Will Avengers: Endgame Save 2019 From A Massive Box Office Slump?

Will Avengers: Endgame Save 2019 From A Massive Box Office Slump?

Although there are some very big movies on the radar for this year, so far the 2019 box office has not had an incredible run. While titles like Shazam!, Glass, Captain Marvel and How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World have done well for theaters, so far the box office is down from its great heights over the last couple of years.

Unfortunately in 2019, the box office is in its worst slump at this point in the year since 2013. Yes, six years ago. Through the weekend, the box office domestically is at $2.74 billion. Any number that begins with a “b” probably sounds pretty good, but actually it's not a great number compared to previous years.

However, what is arguably the biggest movie in a decade is coming out this month in Avengers: Endgame. Will the new Marvel movie be able to save the box office from a massive slump?

So far, early box office predictions have Avengers: Endgame making $200 million to $250 million domestically during opening weekend. That’s a large total. Most estimates have the movie breaking $2 billion and some estimates have it hitting closer to $2.5 billion.

If Avengers: Endgame doesn’t reach at least the minimum of the heights expected of it, it will be a bit of a shock. Ticket pre-sales have already been insane for the movie, hitting records. Allegedly people are even trying to resell tickets for inflated prices for prime showings, which is just wild to think about.

Suffice to say, if Avengers: Endgame doesn’t “save” the box office from a slump in 2019, it certainly won’t hurt.

Once Avengers: Endgame kickstarts the box office into gear, it should hopefully get much easier from here on out. Disney kicked off with Dumbo but has three more live action adventures coming in 2019. The long-awaited Episode IX is also coming from that studio as well.

Then, there are crowd pleasers such as Hobbs and Shaw, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and even outside-the-box titles like Rocketman still coming in 2019. It’s a little early to get too concerned about the entire year’s box office total yet.

Why is the box office down? Titles like Hellboy and Missing Link have actively bombed. Other titles have failed to do as well as expected, including The LEGO Movie 2, which made less than half of what its predecessor The LEGO Movie made worldwide.

Even expected hits like Happy Death Day 2U were sluggish. Although that movie was made for $9 million and went on to make over $64 million worldwide, the original Happy Death Day was reportedly made for $4.5 million and made $125 million+ worldwide. Franchises such as those have definitely been a case of law of diminishing returns.

Previously industry experts have not seemed concerned with the slow start to the box office. The last few years have seen boosts early on from titles like Black Panther, Beauty and the Beast, Logan and Deadpool, so there is not necessarily a reason to worry because a flick like Shazam! or Dumbo isn’t reaching the exact same heights.

Related: Shazam! Box Office – The DC Hit Repeats And Bests All Newcomers

Still, the last couple of years, the movie theater box office has been pretty incredible, breaking records for overall totals ($11.9 billion domestically in 2018) and for individual studios. It’s been helped in part by the convenience of early ticketing, the addition of movie subscriptions like Stubs A-List or Cinemark Movie Club, and a general wealth of movies hitting broad swaths of audiences.

Still, services like MoviePass have faltered and it may also be true that people are less excited about frequenting the movies as they were when these types of subscriptions were brand spanking new.

I suppose there is a future where titles like Hobbs and Shaw or Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker also don’t do as well as expected, provided Avengers: Endgame is everything the box office has anticipated, the movie theater business should still be in good if not great shape this year.

If you want to get in on the fun ahead of the release of Avengers: Endgame on April 26, join our Marvel death pool.

The Moment In The Hobbs And Shaw Trailer That’s Very Special To Dwayne Johnson

The Moment In The Hobbs And Shaw Trailer That’s Very Special To Dwayne Johnson

Earlier this month at CinemaCon, Universal Pictures threw all of its energy into celebrity performances from the likes of Octavia Spencer, Kevin Hart (holding a rabbit meant to represent his Secret Life of Pets 2 character), Tiffany Haddish, Danny Boyle—I could go on and on. But the particular highlight was a new Hobbs & Shaw trailer, which really amped the energy in the room.

Ahead of that happening though, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and David Leitch were in attendance to talk about why the Hobbs & Shaw Fast and Furious spinoff movie is going to deliver the goods. The three men talked about how the Fast and Furious spinoff movie combines the cultures that Johnson and Statham are familiar with and grew up in, and there’s a specific moment shown in the trailer that is very near and dear to Dwayne Johnson’s heart.

Here’s what he revealed:

There’s a moment in [the] trailer where the energy changes… and there’s something called the Haka. You guys familiar with the Haka? OK great. Well, we don’t do that in this movie. But what we do is called the ‘Siva Tau.’ The Siva Tau is the Samoan version of the Haka and we still call upon our ancestors. [In this trailer] I leave the Siva Tau and for the very first time in a blockbuster tentpole movie we’re very proud to showcase our two cultures, England and culture Samoa.

There’s been a push to incorporate more from a diverse variety of cultures in movies lately. In fact, the Haka that Dwayne Johnson mentions was put to use at the Aquaman premiere by Jason Momoa and that culture was brought into that movie as well.

Dwayne Johnson is both black and Samoan and he has been open about his family’s history and his pride related to that history. He recently tweeted about how he was able to “transcend race in wrestling” so that he wouldn’t just “get booked that way," but he's ready to share his heritage in a big way in Hobbs & Shaw.

Johnson went on to state at CinemaCon 2019:

It’s the very first time we’ve seen Samoa ever featured and ever showcased in the movie…Yes we have the explosions and the epic-ness of everything you’d expect from a Fast and Furious movie but now you also have this mana, the spirit that we lived in Jason and I, David, all of us.

Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham went on to talk about the hugging – and joke about too close hugging—as well as talk about the camaraderie on the set of Hobbs & Shaw. So even though Deckard Shaw and Luke Hobbs have a bit of a competitive relationship, it’s clear the idea of “family” that’s such a big deal to the Fast and Furious franchise is going to translate into this new offshoot as well.

In terms of the Siva Tau, the Samoan war dance, we’ve already seen a preview of this sort of chanting thanks to an official photo shared by Dwayne Johnson himself.

If that image doesn’t already give you an idea of the vibe of Hobbs & Shaw perhaps a look at the new trailer is what you need.

Now that we’ve seen a the sneak preview at the scene, I’m very hopeful that you’ll get to see the special moment that was a big deal for Dwayne Johnson soon. After all Hobbs & Shaw is officially released on Friday August 2, which is not so very far away. More footage is coming and it will definitely be an explosive day when it does.

To check out what all Universal and the other studios have hitting theaters this year, take a look at our full 2019 movie schedule or take a look at what all is coming in Hobbs & Shaw with CinemaBlend’s full cast list.

Avengers: Endgame Is Adding A Post-Credits Scene, And It's Not What You Think

Avengers: Endgame Is Adding A Post-Credits Scene, And It's Not What You Think

It goes without saying, but SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are ahead!

If you’ve already seen Avengers: Endgame in theaters, you know that unlike every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie before it, it does not have a mid/post-credits scene attached. Instead, the noise of a hammer hitting iron is played, reminding audiences of when Tony Stark escaped that cave all those years ago in Iron Man. However, for its third weekend in theaters, Endgame tacking on extra footage to play after the credits, and while it’s not a scene in the conventional sense, it does show what’s to come.

At the beginning of the week, the second Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer was released, and unlike the teaser, it was packed with Avengers: Endgame spoilers. Now Deadline is reporting that folks who see Endgame this weekend will see a pre-film message from Peter Parker himself, Tom Holland, telling moviegoers to stick around after the credits to watch the latest Far From Home trailer.

It’s not often that you see a movie trailer tagged onto a movie after it’s finished playing. However, it does remind me how back when The Amazing Spider-Man 2 came out, a teaser scene from X-Men: Days of Future Past was shown due to a deal between director Marc Webb and 20th Century Fox. This is a more synergetic move given that Marvel Studios and Sony have partnered up for Spider-Man’s MCU exploits, and it makes even more sense to tack the trailer onto Avengers: Endgame given that while that movie was the last installment of the Infinity Saga, Spider-Man: Far From Home is the last movie of Phase 3.

The latest Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer has been a tremendous success for Sony, as it collected over 135 million views in its first 24 hours online. It was also distinctive for leading with a spoiler warning from Tom Holland, which is ironic given how many sensitive plot details he’s accidentally let slip over the years.

Although Marvel was originally firm on not divulging any specific and juicy details about Avengers: Endgame ahead of time in marketing, starting this week, the studio has opened the proverbial floodgates and gone all in on spoilery content, thus allowing for Spider-Man: Far From Home to address the aftermath of Endgame. Along with Peter Parker getting back into the swing of things after being gone for five years like every other person who was snapped away by Thanos, he’s also mourning the loss of his mentor and father figure, Tony Stark.

However, the biggest revelation in the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer is that a hole has been torn in reality, and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Quentin Beck, a.k.a. Mysterio, claims to be from a different Earth. Given Mysterio’s penchant for illusions and trickery in the comics, we shouldn’t discount the possibility that he’s lying, but given how Avengers: Endgame explored different timelines, the MCU could indeed be setting the stage for a proper multiverse to be brought into the equation.

Avengers: Endgame isn’t leaving theaters anytime soon, and Spider-Man: Far From Home swings into theaters on July 2, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage about the sequel. For now, you can learn what else is coming down the MCU pipeline with our comprehensive guide.

National Treasure 3 Could Still Happen After All

National Treasure 3 Could Still Happen After All

While not as long in purgatory as Bill & Ted 3, nor as troubled as The Crow reboot, one movie that has been consistently hoped for but has never arrived is National Treasure 3. Every year since 2007’s National Treasure: Book of Secrets has seemingly made it less and less likely we’d get a third film. However, National Treasure 3 could still happen after all, as Disney CEO and Chairman Bob Iger explained at the Walt Disney Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

I know that Jerry Bruckheimer who produced National Treasure 1 And 2 would like to make a third movie and I know that discussions about that film have gone on, probably since 2016, with our studio, but I know that they have not greenlit such a film. They have talked about a number of different possibilities both on the creative side and from a timing perspective and I just don't have anything to announce, though I did speak with Mr. Bruckheimer not long ago about it and I know his passion for that franchise remains pretty strong. We love those first two films too, but we're not quite there yet.

While far from as exciting and encouraging as a release date, these comments are still good to hear. According to Bob Iger, there isn’t anything to announce on the National Treasure 3 front, but the film isn’t necessarily dead either. The Disney head honcho could have said that they are no longer interested or any number of things that would douse hopes for National Treasure 3, but he left the door open so it seems like it still exists as a possibility.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is still very interested in pursuing the third film and he has been doing just that, even speaking to Bob Iger about it recently. But it sounds like the development has been slow going. Discussions have been happening for several years to bring the third chapter in the adventure series to life, but they have yet to reach a place where the film is good to go and gets a green light.

It seems like they are still working out the creative side, as far as what the movie will be. Franchise star Nicolas Cage has previously spoken about the challenging nature of the scripts for these films. There also seems to be an issue of timing as Bob Iger says, so when Disney could fit it into its budget as well as on a release calendar may also be a point of discussion.

It should be noted that Bob Iger said something similar to his above comments at a shareholders meeting years ago, so it’s unclear how much progress there has really been. But he still hasn’t nixed the idea entirely, so there’s still a chance!

The franchise that started with National Treasure in 2004 was last seen in 2007 with National Treasure: Book of Secrets. And although things have been said over the years that have kept the hope alive for National Treasure 3, it has long seemed like the third film was dead and buried and likely mummified in a historically significant tomb. And that may eventually be the case, but not for sure and not yet.

The franchise’s director Jon Turteltaub recently spoke about why Disney isn’t making National Treasure 3, saying that it is because Disney is prioritizing other franchises that will make more, ignoring the internet’s demand for the threequel. And he’s certainly right that Disney is very heavily focused on its blockbuster brands at the moment. Maybe, given what Bob Iger said about the timing of the film and the Mouse House’s crowded theatrical release slate, there is an opportunity to have National Treasure 3 be a Disney+ movie.

We’ll keep you updated on National Treasure 3 and be sure to check out our 2019 Release Schedule for movies headed your way this year.

18 Popular Cult Classic Movies That Are Perfect For Movie Night

18 Popular Cult Classic Movies That Are Perfect For Movie Night

It’s movie night, the shades are drawn, the popcorn is ready and your feet are up, now all you have to decide is what to watch. You could check out the latest streaming movie or see what new releases are out, or you could be a bit more adventurous and check out a cult classic movie that you haven’t seen before or need to revisit.

Cult classics are named such because they have gained a dedicated and passionate following over the years. These are films that fans know by heart, and have stood the test of time. Their popularity and cult status gives some level of guarantee that they are worth your time. Fortunately, cinematic history is full of cult classics for you to discover and ones that fit every type of movie night, no matter the mood you’re in or who you are watching with.

So here are 18 popular cult classics that are perfect for movie night.

Date Night

Part of the fun of being in a relationship is sharing interests and discovering things together. That’s why going to the movies is such a staple of date night for new couples, and those who have been together a long time. Many of the cult classics on this list could work for date night, but if you want something with a bit of romance for you and your significant other, these titles might do the trick and add some chill to your movie night.

Romeo + Juliet

The ending might be a bit of a downer, but there’s a reason William Shakespeare’s tragic tale of star-crossed lovers has been around since the 16th century, it works. Yet despite the countless retellings, few are as unique and memorable as Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Romeo + Juliet eschews Shakespearean stuffiness in favor of a modern setting with a fun soundtrack, colorful aesthetic, guns instead of swords and plenty of humor. It oozes with a style made for the MTV generation, anchored by the magical chemistry of the two leads.

10 Things I Hate About You

Arriving in the glorious 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, set in a modern American high school. The romantic dramedy stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron, a new student at who wants to date Bianca, played by Larisa Oleynik (Alex Mack!). The only catch is, according to her father’s rules, Bianca’s older sister, the ill-tempered Katarina has to date first, so Cameron enlists Heath Ledger’s rebellious Patrick to woo her. 10 Things is a classic high school movie filled with great characters that feel real and not like an adult’s version of what adolescence is like.

The Princess Bride

Romance, comedy, action and adventure, you get all of that in this 1987 fantasy film from director Rob Reiner and writer William Goldman, based on the latter’s novel. The film tells a love story in a renaissance world populated with delightful characters played by talented actors. The Princess Bride was unremarkable upon its release but found new life on VHS, and more recently it has provided great fodder for the internet thanks to its endlessly quotable lines. Even if you haven’t seen this movie, an inconceivable position, you’ve seen and heard a lot from it, even if you didn’t know it.

Scary Movie Night

Whether it’s Halloween time or not, anytime is a good time to gather friends and family together to shut out the lights and watch a scary movie. The horror genre is enjoying a renaissance on the big screen right now, but its illustrious past is full of popular cult films worth revisiting or discovering for the first time. Films that frighten, disturb and sometimes even make you laugh.

Army of Darkness

What started as a pure horror film with Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead eventually became a time-traveling horror/comedy with Army of Darkness, a film that cemented Bruce Campbell’s Ash as a true horror icon. The fantasy horror flick tells the story of Ash Williams, a man who is accidentally transported to the Middle Ages where he must battle an army of the dead called ‘Deadites’ and retrieve the Necronomicon to get back to his time. With the one-liner spouting Ash, Army of Darkness isn’t a particularly scary scary movie, but it is entertaining and funny as hell. It’s also the kind of movie that would have a hard time getting made today, so go enjoy this cult classic.

The Lost Boys

Joel Schumacher’s 1987 teen vampire movie did sexy vampires long before Twilight gave the creatures of the night sparkles. The Lost Boys is dark and violent, but also campy and fun. It is not only a cult classic, but The Lost Boys is also considered to be among the best modern vampire movies. The film follows two brothers who move to a new town and discover that it is a haven for a gang of young, brutal vampires. With a new TV series reboot recently green-lit, there’s no better time to check out the original cult classic.

Videodrome

If you are in the mood to have some gnarly nightmares, you couldn’t do much better than watching Videodrome on scary movie night. David Cronenberg’s 1983 science fiction body horror film is a surreal story about the sleazy CEO of a UHF TV station, played by James Woods, who discovers a signal broadcasting gruesome violence and torture. Videodrome was amazingly prescient about how the horror genre would develop, but also about many aspects of modern society, from reality TV to social media to virtual reality. For terrifying horror that messes with your head, Videodrome is a classic every film fan should check out.

Family Night

Not every cult classic is suitable for children (see above), so as beloved as Kevin Smith’s films are, sometimes you need something the whole family can enjoy. These movies may not be as widely watched as Disney and Pixar titles, but they are unique and charming and they are just as enjoyable for adults as they are for kids.

The Goonies

The Goonies is one of those cult classics that it feels like everyone has seen and loves, but that doesn’t make it any less essential or perfect for a movie night. Alongside films like E.T. and Stand By Me, The Goonies is a pillar of childhood adventure movies. The film from Richard Donner, Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus follows a group of kids who call themselves ‘the Goonies’ who are facing the foreclosure of their homes. They discover a treasure map and set out to save their homes and what follows is a grand adventure. Goonies never say die, and this film’s cult status continues to gain new converts year after year.

Matilda

This forgotten Roald Dahl adaptation from director Danny DeVito has a fanbase as loyal, if not as large as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (there was even a viral #MatildaChallenge last year). Matilda is a genius bookworm who is ignored by her family like cupboard Harry Potter, but has telekinetic powers like the X-Men’s Jean Grey. The elementary schooler uses her powers to fight back against her ignorant parents and the downright sinister principal Trunchbull. Matilda gets dark at times, but it is also full of whimsy and honest emotion and teaches that being smart is a good thing. Netflix’s Roald Dahl event series will have a lot to live up to if it wants to compare.

The Last Unicorn

Based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn is much darker and stranger than many animated kids movies. It can be disturbing and scary (it’s been called nightmare fuel) but it also tells an incredibly beautiful story. The deeply melancholy tale of a unicorn searching for the rest of her kind, chased off long ago by the Red Bull, deals with heavy themes for a kids movie. But the generation that grew up with it have turned it into a cult classic, so it must not have messed them up too much. It also features a stunning voice cast including Alan Arkin, Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges, Christopher Lee and Angela Lansbury. It baffles me this hasn’t been remade in live-action yet.

Cult Comedy Night

There is no shortage of great cult comedies that have found second-lives on home video long after they disappeared from cinema screens. Movies like The Big Lebowski, Clerks and Monty Python and the Holy Grail all have loyal and deserved followings. They’re not the only cult classics that are infinitely quotable and completely hilarious. If you’re looking for laughs on movie night, you can’t go wrong with these titles.

Beerfest

The Broken Lizard gang may be best known for Super Troopers, which finally spawned a sequel last year, but that’s not their only cult film as the 2006 comedy Beerfest also has a devoted legion of ‘not that drunk’ followers. The film follows two brothers who, while visiting Germany, stumble upon an underground, international beer-drinking competition. They return home to put together an American team and hilarity ensues. It’s silly and raunchy in all the best ways, and if you went to a party in the years following its release, you’ve definitely seen it referenced. If you’re ever training for a drinking competition remember “maybe training alone on a rooftop drinking ram piss isn’t the way to go.”

Office Space

Mike Judge’s Office Space just celebrated its 20th anniversary last month. so there is no better time to revisit the hilarious and incisive satire of an office workplace that gave us the term ‘ass clown’. Pretty much anyone who has ever worked at a place can relate to the story of three office drones that decide to rebel against the dehumanizing software company they work at, as well as the desire to unleash your wrath on a perpetually jammed printer. This film’s cult status began on DVD and cable TV, but it has only grown thanks to its meme-worthiness. It is a true cult classic so if you could go ahead and watch Office Space that would be great.

Grandma’s Boy

A stoner comedy that is also a great movie about gaming, Grandma’s Boy remains one of the most memorable and rewatchable movies from Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions. The story of a 35-year-old video game tester who has to move in with his grandmother and her roommates and the personal and professional struggles he goes through is inclusive and sweet and completely hilarious, even if you’re sober. Sure, it’s lowbrow and I wouldn’t expect to see it on the AFI top 100, but if your desire is to have a movie night where you can just relax and laugh, you can’t go wrong with Grandma’s Boy.

Old Friends Night

We love Stranger Things because it has a nostalgic quality to it that reminds us of the power and importance of the friendships in our lives. Old Friends Movie Night is much the same idea, movies that have great friendships at their center we look back fondly upon. It helps if you grew up with these movies and shared them with friends, but even if you didn’t invite some friends over and give them a watch.

Dazed And Confused

You need a cult classic to watch on movie night? Alright, alright, alright. Richard Linklater’s 1993 comedy flopped at the box office, only to now be recognized as a classic coming of age film. Set on the last day of school in 1976, Dazed and Confused follows various groups of suburban teenagers as the summer begins and they do their best to get stoned, get laid, party and survive the challenges of adolescence. Dazed and Confused has an unbelievable ensemble cast of future stars including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, Joey Lauren Adams, Renée Zellweger, Jason London, Cole Houser and Parker Posey.

Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion

This 1997 comedy about two inseparable friends who hit the road together for their high school reunion and the strife that causes between them is not for everybody, but people who love it really love it. Romy and Michele is goofy and kind of weird at points, but it features a heartwarming and genuine female friendship between Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino’s characters. The comedy is super witty and the message of not giving “a flying fuck” what other people think is empowering and timeless. Plus it has that iconic dance sequence with Alan Cumming. Romy and Michele is a great movie to watch with friends old and new.

Empire Records

It’s fascinating how a movie that barely cracked a quarter million at the box office can go on to be so adored years later, by generations that lived through the era it depicts and those that didn’t. Empire Records is a cult classic in every sense of the word, a coming of age dramedy that tells the story of a group of friends and record store employees who over the course of a day, try to prevent their store from being swallowed up by a large, overly-sanitized chain. The teen misfits and their relationships still resonate in a film that could be called The Breakfast Club of the 90’s.

Action Night

Sometimes, or let’s be honest, lots of times, you just want to see things go ‘boom’ and people get punched. That’s where action movies come in. And if you want use movie night to try out a new surround sound system, there is no substitute for a great action movie. The following cult classics are the kind of movies that have more than earned their cult status, offering entertaining characters, fun action and clever stories.

The Fifth Element

George Lucas couldn’t make Flash Gordon so he made Star Wars. And Luc Besson couldn’t make Valerian (yet) so he made The Fifth Element. Both of those situations worked out pretty well I’d say. One of the hallmarks of a cult classic is that fans quote the film’s dialogue and if you’ve ever heard “Chicken… good,” “I am a meat Popsicle,” or “Mul-ti-pass” that’s The Fifth Element. Hilarious and action packed, with a kickass heroine and one of Bruce Willis’ best roles, this colorful sc-fi adventure is perfect for action night or really anytime it happens to be on TV.

The Warriors

“Warriors, come out to play-ay-ayy!” Walter Hill’s action-thriller is set in a near-future NYC that is overrun with gangs. When a gang leader named Cyrus bids to unite the gangs to take over the city, he is killed and the Warriors are blamed for it. They must outrun all of the city’s gangs and make it back home if they are to survive. The Warriors is incredibly stylish and a bit cheesy and is the definition of a cult classic film that was critically panned and later developed a massive following. The Warriors was supposed to be getting a Hulu series from the Russo Brothers, but we haven’t heard much on that in a while.

Starship Troopers

Paul Verhoeven, director of Robocop again used sci-fi action film to say something with his adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s book; it just took a while for people to catch on to what that was. On the surface,Starship Troopers is a typical sci-fi action movie, with a fun group of pretty heroes fighting an intergalactic war against a race of alien bugs. This meta film is considered to be a scathing indictment of fascism, colonialism and the military industrial complex, but if you just want to turn your brain off and have fun, it works on that level too and the action and special effects are great.

This is just a small sampling of the popular cult classics out there that are perfect for movie night or really any time. Give them a watch to see what all the fuss is about and let us know in the comments what your favorite cult classics are.

Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see all the biggest movies headed to theaters this year and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all your movie news.

What's Happening With Every Marvel Hero After Avengers: Endgame

What's Happening With Every Marvel Hero After Avengers: Endgame

For Marvel fans, Avengers: Endgame marks the culmination of an era. It all started back in 2008 with Iron Man and a crazy amount of franchise-building ambition, and 11 years and 22 films later we’ve come to the conclusion of what has been dubbed the Infinity Saga. We’ve seen a lot happen in that time, and lots of characters come and go, and it’s entirely reasonable to say that the movies have effectively changed modern pop culture.

Of course, just because the Infinity Saga is over doesn’t mean that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is – and there’s a lot to digest now that we are preparing for the start of Phase 4 (which will follow the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home). Not only have we seen some important arcs come to an end, but we are also seeing some that are just beginning. It’s a complex web, which is why we’ve built this feature to help sort it all out.

On the hero side of things, there are 33 characters who find themselves in interesting places following the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, and we’ve built this piece specifically to analyze where they all currently stand. Obviously that’s a lot to dig into, so let’s dive in…

Iron Man

It goes without saying that the Marvel Cinematic Universe wouldn’t be what it is today without Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, but now his time on the big screen has come to an end. While he used to be a selfish asshole, he changed a lot over the course of nine movies, and he made the biggest sacrifice of all in Avengers: Endgame – losing his life after using the Nano Gauntlet to defeat Thanos and his army. We may never see Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony on the big screen again (and if we do it will be years and years from now), but there’s no doubt that he will live on through the memories of his fellow heroes.

Captain America

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Iron Man, Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America began his journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by sacrificing his life – purposefully crashing an aircraft full of explosives into the arctic – but following the events of Avengers: Endgame he managed to actually get his life back. The Avengers thought they were sending their leader on a quick trip back through time to return the Infinity Stones back to their proper places, but he instead decided to stay and live out a full life with his number one gal, Peggy Carter, in the wake of World War II. Steve is now an old man, his superhero days behind him, though that doesn’t mean that the world doesn’t have a Captain America (more on that later).

Thor

Thor’s journey has been quite rough in the last few years, what with losing his mother, his father, his brother, his best friend, his homeworld, half of the Asgardian population, his hammer, his eye, and more. But Avengers: Endgame surprisingly didn’t present him with an end to his journey; instead, he is ready for a new beginning. Previously he was a character with all of his loyalties wrapped up in the fate of Asgard, but he has now given up his crown and is ready to start a brand new life. He began a friendly relationship with the Guardians of the Galaxy during the events of Avengers: Infinity War, and now it looks like he’ll be joining that crew, but exactly what he’ll get up to in the future remains a big question mark waiting for confirmation.

Hulk

As teased by Mark Ruffalo a few years ago, Hulk has been on his own specific journey through the events of Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, and that journey has left him in a very interesting place going forward. While Bruce Banner used to be a man completely terrified of the monster living inside him, the two have now made peace, and Hulk and Banner are now one – commonly referred to by fans as Professor Hulk. It doesn’t seem like this status is going to change any time soon, though it’s worth noting that the events of Endgame did see him incur what’s been referred to as “permanent damage.” He’s still the strongest Avenger, but his right arm will apparently never be the same.

Black Widow

Avengers: Endgame didn’t feature the massive death toll that some fans were expecting, but there definitely were some key lives lost. We already discussed the passing of Tony Stark, but Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow also gave her life so that the Avengers could succeed in their mission to defeat Thanos and return the world to some semblance of normalcy. Within the continuity, Black Widow died back in 2014, falling from a cliff on Vormir so that Hawkeye could retrieve the Soul Stone. This sacrifice definitely isn’t going to be reversed any time soon, but unlike the situation with Robert Downey Jr., fans will be able to see Scarlet Johansson return to the character soon in the character’s upcoming solo film (which will obviously take place in the past).

Hawkeye

Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye experienced some rough years following The Decimation, becoming the vigilante known as Ronin and traveling around the world killing people, but he got a chance for some redemption at the end of Avengers: Endgame by helping the team get the Nano Gauntlet where it needed to be so that Thanos could be defeated. That being said, his superhero days seem to be over… though he apparently won’t be leaving his post without training someone to take his place. While it has yet to be confirmed, reports have said that Jeremy Renner will soon be playing the character once again in his very own Disney+ series, which will be an adaptation of Matt Fraction and David Aja’s beloved comic book run with the character and have him advising up-and-comer Kate Bishop.

War Machine

James Rhodes has been flying around in the War Machine suit ever since Iron Man 2, and while he’s experienced some pretty devastating personal setbacks (most notably being paralyzed from the waist down during the events of Captain America: Civil War) he has continued to fight the good fight. That being said, following Avengers: Endgame it’s not entirely clear where he stands. He’s obviously still alive, but he also lost his best friend – who also happened to be the person to inspire him to suit up in the first place. Don Cheadle’s future with Marvel Studios is not entirely clear at present, and he doesn’t have any confirmed upcoming projects, but the door is wide open for him to appear in future films or television shows.

Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch missed out on five years of her life after being turned to dust by Thanos’ snap at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, but in Avengers: Endgame she not only returned, but is perhaps now stronger than she’s ever been. She’s still in mourning because of the death of her love (we’ll get more into that in a second), but that emotional pain may take her to some interesting places. She is confirmed to next appear in the Disney+ series WandaVision, and there are rumors that the show may be partially inspired by the House of M storyline from the comics, which saw the hero exhibiting powers more extreme than we’ve seen thus far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Vision

Thanos left many bodies in his wake during his attempt to capture all six of the Infinity Stones, and while many characters returned to life following Hulk’s snap with the Nano Gauntlet, Vision wasn’t one of them. There was an attempt made by Shuri in Avengers: Infinity War to rewire the android so that he could exist without the Mind Stone, but that attempt proved unsuccessful, and he was killed by the Mad Titan when the stone was plucked from his head. Like Scarlet Witch, the character will be back in action for the Disney+ series WandaVision, but exactly how his resurrection will go down remains one of the most significant mysteries in the on-going franchise.

Falcon

There has been speculation for a long time regarding the possibility of Sam Wilson a.k.a. Falcon taking on the mantle of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – specifically ever since that actually happened in Marvel Comics in 2015 – and now that concept has become a reality. Steve Rogers gives Sam his shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame, and it’s a passing of the torch that we expect will affect the franchise for many years to come. Like many of the other characters mentioned on this list so far, the first place where we will be seeing the aftershocks will be on Disney+, as the character has been confirmed to star in the developing Falcon & Winter Soldier (potential title change pending). Speaking of which…

Winter Soldier

To borrow a quote from Black Widow in The Avengers, Bucky Barnes a.k.a. The Winter Soldier a.k.a. White Wolf still has quite a bit of red in his ledger, as it’s doubtful that he will ever be fully recovered from his dark history as a brainwashed Hydra assassin. That being said, he’s still trying to ultimately leave a positive mark on the world, and as noted above he will continue to operate as a heroic vigilante opposite Captain America in the upcoming Disney+ series Falcon & Winter Soldier. Of course, as shown in Captain America: Civil War, the two heroes don’t exactly have the best relationship ever, so it should be a show filled with funny conflict in addition to real danger.

Spider-Man

A huge thing that made the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man distinct from all previous big screen iterations of the character was his relationship with Tony Stark – but obviously that’s changing in a major way following Avengers: Endgame. Peter’s mentor has died, and while he still has access to the Stark Industries-designed technology that he was given, the loss is most definitely going to have an emotional effect on him (as seen in the most recent trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home). The good news, one could argue, is that the rest of his life should be at least somewhat normal, as it would appear that most of his close friends also turned to dust during The Decimation, meaning that he’s not five years behind his classmates.

Ant-Man

Scott Lang a.k.a. Ant-Man was dealt one of the most significant emotional blows in Avengers: Endgame, given that he was trapped in the Quantum Realm for five years – though not from his perspective – and missed out on some key time in the life of his young daughter, Cassie (a situation only made worse when you think about how much of her life he missed when he was in prison). Fortunately he’s left alive and healthy at the end of the film with his girl and his girlfriend/partner, and one can imagine him not taking a single second of his life for granted going forward. Right now we don’t specifically know what the future holds for the character, but it’s all but guaranteed that he will get another opportunity to shine in a trilogy capper for his big screen solo features.

The Wasp

Of course, the “girlfriend/partner” I’m referring to in the Ant-Man section above is Hope van Dyne a.k.a. The Wasp, who is one of the many characters who returns to life in Avengers: Endgame following the first Nano Gauntlet snap. She winds up having a significant role to play in the battle at the end of the film, but beyond those events she also has an interesting future in store given that she will surely feel even more passionately about spending time with her once long-lost mother, Janet van Dyne, in the aforementioned Ant-Man And The Wasp sequel. We see them briefly together during the funeral at the end of the film, but hopefully we’ll also get to see the two generations of Wasps together on an adventure soon.

Black Panther

Fans were pretty devastated to see T’Challa a.k.a. Black Panther turn to dust at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, but he makes one hell of a triumphant return in Avengers: Endgame, and also has a seriously significant future ahead of him going into Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only is he going to have the opportunity to settle into his role as king of Wakanda (something he didn’t really have the chance to do prior to now), but within that role he’s also going to take on some seriously important diplomatic missions because of the new open border policies he enacted at the end of his first solo movie. It’s exciting stuff, and we can’t wait to see director Ryan Coogler dig into it all with the developing Black Panther 2.

Shuri

Like her brother, Shuri also makes one hell of an entrance in Avengers: Endgame, and will also have a key role to play in the future of the franchise. We know she’s the smartest person on Earth, but before now the benefits of her intelligence were exclusively available to the people of Wakanda. Now that the country has opened its borders, Shuri can start changing lives on a global scale – and it’s incredibly exciting to think about the potential that exists there. Letitia Wright was a wonderful standout in the first Black Panther movie, and we can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with her in the sequel.

Okoye

We didn’t get to see much of it in Avengers: Endgame, but with both Black Panther and Shuri dusted because of the Decimation, Okoye was surely put in a very powerful position in Wakanda during the five years that followed. Now, however, things are back to normal, and she will presumably return to her role as the leader of the Dora Milaje – the group of elite female warriors who are sworn to protect their king with every fiber of their being. The precise significance of that won’t really be known until we get to see Black Panther 2, but with Wakanda opening itself up to the world, and T’Challa becoming a figure on the global stage, her job will likely be more important than ever.

Captain Marvel

Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel has been away from Earth for a long time, but in the last few years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon she has made vital appearances when needed. First she showed up to join the Avengers in killing post-snap Thanos, and then she appeared to destroy Sanctuary II single-handedly during Avengers: Endgame’s final battle. She stayed long enough on the planet to go to the funeral at the end of the movie, but what’s not known right now is if she’ll actually stick around. She is a character who has responsibilities both on Terra and in the cosmos, so we’ll just have to wait and see what kind of adventure Captain Marvel 2 has in store for her.

Doctor Strange

In Avengers: Infinity War, Dr. Stephen Strange made what appeared to be a terrible trade when he gave up the Time Stone in exchange for the life of Tony Stark, but in Avengers: Endgame we finally learned why it was necessary: there was only one path to victory against Thanos, and it was a path that required Tony to sacrifice himself. While it was clearly the right thing to do, that knowledge may still weigh on him for some time to come, and we may see it reflected in his personality and character when we get to see the upcoming Doctor Strange 2. And, of course, being potentially the most powerful sorcerer on Earth, he will continue to have some major responsibilities protecting the planet from fantastical threats.

Wong

In the years following The Decimation, Wong likely had to take on a very important role by becoming the guardian of the New York Sanctum Sanctorum. Of course, he was also very ready to be called into action when the Hulk snap brought him back, and he was one of the key sorcerers battling Thanos during Avengers: Endgame’s massive third act fight. We expect that the next time we see him will be in Doctor Strange 2, and it’s probably fair to assume that he’ll be a key source of support for Doctor Strange in his battle against Karl Mordo (whose villainous turn was teased at the end of the first solo feature).

Valkyrie

As mentioned earlier, Thor will no longer be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s king of Asgard (now located in Tønsberg, Norway), but he didn’t leave the post without finding a proper replacement. That job and all of the responsibility that comes with it now belongs to Valkyrie, who accepts the crown at the end of Avengers: Endgame before the God of Thunder heads off with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Right now there isn’t officially a Thor 4 in the works, so we can’t say for certain when we’ll next see the character, but it seems totally unlikely that we’ve seen the last of her (and her kickass Pegasus).

Korg

Thor fell into a terrible depression following the events of Avengers: Infinity War and the titular team’s first major loss, but part of the reason he was able to get through it is because he had the support of some close friends. Korg, who met the God of Thunder during the events of Thor: Ragnarok did what he could to try and keep his Asgardian pal in a somewhat stable mental state… albeit while arguably enabling some bad habits. We didn’t see him leave with Thor at the end of Avengers: Endgame, so he’s probably still hanging out in New Asgard – but that probably just means that he’ll now have the chance to become Valkyrie’s best friend.

Miek

Of course, Korg wasn’t alone in his efforts being emotional support for Thor, as he also had the assistance of his buddy Miek from Sakaar. Once feared to be dead due to an accidental squishing, Miek managed to escape the Sanctuary II attack on the Asgardian escape vessel – along with Valkyrie and Korg – at the start of Avengers: Infinity War, and has spent the last few years of his life living in New Asgard. While we don’t actually see him at the end of Avengers: Endgame, he is presumably still there when Thor takes off into space with the Guardians, so we’ll just have to wait and see what his next adventure is.

Star-Lord

Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord may have royally screwed up during the battle against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, but hopefully fans will be able to forgive him as he moves into the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, post-dusting he did help out in a big way during the big battle in Avengers: Endgame, so at the end of the day one could argue that his slate is clean. He’s now back together with his family, best known as the Guardians of the Galaxy, though he is in an interesting position now given that Thor is a new member of his crew. Will he be able to keep the respect of his cohorts now the venerable God of Thunder is on board? Time will tell.

Gamora

Interestingly, Gamora isn’t really the Gamora we know by the time Avengers: Endgame comes to a close. The original Gamora died similarly to Black Widow on Vormir, and the one that currently exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is from an alternate timeline. That’s a big deal, because not only is she nine years younger than she otherwise would have been, but doesn’t have the same kind of relationship with the Guardians of the Galaxy that was established over many years. That being said, her family – and particularly Peter Quill – certainly wants her back, and that will almost certainly have a significant impact on the plot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Drax

In Avengers: Endgame, Drax sadly didn’t get to accomplish his mission of vengeance and kill Thanos, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t still get a happy ending. Following the final battle, he is back together with the Guardians (most of whom, like him, existed as dust particles for five years), and he seems to still be his fun-loving self. As mentioned earlier, there will perhaps be a question of where his loyalties lie in the future, as he is most definitely an admirer of Thor, but what’s important above all is that he’s happy and healthy.

Rocket

Rocket has actually changed a lot as a character over the years, as he no longer seems to be the asshole intent on pushing away everyone who cares about him. Even when he lost his entire Guardians family he still remained a team player, helping the Avengers maintain order the best that they could following The Decimation. That being said, one has to wonder what he will be like going forward, specifically going into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Clearly he still has some of his trademark edge/cynicism, but he may wind up being so happy that he has his friends back that he actually treats them a bit nicer than before (though that’s admittedly a pretty low bar).

Groot

Because of his temporary status as dust, Groot missed out on some important development time during the five years he was gone, so he still has a lot of growing to do. He’s no longer a baby, but he does remain an adolescent and still has a few stages to go through before becoming a full-fledged adult. Right now we can’t say how old he will be when we catch up with him again in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but hopefully James Gunn has some fun stuff planned with the character (especially within his relationship with a much more mature Rocket).

Nebula

Few characters in pop culture history can say that they shot and killed themselves, and then lived to tell the tale, but that’s the current story of Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has probably undergone a bigger emotional change than any other member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and it will be interesting to see how that continues when we see her next. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame she is presumably exploring the cosmos with her sister, Gamora, and at some point she’ll have to deal with Peter Quill & Co., as they will presumably want the two of them to join them once again on their misadventures.

Mantis

Like the other Guardians with the exception of Rocket, Mantis was turned to dust following what went down in Avengers: Infinity War, but now she’s back, and having helped save the universe once again she is ready for more cosmic quests. Past her introduction to the Guardians of the Galaxy in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we weirdly haven’t seen much of how she generally works alongside the rest of the team, so that will certainly be an interesting aspect of the character to explore going forward. One thing is for certain: she definitely seems to be a big fan of Thor.

Nick Fury

Nick Fury had a very small part to play in Avengers: Endgame, making a dialogue-less appearance during the funeral at the end, but there’s a very good chance that he will be quite active going forward into the future of the franchise. Not only do we know for a fact that he will be playing a significant role in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but it’s worth noting that we haven’t yet seen his very special reunion with Carol Danvers. Could he play as big a role in Captain Marvel 2 as he did in the first solo movie? We’ll have to wait and find out.

Maria Hill

Like Nick Fury, Maria Hill didn’t exactly have a huge impact on Avengers: Endgame, and didn’t give us a proper sense of where she is emotionally following her resurrection – but it won’t be long until we find out. She may have left S.H.I.E.L.D. years ago (taking a job at Stark Industries after the Hydra takeover), but she is still working alongside the former director, and will next be seen kicking ass and taking names in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Pepper Potts

Pepper Potts dedicated many years of her life to her relationship with Tony Stark, starting as his assistant before eventually becoming his wife and the mother of his only daughter, but that era of her life is now over following his sacrifice at the end of Avengers: Endgame. With that in mind, it’s unknown exactly what the future will hold for her. She has her own specially-designed Iron Man suit, which she utilized quite well during the battle against Thanos, but now that she’s a single parent she may not necessarily pursue the superhero life, and instead may just continue running one of the biggest companies in the world.

Which character are you most excited to see in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Hit the comments section below with all of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions, and stay tuned for all of the latest franchise news here on CinemaBlend.

Issa Rae May Be Doing a Lot More Projects With Will Packer After Little

Issa Rae May Be Doing a Lot More Projects With Will Packer After Little

Insecure series creator and star Issa Rae is making her leading big-screen debut this weekend alongside Marsai Martin in Big switcheroo, Little. The comedy may be the start of a beautiful partnership between the talent and Will Packer Productions, who has previously given Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish breakout movie roles (Ride Along and Girls Trip) that rocketed them into super-stardom.

Only time will tell if Little is Issa Rae’s, but you can bet Will Packer fell head over heels for Rae’s comedy chops in their first collaboration. In my recent interview with the producer, he couldn’t help gushing about her. In Packer’s words:

I love Issa, I would do a lot with her.

Yes! The actress has made a name for herself on HBO as the voice of her own series that centers on her own awkward experiences (mostly hilarious, sometimes a whole lot of dramatic) living in Los Angeles but more roles on the big screen is certainly the next step for her. Will Packer continued showing his love for Issa Rae by discussing the next he has going with her. Check out what he told me:

We've got another movie that is actually shooting right now. It's a love story called The Photograph and it's her and LaKeith Stanfield, a movie that's written and directed by a young female filmmaker named Stella Meghie. I'm very excited about it. I think that it's going to allow Issa to do something different. She's still going to bring her charm and her charisma. She's got a very unproduced quality about her. She's very natural, straightforward, what you see is what you get quality that I think is relatable to audiences. So she's bringing that to that project. But I just think that she is somebody that is the voice of the millennial generation in a different way than anybody else is doing right now.

This is definitely exciting. We may be witnessing the start of a very successful comedic career for Issa Rae with her work with blockbuster producer Will Packer. The Photograph is her next project that Universal has wasted no time getting up and running as it’s currently in production. According to Variety, the romantic-drama will focus on two intertwining love stories in the past and present and has a release date set for Valentine’s Day in 2020.

Issa Rae will be starring alongside LaKeith Stanfield who recently starred in Sorry to Bother You and Get Out. The actress also just wrapped filming a rom-com with Kumail Nanjiani called The Lovebirds. The film also set for release in early 2020 will be directed by Michael Showalter, who helmed Oscar-nominated rom-com The Big Sick. Issa Rae is also signed on to star in two other comedies in the future called Empress of Serenity and American Princess.

Get ready for a whole lot of more Issa Rae! The actress certainly has a relatable and funny charm that looks to be taking her far. Her new comedy Little is in theaters now.