Article contributed by Isabella Haberstock
Avengers: Endgame will premiere in just a few months, and people all over the world, myself included, are being confronted with the fact that this will be the last time that all the Avengers will be together on the big screen. With this highly anticipated release, the journeys of each hero may have been forgotten over the many years that Marvel has been producing films. So, for anyone who needs a refresher on what’s going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, here’s a week-by-week movie watching schedule to prepare for Endgame!
Week 1: January 27 to February 2
Iron Man (2008): This is the movie that kicked off the past decade of Marvel movies. It is essentially Tony Stark’s origin story as Iron Man, and its success is was what allowed Marvel to make so many other movies.
Week 2: February 3 to February 9
The Incredible Hulk (2008): The Incredible Hulk was released the same year as Iron Man, and it gave Marvel fans a cinematic adaptation of how Bruce Banner became the Hulk.
Iron Man 2 (2010): This is the second instalment in the Iron Man franchise and in addition to continuing Tony Stark’s story, this movie introduces the character Black Widow, who is also featured in Marvel’s The Avengers.
Week 3: February 10 to February 16
Thor (2011): We were introduced to Thor, his brother Loki, and the realm of Asgard, which becomes essential to fully understanding the events that take place in the first Avengers movie. Thor also briefly introduces the character Hawkeye, who makes more appearances in later movies.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): Captain America’s origin story begins during World War II and features a weapon that becomes the subject of dispute in the first Avengers movie and other future movies.
Week 4: February 17 to February 23
Marvel’s The Avengers (2012): This was the first movie in recent years where heroes from different branches of the Marvel Universe finally came together to defeat a villain. This was a turning point for the MCU because of its immense success, and it continues to be a fan favourite.
Week 5: February 24 to March 2
Iron Man 3 (2013): Tony Stark’s story continues and it is the audience’s first look at the world after the events that took place in The Avengers.
Thor: The Dark World (2013): Just like Iron Man 3, the second instalment in the Thor franchise serves to offer another glimpse at the world post-Avengers.
Week 6: March 3 to March 9
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014): Th second Captain America movie is the first of all the previous Marvel movies that deals with espionage and the inner workings of the government. The movie also features Black Widow, and it introduces a new hero and a new villain that both make many appearances in future movies.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Before the release of this movie, the Guardians of the Galaxy were a relatively unknown group of Marvel heroes whose adventures take place on many other planets. This movie greatly expanded the Marvel Cinematic Universe by bringing it deep into space and introduces many new characters.
Week 7: March 10 to March 16
Captain Marvel will be released on March 8th so this will disrupt the order of the other movies. It will most likely be out of theatres by the time Endgame premieres, and it will definitely not be available on DVD or digital by that time. I would recommend to see it while it’s out, maybe even a few times this week!
Week 8: March 17 to March 23
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): Age of Ultron is the sequel to Marvel’s The Avengers, and while it does still feature the original six heroes, the team has a few new members. In this movie, the Avengers’ actions have major consequences that will continue to hinder them in the future.
Week 9: March 24 to March 30
Ant-Man (2015): We are introduced to a new hero: Ant-Man. Even though its release was sandwiched between an Avengers movie and Captain America movie, Ant-Man shouldn’t be skipped and it is necessary in understanding events that take place in later movies.
Captain America: Civil War (2016): Even though this is technically a Captain America movie, it features almost all of the Avengers. In this movie, the consequences of the events from Avengers: Age of Ultron are finally faced, and the Avengers are pitted against each other.
Doctor Strange (2016): This is the origin story of Doctor Strange, who becomes the sorcerer superhero of Marvel, and it also introduces the idea of multiple dimensions and a dangerous weapon that is seen again in future movies.
Week 10: March 31 to April 6
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017): The second instalment of the Guardians franchise sees the Guardians, just like Avengers: Age of Ultron, gain new members. If a Marvel movie hasn’t made you cry yet, the ending of this movie probably will.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017): After five Spider-Man movies being made by a different production company, Marvel finally secured the rights to one of their best and most well-known heroes. Because the Spider-Man origin story is common knowledge for most people, this movie doesn’t waste any time in getting to the action.
Week 11: April 7 to April 13
Thor: Ragnarok (2017): While this is the third instalment, it is the first Thor movie that fully embraces the ridiculousness of Thor’s colourful universe, and it does so in a very entertaining and hilarious way. This movie also leads directly into the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War.
Black Panther (2018): The first Black Panther movie in the MCU greatly expanded the cast of heroes featured in Marvel movies and introduced Wakanda, which is an important location in Infinity War.
Week 12: April 14 to April 20
Avengers: Infinity War (2018): Infinity War marked a complete turning point in the MCU. The Avengers face off against a villain that has been hinted at in many previous movies, and audiences were left with a huge cliffhanger that will (hopefully) be resolved in Endgame.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018): The second Ant-Man introduced us to the Wasp. Like the first Ant-Man, this movie was released in between two major premieres, but does connect Infinity War and Endgame.
Week 13: April 21 to April 26 (Avengers: Endgame premier date)
This week gives the option of looking over fan theories and re-watching trailers, but if you want to see Endgame with only the knowledge that you have from the previous movies, then this can just be a week of mental preparation!
