Scientists have done all-encompassing testing and information technology turns out there's no known cure for FOMO.

The only options for those affected by the want to feel included in everything is to either wait out each ultra-event moment until it passes or crowbar your manner in. If the event passing you past happens to be an intimidatingly interconnected Marvel moving-picture show, getting in is easier than you might think.

Avengers: Endgameis the culmination of 20 movies' worth of story buildup over the course of eleven years, and it's said to exist the concluding chapter for the original Avengers squad. Information technology's got a sprawling bandage, a shooting star-dense mythology, and an almost unconscionable three-hour runtime. And different other Curiosity movies such as Blackness Panther orSpider-Man: Homecoming, it'due south not a film designed for coincidental Marvel fans to just jump into.

Despite all those impediments, it'due south nevertheless possible for people who have just seen, like, Doctor Strange and Thor 2 to become in on the ground floor of all the chat and meme-making to come this weekend. Here are the v things you need to know to ready for the Endgame.

1) Thanos's whole bargain

Archvillain Thanos, the don dada of the MCU saga, once largely loomed in the background, projecting purple-tinted menace, before taking center stage in Infinity War. Played by Josh Brolin, he is an oversize conflicting from the planet Titan who seems to accept recovered from an addiction to sitting downwards. Thanos is obsessed with the concrete embodiment of Death, and the thought of wiping out half of Earth's population. By the terminate of Infinity War, he had actually succeeded in his apocalyptic goal, because he had been able to fill the knuckles of his gilt glove (the Infinity Gauntlet) with the six Infinity Stones.

2) Infinity Stones and those who covet them

The Infinity Stones are six indescribably powerful objects of dubious geological origin, each named later on various elements in the universe. At that place'south the Space stone, the Mind pebble, the Reality rock, the Ability i, Soul boulder, and Time feldspar. They come in many forms–including red goo and a blueish box–and are scattered throughout the universe. Several Avenger-side by side folks got their superhands on them at certain points, as part of the overall endeavour to keep them away from Thanos, who wanted them for nefarious reasons. It's non necessarily a spoiler to mention that it will be helpful in getting through Endgame to know where each of these stones came from…

Robert Downey Jr. equally Iron Homo [Photo: courtesy of Marvel Studios]

three) A short catch-upward in all that's come up before

Below is a short recap of every MCU film, with some important details, including the provenance of each Infinity Stone. The timing of these films is meticulously plotted out years in advance and each is announced every bit function of a different "stage." Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige recently describedAvengers: Endgame every bit the penultimate flick in Stage three, meaning something will likely happen in July'due south Spider-Homo: Far From Home that pushes the whole franchise forrard.

PHASE 1

  • Fe Man (2008) The start of information technology all. Imagine how different your life would be if it hadn't been a hit.
  • The Incredible Hulk(2008) A one-off, starring Edward Norton, who would later be replaced by Marker Ruffalo, probably because Norton wasbesides chill to piece of work with. This ane is notable for Downey Jr.'south Tony Stark aka Iron Man briefly showing up and hinting at forming a team.
  • Iron Man two (2010) A disappointing sequel, notable for introducing Scarlet Johansson'due south Blackness Widow.
  • Thor (2011) Here is where nosotros first meet Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the trickster brother of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and a guy who bounces from skilful to bad with head-spinning frequency.
  • Captain America: The Outset Avenger (2011) Laying the last bit of background to ramp up toThe Avengers, this film introduces Cap'due south (Chris Evans) pal Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who dies in gainsay but becomes important later on. This movie is besides where nosotros see our beginning Infinity Stone, the Space one, in the course of a glowing blue cube called the Tesseract. This stone had been used to power weapons for the villainous organization Hydra, until Captain America defeats its leader, Reddish Skull (Hugo Weaving), and the stone is put into government custody.
  • The Avengers (2012) In add-on to the Tesseract, which serves as the earth-ender weapon of the picture, here we meet the Listen rock, which is lodged in Loki's scepter. This moving-picture show likewise marks the first appearance past Thanos, in a mail service-credits stinger scene. (For an unabridged separate rant on post-credit stinger scenes in Marvel movies, meet here.)
Paul Rudd as Pismire-Man. [Photograph: courtesy of Marvel Studios]

Phase 2

  • Iron Homo 3 (2013) An enjoyable sequel that won back fans jaded by the lacklusterIron Human 2.
  • Thor: The Dark World(2013) Largely considered inessential, this motion picture reveals the Reality Stone in the form of red goo, which is eventually given to Benicio del Toro's Collector.
  • Helm America: The Winter Soldier (2014) One interesting thing about the MCU is that some private films attempt out unlike genres within the broader genre of Superhero Movie. This one's a spy thriller. It introduces the character Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and marks the return of Bucky, resurrected every bit a super assassin known as Winter Soldier. (Told you he'd become important after!)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) In addition to properly introducing Thanos and the Ability Stone, this film proved that even the lesser known characters in the Marvel world–ahoy, Groot!–could exist huge crowd-pleasers in the correct hands. Likewise, other characters reveal their connections to Thanos: Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) were adopted by him as kids earlier going their split ways, while Thanos destroyed Drax's (Dave Bautista) family unit. This lineage becomes more important in Infinity War.
  • Avengers: Historic period of Ultron (2015) A disquisitional let-down, this film was still eventful, introducing Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), the latter of whom is created by the Listen stone from Loki'south scepter and an Iron Man suit. (Don't worry about how impaired that sounds, it's fine.) An unabridged building is wrecked in the final boxing and there are civilian casualties–a sad consequence that has an affect on the future of the Avengers.
  • Emmet-Human (2015) MCU'due south heist picture, a fun and informal diversion away from the main story.
Paul Bettany as Vision. [Photograph: courtesy of Marvel Studios]

Phase 3

  • Captain America: Ceremonious War (2016) After the damage washed inAge of Ultron, the authorities establishes the Sokovia Accords to continue the Avengers under UN oversight. Iron Man is into the thought, while Captain America is not. Meanwhile, T'Challa aka Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) is introduced when his father is killed by the Wintertime Soldier, who is nether mind control. This motion picture also rescues Spider-Homo (Tom Holland) from the un-amazing Andrew Garfield movies and inserts him into the MCU.
  • Doctor Strange (2016) A visually trippy side plot, this origin story introduces the Time Rock, which Benedict Cumberbatch'due south Md Strange ends up safely (???) locking in a magical chemical compound.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Not much occurs here that advances the overall plot, but it's a wild, Kurt Russell-assisted ride and worth seeing if yous enjoyed the first moving picture.
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) A successful solo outing, largely because it'south unencumbered by any origin story luggage, and plants the immature hero firmly dorsum in loftier school.
  • Thor: Ragnarok (2017) The thirdThor is a straight-up comedy, helmed past the hilarious New Zealand writer-managing director-producer-histrion Taikka Waititi. Here we see Tessa Thompson'southward rambunctious warrior Valkyrie, who pops up inInfinity War, along with swaggering Jeff Goldblum and Cate Blanchett characters, who do non. We as well see the return of the Tesseract, which Loki quietly steals before his and Thor'south home planet Asgard is destroyed.
  • Blackness Panther (2018)Blackness Panther is a rare self-independent MCU story, largely prepare in its own world, the subconscious African nation of Wakanda. This film introduces several characters who factor intoInfinity War and thus Endgame, including engineering genius Shuri (Letitia Wright), who is Black Panther's sister, and the formidable warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira).
  • Avengers: Infinity State of war (2018) Thanos runs the tabular array from the first, immediately snatching the Tesseract from Loki earlier murdering him. If you don't like the thought of Thanos murdering your faves, this is not the flick for you. Thanos later kills his adopted girl Gamora in lodge to get the Soul Rock back from Blood-red Skull, who had been guarding it on another planet and who tells Thanos that he must sacrifice something he loves (i.e., Gamora) in order to get it. (Got it?) Thanos'southward quest to go the Mind Stone leads him to crush Vision'south head, killing him. Eventually, Thanos succeeds in wiping out half of Earth with i instantly iconic snap of his fingers.
  • Ant-Human being and the Wasp (2018) A fun sequel, only relevant here because a mid-credits scene reveals that, while Emmet-Human being survived the snap, he had but entered the Subatomic Realm at the time (don't ask) and anybody involved in helping him get out did not survive the snap.
  • Captain Marvel (2019) An alien scientist named Mar-Vell (played past Annette Bening) is using the Tesseract to create an incredibly powerful engine when things go foul. Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) escapes with the Tesseract and brings it to a immature-ish Nick Fury (this picture is ready in the '90s) before the Tesseract ends up giving her the kind of superpowers one would expect by someone somewhen called Captain Curiosity (superhuman strength, endurance, and some alien je ne sais quoi.) Past the end of the picture, she is positioned as a pinnacle-tier superhero who volition factor heavily into the future of the MCU.

The only Phase 3 moving-picture show left is Spider-Human: Far From Domicile, fix for July.

(Left to right) Danai Gurira every bit Okoye, Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlet Johansson every bit Black Widow, and Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier. [Photos: courtesy of Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios]

4) Where we last left everyone

It's easier to say who survived the finish ofInfinity War than it is to say who perished. Almost everyone died. Black Panther died, and we were but getting to know the guy! The core Avenger crew all survived (Fe Human, Thor, Black Widow, Blob, and Hawkeye), every bit did Armed services (Don Cheadle), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), Nebula, Okoye, K'Baku (Winston Duke), Shuri, and, of grade Ant-Homo. The survivors are scattered to the ends of the galaxy, though, and deeply dispirited. Avengers: Endgame, equally the trailer makes clear, does non begin on a happy note.

Brie Larson equally Captain Marvel. [Photo: courtesy of Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios]

5) How Captain Marvel fits into all this

Allow'south let the mail-credits scenes explain. The i at the finish of Infinity War finds Nick Fury disappearing as the furnishings of the Snap become all too visible, with his pager clattering to the gravel in the eye of dialing upwardly Helm Curiosity. And so, during the Captain Marvel credits, that very pager sits within Avengers HQ equally Snap-survivors Captain America and Black Widow attempt to figure out just whom Nick Fury had been paging earlier he turned into dust. Information technology is at just this moment–speak of the devil!–that the person Fury had been paging, Captain Marvel, appears backside them.

Congratulations, you are now ready to get see a movie.