

First is knowing which movies and TV Shows are still a part of the MCU canon (no need to watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., for example).

Related: Eternals Finally Fixes Disney's Huge LGBTQ+ Problem


Perhaps most notably, Black Widow mostly dealt with narrative points from phase 2 onwards and served as a flashback for the franchise as a whole, so to start with that movie that is completely out of the MCU's chronological order would be a big mistake. Starting an MCU rewatch with Phase 4 will leave viewers completely in the dark to key points that have been central to every 2021 installment of the MCU from WandaVisionto Eternals. However, the references to earlier parts of the canon go well beyond cameo roles like Abomination's. The difficulty with all of this, whether rewatching the MCU or watching the whole thing play out for the first time is knowing the best way to watch the events of the MCU in order.Īs Avengers: Endgame concluded many of the major plotlines that were building throughout phases 1, 2, and 3, it might seem tempting to just start watching the MCU with the beginning of phase 4. As the MCU Phase 4 evolves, it is referencing back to older movies more and more, with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) reviving an antagonist for a cameo from one of the original MCU movies The Incredible Hulk (2008). While this means there's a lot of great content to see, finding the right route for an MCU rewatch can feel like a daunting task. In the coming years, the MCU shows no signs of slowing down on their release schedule, so now is a fantastic opportunity to refresh with an MCU rewatch or delve into the whole universe for the first time. After a slow period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is back with full force, and 2021 has brought a wealth of new canon movies and Disney Plus TV shows.
