The moment we’ve all been waiting for is almost here: after 10 years of build-up, we finally get to watch the final showdown between the Avengers and Thanos. Later this week, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be forever changed. With 21 movies leading up to Avengers: Endgame, it’s understandable to have missed a few (or a lot). If you still want to see the epic finale on opening weekend but missed a few of the precursors, here’s a list of resources you can use to catch-up.
Xfinity On Campus
All students who live on campus get Xfinity On-Campus for free as a perk, and almost all of the MCU is streaming on Xfinity until the end of April! They have the full movies with limited commercials. If you don’t live on campus, check with a friend who does and have a movie night! This is a great option if you’re missing some of the older films (Phases 1 and 2 particularly) and if you have the time to watch the full movies before this weekend.
Netflix
Avengers: Infinity War is essentially the first half of the Thanos story arc, so you definitely have to see it before Endgame. Luckily, it’s on Netflix! Also available on Netflix are some of the most recent standalone superhero films like Ant-Man and the Wasp and Black Panther, as well as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This is the best option if you missed some of Phase 3, especially Infinity War, and have time to watch the full movies.
Theaters
Unfortunately, Captain Marvel is the only one left in movie theaters. From the marketing, it seems like Carol Danvers will play an integral role in Endgame, so her movie is a must-see before the big finale. Movies are cheaper on weekdays and in the morning or early afternoon, and AMC tends to be the most expensive (though it is right on the A-Line bus route). If you really can’t make it, check out a video review on YouTube.
YouTube
When you’re really running low on time and can’t manage a full 2.5 hours per movie, go to YouTube. There are, as mentioned above, video reviews of every single Marvel movie ever made (some with spoilers, some without) that can help give you an idea of what you missed. However, some super-fans have compressed all 20+ movies into 15 minute catch-up guides. Even if you’ve seen all the movies, this is a great resource for refreshing your memory on all of the various heroes and plot points the MCU has covered! ScreenCrush and Screen Junkies have both made great recap videos, and New Rockstars has a helpful guide to the MCU timeline here.
I can’t believe that Endgame is really coming out later this week. I’ve been a fan since my dad took me to Iron Man as a kid, and it’s going to be tough to watch this era of the MCU end. Good luck catching up, and remember, DON’T POST SPOILERS!