The Avengers was the real beginning of ‘Marvel movies’ as we know them

Ten years ago, The Avengers appeared on the screens of movie theatres all over the world for the first time. Marvel’s The AvengersIt made $1.5 Billion in May 2012 and, regardless of whether it’s liked or not, transformed the way people think about movies. But the success of the movie didn’t just change our world, it changed how Marvel produced their fictional one, as well.

The Avengers was proof that audiences didn’t just want one-line references to other comics or visual Easter eggs buried in the background of shots. The audience wanted a complete world on the screen and their favourite characters to interact with it. But, most crucially, it turned the Marvel movie — and the idea of the superhero movie, in general — from a solo story into a crossover ensemble film. To some extent, every Marvel movie has become an Avengers movie.

2012 Avengers was the sixth installment in, and culmination of, a sequence of movies now referred to as “Phase 1” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Each movie preceding The Avengers introduced characters who would then “assemble” in the final movie, which was written and directed by Joss Whedon, with a story by Zak Penn. The movie’s basic plot is both fairly straightforward and, also, sort of a rats nest.

The AvengersLoki is the antagonist from ThorDr. Erik Selvig is hypnotized by the astrophysicist. Thor Nick Fury was a former graduate of the post-credits scene. Iron ManTo play a supportive role Iron Man 2) and Fury’s agent Clint Barton, who briefly appeared in Thor. Loki orders Selvig and Barton help him to steal the Tesseract alien artifact, which was first presented in Captain America: The First AvengerNick Fury is then compelled to contact Natasha Romanoff (who first appeared in) Iron Man 2To recruit Dr. Bruce Banner or the Hulk who appeared for the first time in the movie The Incredible HulkHowever, he is played by an actor different to Fury. Fury hires Iron Man from the movie Iron ManCaptain America and?, both from Captain America: The First Avenger. Thor finally appears in the film ThorBecause Loki, the antagonist from his film, is shown in this scene, Naturally, he shows up. All of the movie’s characters argue and fight until they finally agree to stop Loki. Finally, the copyright was foreclosed. The Incredible Hulk was still tied up with Universal Studios, one of the characters gets to say “Hulk” one time and all the heroes do a bunch of cool poses together. It’s a great time.

Why did Loki do this? If you stayed on the scene after the credits, it was obvious that Loki was working for Thanos. But, the viewers were not familiar with Thanos. His true role in Marvel’s cosmos was only apparent once. Guardians Of The GalaxyGamora, his daughter was introduced to the public.

It is the success of The Avengers One type of Marvel movie format could be used, as it was shown. Crossover events could bring together characters that were introduced in individual films. This is the same tactic Marvel used for years in comics. It was also translated onto screen. The promise of teaming up with superheroes was appealing enough for audiences to believe it would make formerly-broadcast superheroes such as Iron Man and Thor household names.

Image: Marvel Studios

And while The Avengers was proving that Marvel’s initial formula worked, it also redefined the very concept of the “Marvel movie” as time went on. This is the pre-Avengers MCU basically ends with 2013’s Iron Man 3The last MCU sequentially named sequel is titled. The only exception is the Guardians Of The GalaxyFilms are named after mixtape volume names. There is no MCU film that follows. Iron Man 3There is a separate sequel to the book. It was not a subtitled title sequel. It’s also a fairly small-stakes story about Tony Stark dealing with PTSD (stemming from the events of The AvengersIt’s true. He spends most of the movie in the Iron Man suit. Although parts of this film will be used as references in future films, the film features supporting characters such as Pepper Potts or James Rhodes. But it’s a solo adventure for Tony Stark.

After Iron Man 3Marvel movies have a very different feel. First, most notably, Marvel films become quippier. Though nothing can top the absolute meta-snark maximalism of Whedon’s Avengersscript that, when he got back, he had already written Avengers: Age of UltronHe reached a level of self-parody. After Iron Man 3Marvel focused on one type of tension-releasing, self-effacing humor to make its films. There are also a few narrative elements that start to appear with increasing frequency after writer-director Shane Black’s trilogy-capper.

The Avengers established a three-tier Marvel fight scene standard, with the fights getting bigger — and involving more characters and locations — as the movie progresses. The structure can be clearly seen in Guardians of the Galaxy, as the Guardians split into two groups to take down Ronan the Accuser’s ship, while the Nova Corp fight a battle outside. Whedon’s film also cemented the dynamic where a Marvel film’s cast of characters get better at working as a team throughout the film. Guardians of the GalaxyAnd Ant-Man are good examples of this, but it’s also just as true for later releases like Captain MarvelAnd Black Panther. A theatrical clip of The Avengers is one interesting example of Marvel’s effect that can be seen beyond the MCU. Justice LeagueWhedon intervened to oversee massive reshoots. Characters quip, snark and argue with each other until they put aside all differences. This is compared to the more dramatic buildup to final fight. Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

Perhaps the most important thing is The Avengers introduced the MCU’s first “beam of light” trope, its first MacGuffin quest, and its first non-human army of bad guys: Loki, the film’s villain, has to steal the Tesseract to open a beam of light which then allows an alien army to destroy New York City. Thor: The Dark World is interesting to revisit within this framework because it’s the first attempt at reverse-engineering what worked about The Avengers. After 2013 Premiere Iron Man 3It has many returning characters who, most importantly, all get their own storylines. Loki is the best example of this. And the film’s wildly forgettable villain, Dark Elf Malekith, wants a space artifact called the Aether, which has embedded itself in Thor’s love interest Jane Foster. To get the Aether, he and his Dark Elves invade London. It opens many portals.

Image: Marvel Studios

Marvel’s films which follow Dark WorldThese ideas should be promoted further. You can find these ideas here. The Winter Soldier: Captain America, there’s a big fight scene at the midway point, when Captain America first sees Bucky again, and then a larger multi-staged set piece at the end, with Natasha Romanoff, Nick Fury, Captain America, and new character Sam Wilson, working together to shut down a floating helicarrier. Actually, it’s like The Avengers, it opens in media res, which actually isn’t super common for a Marvel movie. You can also read the In Guardians of the GalaxyThey fight each other and argue until the Guardians decide to stop Ronan The Accuser, who is trying to take an artifact called Power Stone. This MacGuffin emits a glowing beam light. The Guardians fight Ronan’s army from his spaceship high in the air, and they finally fall to the ground. You can read the rest of this article. Avengers: Age Of Ultron, it’s not a beam of light and an army of aliens, but a floating city and an army of robots. Ant-Man It almost serves as a parody The AvengersNick Fury was replaced with Natasha Romanoff and Natasha Romanoff by Hank Pym (a possibly crazy old man) and Hope van Dyne (a begrudging little girl). In order to prevent Darren Cross, an industrialist from making the Yellowjacket suit for him, Scott Lang has to teach them how to collaborate with his thieves team. The final fight scene features Ant-Man as Tony Stark. The AvengersThen he sacrifices himself, going in to a portal. But this portal is not for outer space, but the Quantum Realm.

After four years The Avengers, Civil War: Captain America This formula can be reduced to the bare bones and inverted. Characters return from previous movies, a conflict is introduced in the first act to pit the heroes against each other in the second act — a literal fist fight this time — and then a final fight takes place, though, not in some kind of floating city in the sky or spaceship or around a beam of light, but instead, a descending bunker, where they pull each other further and further down until Captain America is ready to cut Tony Stark’s head off with his shield at the very bottom.

Marvel may be known for genre-hopping. But, you could pick from any three story building blocks. The AvengersYou’ll likely find them in the next installment. They will be functioning in a specific trope-like manner. And these days, Marvel superheroes don’t get their own movies anymore — at least not like they did in Phase 1 of the MCU. Spider-Man HomecomingThe film features numerous Tony Stark cameos, and opens with a scene that takes place directly after The Battle Of New York. The Avengers, is stuffed with plot devices designed to make Marvel’s loneliest hero less isolated. Peter Parker receives a Siri-like A.I. he can talk to the whole movie and also a sidekick “guy in the chair” in his friend Ned, who is talking to him remotely.

If you’ve ever had the nagging feeling that your favorite MCU characters feel a little lost in their own theatrical vehicles, this is The AvengersAction is the best form of effect. Black Panther’s death in his own film and Wakandans supporting him, who are primed for crossovers elsewhere in Marvel Universe, takes over.

However, we’re on the brink of an important change to the MCU’s film structure. And, strangely enough, thanks to COVID-19 delaying Marvel’s release schedule, it’s happening slow enough that we can actually get a pretty clear glimpse at the studio attempting to replicate their last big box office success.

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The MCU’s last two-part crossover event, Avengers: Infinity War And Avengers: EndgameTwo very different films are paired together in this movie. They have very different plots, tones, and paces, but both ends with an innovation for the MCU. You can read the rest of this article. Infinity WarIn the end, heroes are defeated. FinaleAlthough they do win, both movies have large-scale finale battles that don’t resemble those of the Avengers who defended New York City 10 years ago from alien invaders. Our heroes now have their own armies big enough to take on the army of invaders. Doctor Strange is armed with his wizards; Black Panther has Wakandan warlords; Iron Man has an inexhaustible supply of suits and drones; Thor has his Asgardians; and Guardians possess an armoured force of Ravager and Nova Corps ships. It has been 10 years since the last one. AvengersThe MCU is now so full that it cannot fit in all of its characters within the boundaries of an Earth City. MCU movies now take place in desolate beaches and fields of upstate New York.

You must deal with its aftermath. FinaleMarvel movie creators are trying to make each Marvel film its own mini-series.Finale. Just like that. Iron Man 3And Thor: The Dark World before them, they’re having some trouble figuring out how to do it gracefully.

Black WidowIt is solid and post-modern.Avengers movie — a first act full of momentum, approximately 2.5 big set pieces, a cast of characters bickering and fighting with each other until they learn to work together, and a final big battle in the sky. Shang-Chi, the Legend of the Ten Rings and Shang-ChiBut, it is far less informed. Finale. The movie is so crowded Shang-Chi doesn’t even get to have the title for himself. It’s also both epic and personal, with a wandering middle act full of character development (and references to other MCU movies), and a final fight scene between opposing armies. EternalsIt is evident that parts are being pulled from. FinaleEven though it is clumsy, the movie features CGI armies and time-hopping as well as cosmic stakes. It could be cut down to 45 minutes by eliminating all references to the larger MCU. The thought process seemed to be “how do we do a crossover movie with characters who have never been in a movie before this.” Spider-Man has no way homeIt is, however, well understood that there was after FinaleEverything must be a cross-over, even seven separate ones. Spider-ManMovies that take a lot of work to make.

As movies like Shang-Chi, the Legend of the Ten Rings and Shang-Chi And Spider-Man has no way home — and their gargantuan COVID-era box office hauls — prove, audiences are ready for a new, larger-scale kind of Marvel movie. There are also some concerns over how far this will go. While it was possible to follow five films that linked together in a cross-over event 10 years ago (and still can), is this enough for interconnected storytelling across thirty movies? So far, it’s working.

Image: Marvel Studios

We’re now, a decade after The AvengersIt’s now 2022, and the fourth phase of a Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is not owned solely by Marvel or a single universe. It’s also the first phase to not have an Avengers sequel scheduled for it. Disney owns the MCU. It has an active partnership and is owned by Sony. If you’re a fan of Marvel, this is everything you’ve ever wanted.

MCU cross-over events, however, tend to mirror the concerns and fears of Marvel Studios in reality. Ten years ago The Avengers premiered. The movie saw the Six Avengers save New York City, and become a symbol for their imaginary world that superhumans are real. It proved audiences could accept multiple heroes in the same movie. This movie inspired many attempts by rival intellectual property universes to distill the story. Avengers movie playbook. (Anyone remember Universal’s Dark Universe?)

Now, after Avengers: Endgame, half of Marvel’s fictional universe has been “blipped” out of existence and then blipped back in, and every Marvel movie, like Shang-Chi, Spider-Man has no way homeThe future and now Doctor Strange, in the Multiverse of Madness, is a battle to protect the very fabric of the MCU’s fictional reality and requires a crossover of characters across Marvel’s movies and TV shows to save it. The MCU’s most popular criticism, outside of movies, is that it doesn’t have enough. easily find on Twitter during the lead-up to every new installment, is that Marvel has recreated the same problem they’ve had for years with their comics: It’s just too much story to keep up with. It’s currently up to 27 movies and four TV shows, with the canon status of other properties in limbo. (Just exactly how much of Netflix’s DaredevilAre you currently experiencing continuity? Was it in continuity? SHIELD agents?) That’s the central question Marvel is trying to answer with a Phase 4 of mini-Endgames.

Sure, Spider-Man can hang out with Iron Man, Captain America can wield Thor’s hammer, and there are MCU introductions for the X-Men and Fantastic Four seemingly around the corner. All movies promise team-ups, Disney Plus spinoffs and more. Lord Of The RingsTo end all wars, -level battles. But for the first time ever, it’s unclear where it’s all going.

It was first a matter of whether the Avengers would fit into the same film. Next, it was about whether they could stop Thanos. It has been shown over several years. Now, however, it is less obvious where the MCU will go. It is clear that there are other villains than Kang. It also seems like someone (by way of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine) is recruiting the Dark Avengers. It is clear that there are many timelines colliding into one another. But we don’t know what any of it means just yet. As complicated as things have been, the MCU has never had to be as busy.

Ten years ago, Marvel had, “an idea to bring together a group of remarkable people, to see if we could become something more.” They did it and it worked. However, the MCU is much larger than ever and requires more skill to maintain it.