15 greatest superhero movies of the decade

4. Avengers: Endgame

Released: April 26, 2019

Avengers: Endgame wasn’t just the conclusion to one of the most jaw-dropping films of all time (Avengers: Infinity War), it also served as the conclusion the 11-year long arc of the MCU’s first three phases. No pressure!

Picking up after the shocking events of its predecessor, the film focuses on the Avengers’ attempts to move past it and into a future that looks very, very different. The result is a poignant but epic adventure about how sometimes we don’t have to let go of the past to move into the future – a fitting story for a film that pays tribute to the MCU of old while preparing for the next generation.

There is much debate as to whether the film’s script is as strong as its predecessor’s but, as divisive as parts of the story are, there’s no denying the strength of it. While Infinity War was a heartbreaking war from start to finish, Endgame took the time to focus on the story of it all, allowing us all to see how each surviving hero dealt with loss, defeat and, most importantly of all, grief.

However, if it’s battles you want, you won’t find a better one than the showdown in the film’s final act – a battle that is, without a doubt, the most ambitious and incredible in Hollywood history.

Yes, Endgame had a lot of pressure on it going into its release, but it didn’t falter nor it did it float – it flew – and in the process, stunned audiences as it broke just about ever box office record you could think of. Now that sounds like a fitting conclusion to the record-breaking Marvel Cinematic Universe – even if it technically wasn’t the final film.