In the year 2005, there was an idea. The idea was to bring together a universe of remarkable characters, to see if they could change the film industry, to tell the stories that many have before, in a new and bold way. This idea was called the “Marvel Cinematic Universe.” It was formed by Marvel Studios, a division of the hugely popular comic brand of the same name. It became Hollywood’s first independent movie studio since Dreamworks. It started with Iron Man in 2008, a revolutionary film in its own right; with hilarious comedy, great action, and a compelling storyline. The success of this film spawned over 20 different movies, TV shows, and countless characters that soon became like close friends. Over the course of 11 years, Marvel would continue to grow and thrive faster than almost any movie studio in existence. And it was all leading up to one of the biggest payoffs in cinematic history: Avengers: Endgame.

Avengers: Endgame is the product of the colossal build-up by Marvel Studios over the past decade. Taking place five years after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, half of the Earth’s population had been wiped out of existence after Thanos collected all the Infinity Stones. The Avengers are left to their own devices; holding seminars, relaxing, and spending time with their families. Then Ant-Man, who had been presumed dead, returns from the Quantum Realm, where he’s been stuck inside for the past five years gathering information. However, time moves faster in the Quantum Realm, so five years seems like five hours to him. He finds the Avengers headquarters and brings everyone in for a conversation on how to bring everyone back and defeat Thanos once and for all.

The movie itself is a masterpiece. Plenty of jokes, action, and scenes that just kick you right in the feels. Most, if not all of the actors put on their best performances, most notably from Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. As a Marvel fan, it’s an incredibly satisfying experience that should appease everyone. Its success has been unprecedented, as it is currently the second-ranked highest grossing film to date, with over $2 billion made.

Avengers: Endgame is the perfect end to a franchise that we’ve fallen in love with over the past 11 years. It ties up almost all of the loose ends but still leaves you craving for more. Thank you to Stan Lee for everything you’ve done to make sure the company didn’t go up in flames. You will be missed. Endgame is the culmination of Lee’s work and we need to make sure it’s remembered for future generations and the future of Marvel itself. If you’re upset about this part of the franchise ending, then let me remind you…

“Part of the journey is the end…”

-Tony Stark

GRADE: A+