10 MCU’s Most Important Events That Happened Off-Screen, Ranked

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for its interconnected storytelling, but not every major event happens on-screen. Some of the MCU timeline’s most pivotal developments occur between films or shows, leaving audiences to piece together the details from dialogue or brief flashbacks. While this technique allows for tighter narratives and avoids redundancy, it also means audiences sometimes miss out on crucial moments that could have been incredible to witness.

The MCU spans multiple movies, TV shows, and even supplementary material like tie-in comics. Many of these tie-in comics depict events that occur between projects, explain in more detail events that the MCU seemingly omitted. While some skipped events were wisely omitted to streamline storytelling, others left gaps that felt abrupt or underserved. This ranking evaluates these events based on how important they were for the MCU’s overall narrative, while also assessing how effective or disappointing skipping them were.

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10

Spider-Man’s Origin Story

Before Captain America: Civil War

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When Spider-Man made his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, audiences quickly noticed a major omission – his iconic origin story. By the time Spider-Man: Homecoming arrived, it was clear the MCU had no intention of revisiting Peter Parker’s radioactive spider bite, Uncle Ben’s tragic death, or his first days as a hero. Instead, Peter vaguely references what happened in a passing comment to his best friend, Ned.

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This was a brilliant choice, as audiences had already seen two full cinematic retellings of Spider-Man’s origin in the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield eras. Skipping it allowed Homecoming to focus on a fresh take, with Peter already established in the world of superheroes and jump straight into the action. While some fans may have missed a direct acknowledgment of Uncle Ben, the decision ultimately helped integrate Spider-Man smoothly into the MCU without unnecessary repetition.

9

Thanos Intercepts And Destroys The Asgardians

Between Thor: Ragnarok And Avengers: Infinity War

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Thor: Ragnarok ended on a hopeful note, with Thor leading the surviving Asgardians to a new home. However, before anybody could fully enjoy their escape, Avengers: Infinity War opened with a grim scene – their ship had already been intercepted and devastated by Thanos. This shocking development set the harrowing stakes immediately, but the fact that the battle happened off-screen left some wishing they had seen the confrontation.

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While the scene itself is effective in establishing Thanos’ ruthless efficiency, it also felt abrupt, considering how much emphasis Ragnarok placed on the survival of the Asgardians. Seeing Thor and the others struggle against Thanos’ Black Order could have been an epic moment, yet the decision to skip it kept the story moving at a breakneck pace. Still, its significance in setting up Thanos’ dominance in the MCU cannot be understated.

8

Bruce Banner Reconciles With Hulk

Between Avengers: Infinity War And Avengers: Endgame

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One of the most unexpected character shifts in Avengers: Endgame was the emergence of Professor Hulk – a fully integrated version of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. However, audiences never saw how this transformation happened. In Infinity War, Bruce struggled to get the Hulk to emerge after their brutal defeat by Thanos. By Endgame, five years had passed, and Banner casually explained that he had figured out a way to merge his two halves.

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This major development completely altered the trajectory of the Hulk’s character, yet audiences were given only a brief explanation instead of witnessing the transformation firsthand. Considering how much tension existed between Banner and Hulk throughout the MCU, this could have been a fascinating and emotionally rich story. Instead, viewers were left to imagine how it unfolded, which felt like a missed opportunity for deeper character exploration.

7

Hulk Fathers A Son On Sakaar

Before Thor: Ragnarok

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The MCU has had its fair share of surprise reveals, but none were as abrupt as the introduction of Hulk’s son, Skaar, in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. In the final episode, Hulk casually introduces his teenage son with zero buildup or explanation, leaving audiences scratching their heads. Given that Hulk had spent time on Sakaar during Thor: Ragnarok, it’s implied that this event took place sometime before or during his time as a gladiator.

However, the reveal felt completely random, with no foreshadowing or narrative weight behind it. If Skaar is meant to play a major role in future MCU projects, his introduction could have benefited from more setup. Instead, it felt like an afterthought, which could weaken his impact going forward. This remains one of the most jarring off-screen developments in the MCU and highlights the occasional pitfalls of skipping key moments.

6

Baron Mordo’s Crusade Against Dr. Strange and the Sorcerers

Between Doctor Strange And Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

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At the end of Doctor Strange (2016), Karl Mordo embarks on a personal crusade to rid the world of sorcerers, setting up a thrilling potential conflict for future films. However, by the time Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) arrives, Mordo’s campaign is reduced to a mere off-hand comment. According to Stephen Strange, Mordo went mad and spent years hunting him, yet none of these confrontations are shown on-screen.

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Given Mordo’s previous relationship with Strange and the gravity of his mission, this arc had the potential for an incredible film or Disney+ series. It was presumed that this would be depicted as part of the Doctor Strange sequel and was highly anticipated. Unfortunately, skipping over this development not only undermines the character’s progression but also removes a significant antagonist from Strange’s story without proper payoff.

5

Captain America Breaks The Avengers Out Of The Raft

Between Captain America: Civil War And Avengers: Infinity War

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Captain America: Civil War (2016) ends with Steve Rogers breaking his imprisoned allies out of the Raft, a top-security underwater prison for super-powered individuals. However, the actual breakout is never shown, only implied through a brief sequence of Captain America arriving and smiling at his imprisoned allies. Considering the Raft is supposed to be nearly impenetrable, witnessing how Cap and his team orchestrated the escape would have made for an exciting, high-stakes action sequence.

Additionally, it would have provided more clarity on how heroes like Falcon, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Man managed to go underground afterward. By omitting this event, the MCU bypassed an opportunity for a thrilling moment that could have reinforced Captain America’s resourcefulness and leadership while also showcasing a daring rescue that could have rivalled some of the franchise’s best action set pieces.

4

The Avengers During The Blip Years

Between Avengers: Infinity War And Avengers: Endgame

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When Avengers: Endgame (2019) begins, five years have passed since Thanos’ Snap. Natasha Romanoff leads a new team consisting of War Machine, Captain Marvel, Rocket Raccoon, and Nebula. However, audiences never see this version of the Avengers in action.

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This period of the MCU could have provided a compelling storyline, showing how the remaining heroes dealt with cosmic threats, maintained order on Earth, and adjusted to a world devastated by the Snap. Watching Natasha evolve into a true leader while working alongside an eclectic mix of heroes would have added depth to her character arc, making her sacrifice later in the film even more impactful. While brief moments hint at their operations, skipping over this period means missing out on what could have been a unique take on the Avengers, operating with limited resources in a changed world.

3

Thanos Invades Xandar For The Power Stone

Before Avengers: Infinity War

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By the time Avengers: Infinity War (2018) begins, Thanos already possesses the Power Stone, having acquired it from Xandar, the home of the Nova Corps. However, this momentous event is never shown on-screen, reduced to a mere line of exposition from Thor. Given Xandar’s significance in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and the buildup of the Nova Corps as defenders of peace, seeing Thanos’ assault on the planet would have provided a visually stunning battle sequence.

It also would have established the Mad Titan’s power more effectively, showing him demolishing an entire force of protectors before he even obtains the full Infinity Gauntlet. Additionally, the fall of Xandar could have set up a future storyline for the Nova Corps or even introduced Richard Rider (Nova) into the MCU. By skipping this invasion, the MCU missed an opportunity to deliver a defining Thanos moment and expand its galactic lore.

2

Thanos Recruits Loki To Find The Tesseract

Between Thor And The Avengers

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One of the most pivotal alliances in the MCU’s early days was between Thanos and Loki, leading to the Chitauri invasion depicting in The Avengers (2012). However, the details of how Thanos recruited Loki, provided him with the Chitauri army, and manipulated him into seeking the Tesseract are never explicitly shown. Instead, this partnership is only hinted at through exposition in later films.

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Witnessing this interaction would have added much-needed depth to Loki’s arc, showing how he was coerced or convinced to work with Thanos. It also could have provided key insights into Thanos’ long-term strategy for acquiring the Infinity Stones. With both characters being fan favorites, a direct depiction of their negotiations and power dynamic would have been a fascinating addition to the MCU’s early narrative, offering more weight to Loki’s actions in The Avengers.

1

Captain America Returns The Infinity Stones

After Avengers: Endgame

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After defeating Thanos, Steve Rogers embarks on a mission to return the Infinity Stones to their proper places in time, preventing catastrophic timelines from branching off. However, this journey – arguably one of the most significant in MCU history – is never shown on-screen. Audiences are left to wonder how Steve navigated the various timelines, what challenges he faced, and how he returned the Soul Stone to Vormir, possibly confronting Red Skull.

This event not only had massive ramifications for the multiverse but also led to Steve deciding to remain in the past and live a life with Peggy Carter. Watching his interactions with past MCU characters and seeing how he resolved each timeline discrepancy would have made for an incredible standalone film or Disney+ series. By leaving this adventure to the imagination, the MCU missed out on what could have been one of its most emotionally and narratively rich stories.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.

Created by

Kevin Feige

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First Film

Iron Man

Upcoming Films

Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars

First TV Show

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Upcoming TV Shows

Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Wakanda, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, Vision Quest

Cast

Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors

TV Show(s)

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, Inhumans, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…?, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Secret Invasion, Marvel’s Echo

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Upcoming MCU Movies

• 

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  May 2, 2025

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  July 25, 2025

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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  MCU Spider-Man 4

  Release Date

  July 24, 2026

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  May 7, 2027

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