The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) commenced in 2008 with the release of the first Iron Man movie. Over the years, it has evolved into a massive phenomenon that includes over 20 movies, TV shows, and web series. From the beginning, the Avengers have been central to the story arc of the MCU, and the final chapter of that arc spans Civil War to Endgame.
Civil War (2016) saw the Avengers divided into two factions over the question of government oversight. Captain America stood with his team, who believed that their autonomy was crucial in the face of global threats. On the other side, Iron Man believed that the government should oversee their activities to prevent catastrophic events like the attack on Sokovia in Age of Ultron (2015). Along the way, the villainous Helmut Zemo manipulated events to pit the two sides against each other, leading to an epic showdown.
While Civil War set the stage, Infinity War (2018) delivered one of the biggest shocks in the MCU. Thanos, the Mad Titan, had been lurking in the shadows since the first Avengers movie, and now he arrived on Earth to get his hands on all six Infinity Stones. The Avengers fought valiantly, but Thanos proved to be too powerful. In the end, he succeeded in his mission by “snapping” his fingers and wiping out half of all life in the universe.
Endgame (2019) sees the surviving Avengers form a plan to undo the damage caused by Thanos. Time travel becomes a key element as they revisit past events to collect Infinity Stones before Thanos can get to them. The final showdown is a fitting conclusion to the Avengers saga as all the heroes come together to defeat Thanos and restore the universe to its original state. The film serves as a tribute to the MCU as a whole and also sets up new stories for future films.
The MCU has been a remarkable achievement, bringing beloved comic book characters to the big screen in a way that has resonated with audiences worldwide. The Avengers movies, in particular, have been the centerpiece of the MCU’s narrative, and Civil War to Endgame represents a satisfying conclusion to that arc. As Endgame’s tagline says, “Part of the journey is the end,” and the end of the Avengers saga is a momentous occasion that has left an indelible mark on pop culture history.