Excited for The Marvels? Watch these 6 MCU movies and Disney Plus shows first

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Sad news, everyone: it’s almost time for the finalMarvelproject of the year.

The Marvelsbrings the curtain down on the studio’s 2023 line-up when it arrives on Friday, November 10 and, with the the now-resolved writers strike and ongoing actors strike resulting in numerousMarvel Phase 5production delays, it could be the last one we see for a while. In short: make the most of it andLokiseason 2’s finale, which also drops this Friday.

Ahead ofThe Marvels' release, we suspect you’ll be conducting a Marvel re-watch to catch up on what you need to know about the film’s titular heroes (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau/Photon). Below, we’ve compiled a list of the six most important Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies andDisney Plusshows that are must-see before it flies into theaters. So, what are you waiting for? Load up Disney’s primary streaming service and get binge-watching!

Captain Marvel

Carol Danvers' origins story is necessary viewing ahead ofThe Marvels, aka one of the finalnew moviesof 2023. Indeed, it doesn’t just introduce us to one of the MCU’s most powerful heroes – it also plays a big role in setting up the events ofThe Marvels, and why the villainous Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) has an ax to grind with Danvers/Captain Marvel.

Captain Marvelwasn’t a smash hit among fans and critics when the first female superhero-starring Marvel film arrived in March 2019. Sure, it raked in over $1 billion, so it was commercially successful, but some fans and critics weren’t totally enamoured with its by-the-numbers approach to the plot, character development, or action sequences. Even worse, misogynistic pockets of the MCU fan base bizarrely hit out at Marvel and main star Brie Larson for having the nerve to, well, center an MCU flick around a female lead, which created plenty of discourse post-release.

Our verdict? It’s an entertaining popcorn movie that deserves more respect than it gets. See whereCaptain Marvel placed in ourbest Marvel movieslist while you’re here.

Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgameisn’t vital viewing ahead ofThe Marvels. However, given Captain Marvel’s fairly big role in its first 25 minutes, plus her more prominent appearance in the third act’s spectacular final battle between Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Thanos' army, we’d advise you to stream it.

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If nothing else, the fourthAvengersfilm proves just how powerful Captain Marvel is. She single-handedly goes toe-to-toe with Thanos, for crying out loud – Iron Man, Captain America, or Thor couldn’t do that with all three of them at once. PlusAvengers: Endgameis one of the best – if notthebest – MCU movies ever made, so it’s always worth watching the three-hour-long flick and enjoying everything it has to offer.

Shang-Chi

LikeAvengers: Endgame, thisMarvel Phase 4movie doesn’t need to be seen to enjoyThe Marvels. However,Shang Chi’s mid-credits scenehas a cameo from Captain Marvel who, alongside Bruce Banner, Wong, Shang-Chi himself and his friend Katy, discuss the importance of the Ten Rings that Shang-Chi now wields.

To sum up the scene in question: the rings appear to be of alien origin and they’ve started sending out a message (or “beacon”, as it’s described) into the cosmos. Of course, we don’t get any answers about what any of this means inShang-Chi– hey, Marvel likes to play the long game – but it’s an interesting scene to note, especially with the alien tech Kamala Khan/Ms Marvel comes into possession in her TV show. But more on Kamala later because, first up, we need to discuss…

WandaVision

WandaVision, the MCU’s first TV series – and, depending on who you ask, one of itsbest Disney Plus shows– is requisite viewing. That’s because itintroduces audiences to Monica Rambeauand serves as a superpowers origins tale for the daughter of Maria Rambeau, aka Carol Danvers' deceased best friend.

An agent of SWORD (a government intelligence agency founded by her mom), Monica Rambeau is sent to investigate the unusual goings-on in Westview by acting director Tyler Hayward. It’s during this mission that she gets her own superhuman abilities (thanks, Wanda) and lands on ex-SHIELD director Nick Fury’s radar.

Because of her heroics inWandaVision’s final episode, Fury – by way of his Skrull allies – recruits Monica (inWandaVision’s mid-credits scene) for SABER, an aerospace defence organization set up by Fury that protects Earth from extraterrestrial threats. That’s where we find Monica at the start ofThe Marvels, but that’s the only spoiler we’re giving away aboutThe Marvels' plot.

Ms. Marvel

The Marvels' third lead is Kamala Khan, who made her MCU debut in her self-titled Disney Plus series,Ms. Marvel.

A show entrenched in Gen Z culture,Ms. Marvelshone a light on U.S-Pakistani dual nationality, her humorously endearing family, and the trials and tribulations they’ve faced since Kamala’s grandmother emigrated to America. It did a pretty good job of doing so, too, with ourMs. Marvelreviewcalling it “another satisfying MCU production that continues Marvel’s gradual but necessary push for inclusivity”.

The TV show changed her origins story from the comics, though – inMs. Marvel, she gains her abilities from her grandmother’s superpowered bangle, which is derived from the Noor dimension and believed to be of Kree origin (a detail that links back toCaptain Marvel). Oh, and – spoiler – she was also seemingly revealed as the MCU’s first mutant inMs. Marvel’s final episode. You can read more about that shock reveal in ourMs. Marvelending and end credits scene explainedarticle, which also sets up one ofThe Marvels' main plot points in its post-credits stinger.

Secret Invasion

We’re just going to come out and say it:Secret Invasionis a bad Marvel show that failed to deliver a story worthy of Nick Fury. Its plot lacked cohesion, truly thrilling moments (especially for an espionage-positioned TV series), and infuriated fans with its blasé approach to killing off some of its supporting cast.Secret Invasion’s final episode was so bad that Marvel fans tore it apartupon release in July. That’s a pity, too, because, in ourreview ofSecret Invasion’s first two episodes, it had the makings of being a passable MCU TV series.

It pains us to advise you to watch it in full, but there are two or three important details threaded through its frankly disappointing plot you need to be aware of heading inThe Marvels. If you don’t want to subject yourself to all six episodes, read ourSecret Invasionending explainedguide instead to get the lowdown on all you need to know. And, to lighten the mood, check out ourNick Fury MCU appearances ratedarticle for a (in our view) fun-filled trip down memory lane involving everyone’s favorite eyepatch-sporting secret agent.

For more Marvel-based coverage, find outhow to watch the Marvel movies in order. Alternatively, read our guide onMarvel’sEcho, which is the studio’s first MCU project of 2024, or seehow we ranked every Marvel Phase 4 movie and TV show.

As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.

Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.

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