Recently, directors Joe and Anthony Russo hosted a viewing party of Avengers: Endgame where the duo revealed tons of new details about the Marvel film. Before signing off at the end of the movie, the brothers even shared a couple of audience reaction videos they themselves had filmed during the film's premiere a year ago at the Regency Village Theater. The first showed how the crowd reacted to the portals scene when all the snapped Avengers returned to assemble alongside Captain America. Each Avenger's return was met with roaring cheers from the crowd, and the same was the case with the second video, which showed Tony Stark snapping his fingers after declaring "I am Iron Man."
The videos showed the palpable excitement of everyone in the room, and it demonstrated how the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become such an important movie-going experience for so many fans all around the world. And at a time when movie theaters are closed, these videos are a reminder that theaters are still the best way to experience movies.
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, movie theaters across the world are currently closed. This has sparked a new movement, as studios have begun to release certain movies directly online on-demand. This move has sparked a bit of confrontation between movie theaters and studios, as seen with the case of Universal, AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas. Of course, Universal has stressed that it isn't trying to phase out movie theaters -- instead, the studio is simply offering an alternative solution to the unprecedented situation that everyone is currently all living in.
But while people are arguing whether or not movie theaters will survive this shift to VOD releases, the Russo brothers' videos reminds audience members that there isn't anything like experiencing a movie on the big screen -- especially when it comes to Marvel movies. In fact, both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were event movies, unlike anything seen before. And, as a result, the latter became the highest-grossing movie of all time.
If you were among the fans who went to see Endgame opening night, chances are you experienced an unforgettable screening as fans were led to cheers, tears, and laughter as Captain America wielded Mjolnir and Earth's Mightiest Heroes finally assembled for an epic battle ten years in the making. It's the type of event some may believe will never be replicated again. But if there is a chance that something even close to this will happen again, odds are it will be in the next phases of the MCU.
To many, Avengers: Endgame was the ultimate movie-going experience, as fans united to share in the pure joy of an extraordinary film. It's certainly not something that can be replicated in your living room, no matter how many friends you might have on Zoom for your watch party. Endgame showed fans the true power of cinema and the true power of being part of an audience.
Marvel's movies have created anticipation and excitement that are unparalleled in the realm of cinema, and the studio's upcoming releases have everyone looking forward to the time when they will all be able to share the next adventures of the Avengers. Because ultimately, the purpose of movies is to unite us.
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Don Cheadle as War Machine, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Danai Gurira as Okoye and Bradley Cooper as Rocket, with Gwyneth Paltrow Pepper Potts, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Benedict Wong as Wong, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Josh Brolin as Thanos. The film is available on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD.