projects in the Magic and Multiverse Saga are some of the best that the MCU has released, and is overall a great story.
- The Magic and Multiverse Saga:
WandaVision
Spiderman: No Way Home
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Agatha all along
Vision Quest (2026)
The Marvels Saga is best watched after the Magic Saga. One of the 3 main leads in The Marvels is introduced in WandaVision, but that Saga tells a different overall story. Secret Invasion is quite bad however, I highly recommend just skipping.
- Marvels:
Ms Marvel
Secret Invasion
The Marvels
As we all know, Kang was supposed to be the main villain in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. This is the original set up to that story before it was scrapped and turned into Doomsday. There are also concepts and characters in Loki that are heavily referenced in Deadpool and Wolverine, and will likely be brought up again in Doomsday
- The Kang Dynasty:
Loki Season 1
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Loki Season 2
Deadpool and Wolverine
Thor is confirmed for Doomsday, but his movie only connects and references to the Guardians projects. It's best to watch them all together
- The Asgardians of the Galaxy:
Thor Love and Thunder
Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3
Shang Chi is confirmed for Doomsday, and Hulk is confirmed for Spiderman 4. Since Hulk and Abomination have small cameos in Shang Chi, it's best to watch them all together
- The Hulks (kinda):
Shang Chi
She-Hulk
Wonder Man (2026)
Spiderman 4 (2026)
This one isn't entirely MCU, but i personally LOVE Daredevil. If you're a nut and want to watch everything that's out there from start to finish, this is the best way to do so
Daredevil Saga:
Daredevil S1-S2
The Defenders
Daredevil S3
Hawkeye
Spiderman No Way Home (cameo)
She-Hulk (ep 8-9)
Echo
Daredevil Born Again
These next few projects are stand-alone, and do not connect or reference to any of the other projects in the wider MCU. They can be watched at any time in any order, except for a slight few:
*Ironheart (After Wakanda Forever)
What If
*Marvel Zombies (The series is based off of What-if S1E5)
Moon Knight
Werewolf by Night
Eyes of Wakanda
I Am Groot
X-Men 97
Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman
As a quick summary, here is how i recommend watching every Saga:
1. The Avengers Saga
2. The Magic and Multiverse Saga
3. The Marvels Saga
4. The Kang Dynasty
5. The Asgardians of the Galaxy
6. The Hulks
However you chose to watch, everything leads to Doomsday.
Commentaires
I’m working on a “vibe”/thematic order that is only loosely chronological (and has more subtle plot elements that connect to the overall multiverse/kang/doom story. would lead with catching up with lead characters that were in endgame before introducing the new cast for a “phase” so to speak, where possible.
haven’t finished it yet, kinda waiting to see what they do with Brand New Day and VisionQuest.
The only issue i could probably see with your order would be First Steps coming before the multiverse is properly introduced.