If you’ve been to the movies anytime in the past 10 years, you’ve probably seen a trailer for a Marvel movie. Marvel, which is owned by Disney, has worked tirelessly over the past decade to create a set of movies that connect and tell a larger story. This can be pretty daunting for the casual moviegoer.
If your friends have been begging you to watch the newest Avengers movie because of the awesome special effects, check out these reasons to watch every movie you’ve missed.
The long form storytelling
Maybe you’ve heard the term Marvel Cinematic Universe, or maybe you have no idea what that is. Marvel has created a universe in which all of these movies are set. This means that Guardians of the Galaxy happens in the same world as Ant-Man. Every movie in this universe tells its own story, but it is also part of a larger story.
These individual stories started to come together in 2012’s The Avengers, the movie that united the title team. This team includes many of the characters who had their own movies, such as Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America, while also introducing viewers to new characters, like Black Widow and Hawkeye.
Because these stories all fit together, it can be confusing to know the order in which to watch the films. Should you stick with the order in which they were released, or try to watch them in the order the stories take place in the universe? Ultimately, you might choose to watch the Marvel movies in order. Or not. Just pick your preferred order and start watching! Experiencing this epic storytelling is incredible.
The actors
By now, you’re probably familiar with the numerous actors who appear in the Marvel films. Many of the actors were already well-known before landing their roles. Robert Downey Jr., already an Oscar nominee when he landed the role of Iron Man, has grown more and more popular, becoming one of the world’s highest paid actors.
The Avengers team also includes Australian Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, and Mark Ruffalo playing the Hulk. In addition to these wonderful humans, 18 Oscar winners are in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Moviegoers didn’t used to associate superhero movies with award-winning actors. The Marvel movies have brought a high caliber of performers to the screen to embody these incredible and inspiring heroes.
The Legacy
Ten years of moviemaking is no small feat, not to mention everything this series of films accomplished. Beyond making an incredible amount of money for their studio, the movies also redesigned how franchises should be.
Many of the characters are given their own movies, in which they can grow and defeat their own enemies. This means that by the time the viewers see an entire team together, like in Avengers: Infinity War, they have already learned about each character. This gives a rich backstory to the film that is very difficult to match without creating a franchise.
2018’s Black Panther is the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. This film is also the first Marvel movie to feature a black superhero as the main character. Ten years of moviemaking has contributed to some incredible and historic achievements.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken over popular culture in the last decade. Each individual movie is fun, exciting, and visually stunning, and when watched collectively, tell an epic story that cannot be matched. If you haven’t watched the films yet, it’s time. Grab your popcorn and settle in for a super movie marathon.
