Film Phase 5 — The Multiverse War (2025–2026)

Deadpool & Wolverine

Name: Deadpool & Wolverine
Released: 2024-07-26
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 7.6
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Dafne Keen

"Come together."

Released July 26, 2024 2h 8m ★ 7.6TMDB ★ Essential to the MCU

A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life with his days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. But when his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctant Wolverine.

How to watch Watch Logan before this for full impact.

Watch note

A rogue TVA official is erasing the Fox universe. Wade and Logan must save it. They defeat Cassandra Nova and save the Fox timeline — which is why the entire original X-Men cast can appear in Doomsday. This film is the bridge.

Why It Matters in the MCU

The film that formally absorbed the Fox Marvel catalog into the MCU is also the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. What could have been a nostalgia-bait cameo parade is saved by committing to the emotional through-line: Wolverine's self-loathing and Deadpool's refusal to accept it. The Void sequences — populated by discarded franchise characters from across Fox's X-Men run — land as genuine fan service because they are weighted with loss rather than pure celebration. Hugh Jackman's final turn as Wolverine is considerably better than it had any right to be.

Watch These First

33 titles lead into Deadpool & Wolverine — 71 hours in total. 2 of the 33 are essential.

Captain America: The First Avenger 2h 4m ★ 7.0
X-Men: First Class Recommended 2h 12m ★ 7.3
X-Men Origins: Wolverine 1h 47m ★ 6.3
X-Men Recommended 1h 44m ★ 7.0
X2: X-Men United Recommended 2h 14m ★ 7.0
X-Men: The Last Stand Recommended 1h 44m ★ 6.4
The Wolverine 2h 6m ★ 6.4
X-Men: Days of Future Past Recommended 2h 11m ★ 7.5
Captain Marvel 2h 4m ★ 6.8
Iron Man 2h 6m ★ 7.7
Iron Man 2 2h 4m ★ 6.9
The Incredible Hulk 1h 52m ★ 6.3
Iron Man 2 (Post-Credit Scene) 0h 2m
Thor 1h 55m ★ 6.8 +2 before this
Captain America: The First Avenger (Credits) 0h 2m
Thor (Post-Credit Scene) 0h 2m
The Avengers 2h 23m ★ 8.1 +2 before this
Iron Man 3 2h 10m ★ 6.9
Thor: The Dark World 1h 52m ★ 6.5
Captain America: The Winter Soldier 2h 16m ★ 7.7 +3 before this
Guardians of the Galaxy 2h 1m ★ 7.9
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 2h 16m ★ 7.6
Avengers: Age of Ultron 2h 21m ★ 7.3
Captain America: Civil War 2h 27m ★ 7.5 +1 before this
Eyes of Wakanda (Season 1) 2h ★ 6.2
Black Panther 2h 14m ★ 7.4
Spider-Man: Homecoming 2h 13m ★ 7.3
Doctor Strange 1h 55m ★ 7.4
Deadpool Essential 1h 48m ★ 7.6
Deadpool 2 Essential 1h 59m ★ 7.5
Thor: Ragnarok 2h 10m ★ 7.6 +2 before this
Avengers: Infinity War 2h 29m ★ 8.2 +5 before this
Captain Marvel (Post-Credits Scene) 0h 2m
Logan Recommended 2h 17m ★ 7.8 +2 before this
Avengers: Endgame 3h 2m ★ 8.2 +10 before this
Peter's To-Do List 0h 4m ★ 7.0
Spider-Man: Far From Home 2h 9m ★ 7.4 +1 before this
Spider-Man: No Way Home 2h 28m ★ 7.9 +16 before this

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Where It Fits in the MCU

Deadpool & Wolverine sits at position 146 of 158 in the MCU's story-chronological order, placing it within the Phase 5 — The Multiverse War (2025–2026) era. It is rated Essential — must-watch for following the main MCU narrative. Watching in story-chronological order provides the most coherent character development experience — individual arcs build naturally toward the franchise's major crossover events, with each film's post-credits scenes carrying forward into what follows.