Avengers: Doomsday opens in US theaters on Friday, December 18, 2026, and in the UK two days earlier on Wednesday, December 16. Robert Downey Jr. returns to Marvel as the villain Doctor Doom, opposite the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and the original X-Men. Tickets are on sale now. Advance sales have passed $125 million worldwide, and trackers expect one of the biggest openings ever.
| US release date | December 18, 2026 (4,000+ theaters) |
| UK release date | December 16, 2026 |
| Runtime | About 165 minutes (2 hr 45 min) |
| Directors | Anthony and Joe Russo (Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame) |
| Writers | Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron |
| Producer | Kevin Feige (Marvel Studios) |
| Distributor | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Villain | Robert Downey Jr. as Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom |
| Music | Alan Silvestri |
| Formats | Dolby Cinema, ScreenX, D-Box, 4DX, RealD 3D (no US IMAX for at least three weeks) |
| MCU phase | Phase Six |
| Sequel | Avengers: Secret Wars, December 17, 2027 |
Release date, tickets and the IMAX question
Tickets are on sale everywhere. Premium-format seats opened first in July 2026, and general tickets followed in mid-August. If you want a good seat for opening weekend, book now. Variety reported $16.5 million in sales on the first day alone, when only premium screens at about 1,000 theaters were available.
Where to buy?
Fandango, Atom Tickets, and the AMC, Regal and Cinemark apps and websites, plus independent theaters’ own sites.
Why there is no IMAX in the US at first?
Dune: Part Three opens the same day and holds the IMAX screens. As a result, Avengers: Doomsday will not play in US IMAX for at least three weeks. Some international markets will have IMAX. For the biggest premium screen in the US, you have to choose the Dolby Cinema. Disney has also certified some premium screens under its new “Infinity Vision” label.
When will it stream?
Marvel films usually arrive on digital purchase about two to three months after release, and on Disney+ about three to four months after release. For a December 18 opening, that suggests digital purchase around February to March 2027 and Disney+ around April 2027. This is an estimate based on past Marvel releases; Disney has not announced dates.
Also read: Godzilla Minus Zero: Where to Watch, Stream, Rent, or Buy
The “Doomsday” weekend: Avengers vs. Dune
Two of the biggest films of the year open on the same day, December 18, 2026. Fans call it “Dunesday”, a play on the “Barbenheimer” weekend of 2023. Many people plan to see both. Dune: Part Three runs in IMAX, and Avengers: Doomsday runs in Dolby and other premium formats, so the two films are not competing for the same premium screens.
Who’s in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday?
Marvel revealed the cast in a five-and-a-half-hour livestream of chairs with names on them in March 2025. It is the biggest cast Marvel has assembled, with heroes from three separate universes.
| Actor | Character | Team |
| Robert Downey Jr. | Doctor Doom | Villain |
| Chris Evans | Steve Rogers | Avengers (returning) |
| Chris Hemsworth | Thor | Avengers |
| Anthony Mackie | Sam Wilson / Captain America | Avengers |
| Paul Rudd | Scott Lang / Ant-Man | Avengers |
| Tom Hiddleston | Loki | Avengers |
| Simu Liu | Shang-Chi | Avengers |
| Letitia Wright | Shuri / Black Panther | Wakanda |
| Winston Duke | M’Baku | Wakanda |
| Tenoch Huerta Mejía | Namor | Talokan |
| Florence Pugh | Yelena Belova / Black Widow | New Avengers (Thunderbolts) |
| Sebastian Stan | Bucky Barnes | New Avengers |
| David Harbour | Red Guardian | New Avengers |
| Wyatt Russell | John Walker / U.S. Agent | New Avengers |
| Hannah John-Kamen | Ghost | New Avengers |
| Lewis Pullman | Bob / Sentry | New Avengers |
| Pedro Pascal | Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic | Fantastic Four |
| Vanessa Kirby | Sue Storm / Invisible Woman | Fantastic Four |
| Joseph Quinn | Johnny Storm / Human Torch | Fantastic Four |
| Ebon Moss-Bachrach | Ben Grimm / The Thing | Fantastic Four |
| Patrick Stewart | Professor X | X-Men |
| Ian McKellen | Magneto | X-Men |
| James Marsden | Cyclops | X-Men |
| Rebecca Romijn | Mystique | X-Men |
| Alan Cumming | Nightcrawler | X-Men |
| Kelsey Grammer | Beast | X-Men |
| Channing Tatum | Gambit | X-Men |
| Hayley Atwell | Peggy Carter | Avengers |
Other reported returns: Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Owen Wilson (Mobius) and Ke Huy Quan (Ouroboros) are among other returning MCU actors. Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange) and Tom Holland (Spider-Man) are reported to appear. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have made promotional appearances, but Marvel has not confirmed that Deadpool and Wolverine are in the film.
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
Downey played Tony Stark for 11 years, and Iron Man died at the end of Avengers: Endgame (2019). His return as a different character, the Fantastic Four’s main villain, was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024 and is the main reason for the film’s interest.
Marvel has not explained how Doom connects to Tony Stark, or whether he is a version of Stark from another universe. That is the main question fans are speculating about. Downey’s casting also ties into his other big franchise: fans of his Sherlock Holmes films have waited since 2011 for a third entry.
What is Avengers: Doomsday about?
The film takes place 14 months after Thunderbolts*. The multiverse is collapsing, and heroes from three Earths meet to stop Doctor Doom:
- Earth-616, the main MCU: the Avengers, Wakanda and the New Avengers
- Earth-828, the retro-futurist world of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Earth-10005, the world of the original Fox X-Men films
Marvel has not released a full synopsis. The story continues directly into Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027, which the Russos are also directing.
Also read: Where to Watch Sunrise on the Reaping Online?
What to watch before Avengers: Doomsday?
You don’t need to watch every Marvel title. These are the ones that set up the story most directly:
- Avengers: Endgame (2019): the end of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers’ stories. Marvel re-released it in September 2026 as Avengers: Endgame Encore, with extra footage that leads into Doomsday.
- Loki season 2 (2023): explains the multiverse and the Time Variance Authority.
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024): brings the Fox X-Men universe into the MCU.
- Thunderbolts* (2025): introduces the New Avengers and the Sentry.
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025): introduces the Fantastic Four, and its post-credits scene leads into Doom.
- X-Men (2000) to X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014): optional, for the returning Professor X, Magneto and Cyclops.
Trailers and marketing
| Date | Release |
| Sep 2026 | Avengers: Endgame Encore re-release, with bridging footage |
| Aug 27, 2026 | “Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday” podcast launches |
| Aug 2026 | “Special look” at Doctor Doom after Comic-Con and D23; better received than the trailer |
| Jul 2026 | First full trailer released online, to mixed reactions; premium-format tickets go on sale |
| Apr 2026 | First full trailer shown at CinemaCon |
| Dec 2025 | Four teasers shown in theaters before Avatar: Fire and Ash |
| Mar 2025 | Cast revealed in a five-and-a-half-hour livestream |
Box office: how big could it open?
Presales suggest one of the five biggest openings ever. Worldwide advance sales passed $125 million by the end of October 2026, according to Forbes. Global Box Office projects a domestic opening of $250 to 300 million. For comparison, Avengers: Endgame holds the all-time domestic opening record at $357 million (2019), and Avengers: Infinity War opened to $257 million (2018).
| Milestone | Advance ticket sales |
| End of October 2026 | $125M+ worldwide |
| Early October 2026 | $100M+ worldwide |
| Early September 2026 | $50M+ domestic |
| End of August 2026 | $35M |
| First 24 hours, July 2026 | $16.5M (premium formats only) |
A sharing of screens with Dune, and the lack of US IMAX, could lower the opening slightly. The long Christmas and New Year holiday run that follows should help it hold well.
FAQs
When does Avengers: Doomsday come out?
December 18, 2026, in the US, and December 16, 2026, in the UK.
How long is Avengers: Doomsday?
About 165 minutes, or 2 hours 45 minutes. Marvel may adjust it slightly before release.
Is Robert Downey Jr. playing Iron Man?
No. He plays Doctor Doom, a new character. Marvel has not said whether Doom is linked to Tony Stark.
Is Chris Evans in Avengers: Doomsday?
Yes. He returns as Steve Rogers.
Are the X-Men in it?
Yes. Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming and Kelsey Grammer return from the Fox films, along with Channing Tatum as Gambit.
Is Spider-Man in Avengers: Doomsday?
Tom Holland is reported to appear, but Marvel has not confirmed it.
Is Avengers: Doomsday in IMAX?
Not in the US at first. Dune: Part Three has the IMAX screens for at least three weeks. Some international markets have IMAX.
When will Avengers: Doomsday be on Disney+?
No date is set. Based on past Marvel films, expect around April 2027.
Is there a post-credits scene?
Not confirmed yet. Almost every Marvel film has one, and this one leads into Secret Wars, so stay until the end. We will update this after release.
What comes after Avengers: Doomsday?
Avengers: Secret Wars, on December 17, 2027.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Avengers: Doomsday
- Dark Horizons: pre-sales top $125 million (Oct 31, 2026)
- Variety: $16.5M in first-day ticket sales
- Box Office Mojo: Avengers: Doomsday
- Dune: Part Three Release Date, IMAX 70mm Tickets, Cast, Plot and Everything to Know - November 11, 2026
- Avengers: Doomsday Release Date, Tickets, Cast, and Everything to Know - November 11, 2026
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Release Date, Cast, Plot, Tickets & Everything to Know - November 10, 2026
