Avengers: Endgame (Film) [marve lcodex]

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Avengers: Endgame (Film) ======
===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary =====
  *   **Core Identity:** **//Avengers: Endgame// is the climactic, generation-defining culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's "Infinity Saga," a sweeping narrative of loss, sacrifice, and ultimate heroism that concludes the epic conflict against the Mad Titan, Thanos.**
  *   **Key Takeaways:**
  * **Role in the Universe:** As the 22nd film in the [[marvel_cinematic_universe|Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)]], //Endgame// serves as the grand finale to a story arc woven through over a decade of interconnected films, resolving the devastating cliffhanger of [[avengers:_infinity_war]] and concluding the character arcs of several foundational heroes.
  * **Primary Impact:** The film's events fundamentally reshaped the MCU's status quo through the "Blip"—the reversal of Thanos's snap—and the heroic deaths of [[iron_man|Tony Stark]] and [[black_widow|Natasha Romanoff]]. It also established a new future by passing on the mantle of [[captain_america]] and scattering the remaining original Avengers, setting the stage for Phase Four and beyond.
  * **Comic vs. Cinematic Narrative:** While drawing thematic inspiration from the seminal 1991 comic storyline [[infinity_gauntlet_(storyline)]], //Endgame//'s plot is a unique creation for the MCU. The comic features a direct cosmic confrontation led by a resurrected [[adam_warlock]], whereas the film centers on a desperate "Time Heist" and the personal, emotional journeys of the Earth-based heroes, focusing far more on legacy and the cost of victory.
===== Part 2: Genesis and Production =====
==== Development and Filming ====
The development of //Avengers: Endgame// was an unprecedented undertaking in cinematic history, conceived in tandem with its direct predecessor, //Avengers: Infinity War//. In October 2014, Marvel Studios announced a two-part conclusion to their Phase Three slate, originally titled //Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1// and //Part 2//. Directors [[anthony_russo|Anthony]] and [[joe_russo|Joe Russo]], along with writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely—the creative team behind //Captain America: The Winter Soldier// and //Captain America: Civil War//—were hired to helm both films, ensuring a consistent vision for the saga's conclusion.
The directors later revealed they intended to differentiate the films more significantly, leading to the removal of the "Part 1" and "Part 2" monikers. The final title, //Endgame//, was a closely guarded secret for years, a decision made to preserve the shocking finality of //Infinity War//'s ending. The title itself was subtly foreshadowed by Tony Stark in //[[avengers:_age_of_ultron]]// ("That up there? That's the endgame.") and by [[doctor_strange]] in //Infinity War// ("We're in the endgame now.").
Principal photography for the two films was conducted back-to-back, beginning in August 2017 and wrapping in January 2018 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Georgia, under the working title //Mary Lou 2//. This production schedule was a massive logistical challenge, juggling the schedules of dozens of A-list actors. The final battle sequence alone involved nearly every major hero introduced in the MCU's first decade. The Russo brothers utilized new IMAX/Arri 2D digital cameras for the entire film, making it the second Hollywood film to be shot completely in IMAX format (after //Infinity War//).
The marketing campaign was notable for its intense secrecy. The initial trailers primarily used footage from the film's first 20 minutes to avoid spoiling the five-year time jump, the "Time Heist" plot, and the return of the "dusted" heroes. The film premiered in Los Angeles on April 22, 2019, and was released in the United States on April 26, 2019.
==== Narrative Origins and Inspirations ====
While a wholly original story, //Avengers: Endgame// is built upon a foundation of decades of Marvel Comics lore and the intricate narrative scaffolding of the MCU itself.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) Influences ===
The primary source of inspiration is Jim Starlin, George Pérez, and Ron Lim's 1991 cosmic event, **//[[infinity_gauntlet_(storyline)|The Infinity Gauntlet//]]**. Key elements from this storyline are mirrored thematically, if not directly in plot:
  * **The Snap:** In the comics, [[thanos]] erases half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers, an event later termed the Decimation. This act is the central catalyst for both stories.
  * **Thanos's Motivation:** A critical divergence lies here. In Earth-616, Thanos's genocide is not a Malthusian effort to restore balance but a grand, nihilistic gesture to court the literal personification of **[[death_(marvel_comics)|Lady Death]]**, with whom he is obsessively in love.
  * **The Aftermath:** Following the snap in the comics, the surviving heroes, led by a newly resurrected Adam Warlock, launch a direct, frontal assault on a god-like Thanos at his shrine to Death. The concept of a quiet, grief-stricken aftermath and a time-travel mission is unique to the film.
  * **Farmer Thanos:** The image of Thanos retiring to a simple, agrarian life after achieving his goal is directly lifted from the final pages of //The Infinity Gauntlet//, where a defeated but peaceful Thanos is shown tending to a farm on a distant planet.
Other comic concepts that influenced the film include the use of time travel to undo a catastrophe, a frequent trope in //Avengers// and //Fantastic Four// stories, and the visual of Captain America's broken shield, a powerful symbol of defeat seen in multiple comic futures, most notably in the 2015 //Secret Wars// event. The scene of Captain America wielding [[mjolnir]] is also a direct nod to a famous moment in the //Fear Itself// (2011) storyline.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Narrative Precursors ===
//Avengers: Endgame// begins mere weeks after the cataclysmic conclusion of //[[avengers:_infinity_war]]//. The state of the universe is one of profound, silent trauma.
  * **The Decimation:** Thanos, having successfully assembled all six [[infinity_stones]], snapped his fingers and accomplished his goal: erasing fifty percent of all living creatures from existence. This event, later called "The Blip" by the general public, left the surviving population in a state of shock and grief.
  * **The Survivors:** The original six Avengers—Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, and Clint Barton—all survived, though not all were present for the final battle in Wakanda. They are joined by a handful of other heroes, including [[war_machine|James "Rhodey" Rhodes]], [[rocket_raccoon]], [[nebula]], Okoye, and M'Baku.
  * **Marooned in Space:** The film opens with Tony Stark and Nebula adrift in the Benatar, the Guardians of the Galaxy's ship, with dwindling oxygen and no hope of rescue. This immediately establishes Tony's physical and emotional desperation.
  * **A Universe in Mourning:** The remaining heroes are left to deal with the consequences. There is no clear path to victory or reversal. The universe is broken, and the primary emotional state is one of failure and despair, a bleak starting point that defines the film's first act. The central question is not //how// to fight, but //if// it's even possible to undo what has been done.
===== Part 3: In-Depth Analysis: Timeline, Key Turning Points & Aftermath =====
The narrative of //Avengers: Endgame// is a complex, three-act structure built around grief, a desperate plan, and a universe-altering final battle.
=== Act I: Despair and a Glimmer of Hope ===
The film's first act meticulously establishes the emotional weight of the heroes' failure. Twenty-two days after the Snap, [[captain_marvel|Carol Danvers]] rescues Tony Stark and Nebula from deep space, returning them to Earth. The reunion is bitter; a gaunt and furious Stark lashes out at Steve Rogers for his absence and the team's inability to work together before collapsing.
Learning from Nebula that Thanos has traveled to a planet known as "The Garden," the remaining Avengers launch a surprise attack, hoping to retrieve the Infinity Stones and reverse the Snap. They find a wounded, weary Thanos who reveals he has used the stones to destroy the stones, ensuring his work could never be undone. In a fit of rage and despair, an enraged Thor decapitates the defenseless Titan.
The narrative then executes a daring **five-year time jump** to 2023. The world is in a state of quiet depression. Global governments are in disarray, and people are struggling to cope with the "Vanished." The remaining heroes have splintered:
  * Steve Rogers leads a support group for survivors.
  * Natasha Romanoff has become the de facto director of a skeleton-crew Avengers, coordinating with Rocket, Nebula, Okoye, and Carol Danvers to manage galactic crises.
  * Tony Stark has retired with Pepper Potts and their daughter, Morgan, having found a semblance of peace.
  * Bruce Banner has successfully merged his two identities, now existing as the intelligent and powerful **"Smart Hulk."**
  * Thor has retreated to New Asgard (a settlement in Tønsberg, Norway), becoming an overweight, reclusive alcoholic haunted by his failure to kill Thanos properly.
  * Clint Barton, having lost his entire family, has become the merciless vigilante **Ronin**, hunting and executing criminals across the globe.
The catalyst for change comes from an unexpected source: [[ant-man|Scott Lang]]. Trapped in the Quantum Realm during the Snap, he is randomly released when a rat activates the controls of his quantum tunnel. For Scott, only five hours have passed. He emerges to a changed world and rushes to the Avengers Compound with a revolutionary idea: if they can navigate the Quantum Realm, they can effectively travel through time. He proposes a "Time Heist"—traveling to different points in the past to "borrow" the Infinity Stones before Thanos acquired them, using them in the present to undo the Snap, and then returning them to their original timelines to prevent catastrophic paradoxes.
Initially, Tony Stark refuses, unwilling to risk the new life and daughter he has. However, haunted by the loss of Peter Parker, he secretly works on the problem and solves the temporal navigation calculations. He rejoins the team, bringing with him a newly designed shield for Steve, symbolizing their reconciliation. The team reassembles, pulling Clint out of his vengeful spiral in Tokyo and convincing a reluctant Thor to join them.
=== Act II: The Time Heist ===
The second act is a masterful love letter to the MCU's history, as the heroes split into teams to retrieve the stones from key moments in their past.
  - **New York, 2012 (Mind, Space, and Time Stones):**
    *   **Team:** Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Scott Lang.
    *   **Mission:** Intercept three stones during the climax of //The Avengers//. Banner easily convinces the Ancient One at the Sanctum Sanctorum to give him the Time Stone by promising to return it, learning about the danger of creating divergent realities. Stark and Lang's attempt to steal the Tesseract (Space Stone) fails spectacularly when the 2012 Hulk bursts through a doorway, knocking the case into the hands of a captive [[loki]], who promptly teleports away, creating a new branched timeline ((This branched timeline becomes the focus of the Disney+ series, //Loki//.)). Captain America successfully retrieves the Scepter (Mind Stone) by cleverly pretending to be a HYDRA agent.
    *   **Improvisation:** To get the Space Stone, Stark and Rogers are forced to make an additional time jump. Using their remaining Pym Particles, they travel to a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility in **1970**, where they successfully steal the Tesseract and acquire more Pym Particles for their journey home. This detour allows for poignant moments: Tony has a brief, meaningful conversation with his father, Howard Stark, while Steve sees Peggy Carter, reinforcing his longing for the life he lost.
  - **Asgard, 2013 (Reality Stone):**
    *   **Team:** Thor, Rocket Raccoon.
    *   **Mission:** Extract the Aether (Reality Stone) from Jane Foster during the events of //Thor: The Dark World//. Thor is overcome by PTSD and is unable to act, forcing Rocket to perform the extraction. The mission provides crucial character development for Thor, who has a heartfelt conversation with his mother, Frigga, on the day of her death. She helps restore his sense of self-worth, and he reclaims the 2013 version of his hammer, Mjolnir, proving to himself that he is still "worthy."
  - **Morag & Vormir, 2014 (Power and Soul Stones):**
    *   **Team 1 (Morag):** James Rhodes, Nebula.
    *   **Mission:** Retrieve the Orb (Power Stone) before Peter Quill. They succeed easily, knocking Quill out. However, a complication arises: Nebula's cybernetic implants link with those of her 2014 self, allowing the 2014 Thanos to view her memories and discover the Avengers' entire plan. He captures the "present-day" Nebula and sends the loyal, ruthless 2014 Nebula back in her place as a sleeper agent.
    *   **Team 2 (Vormir):** Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton.
    *   **Mission:** Retrieve the Soul Stone. They are met by the [[red_skull]], the stone's keeper, who informs them of the terrible cost: "a soul for a soul." An argument ensues, with both Clint and Natasha believing they should be the one to make the sacrifice. This leads to a desperate fight on the cliff's edge, each trying to save the other. Ultimately, Natasha outwits Clint and sacrifices herself, falling to her death, allowing a devastated Clint to obtain the Soul Stone.
=== Act III: The Final Battle and Sacrifice ===
The Avengers return to 2023, heartbroken by Natasha's death but in possession of all six Infinity Stones. Tony, Rocket, and Banner construct a new "Nano Gauntlet." Citing the gamma radiation in his own blood as a protective factor, Smart Hulk volunteers to wear the gauntlet and perform the snap. He successfully brings back everyone who was lost in the Decimation—an event that becomes known as **"The Blip."** The effort severely injures his arm.
Immediately after, the 2014 Nebula, posing as her future self, uses the time machine to bring 2014 Thanos and his entire warship, the //Sanctuary II//, to the present. Thanos completely obliterates the Avengers Compound. A dazed Hawkeye, clutching the gauntlet, is pursued by Thanos's Outriders. Thor, Iron Man, and a Mjolnir-wielding Captain America engage Thanos directly in a brutal fight. Despite their efforts and Captain America proving himself worthy of Thor's power, Thanos overpowers them, breaking Cap's shield and preparing to "cleanse" the entire planet.
Just as all hope seems lost, Steve Rogers hears Sam Wilson's voice in his comms: "On your left." Doctor Strange, Wong, and the other sorcerers open portals from across the universe, through which emerge all the resurrected heroes: Black Panther and the armies of Wakanda, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Ravagers, and the armies of Asgard. The two massive armies face each other, and Captain America utters the long-awaited line: **"Avengers... Assemble."**
An epic battle ensues. The heroes fight to get the Nano Gauntlet to Scott Lang's quantum tunnel to return the stones. When Captain Marvel arrives and destroys Thanos's warship, a desperate Thanos decides that if he cannot rule the universe, he will remake it from scratch. He seizes the gauntlet from the heroes. As he prepares to snap, Doctor Strange signals to Tony Stark, holding up one finger, reminding him of the one future out of 14,000,605 in which they won.
Understanding his destiny, Iron Man attacks Thanos, wrestling for the gauntlet. Thanos throws him aside, believing he has won. But as he snaps, nothing happens. He looks down to see the Infinity Stones are missing, now integrated into Tony's own armor. Tony, bleeding and scorched by the stones' cosmic energy, looks at the Mad Titan and declares, **"And I... am... Iron Man."** He snaps his fingers. Thanos and his entire army turn to dust.
=== Epilogue: A New Dawn ===
The cosmic energy is too much for Tony's mortal body to bear. He dies peacefully, surrounded by Rhodey, Peter Parker, and Pepper Potts. The film's final scenes are a meditation on loss and legacy. The heroes attend Tony's funeral at his lakeside cabin. Clint and Wanda Maximoff share a moment of grief over Natasha and Vision.
The remaining Avengers prepare to set things right. Thor abdicates the throne of New Asgard to Valkyrie and decides to join the Guardians of the Galaxy. Smart Hulk sends Captain America back in time to return the Infinity Stones and Mjolnir to their proper places in the timeline. However, Steve does not return through the machine. Bucky and Sam find an elderly Steve Rogers sitting on a nearby bench. He reveals that after returning the stones, he chose to stay in the past and live a full life with Peggy Carter. He then passes his iconic shield, and the mantle of Captain America, to a humbled and honored Sam Wilson. The final shot is of Steve and Peggy, finally getting the dance they were promised.
===== Part 4: Core Characters and Arcs =====
//Endgame// is fundamentally a character piece, focusing on the journeys of the original six Avengers as they confront their greatest failure.
==== The Original Six Avengers ====
  * **[[iron_man|Tony Stark]]:** Tony's arc is the heart of the film. He begins having achieved the one thing he always wanted: a peaceful life with a family. His initial reluctance to rejoin the fight is born from a desire to protect his daughter, Morgan. However, his guilt over Peter Parker's death compels him to act. His journey through the past, particularly his meeting with his father, provides closure. His final sacrifice is the ultimate culmination of his journey from a selfish "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" to a truly selfless hero, proving that he does indeed have a heart.
  * **[[captain_america|Steve Rogers]]:** Steve is the emotional anchor in the face of despair. While others try to "move on," he refuses, embodying his famous line from //Civil War//: "No, you move on." He is the leader who rallies the broken team for one last mission. His worthiness in wielding Mjolnir is a triumphant payoff for years of storytelling. His final decision to stay in the past with Peggy is not a rejection of his duty, but a final, well-earned reward. After a lifetime of service and sacrifice, the soldier finally gets to go home.
  * **[[thor|Thor]]:** The film bravely depicts Thor in a state of severe depression and PTSD. He is overweight, drunk, and consumed by self-loathing for his failure to kill Thanos in //Infinity War//. His journey is not about getting back into physical shape but about rediscovering his self-worth. His mother's guidance and his ability to still summon Mjolnir remind him that his worth is not defined by his success or failure, but by who he is. By the end, he cedes his royal responsibilities and chooses to find his own path, free from the burden of destiny.
  * **[[hulk|Bruce Banner]]:** Banner achieves a new equilibrium as "Smart Hulk," finally integrating his two warring halves. He is no longer a monster to be feared but a complete being who combines the Hulk's strength with Banner's intellect. He plays a crucial, scientific role in the Time Heist and is the only one strong enough to wield the gauntlet and perform the Blip, making him a central hero in the film's victory, even if it leaves him permanently injured.
  * **[[black_widow|Natasha Romanoff]]:** In the five-year gap, Natasha becomes the steadfast core of the Avengers, the one holding everything together while everyone else has either retired or broken down. She sees the Avengers as her only family and is desperate to bring them back. Her sacrifice on Vormir is a heartbreaking but fitting conclusion to her arc. She spends her life trying to wipe the red from her ledger, and her final act is one of ultimate, selfless love, saving not only her best friend but the entire universe.
  * **[[hawkeye|Clint Barton]]:** Clint's journey is one of pure rage and grief. The loss of his family sends him down a dark path as Ronin. He believes he is beyond redemption and offers to sacrifice himself on Vormir. Natasha's death pulls him back from the brink, giving his fight a renewed, personal purpose. His reunion with his family at the end is one of the film's most powerful emotional payoffs.
==== Key Supporting Characters ====
  * **[[thanos|Thanos]]:** The film presents a different version of Thanos—his 2014 self, who is younger, more arrogant, and more of a pure warlord. When he learns of his future success and the Avengers' attempt to undo it, he sees it as a sign of the universe's ingratitude. His goal shifts from "balancing" the universe to destroying it entirely and building a new one from scratch. This makes him a less philosophical and more directly villainous threat.
  * **[[nebula|Nebula]]:** Nebula has one of the most complex and compelling arcs. Having reconciled with her "present" self, she is a full-fledged Avenger. The mission forces her to literally confront her past, abusive self. Her decision to kill her 2014 counterpart is the ultimate act of breaking free from her father's control and embracing her new identity.
===== Part 5: Major Themes and Cinematic Impact =====
==== Grief, Hope, and Moving On ====
The first act of //Endgame// is a profound meditation on grief. It explores how different individuals cope with unimaginable loss. Some, like Steve, refuse to move on; others, like Tony, build new lives; and some, like Thor and Clint, collapse into depression and rage. The film argues that "moving on" isn't the same as forgetting. The introduction of the Time Heist represents the dangerous allure of hope and the chance to undo past trauma, which serves as the engine for the entire plot.
==== The Nature of Sacrifice ====
Sacrifice is the central theme of the film. It is portrayed as the ultimate expression of heroism and love. Natasha's sacrifice is a conscious, painful choice made out of love for her friend and her found family. Tony's sacrifice is the calculated, necessary move to ensure a permanent victory, the final solution he has been working toward since the first //Avengers// film. The film posits that true victory is not without cost, and the greatest heroes are those willing to pay it.
==== Legacy and Passing the Torch ====
As the end of the Infinity Saga, //Endgame// is deeply concerned with legacy. Tony leaves behind his daughter and a safe universe. Thor passes the crown to Valkyrie. Most explicitly, Steve Rogers passes his shield and the title of Captain America to Sam Wilson, directly addressing the future of the mantle and setting up a major storyline for Phase Four. The film serves as a graceful farewell to the MCU's founding heroes while simultaneously planting the seeds for the next generation.
==== Box Office and Critical Reception ====
//Avengers: Endgame// was a global cultural phenomenon and a monumental financial success. It broke numerous box office records, including the biggest opening weekend of all time, and went on to become the highest-grossing film in history at the time of its release, surpassing //Avatar// (before //Avatar// was re-released). The film grossed over $2.798 billion worldwide.
The film received near-universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike. It was praised for its emotional weight, satisfying conclusions to character arcs, ambitious scale, and direction by the Russo brothers. The final battle, particularly the "Portals" scene and Captain America wielding Mjolnir, were cited as some of the most iconic and cathartic moments in modern cinema. It is widely regarded as a landmark achievement in filmmaking and a fitting conclusion to the Infinity Saga.
===== Part 6: Divergences from Comic Canon =====
While inspired by the comics, the film's narrative makes significant changes for cinematic purposes.
  * **The Time Heist:** The central plot of using time travel to collect the Infinity Stones is entirely an invention for the film. In //The Infinity Gauntlet// comic, the conflict is a direct, cosmic war against a fully powered Thanos, with no time travel involved in the main confrontation.
  * **The Role of Captain Marvel:** In the film, Captain Marvel is a powerful ally but is largely absent for the main plot, returning for the final battle. In the comics, she (Carol Danvers) plays a significant role in the initial assault against Thanos but is quickly incapacitated by him. The primary "cosmic" hero of the comic saga is Adam Warlock, a character not yet fully introduced in the MCU.
  * **The Infinity Gauntlet's Toll:** The MCU establishes that wielding the Infinity Stones exacts a devastating physical price on any user, severely injuring Hulk and killing Tony Stark. In the comics, the Gauntlet can be wielded by powerful beings like Thanos with no apparent physical harm, though it requires immense willpower to control.
  * **Who Defeats Thanos:** In the film, Tony Stark's sacrifice is the decisive act that defeats Thanos. In the comic, Thanos is defeated through cunning and betrayal. His own subconscious desire to lose allows Nebula (a tortured, near-dead version) to seize the Gauntlet from him when he momentarily sheds his physical form to become one with the universe.
===== See Also =====
  * [[avengers:_infinity_war]]
  * [[thanos]]
  * [[infinity_gauntlet_(storyline)]]
  * [[infinity_stones]]
  * [[marvel_cinematic_universe]]
  * [[iron_man]]
  * [[captain_america]]
  * [[russo_brothers]]
===== Notes and Trivia =====
((//Endgame// was the final MCU film to feature a cameo by Marvel Comics creator [[stan_lee]], who passed away in November 2018. He appears as a digitally de-aged driver in the 1970 sequence.))
((Tony Stark's final line, "I am Iron Man," was a last-minute addition. During editing, the filmmakers felt Tony's final scene with Thanos needed a stronger concluding line. Editor Jeff Ford suggested echoing the iconic final line from the first //Iron Man// (2008) film, and the scene was re-shot during post-production.))
((The scene featuring all of the MCU's female heroes assembling to protect Spider-Man is often referred to by fans and cast as the "A-Force" moment, a reference to the all-female Avengers team from the comics.))
((To maintain secrecy, several actors were not given full scripts. Tom Holland (Spider-Man) and Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), known for accidentally leaking spoilers, were given heavily redacted scripts or only their own lines.))
((The film's runtime is 3 hours and 1 minute, making it the longest film in the MCU.))
((The creation of a branched timeline where Loki escapes with the Tesseract in 2012 became the inciting incident for the Disney+ series //[[loki_(tv_series)|Loki]]//, which explores the consequences of such alternate realities.))