Ultimate Avengers (2006)
MovieOptionalLegacy
Captain America leads a new Avengers team against alien invaders in this animated feature. This 2006 Marvel film sits outside the MCU timeline, so you can watch it on its own without any homework. It runs 1h 12m.
| Release date | February 21, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 1h 12m |
| Age rating | PG-13, some material may be inappropriate for under 13 |
| IMDb rating | 6.7/10 |
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
Launched Marvel's direct-to-video animated movie line, an Ultimate-universe Avengers origin that set the template for a decade of animated features.
About Ultimate Avengers
Ultimate Avengers opens in 1945, with Captain America facing a Nazi-allied alien shape-shifter named Herr Kleiser. Decades later S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury has Cap thawed out and puts him at the head of a new team, with Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Wasp, Hank Pym, Bruce Banner and the Hulk, to fight the alien Chitauri. It loosely adapts Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's The Ultimates.
It was the first of eight Marvel Animated Features made by Lionsgate with Marvel Studios. Curt Geda, Steven E. Gordon and Bob Richardson directed, from a script by Greg Johnson, Boyd Kirkland and Craig Kyle. Justin Gross voices Captain America, Marc Worden is Iron Man, Olivia d'Abo is Black Widow, Grey Griffin is Wasp, Dave Boat is Thor, Andre Ware is Nick Fury, Michael Massee is Banner and Fred Tatasciore is the Hulk. It premiered at WonderCon and went to DVD on February 21, 2006, running 72 minutes. Reviews were mixed, but it earned about $6.7 million in US home video sales.
Good to know
- It won a Cinema Audio Society Award for sound mixing in DVD original programming.
- Fred Tatasciore voices both the Hulk and Jarvis.
- Marc Worden returned as Tony Stark in The Invincible Iron Man (2007).
- It debuted fourth in DVD sales in its first week.
How to watch it
Start the Marvel Animated Features line here, and follow it immediately with Ultimate Avengers 2, which was planned alongside it and continues the story. MCU fans will find a familiar setup, with Cap waking up in the present and Fury assembling a team, told with a different lineup and tone. It's a good pick for fans of the Ultimates comics and anyone who enjoys mid-2000s Marvel animation.
Where it fits in your watch
- All legacy Marvel films
Ultimate Avengers FAQ
Is Ultimate Avengers based on a comic?
Yes. It's loosely based on The Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch.
Is there a sequel to Ultimate Avengers?
Yes. Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther came out in August 2006.
Who voices Captain America in Ultimate Avengers?
Justin Gross voices Captain America.
Can you skip Ultimate Avengers?
Yes. It sits outside the MCU timeline, so nothing in the MCU depends on it.
When was Ultimate Avengers released?
Ultimate Avengers was released on February 21, 2006.
Is Ultimate Avengers part of the MCU?
No. Ultimate Avengers is a Marvel film made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it isn’t on Marvel Studios’ official timeline.
Does Ultimate Avengers have a post-credit scene?
No, Ultimate Avengers has no post-credit scene.
Where to watch Ultimate Avengers in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Not currently on a US subscription service |
|---|
Where to watch Ultimate Avengers outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not included | Not available |
| Canada | Not included | Not available |
| India | Not included | Not available |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
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