9 MCU Movies & Shows To Watch Before The Marvels

The Marvels is the final 2023 release of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and there are 9 perfect movies and shows to watch before the Captain Marvel sequel. The Marvels‘ story will have to deal with some of the issues that the MCU has created in the past few years. Ever since Marvel started expanding on Disney+, several characters debuted through the MCU’s series, which creates issues for the fans who missed a show or two. Given the fact that the MCU’s Phase 4 — the first with Disney+ — released almost as many projects as the number of movies in the entire Infinity Saga, some series were lost amid so many entries.

The Marvels‘ cast features two heroes who were introduced through series, Teyonah Parris’ older Monica Rambeau and Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan. While audiences should not have much trouble regarding Monica, as she debuted in the popular WandaVision, Kamala’s MCU series, Ms. Marvel, had the worst premiere viewership of the all MCU TV shows, which means a lot of fans did not tune into the series. Those shows are only two of the MCU entries that will impact The Marvels, and for both fans who missed some projects and those wanting a refresher on the road so far, here are the 9 MCU movies and shows to watch before The Marvels.

9 Guardians of the Galaxy

While no major plot points in Guardians of the Galaxy seem to be picked up in The Marvels, the films are connected in a unique way. The Marvels will feature the same kind of weapon that Ronan the Accuser used in Guardians of the Galaxy. The villain of the Captain Marvel sequel, Dar-Benn, can be seen brandishing the same kind of “Universal Weapon” used by Ronan in Guardians of the Galaxy in the trailers and images released for The Marvels. The debut film of the MCU’s cosmic team also introduced audiences to the Kree, with Ronan being revealed to have had a run-in with Carol Danvers later in Captain Marvel.

8 Avengers: Infinity War

While none of The Marvels‘ lead trio had yet debuted in the MCU when 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War was released, the movie set up Carol Danvers’ first two MCU appearances. Avengers: Infinity War‘s post-credits scene showed Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury getting dusted away by Thanos’ snap, but not before sending out a beacon for Captain Marvel to return to Earth. With Nick Fury set to play a role in The Marvels and the MCU recently showing how the Blip affected Fury and his choices since returning to life, Avengers: Infinity War makes for a nice refresher before The Marvels.

7 Captain Marvel

The most essential movie to watch before The Marvels is 2019’s Captain Marvel. The film saw the debut of Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers, showing the inner workings of the Kree Empire and how Carol recovered her memories, saved the Skrulls, and became Captain Marvel. A child version of Parris’ Monica Rambeau also made her debut in the film, with her mother, Maria, being Carol’s best friend. Captain Marvel explained why the MCU hero was missing, saw Carol develop a close bond with Nick Fury, and had her vow to help the Skrulls find a new home. Multiple Captain Marvel plot points will play a role in The Marvels.

6 Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame continued Captain Marvel’s MCU journey after her solo movie, with Carol being the one to save Iron Man and Nebula when they were stranded in space. Captain Marvel showed the full scope of her powers in the film, turning the tide for the Avengers by destroying Thanos’ gigantic spaceship and holding her own in single combat with the Mad Titan until Thanos pulled out the Power Stone. Rewatching Avengers: Endgame in the lead-up to The Marvels helps relive the second-biggest milestone in Captain Marvel’s journey so far while also seeing the MCU at its best once again.

5 Spider-Man: Far From Home

For most of Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s duration, it seemed like Nick Fury was helping Tom Holland’s Peter Parker deal with the Elementals and Mysterio; however, Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s second post-credits scene revealed that was not true. The Skrull Talos had faked being Fury during the film, with Jackson’s character being revealed to be in space, working with other Skrulls at the SABER space station. This moment is important, as The Marvels‘ trailer has shown that SABER and Fury’s space mission will play a key role in the film.

4 WandaVision

WandaVision, the first MCU TV series, is required viewing before The Marvels. WandaVision reintroduced Captain Marvel‘s Monica Rambeau, now an adult who works for SWORD. The series revealed that Monica’s mom, Maria, got severely sick and passed away during the five years that Monica had been snapped by Thanos. Upon returning, Monica is heartbroken to discover that her mom is gone. Later in the series, Parris’ character goes through the Hex wall created by the Scarlet Witch, which gives her powers. Monica was shown to resent Carol for her absence and was called to space by Fury, both of which will be important in The Marvels.

3 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings did a great job of introducing a new MCU hero with exciting fight scenes and marked Captain Marvel’s most recent movie appearance. Carol Danvers appeared alongside Bruce Banner through holograms to talk with Wong, Shang-Chi, and Katy about the Ten Rings. The heroes discover that the Ten Rings are sending a beacon to an unknown destination, and with the ongoing theory that the Ten Rings and Ms. Marvel’s bangle are connected, that cameo appearance by Carol Danvers could play a role in The Marvels.

2 Ms. Marvel

Another MCU entry that is required viewing to fully appreciate The Marvels is Disney+’s Ms. Marvel. The series introduced Vellani’s Kamala Khan, showing how she got her powers from a mystical bangle and learned to become a hero. Besides introducing Kamala and her family, who will also return in The Marvels, Ms. Marvel‘s exploration of the bangle is important for the film, as The Marvels‘ villain, Dar-Benn, has been shown to possess the other bangle. Ms. Marvel‘s final episode also included a post-credits that saw her mysteriously switch places with Captain Marvel, which will be happening again to all three heroes in the film, being The Marvels‘ driving force.

1 Secret Invasion

Finally, the latest MCU project to connect to The Marvels is Secret Invasion. The series is directly connected to Captain Marvel and also sets up the new movie, making it essential viewing to prepare for The Marvels. Secret Invasion showed through flashbacks and present scenes how Nick Fury set up a spy network on Earth with the Skrulls’ help, promising that he and Captain Marvel would find them a new home.

When that never happened, one of the Skrulls, Gravik, radicalized a group of Skrulls and tried to take over Earth. The series’ shocking twists included major deaths, the reveal that Fury is married to a Skrull, and more. Secret Invasion ended with Fury and his wife going to the SABER space station to then attend a peace negotiation meeting between the Skrulls and the Kree, leading into The Marvels.

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 The Marvels is rumored to feature a major cameo.  Read More