Top 5 MCU Endings That Hold The Key To Winning Back Fans
Which was the most memorable for you?
Marvel is in decline. That's the popular belief these days. Probably because superhero media is no longer as sought after, or because the genre is changing, or because supply exceeds demand (Marvel itself has released more projects in the last couple of years than it did in the early stages of the MCU), or for some other reason, audiences are turning away from the MCU.
Clearly, the studio needs to rethink its policies and find ways to attract new viewers and bring back longtime fans, which they are actively doing by focusing on the quality-over-quantity approach.
But what exactly is quality? In fact, the hit MCU films hold the answer to this question. Take, for example, the endings of some of the old Marvel movies that we still hold dear to our hearts. If the filmmakers can recreate the excitement and emotional tension of at least one of these scenes in their future projects, they'll definitely have a good shot at a renaissance.
Iron Man (2008)
Yes, the very first MCU film was a pleasant shocker. The ending, in which Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark announces to the world that he is the mysterious Iron Man, was a mind-blowing and refreshing take on superheroes who, at the time, preferred to remain masked and unidentified. It is this level of creativity that the MCU needs to wow audiences.
The Avengers (2012)
The ending of the first Avengers movie is not exactly a jaw-dropper. It shows the newly formed team gathering to say goodbye and exchange some hilarious one-liners. But that's exactly what future MCU teams need. The Avengers blew audiences away with the dynamic and chemistry of the superhero team, setting a strong foundation for the years to come.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
If you didn't leave the theater in shock after Infinity War, you might be a robot. The scenes of the beloved superheroes (who usually win by the way) suffering a devastating defeat and turning to dust after Thanos' snap haunt us to this day. Of course, to achieve this effect, Marvel did a titanic job of first developing their characters and making them fan favorites.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
After Infinity War, we knew the fight wasn't over and that there was still hope for those who had turned to dust. But Endgame hit hard with the loss of three original Avengers. There was not a dry eye in the theater. The film's ending with Tony Stark's funeral not only perfectly wrapped up the Infinity Saga, but also provided a fitting conclusion to the arcs of Tony, Natasha, and Steve.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Arguably the best MCU ending came in the second Guardians of the Galaxy installment, when the Guardians and Ravagers gave Yondu a breathtaking space burial. Everything about this scene is perfect. Your heart fills with warmth and breaks at the same time, tears run down your cheeks, but you smile. The emotional magnitude of this moment is almost impossible to replicate, but we hope that future generations of MCU filmmakers will hold it up as the gold standard.