With the release of “Iron Man” in 2008, Marvel Studios ignited a film franchise that would later become a vast universe of comic-book inspired action films. Over subsequent years, Marvel introduced countless heroes and villains such as Captain America and Black Panther to the silver screen, making its expansive roster of comic book characters into beloved figures in Hollywood.

Before the “Marvel Cinematic Universe” had grown to become the goliath that it currently is, superhero films were often looked down upon for their poor box office performance. But in 2012, a previously bankrupt Marvel studios took the world by surprise with the release of “The Avengers,” grossing more than $1 billion.

Ten years later on April 17, 2018, Marvel released its third Avengers film, “Avengers: Infinity War,” adding another successful movie to a list of 19 released in the MCU series. During its opening weekend, the film garnered a record of $630 million at the worldwide box office (China, with its release set for May 11).

In the film, the villain Thanos embarks on a quest to collect all six infinity stones, which when combined will grant him the power to control the universe. Caught unprepared, the Avengers do everything they can to stop the biggest threat they have ever faced.

Even with massive anticipation from fans around the world, the new Avengers movie exceeds expectations, setting an even higher standard for superhero films. This adventure keeps audiences at the edge of their seats, delivering exciting action sequences and an understandable plot for the enjoyment of newcomers and fans alike.

Showcasing the many beloved heroes that Marvel has introduced over the years, “Infinity War” serves as an accumulation of 10 years of movies and serves as the beginning of the conclusion to preceding characters. Although an incredibly ambitious number of 40 major characters are fitted into this movie, the film still takes the time to give each one his or her own special moment within its two-hour and 36-minute runtime.

To its benefit, the movie makes many decisions that keep the film interesting, separating it from other generic superhero films that follow the same cookie cutter format. In this movie, Marvel Studios shows audiences that it is not afraid to deviate from Hollywood tropes by creating dramatic conflict to its A-list characters and injecting a sense of hopelessness for the heroes.

Despite people’s excitement for the heroes, the film takes lots of time developing Thanos and gives him the spotlight. The audience can feel a connection with the villain and even sympathize with some of his actions.

The film also does a fantastic job of balancing its different characters and masterfully fabricates a plot where smaller storylines throughout the movie intertwine and eventually build up the the climactic finale.

But still, like most blockbusters, “Infinity War” has its flaws. Some common complaints were that several popular characters were not given as much screen time as people expected, and that the movie made some abrupt cuts between scenes.

Also, new audience members may have some trouble understanding the plot of the story right from the get-go. Undoubtedly, the film requires some previous knowledge on previous films and requires the audience to watch more of Marvel’s films in order to truly enjoy it. Assuming that the majority of the audience is familiar with the characters and their backstories, the film immediately takes off with scarcely any introduction to its universe.

Nevertheless, whether you’re a die-hard comic book fan or a casual movie-goer, “Infinity War” will not disappoint. Packed with humorous and emotional moments, the film gets whole audiences laughing, and during more dramatic scenes, on the edge of tears.

The movie is filled with surprising twists and turns and has the audience in an unexpected somber mood by the end of the movie. Its memorable scenes and impact on audiences worldwide has made “Avengers: Infinity War” one of the most ambitious films of all time and will further cement Marvel’s legacy in the film industry.

Satisfied fans will be looking forward to the continuation of this story in the next Avengers film, which is expected to release early next year.