LEGACY UNIVERSES

Why it matters: Xavier, Magneto, Cyclops and Mystique. Stewart, McKellen, Marsden and Romijn all return in Doomsday. On Disney+’s official “before Doomsday” list.

Why it matters: Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker and Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin, both back in No Way Home.

Why it matters: Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler, confirmed for Doomsday. On Disney+’s official “before Doomsday” list.

Why it matters: Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus, who returns in No Way Home.

Why it matters: Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, who is back for Doomsday.

Why it matters: Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), who comes back in No Way Home.

Why it matters: Logan and Victor Creed’s history, plus the Wade Wilson that Deadpool & Wolverine jokes about.

Why it matters: Young Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr in 1962. How the friendship and the war between them began. Recommended by marvelwatchlist.

Why it matters: Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker and Rhys Ifans’ Lizard, both back in No Way Home.

Why it matters: Logan in Japan. Its mid-credits scene sets up Days of Future Past.

Why it matters: Time travel and both X-Men casts. The closest thing to a multiverse primer.

Why it matters: Jamie Foxx’s Electro and the loss of Gwen Stacy, which gives No Way Home its emotional payoff.

Why it matters: The young X-Men assemble, including Nightcrawler, against the first mutant, En Sabah Nur.

Why it matters: Wade Wilson’s origin and the fourth-wall humour Deadpool & Wolverine builds on.

Why it matters: Wolverine’s farewell. Deadpool & Wolverine opens by digging up this Logan’s grave.

Why it matters: Cable, X-Force and a time-travel fix that Deadpool & Wolverine later reverses.

Why it matters: Jean Grey’s power spirals out of control. The final film of the Fox X-Men era.

Why it matters: Marvel Animation’s revival of the 1990s X-Men cartoon, and the closest thing Marvel Studios has made to its own X-Men team.