Fans of superhero comic books are familiar with the concept of a shared universe, in which events in one book series could have repercussions in another, and heroes could (and often did) crossover, sharing the same fictional world.
Beginning in 2008, film producer Kevin Feige successfully established what is currently the highest-grossing film series in the United States and second highest-grossing film franchise worldwide (behind the Harry Potter film series) under the Marvel Studios banner in the first serious attempt by a major film studio to create a shared continuity between superhero films. In what would become known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Feige's shared universe has had its share of up's and down's, between many excellent films and a handful of weak pictures (as well as several television series of varying quality). However, the continued financial success (and often critical success) of its features has pushed other studios to build their own respective shared universes.
Marvel Studios' massive film series has revitalized the careers of stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, while effectively turning actors like Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth into overnight action heroes. During its second and third phases, the filmmakers have even attracted participation from acclaimed actors like Ben Kingsley, Robert Redford, Benicio del Toro, Glenn Close, and Michael Douglas.
Featuring colorful and exciting characters, blending sharp humor and thrilling action, the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to tell an expansive amalgamated story unique to the world of cinema, and continues to offer unparalleled entertainment featuring some of the best comic book motion picture adaptions ever filmed.
