Introduction
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the biggest and most popular movie franchises in the world. With over 20 movies released since 2008, it’s no wonder that fans are eagerly awaiting the release of Doctor Strange 2. But before you head to the theater, it’s important to make sure you’ve seen all the essential movies from the MCU. In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide to help you decide which movies you should watch before Doctor Strange 2.
A Guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: What Movies to Watch Before Doctor Strange 2
The MCU is divided into several phases, each of which consists of several movies. The first phase (2008-2012) includes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Avengers. The second phase (2013-2015) includes Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Ant-Man. The third phase (2016-2019) includes Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Captain Marvel. Finally, the fourth phase (2020-2022) will include Black Widow, Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Each phase of the MCU introduces new characters, storylines, and plot points that are important to understanding the events leading up to Doctor Strange 2. To get the most out of the movie, it’s important to understand the characters and their motivations. Here is a list of essential movies to watch before Doctor Strange 2:
- Iron Man
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- Thor
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- The Avengers
- Iron Man 3
- Thor: The Dark World
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Doctor Strange
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Captain Marvel
The Must-See Movies Before Doctor Strange 2: A Comprehensive Viewer’s Guide
To get the most out of Doctor Strange 2, it’s important to understand the major plot points from each of these movies. Here is a brief overview of why each of these movies is relevant to Doctor Strange 2:
Iron Man: This movie introduced Tony Stark, the billionaire genius who would go on to become the leader of the Avengers. It also set the stage for the rest of the MCU by introducing the concept of superheroes and supervillains.
The Incredible Hulk: This movie introduced Bruce Banner, the brilliant scientist who was exposed to gamma radiation and transformed into the Hulk. It also established the idea of a shared universe, as it featured cameos from other Marvel heroes.
Iron Man 2: This movie further developed Tony Stark’s character arc, while also introducing the character of James Rhodes, who would later become War Machine. It also introduced the concept of an alien race known as the Chitauri.
Thor: This movie brought the God of Thunder to the big screen and established his place in the MCU. It also introduced the Nine Realms, the Asgardian home of Thor, and began to establish the larger cosmic aspects of the franchise.
Captain America: The First Avenger: This movie introduced Steve Rogers, the scrawny kid from Brooklyn who was transformed into the super soldier known as Captain America. It also set up the eventual conflict between him and his former friend Bucky Barnes, who had been turned into the villainous Winter Soldier.
The Avengers: This movie brought together Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and several other heroes to form the Avengers. It also introduced the powerful alien race known as the Chitauri and their leader, Thanos, who would become the main antagonist in future movies.
Iron Man 3: This movie further developed Tony Stark’s character arc and introduced the character of Aldrich Killian, the creator of the Extremis virus. It also revealed that Tony Stark was not the only one with superhuman abilities, as it featured the introduction of the Mandarin, a mysterious terrorist with superhuman powers.
Thor: The Dark World: This movie focused on Thor’s quest to save Asgard from the dark elf Malekith, while also introducing the character of Jane Foster, Thor’s love interest. It also established the role of the Infinity Stones, powerful artifacts linked to the fate of the universe.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier: This movie saw the return of Bucky Barnes and the development of the Hydra organization, a secret society bent on world domination. It also established the importance of the Cosmic Cube, a powerful artifact that could be used for both good and evil.
Guardians of the Galaxy: This movie introduced the Guardians of the Galaxy, a ragtag group of intergalactic misfits led by Peter Quill, a human-alien hybrid. It also established the importance of the Infinity Stones, as the Guardians were tasked with protecting them from Thanos.
Avengers: Age of Ultron: This movie saw the formation of the Avengers’ greatest enemy, Ultron, a powerful artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark. It also introduced the character of Vision, an android created by Ultron who eventually joins the Avengers.
Ant-Man: This movie introduced Scott Lang, a thief who is given the power to shrink down to the size of an ant. It also introduced Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, and Hope van Dyne, the daughter of Hank and Janet van Dyne, the original Wasp.
Captain America: Civil War: This movie saw the Avengers split into two opposing factions, with Captain America leading one side and Iron Man leading the other. It also featured the introduction of Black Panther, a powerful African king with superhuman abilities.
Doctor Strange: This movie introduced Stephen Strange, a brilliant neurosurgeon who becomes the Sorcerer Supreme after a near-fatal accident. It also established the existence of parallel universes and alternate timelines, concepts that will be explored further in Doctor Strange 2.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: This movie further developed the characters of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. It also introduced the character of Ego, a powerful being with god-like abilities.
Spider-Man: Homecoming: This movie saw the introduction of Peter Parker, a high school student who gains superhuman abilities after being bitten by a radioactive spider. It also featured the introduction of Adrian Toomes, a criminal mastermind known as the Vulture.
Thor: Ragnarok: This movie saw the destruction of Asgard and the return of Hela, the Goddess of Death. It also featured the introduction of Valkyrie, an Asgardian warrior who joins forces with Thor to take on Hela.
Black Panther: This movie focused on T’Challa, the king of Wakanda, and his quest to protect his kingdom from the villainous Erik Killmonger. It also established the importance of vibranium, a powerful metal found only in Wakanda.
Avengers: Infinity War: This movie saw the Avengers assemble to take on Thanos and his army of alien warriors. It also highlighted the importance of the Infinity Stones, as Thanos sought to use them to wipe out half of all life in the universe.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: This movie saw Scott Lang team up with Hope van Dyne, the new Wasp, to take on the villain Ghost. It also introduced the Quantum Realm, a strange and dangerous dimension that holds the key to unlocking the mysteries of the MCU.
Captain Marvel: This movie focused on Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot who gains superhuman powers after being exposed to alien technology. It also established the importance of the Tesseract, an ancient artifact with the power to create portals between worlds.
Preparing for Doctor Strange 2: Which Movies Should You Watch First?
Now that you know which movies to watch before Doctor Strange 2, it’s time to figure out the best way to watch them. While some viewers may choose to watch the movies in the order they were released, others may prefer to watch them in chronological order. Here is a recommended viewing order for those wanting to catch up with the MCU before Doctor Strange 2:
- Iron Man
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- Thor
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- The Avengers
- Iron Man 3
- Thor: The Dark World
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Doctor Strange
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Captain Marvel
By watching the movies in this order, viewers will be able to follow the characters and plot points from one movie to the next, ensuring that they don’t miss any important details before Doctor Strange 2.
Don’t Miss a Beat: A Look at What Movies to Watch Before Doctor Strange 2
It’s important to remember that each movie in the MCU contains important plot points and characters that are pertinent to understanding Doctor Strange 2. To ensure that you don’t miss any of these details, here is a brief summary of the major plot points and characters in each movie:
Iron Man: Tony Stark is a billionaire genius who builds a powerful suit of armor and uses it to fight crime. He is aided by his assistant Pepper Potts and his friend Rhodey, a military officer. Along the way, he must contend with the villainous Obadiah Stane.
The Incredible Hulk: Bruce Banner is a brilliant scientist who is exposed to gamma radiation and transformed into the Hulk. He must battle the Abomination, a creature created using the same gamma radiation. He is aided by General Ross, a military officer with a vendetta against the Hulk.
Iron Man 2: Tony Stark must contend with Ivan Vanko, a vengeful Russian physicist who has built his own version of the Iron Man suit. He is aided by James Rhodes, a military officer who takes on the mantle of War Machine. He must also face off against Justin Hammer, a rival industrialist.
Thor: Thor is forced to team up with Loki, his adopted brother, to save Asgard from the dark elf Malekith. He is aided by Lady Sif, a brave Asgardian warrior, and the Warriors Three, a trio of Asgardian warriors. Along the way, he meets Jane Foster, a scientist from Earth.
Captain America: The First Avenger: Steve Rogers is a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who is transformed into the super soldier known as Captain America. He must battle the Red Skull, a Nazi general with a powerful weapon known as the Tesseract. He is aided by Peggy Carter, a brave British agent, and Bucky Barnes, his childhood friend.
The Avengers: The Avengers must unite to take on the alien army of the Chitauri, led by the powerful Thanos. They are aided by Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Phil Coulson, a loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Along the way, they must contend with Loki, Thor’s adopted brother.
Iron Man 3: Tony Stark must contend with Aldrich Killian, the creator of the Extremis virus, and the Mandarin, a mysterious terrorist with superhuman powers. He is aided by Pepper Potts, his assistant, and James Rhodes, a military officer. In the end, he must confront his own inner demons.
Thor: The Dark World: Thor must once again team up with Loki to save Asgard from the dark elf Malekith.
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