Holiday Movie Night Gets a Marvel Upgrade as ABC Preps a Big ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Warm-Up

Every December, broadcast television turns into a comfort-food buffet of familiar favorites. Families gather around the living room, a seasonal classic plays in the background, and the biggest debate is usually who gets the good spot on the couch. ABC has long leaned into that tradition, and its 2026 schedule is no exception.

The Wonderful World of Disney is bringing back holiday staples like “The Santa Clause,” “Home Alone,” “Die Hard” and “Father of the Bride.” That lineup is stacked with nostalgia, but it also leaves room for something a little more recent. A newer Marvel title is joining the festivities.

According to ComicBook.com, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ will make its broadcast premiere on ABC on Sunday, Dec. 13, as part of that holiday programming. It marks the first time the film will air on television, and the timing is hard to ignore. ComicBook.com also pointed out that the date falls on the last Sunday before the release of ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’

The calendar math checks out. Marvel Studios moved ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ to Dec. 18, 2026, which means the Dec. 13 airing lands just 5 days ahead of the Russo brothers’ return to the franchise. For anyone who skipped the film in theaters, or just wants a refresher, it works as an easy on-ramp.

That refresher could matter more than it first appears. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ will follow different superhero groups joining hands to fight Doctor Doom, and techradar’s guide to the film lists a 27-strong confirmed cast. Marvel’s First Family is expected to be part of that crowd, so a television airing right before opening weekend is perfect timing.

The film also arrives with a solid track record behind it. ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ debuted on top of the box office with $118 million, according to Box Office Mojo, and the same report noted that the film earned both critical praise and audience approval. That was a big deal for a team whose earlier big-screen outings had a bumpy history.

The first two movies, in 2005 and 2007, were commercially successful but critically panned, while a 2015 attempt flopped on both fronts. Matt Shakman’s version changed the conversation. Even a critic who found the team chemistry a little distant called it “a sturdy beginning” for a group that had never quite taken flight on screen.

The movie’s retro-futuristic look is a big part of that appeal. The official synopsis describes a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world where Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm face their most daunting challenge yet. That polished, sun-soaked aesthetic should translate nicely to a living-room screen, especially for families settling in for a Sunday night.

The broadcast premiere also comes after the film has already made its way to other platforms. Variety reported that subscribers could stream it on Disney+ starting Nov. 5, so ABC’s airing gives viewers who don’t subscribe a free way to catch up. It also gives Disney another chance to put Marvel’s newest family in front of a mainstream audience at the exact moment the studio needs them paying attention.

ABC’s schedule isn’t only about superheroes, either. The network is also promising the broadcast premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King” and a “Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular” with new musical performances from Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. For a network that built its reputation on family viewing, that mix of old and new is right in its wheelhouse.

Whether you’re a longtime comic reader or just someone who wants a break from holiday reruns, Dec. 13 looks like a date worth circling. Marvel fans will be counting down to the next Avengers adventure, and ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is about to get a prime-time send-off before the big event arrives.