Verdict: Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18, 2026, with Robert Downey Jr. back in the MCU as Doctor Doom. It’s a three-universe crossover: the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and Fox’s original X-Men all face Doom as the multiverse collapses.
Updated October 12, 2026 · Release details from Marvel Studios and Disney
Who this is for: Marvel fans planning their December, deciding what to rewatch, or wondering who’s actually in it.
When does Avengers: Doomsday come out?
The Doomsday release date, built into the Avengers logo. Image: Marvel Studios.
Friday, December 18, 2026, in the US, and December 16 in the UK. Disney is releasing it only in theaters, and it’s the 39th MCU film. It was first dated for May 2025, then moved to May 2026, and finally to December 2026.
| US release | December 18, 2026 |
| UK release | December 16, 2026 |
| Directors | Anthony and Joe Russo |
| Writers | Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely, with Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers |
| Villain | Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) |
| Runtime | About 165 minutes (reported, not official) |
| Tickets | On sale now |
| What’s next | Avengers: Secret Wars, December 17, 2027 |
Tickets went on sale July 20, starting with premium Infinity Vision screens. Presales passed $50 million by early September, about 100 days out.
Who is in the Avengers: Doomsday cast?
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Image: Marvel Studios.
Robert Downey Jr. plays Victor von Doom, his first MCU role since Tony Stark died in Endgame. Around him, Marvel has confirmed heroes from three universes:
| Team | Confirmed cast |
|---|---|
| Avengers and allies | Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson / Captain America), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Danny Ramirez (Falcon), Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter), Kathryn Newton (Cassie Lang) |
| Wakanda and Talokan | Letitia Wright (Shuri / Black Panther), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Tenoch Huerta Mejía (Namor), Mabel Cadena (Namora) |
| New Avengers (Thunderbolts) | Florence Pugh (Yelena), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Lewis Pullman (Sentry) |
| Fantastic Four | Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing) |
| X-Men | Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), James Marsden (Cyclops), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Channing Tatum (Gambit) |
Not confirmed yet: Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have joined promotion, but Marvel hasn’t said whether Deadpool or Wolverine appear.
What is Avengers: Doomsday about?
Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday art. Image: Marvel Studios.
Heroes from three universes team up against Doctor Doom as the multiverse starts to collapse. Marvel’s official synopsis calls it “an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.”
Thunderbolts*’s post-credits scene jumps 14 months ahead and ends with the Fantastic Four’s ship arriving, which points straight at Doomsday. The Avengers, Wakandans and New Avengers come from the main MCU universe, the Fantastic Four from their own Earth seen in First Steps, and the X-Men from the world of Fox’s original films.
Marvel hasn’t explained how Doom is connected to Tony Stark, if at all. For what Doom can do in the comics, see our Doctor Doom powers explainer.
Is there an Avengers: Doomsday trailer?
- December 2025: four short teasers played before Avatar: Fire and Ash. One revealed Chris Evans’s return.
- April 2026: the first full trailer debuted at CinemaCon. It went online July 20.
- August 2026: a special look focused on Doom played at D23 on August 14.
- September 25, 2026: Avengers: Endgame returned to theaters as Endgame: Encore, with an exclusive look at Doomsday.
A final trailer usually lands a month or two before release, so expect one before Thanksgiving.
How long is Avengers: Doomsday?
About 2 hours 45 minutes, according to a Hollywood Reporter report of roughly 165 minutes. Marvel hasn’t confirmed an official runtime. That would put it just under Endgame’s 3 hours 1 minute.
What should you watch before Avengers: Doomsday?
The essentials are The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) for Reed, Sue and their universe, Thunderbolts* (2025) for the New Avengers and the Sentry, and Avengers: Endgame (2019) for where the original team left off. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) sets up how other universes connect to the MCU.
Marvel’s official Disney+ list has 15 titles. We break it down, with a five-movie weekend shortcut, in what to watch before Avengers: Doomsday. For the full order, see every Marvel movie in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Avengers: Doomsday come out?
December 18, 2026, in US theaters, and December 16 in the UK.
Who plays Doctor Doom?
Robert Downey Jr., who played Tony Stark from 2008 to 2019.
Is Avengers: Doomsday on Disney+?
Not at release. It’s an exclusive theatrical release. Marvel films usually reach Disney+ a few months after theaters.
Are the X-Men in Avengers: Doomsday?
Yes. Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, Kelsey Grammer and Channing Tatum are all confirmed.
How long is Avengers: Doomsday?
About 165 minutes, per reports. Marvel hasn’t confirmed it.
What comes after Avengers: Doomsday?
Avengers: Secret Wars, on December 17, 2027, also from the Russo brothers.
Next step: get tickets early if you want a premium screen opening weekend, and catch up on First Steps and Thunderbolts* first. For more, see the 5 fan favorites returning in Doomsday, our most powerful MCU characters and the Phase 6 hype rankings.
Catch up before Doomsday
Also on Amazon: The Fantastic Four: First Steps 4K ($27.99) · Thunderbolts* 4K ($44.79). Prices checked October 12, 2026.
Sources: release date, synopsis and ticket details from Marvel Studios and Disney. Cast, filming and presale figures as reported by Wikipedia and ABC News. Runtime as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Blu-ray prices checked on Amazon (US) on October 12, 2026; every disc listed is sold and shipped by Amazon. Images: Marvel Studios, via Marvel.com.
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