If you have been following our series leading up to the final of the Avengers saga, Avengers: Endgame, then you probably had an idea that this article was coming. Like you, we have been waiting for this movie for many years — some of us since we sat down to watch the first Iron Man movie in a cinema in 2008, some of us for a shorter while. Some have just become fans, while some have grown up with the stories, characters, and their adventures for most of their lives.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) consists of over 22 movies and has been building up 11 years. We have watched the original Avengers grow, adapt, and face challenges, and we have also watched new characters being introduced. We have grown to love them, to hate them, to be anxious as they fight the good fight and to suffer with them as they lose. Now the culmination of this epic saga will mean the end for some of our characters… in one way or another. They will gather together for one last fight, before Marvel moves into their next “phase” of movies with Spider-Man: Far From Home.
We also know that no one likes spoilers and no one wants this film ruined for them, which is why we tried our best to give you some spoiler-free impressions of the movie, in case you haven’t seen it yet. If you’re weary of even the slightest idea or reaction, please read no further and come back when you’ve seen the film — the last thing we want is to ruin this for a fellow nerd.
Here you’ll find our spoiler-free reactions to Avengers: Endgame:
Conny:
It has taken me two viewings to write down my reaction to this film, because the first time I watched it, I was probably still a bit in shock. When you have almost a year after Infinity War, you have a long time to psych yourself up about what is going to happen. Let’s face it, you spend so much time reading theories and coming up with your own, so once you sit down in the cinema, you’re a mixture of terrified and excited.
This is what I felt when I sat down to watch Endgame, and I have to say, I was terrified for a good reason. But I was also positively surprised how the film managed to unite everything I love about Marvel movies. I still laughed. I still yelled when something amazing happened. And I cried. For good and bad reasons. So many things I expected to happen didn’t — and so many things I didn’t expect to happen did. It’s very difficult to write this without spoilers, but I’m going to try.
They did manage to find a way to fight their final fight, and they managed to work as a team once again, although they weren’t always united in the past. A lot of the little tidbits from the other movies became important in this one, and I really enjoyed the little nods to past movies, iconic scenes, and quotes.
Endgame is a film for the fans, to thank them for making the MCU what it is today. Sometimes, that is what gives the movie a bit of a weakness, because it ignores the original idea and purpose for the sake of fanservice. Some of these choices didn’t agree with me, but they didn’t ruin the overall feeling of hope this movie gave me for the characters and their future.
I loved that I got to see the journey of so many of the characters I loved, that they had time to reunite, to face their demons, to find closure in what was going to be their last film (due to contracts ending). It was a worthy ending for a majority of the characters who are leaving, but not for all of them. This will have to wait for a more spoiler-y review, but I wasn’t happy with all of the endings the film provided.
I was ecstatic about some of the scenes, especially during the final battle. I don’t think any other film has made me physically leap out of my seat, yell and clap, but Avengers: Endgame did. About three times. I’m definitely going to see it again, no matter if there were parts I didn’t love or not — part of the journey is the end. And I’m grateful I was able to enjoy the majority of that journey with my favourite heroes, characters, nay, friends.
Kailey:
I’m crying writing this, but here we go. For someone who just watched Infinity War the DAY I saw Endgame, everything was fresh. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but this movie surpassed everything. I laughed, cheered, and bawled my eyes out. The action, the visuals, the script, and the incredible work of the ensemble in this movie worked tremendously and successfully on creating one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. I was surprised by many of the scenes, but I thought they were very well done. I’m sad about it being the end but I am so grateful for the heart, determination, laughs, and inspiration I gained from the Marvel Universe. Everyone put all they had into this movie and it showed. Nothing will ever be the same without the Avengers, not for me. #AvengersForever
Mikayla:
Having to write this and make sure every thought of mine makes sense will probably be the hardest reaction piece I’ve ever had to write. Going into Avengers: Endgame, I knew this was the end: the end of an era, the end of several of the core actors’ contracts, the final piece of the puzzle that Marvel Studios has been putting together for 10+ years. I knew it was going to be an emotional rollercoaster, and I knew I was going to be on the edge of my seat the entire 3 hours and 1 minute.
The first thing to note for me was the cinematography of the entire film — it was absolutely breathtaking, even on the things I didn’t want to it be breathtaking on. But this is no surprise, as Marvel definitely knows how to shoot and edit together a movie. I recently just watched Iron Man, the start of it all, and having the two movies fresh in my mind to compare and contrast visually, I can see we’ve come a long way.
The script and the score were next, and they did not disappoint. The script was so well written and, I believe, written for the fans of this universe that my hat goes off to the scriptwriters. Way to put us in your minds as you wrote the end!
Now the movie itself… that is a whole other story. Now that I have had roughly 24 hours to process it, there is no better way these stories could have been told. The way Marvel united every single storyline they’ve introduced and more left me knowing that they knew these stories like the back of their hand and left me in complete awe of the studio, even more than I already was. There were a couple of moments in the movie that I never saw coming, but I will have to wait for the spoiler-filled review to say them out loud. But there were a lot of moments that had me cheering (alongside everyone in the theatre) and a lot of moments that I had wished I brought tissues.
However, despite my questions being asked and new ones taking their place, if there is one thing I want to reiterate is that Marvel knows that this one was going to be a huge movie, and they knew they were going to have to hit it out of the ballpark with this one. And they did. They gave us the ending that I do not believe anyone else could have written. They gave us the final piece of a 10-year-long puzzle. And the picture it created was magnificent.
Rachel F.:
Upon embarking on the journey that is Avengers: Endgame, your checklist requires not only diapers for the longevity of you staying in your seat — I will be the first to admit that I would have been happy if the film had instead thrown me into the firepit and been cut back by thirty minutes but that is storytelling — tissues because endings are hard no matter the eventuality, and a hand to clench. If you are a single passenger, then know Stan Lee will be alongside you in his final cameo that is metaphorical of his spirit.
It will be a spectacular view of the history of Marvel and the understanding of why exactly this installment means so much to so many. Just as it comes in the form of relationships created, it is also in the hilarity. All while remembering that the essence of who we are can only be decided by ourselves. As a female sitting in a theater mostly full of males, a grin was on my face as pure pride washed over me during the big battle. Thank you, Marvel, just for that scene and then another one. Something undeniably epic. You will know which ones I am talking about.
By now you will know that beauty comes in the idea of impermanence. Not only does it make us feel grateful for the time that we had but was a great finality to an end of this phase in the MCU. My expectations were certifiably blown out of the water and I was given what I had been hoping for since the beginning. Avengers: Endgame is the slow descent into a fast crescendo of action and sentimentality that has you thinking Avengers: Infinity War was in the baby leagues.
Lindsey:
I’m not quite sure if I’m capable of finding the right words to really do my feelings about Endgame justice — but I’ll try my best. I saw Endgame on opening night, and I have some serious regrets over not pre-purchasing tickets to see it again immediately the next day. This cinematic masterpiece is so jam-packed full of characters, plot, action, and humour that there’s no way to fully appreciate it and take it all in with just a single viewing. On top of that, this is a film that must be seen in all its glory on the big screen — don’t make the mistake of waiting until it’s out of theatres to see it!
And so, on to my heavily censored, spoiler-free feelings. WOW. W-O-W. Listen, I’m just going to lay it all out on the table here…as vaguely as possible. This epic, jaw-dropping conclusion to a story that has been built up over the course of a decade is going to leave a permanent mark on the movie industry as a whole. Filmmakers will truly be hard-pressed to duplicate the epic experience and thrilling excitement surrounding Endgame. I laughed until it hurt and I cried so many times I lost count. My theater, collectively, whooped and screamed at the top of their lungs constantly in the latter half of the film — the energy and enthusiasm was like nothing I have ever experienced before at a movie showing (and I have attended many opening nights for big films!)
It’s an unsettling reality check to realize that this is the end of the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it, but I’m incredibly thankful to have over ten years of films to look back on and enjoy time and time again.
Emelie:
We were given a year to prepare for this movie, and yet I still wasn’t ready.
I had to wait a few days to see it, because three friends traveled from different cities (one even came in from another country) so that we could support each other through the emotional whirlwind we knew we were going to experience. I knew we were going to lose a few of my favorite characters (due to certain contracts ending), so I was justifiably terrified when I sat down in my seat. Let’s just say I definitely needed that support, since I’m still a bit dehydrated from all the tears, and I’m emotionally hungover as well.
Avengers: Endgame truly is the end of an era, and they definitely went out with a bang. I laughed, I cheered, and I definitely cried away all my mascara. There are many nods back to previous movies, and the three hours felt like a celebration of the years that have gone by. This movie is packed full of humor, amazing visuals, and great performances. I’m not entirely pleased with the fates of some of the characters, but despite all the emotional pain this movie caused me, it also gave me so much joy.
Thank you, Avengers.
Heather:
I literally just walked out of the theater and started writing this. All of my emotions are still a mess. What I can say, without spoiling anything, is WOW – just WOW! The last ten years have all led to this, and it did not disappoint in my opinion. Avengers: Endgame had everything that one would expect from a Marvel movie. It was funny, action packed, unpredictable, and emotional. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, and I stood in applause with the rest of the audience when the credits rolled. I want to scream from the rooftops about all my favorite parts of this movie but that will have to wait until the spoiler recap.
Deb:
I watched Endgame on Saturday and it’s now Sunday afternoon. I’ve been thinking about it ever since the end credits rolled. I have loved every one of the Marvel movies and looked forward to each one with excitement. My emotions for Endgame were no different, except this time I knew that it was the end of an era, the tying up of loose ends while maybe giving us hope for a new and different Marvel future. I was not disappointed. I laughed, I cried (a LOT), and in the end, I felt like I had spent time with some old friends. I thought I had some idea of what was going to happen, but I have to say that I was definitely surprised by several things, which I am happy about. I don’t like it when a movie gets predictable. In the end, I felt that things had come full circle.