With its start upon the release of 2008’s Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become one of the largest franchises in the world. To date, there are over 30 movies and TV shows that bring the beloved Marvel Comics characters to life. A huge aspect of the MCU was how it created an interconnected universe onscreen, where solo characters like Iron Man and Captain America united in ensemble movies. As more characters were introduced, the universe grew until its ultimate team-up with Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which saw every major hero in the franchise take on Thanos. It was a well-received hit that concluded the studio’s Infinity Saga.
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Endgame might have been the end for many characters, but was clearly never the end of the franchise; new projects had already been announced before the movie’s release. The MCU is also unlikely to end any time soon, as it remains a huge financial hit and future projects are planned. Yet there might have been some benefits in hypothetically ending after Endgame. Let’s explore some reasons why Endgame would have made a potentially great end point.
It Completed Major Character Arcs and a Decade of Stories
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The biggest reason that Endgame is a good finishing point is the closure it gives. Iron Man, as the franchise’s first onscreen hero, has a full-circle end to his journey, and emotionally sacrifices himself to defeat Thanos. Captain America goes back in time and lives a life with Peggy Carter, then re-emerges in the present as an elderly man, passing the mantle onto Sam. Black Widow meets a heartbreaking death, while Thor, Hulk, and Hawkeye also reach a good end in their journeys. These heroes, which fans have been following on screen for years – and in print for even longer – each met a great ending.
Aside from the original Avengers, Endgame also could have served as an ending for other characters. Heroes like Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and the Guardians all returned from being dusted by Thanos, and made great contributions to the overall victory. Sure, they – along with the remaining original Avengers – still had more stories to tell. Spider-Man in particular had two sequels lined up, Far From Home in 2019 and No Way Home in 2021, while the Guardians still have an upcoming movie. Endgame may not have completely satisfied their arcs, but it undeniably would have been a solid ending to go out on.
It Was a High Moment to End On
Endgame was a clear high point for the franchise. Financially, it crossed $2 billion at the box office and briefly overtook Avatar as the highest-grossing film ever, per Collider. Critically, it received widespread praise for its entirety, from its action sequences to its emotional weight. It brought together 11 years of movies and served as a love letter to the entire franchise, an incredible feat of a magnitude never seen before.
Perhaps because of missing the major heroes that grounded the franchise for a decade, recent projects haven’t been as successful or liked. Though the MCU is in no danger of struggling at the box office, recent movies have seen more mixed reviews. 2022’s releases, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder, proved divisive, while 2021’s The Eternals got some of Marvel’s worst reviews ever. Some fared better, like No Way Home, which is considered one of the best Spider-Man movies. The MCU is still strong overall, with many upcoming projects that fans are excited for, like the return of Daredevil. However, Endgame would have ended the franchise on a definite high point – creatively, critically, and financially. That’s not to say that upcoming releases can’t reach greatness. There is still great storytelling and character potential. But Endgame successfully wove together dozens of characters and a decade of movies, and that magic and greatness might be impossible to recapture.
It’s Been Hard to Build Momentum With New Projects Since
Disney Platform Distribution
Even with a steady stream of releases, the new saga’s recent projects haven’t built much momentum. Part of this may have to do with the different release formats, as the MCU has expanded into television. This has added more material, but makes it harder to keep up with the franchise. Beginning with WandaVision in January 2021, there have been eight Disney+ shows in less than two years. Not only does this further stuff the roster of characters, but the frequent releases make it hard to spend time with a character and absorb their show before attention has shifted to a new one. Though their stories have more time to unfold with a series, their moment ends with the next release; there’s little time to process it and let them shine. Furthermore, it’s often difficult to tell where and how the shows fit into the timeline. The shows haven’t captured much momentum, as they’re vastly different from each other and from the movies, and feel like they aren’t building towards much.
Finally, the past few years have seen a saturation of the market and superhero fatigue among audiences; the Morning Consult reported that even Marvel fans are getting tired of the genre. Similar to the shows, the constant releases overload audiences. Perhaps more importantly, it makes it hard for anything to feel new. Though the Eternals and Shang-Chi bring some new elements, their plots feel repetitive. Standing out and breaking through fatigue is challenged further by other superhero releases, like the DC Universe. With the fatigue and repetition, people may be less likely to invest in a new saga as they did with the first one. Marvel’s recent characters also don’t feel fully established yet, but this is because the saga is in its early stages. There is still time to build connections, as is there time to bring some freshness to the stories.
The MCU is, and will likely remain, a major box office and entertainment power. It has told great stories that have captured audiences for over a decade. Though it shows no signs of slowing down, it’s interesting to think about if it should have ended on a clear high point that completed its major stories.
