Disney confirms the 12 most important MCU movies from Infinity Saga
Like the chapters of a story, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has long divided itself into phases that, as of 2019, included the Infinity Saga.
Named after the Infinity Stones, the Infinity Saga expanded to 23 MCU films, starting with 2008’s Iron Man, with 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home.
After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, Phase 4 of the MCU then began on Disney+ in 2021 with WandaVision. And at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that Phase 4 and beyond will be called the Multiverse Saga.
But as Phase 4 comes to a close and fans look to the next chapter of this newly eponymous saga, Disney is looking back with some interesting results.
The Must-Watch Infinity Saga Movies According to Disney
Japan’s Disney+ page has released a list of the best and most important movies to watch in Infinity Saga. However, there were some major films which could not make it.
The Disney+ page titled the following Infinity Saga list as a weekend 2-day course:
phase 1
Iron Man (128 min)
Thor (115 min)
Captain America: The First Avenger (124 min)
Avengers (143 min)
phase 2
Thor: The Dark World (112 min)
Guardians of the Galaxy (121 min)
Avengers: Age of Ultron (141 min)
Ant-Man (117 min)
step 3
Captain America: Civil War (148 min)
Doctor Strange (115 min)
Avengers: Infinity War (149 min)
Avengers: Endgame (181 min)
Among the films that made the list, Disney did not include the Iron Man sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Black Panther, Thor: Ragnarok, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, or any of the MCU Spider-Man solo movies.
Aren’t the major movies on Disney’s Infinity Saga list?
Since this list has been described as a two-day watch list and is of paramount importance to Infinity Saga, the exclusion of some films should not be seen as a reflection of quality.
Instead, the films that made the list have been chosen to focus on the Infinity Stones. Maybe that’s why Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and The Winter Soldier didn’t make the cut.
But even with that focus in mind, some of the inclusions and omissions are a bit odd.
Given Wakanda’s presence in Infinity War and T’Challa’s entry in Endgame, the absence of 2018’s Black Panther seems a bit odd. The same can be said for Thor: Ragnarok, Thor’s Infinity War and Endgame story, as well as how the film ends in the story of Captain Marvel.
After all, if the litmus test of the list is the presence of the Infinity Stones, it’s worth remembering that the Infinity Stone was the source of Carol Danvers’ powers.
But of all the movies that made and didn’t make Disney’s list, the weirdest 2018 sequel involved Ant-Man instead of Ant-Man and The Wasp.
While Ant-Man introduces viewers to the cast, it is the Ant-Man sequel that introduces the use of the quantum realm.
This is definitely necessary in order to acquire the Infinity Stones and defeat Thanos in Avengers Endgame.
Regardless, as to why Ant-Man made the cut and why Ant-Man 2 wasn’t unknown, Disney’s “Reader’s Digest” version of the Infinity Saga is sure to be helpful for those looking to catch up with the MCU.
Now that Marvel Studios is telling stories on Disney+ beyond the big screen, first-timers and casual viewers will need these types of lists now more than ever.
All Marvel Studios Infinity Saga movies (except The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Far From Home) are available to stream on Disney+.
