Published May 12, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT

Forget Marvel movies and enjoy Disney Plus' latest special for its standalone action

You don't need to have seen any of MCU Phase 4-6 to love Marvel's new release

Image: Laura Radford/Marvel Studios/Everett Collection

Whether you size it up from quality, box office, or pure coherence, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in a serious slump. After the incredible highs of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame , which brilliantly connected a decade of cinematic storytelling to close out multiple character arcs and plotlines with a satisfying conclusion, the MCU charted a new course forward into what would eventually be titled "The Multiverse Saga." Phases 4 through 6, which are set to culminate with two more Avengers movies ( Doomsday this December and Secret Wars a year after that), has been marred by controversy , death , and some of the worst movies to ever come out of Marvel Studios.

The hope is Doomsday can set things right and give the MCU the momentum it desperately…