The Marvel Era
How Iron Man launched a universe, Endgame broke the box office, and ‘superhero fatigue’ became a phrase.
2008
Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark, and a post-credits scene with Nick Fury hints that every Marvel movie will connect. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) begins.
2009
Disney buys Marvel
For about $4 billion.
2012
The Avengers
The heroes team up for the first time and prove the shared-universe idea works.
2018
Black Panther
The first superhero movie nominated for Best Picture. It wins three Oscars and becomes a cultural moment.
2019
Avengers: Endgame
The finale of the first big saga becomes, for a while, the highest-grossing film ever, until Avatar takes the crown back after a 2021 re-release. Martin Scorsese compares Marvel movies to theme parks the same year.
2021–2023
Superhero fatigue
Disney+ shows, multiverses and a lot of releases. The Marvels (2023) becomes the lowest-grossing MCU film, and "superhero fatigue" becomes a headline.
2024
Deadpool & Wolverine
It becomes the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever.
December 18, 2026
Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU, this time as the villain Doctor Doom.
Pop quiz
0/4 answered
Q1
Which film launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Q2
What was the first superhero movie nominated for Best Picture?
Q3
Who compared Marvel movies to theme parks?
Q4
Who plays Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday?