By Allie Boulier

Arguably the movie series of a generation, Avengers draws to a close in a smashing conclusion 11 years in the making that´s worth every dollar spent and every minute waiting.

Ever since Avengers: Infinity War was in theaters exactly a year ago, fans everywhere have speculated on the possible solutions and plots of Endgame. In fact, Endgame´s trailer only fueled the fire, as it provided only a small glimpse into the film and zero information about the plot itself. As someone who frequently avoids trailers, I have to say the Endgame trailer builds excitement for the film without revealing what the film is actually about, an impressive tightrope to walk.

Compared to other films in my lifetime, the year long drum roll was unlike any wait for a movie I have ever witnessed, as Avengers: Infinity War left the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in tatters. While Marvel fans always crave content and the demand for more Marvel movies is never low, I think the success and hype of Endgame is largely due to the cliffhanger ending of Infinity War.

This past week, Avengers: Endgame made cinematic history in the largest opening weekend ever with up to $1.3 billion in sales in the box office and counting, already nearing the total box office sales of Infinity War and Black Panther.

While Black Panther made its total sales through content and the presence of a new, diverse character, Endgame´s sales were largely dependent on the ending of the series´ previous film. This is not a knock on Endgame, merely a comparison of different levels of Marvel’s success.

Notably, it is predicted that Endgame will become the highest grossing film of all time, as its opening weekend already placed it No. 10 of the highest grossing films in box office history.

It’s common knowledge at this point Endgame is an emotional film, but that is not to say it is serious all the way through. If there’s one thing Marvel does well throughout not only Endgame but also generally in the MCU, it’s the perfect blend of solemnity and comedy. At some points, I was actually laughing as tears rolled down my cheeks, and it didn’t quite have the feel of an emotional rollercoaster, yanked from one emotion to the next. Each joke worked in tandem with the situation, not in mockery, but to create a light hearted moment in a dark time.

Speaking of dark times, Marvel allows for a Endgame to speak as a universal story for loss and war as story everyone can relate to, aiding in its success. It’s a story of grief, sacrifice, renewal, and hope that accurately reflects the political landscape not just of America but of the globe. The struggle characters face between maintaining hope and moving on is applicable to countless scenarios, also creating more realistic behaviors and personalities. Throughout each problem, when the light at the end of the tunnel is gone, the recurring phrase in Endgame, ¨Whatever it takes,” frequently appears and I think it’s likely to become the ultimate quote and Hail Mary from this film, similar to the quotes from Harry Potter we now see printed over t-shirts and phone cases.

Now, onto the elephant in the room: the length of the movie. While maintaining a length of three hours and one minute, Endgame manages to captivate audience´s attention, allowing those three hours to fly by. This is largely due to the interesting strategy of switching perspectives between characters, especially at moments of crisis, keeping audience members on the edge of their seats. Switching perspectives also allows for the individual development of each character without a sense of haste. Since Endgame includes almost every Marvel character created, this unprecedented crossover required detail and time, definitely making the three hours necessary rather than excessive (and enjoyable).

A smart, albeit risky, plot choice by Marvel was to originate Endgame 23 days after Infinity War and then flash forward five years later after the first 10 minutes. My original prediction was that Endgame would originate a year after the Avengers lose in Infinity War, allowing for the characters to grieve and develop in this new life. While this time jump means Endgame is in the future for us in 2019, five years allows for each character to change more dramatically, making Endgame more unpredictable.

Each character processes grief in a different way, that ultimately alters their previous identity and personal beliefs. This development makes the heroes come to life as we see them process real life issues, rather than just saving the world. I´ve said it before and I´ll say it again: Marvel´s heroes are not glorified gods or perfect beings, and that’s what makes them so complex. Their individual flaws and failings make each character a little bit more realistic, until you see them as everyday people saving the world. And isn’t that what Marvel seeks to inspire?

Endgame is the biggest movie of 2019, arguably our generation, and soon to be the highest grossing film of all time. Marvel makes this film for everyone, and I have no doubt no matter what your own story is, you will enjoy this one.