10 Superhero Movies That Broke All The Rules

By 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had long established itself as one of film’s most beloved franchises. For 11 years Marvel had been laying the groundwork - all the pieces mattered, every film added something to the one that came before and after it.

So Endgame didn’t invent this notion that you had to invest fully in Marvel in order to keep up, but it certainly solidified it. Going into Endgame cold, you’d still have a good time - there are fun performances, iconic characters, cool setpieces and charming gags. But for much of the film, you’d be more or less lost without a solid grounding in Marvel’s earlier movies.

Where superhero films were once flashy, forgettable summer blockbusters, the MCU has turned them into a tapestry. There are phases, timelines; you even need to watch through the credits to make sure you don’t miss a piece of the puzzle.

Whether or not this is entirely a good thing - that you have to do your homework before going to the movies - is another question. Endgame was the culmination of Marvel’s attempts to elevate the genre, though, and the continued fan devotion proves that they’ve succeeded.