So phase 1-3 is 23 films… perhaps an excessive amount of content to expect everyone to absorb prior to the release of new phase 4 content. While the extensive knowledge base helps to fully process all the threads that entwine to form multi-film story-arcs, it’s not necessarily required to enjoy the final two films in the Infinity storyline. I submit that:
A) Anyone watching a marvel fim likely knows who The Incredible Hulk is.
B) That a ~2/3 list would be about all a new person would likely enjoy without becoming overwhelmed.
I submit this list, which I believe is a short-list of must watch movies that fill in enough of the story out to fully enjoy the conclusion films.
- Iron Man
- Thor
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Marvel’s The Avengers
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Ant Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Doctor Strange
- Black Panther
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Ant Man and the Wasp
- Captain Marvel
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
This list deprives the viewer of some pretty good moments, but the core of the narrative survives and advances coherently enough to arrive at Infinity War with enough understanding of the references. These films do have the benefit and deficit of having such extensive history in their past films. They raise the plateau to a place where it would be harder to access the fulness of the content. It’s quite the conundrum, and I am curious to see what becomes of the MCU as a result.
Goodnight.
Neurochemically Challenged 