The Avengers
Movie, 2012, Phase 1, Set in 2012
The Avengers is #6 of 69 in release order and #8 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
The Avengers recap
Loki arrives on Earth through the Tesseract, takes control of Clint Barton (Hawkeye) and Erik Selvig with his scepter, and steals the cube; in return for the Tesseract, an alien army called the Chitauri will give him Earth. Nick Fury gathers Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner. They capture Loki in Stuttgart, and Thor arrives to take his brother home. On S.H.I.E.L.D.'s flying helicarrier, the team bickers while Loki's plan plays out: Barton attacks the ship, Banner turns into the Hulk, Thor is dropped from the sky in a cell, and Loki escapes after killing Agent Coulson. Coulson's death finally unites the team. Selvig opens a portal above Stark Tower in Manhattan, and the Chitauri pour through. Natasha frees Barton from Loki's control, and the six heroes fight side by side for the first time.
The Avengers ending explained
The World Security Council fires a nuclear missile at Manhattan. Tony carries it through the portal into space, where it destroys the Chitauri mothership, and he falls back to Earth just as Natasha closes the portal with Loki's scepter. The Hulk smashes Loki into the floor. Thor takes Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard, and the team goes separate ways, with Fury sure they will come back when needed.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In the mid-credits scene, the Other tells his master that attacking Earth would be to court death, and the master turns and smiles: it is Thanos. In the post-credits scene, the exhausted Avengers eat shawarma together in silence.
Where to watch The Avengers
The Avengers is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes 91%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Captain America: The First Avenger, before Iron Man 3.
- Chronological order: after Thor, before Iron Man 3.
What to watch before The Avengers
In release order, the essentials before The Avengers (2012) are Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011), and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
Cast
- Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man
- Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America
- Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / The Hulk
- Chris Hemsworth as Thor
- Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
- Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye
- Tom Hiddleston as Loki
- Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson
- Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill
- Stellan Skarsgård as Selvig
- Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
- Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
Directed by Joss Whedon.