Few films have ever generated the kind of collective anticipation that Avengers: Infinity War commanded. When Thanos finally made his move on Earth’s mightiest heroes, audiences flocked to theaters in record numbers, turning the 2018 release into a global event.
Global Box Office: $2.048 billion ·
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85% ·
Release Date: April 27, 2018 ·
Runtime: 149 minutes
Quick snapshot
- Earned $2.048 billion worldwide (The Numbers (box office tracker))
- Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Wikipedia (film database))
- Released April 27, 2018 (Wikipedia (film database))
- 85% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))
- Exact budget: estimates range from $316 million to $400 million (Wikipedia (film database))
- Whether the film is “better” than Endgame is subjective (Wikipedia (film database))
- Box office data from opening weekend has minor variations across sources (Wikipedia (film database))
- April 27, 2018: Theatrical release (Wikipedia (film database))
- May 2018: Crosses $1 billion worldwide (Wikipedia (film database))
- June 12, 2018: Crosses $2 billion worldwide (Wikipedia (film database))
- April 26, 2019: Endgame releases and breaks Infinity War’s opening record (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) directly continues the story
- Future MCU films will reference the events of Infinity War
- Thanos’s legacy will influence subsequent phases
The pattern: Infinity War was a commercial juggernaut that also earned strong critical marks, setting the stage for an even larger sequel.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | April 27, 2018 |
| Director | Anthony and Joe Russo |
| Writers | Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely |
| Budget | $316–400 million |
| Box Office | $2.048 billion |
| Runtime | 149 minutes |
Is Avengers: Infinity War hit or flop?
Box office performance worldwide
Infinity War earned $2,048,158,241 worldwide, according to The Numbers (box office tracker). That made it the fourth film in history to cross $2 billion, after Avatar, Titanic, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Wikipedia (film database)). Its domestic opening weekend of $257.69 million was then the highest of all time (Wikipedia (film database)). By any mainstream box-office benchmark, the film is a massive hit.
Critical reception overview
On Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator), Infinity War holds an 85% approval rating from critics, with a consensus that praises its ambition, stakes, and character work. Metacritic gives it a score of 68, indicating generally favorable reviews (Wikipedia (film database)).
Audience response and cultural impact
Audiences turned Infinity War into a social phenomenon. The film’s ending — where Thanos snaps away half of all life — sparked endless discussion and memes. The Wikipedia (film database) notes it became the highest-grossing superhero film at the time.
Infinity War is decisively a hit. With over $2 billion in revenue and strong critical approval, the question is not whether it succeeded, but how its success compares to what came next.
Do I watch Infinity War before Endgame?
Chronological order of MCU Phase 3
Avengers: Infinity War was released in April 2018, and Avengers: Endgame in April 2019. The events of Infinity War lead directly into Endgame. The snap — Thanos’s elimination of half of life — is the inciting incident for the sequel’s plot.
Story connections between the two films
Endgame assumes that viewers are familiar with the outcome of Infinity War. The surviving characters struggle with grief and loss, creating the emotional foundation for the time-heist narrative. Watching Infinity War first is essential for understanding the character arcs in Endgame.
Recommended viewing order
Marvel’s official chronological order places Infinity War before Endgame. Any first-time viewer should watch Infinity War — then Ant-Man and the Wasp (which occurs simultaneously) — then Endgame.
The catch: without the snap, the stakes of the finale feel unearned.
Is Infinity War better or Endgame?
Critical rating comparison
Infinity War scores 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, while Endgame sits at 94% (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)). Both are well-reviewed, but critics generally rate Endgame higher for its emotional payoff.
Box office comparison
Endgame outgrossed Infinity War worldwide by more than $669 million, earning $2,717,503,922 according to The Numbers (box office tracker). Domestically, Endgame earned $858 million vs. Infinity War‘s $679 million — a difference of roughly $179.6 million (The Numbers (box office tracker)).
Fan polls and subjective preference
Fan sentiment is split. Some prefer Infinity War‘s tighter pacing and villain-driven narrative; others argue Endgame‘s emotional resonance makes it the stronger film. Neither film is objectively “better,” but the data shows Endgame had wider appeal.
The pattern: across audience scores on IMDb, both films sit above 8.0, but Endgame leads by a small margin.
| Aspect | Infinity War | Endgame |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide Box Office | $2.048 billion (The Numbers (box office tracker)) | $2.718 billion (The Numbers (box office tracker)) |
| Domestic Opening Weekend | $257.69 million (Wikipedia (film database)) | $357.1 million (Deadline (film industry publication)) |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 85% (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)) | 94% (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)) |
| Runtime | 149 minutes | 181 minutes |
| Budget | $316–400 million (Wikipedia (film database)) | ~$356 million (Deadline (film industry publication)) |
The trade-off: Infinity War delivers a leaner, more focused conflict, while Endgame rewards years of franchise investment with a longer, more emotional conclusion.
Who finally killed Thanos?
Infinity War ending
At the end of Infinity War, Thanos succeeds in collecting all six Infinity Stones and snaps his fingers, wiping out half of all life. He then retreats to a remote garden, physically weakened but victorious. He is not killed in this film.
Thanos death in Endgame
In Avengers: Endgame, a past version of Thanos travels to the future final battle. It is Tony Stark (Iron Man) who finally kills Thanos by using the Infinity Gauntlet himself, snapping his fingers to disintegrate Thanos and his army. This act costs Tony his life (Wikipedia (film database)).
Role of Thor and Iron Man
Earlier in Infinity War, Thor wounds Thanos with Stormbreaker, driving the axe into his chest. But Thanos still manages to snap before being stopped. The final death is delivered by Iron Man in Endgame, making him the definitive killer.
The pattern: the hero who started the MCU ends its central conflict.
Was Avengers: Infinity War the last one?
Sequels following Infinity War
Infinity War was not the last Avengers film. Its direct sequel, Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019, concluded the story arc begun in Infinity War (Wikipedia (film database)).
MCU Phase 3 conclusion
Infinity War and Endgame together form the capstone of Marvel’s Phase 3, wrapping up the narrative that began with Iron Man in 2008. The events are interwoven with other Phase 3 films like Doctor Strange and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Future Avengers films
Marvel Studios has since announced Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as part of Phase 5 and 6. The franchise continues, though with a new threat beyond Thanos.
Why this matters: Infinity War is a midpoint, not a conclusion. Viewers need to watch Endgame to see the story fully resolved.
What we know and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Infinity War grossed $2.048 billion worldwide (The Numbers (box office tracker))
- Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Wikipedia (film database))
- Released on April 27, 2018 (Wikipedia (film database))
- Rated 85% on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))
- Thanos is killed by Iron Man in Endgame (Wikipedia (film database))
- It crossed $2 billion on June 12, 2018 (Wikipedia (film database))
What’s unclear
- Whether Infinity War is subjectively “better” than Endgame depends on personal preference
- Exact production budget varies by source — estimates range from $316 million to $400 million (Wikipedia (film database))
- Whether Natasha Romanoff’s death in Endgame was narratively necessary remains debated among fans
- Opening weekend numbers have small discrepancies across reporting outlets
What the directors and critics said
We knew from the beginning that the snap was the event that would define the entire two-part story. It was a risk, but the audience had to feel the weight of loss.
— Joe Russo (co-director), in an interview with Deadline (film industry publication)
Thanos is not a typical villain. He believes he is the hero of his own story. That made him compelling to write and direct.
— Anthony Russo (co-director), as cited in Wikipedia (film database)
Avengers: Infinity War delivers a satisfying spectacle that balances its massive ensemble cast with genuine emotional stakes.
— Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus, Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)
What this means for the MCU — and for viewers
Avengers: Infinity War was a critical and commercial triumph, proving that a shared-universe crossover could be both a blockbuster and a character-driven story. For Marvel Studios, the film solidified its ability to take risks — killing off beloved heroes — while maintaining audience loyalty. For viewers deciding whether to watch it today, the choice is clear: you need to see Infinity War before Endgame, and you’ll likely want to stick around for the payoff.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest flop of the MCU?
The biggest box-office disappointment in the MCU is generally considered to be The Marvels (2023), which earned only $206 million worldwide against a reported budget of $220 million. Infinity War is on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Why was Natasha killed off?
Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) sacrifices herself in Endgame to obtain the Soul Stone. The directors have stated that her death was meant to be a redemptive arc and a necessary sacrifice for the team.
What is the saddest death in Avengers?
Many fans cite Tony Stark’s death in Endgame as the most emotional. Within Infinity War, the deaths of Gamora and Loki are also considered deeply affecting.
What are the Infinity Stones?
The six Infinity Stones — Space, Mind, Reality, Power, Time, and Soul — are cosmic artifacts from the Marvel universe. When combined, they give the wielder god-like power over all existence.
How many post-credit scenes does Infinity War have?
Avengers: Infinity War has one post-credit scene: Nick Fury sends a distress signal to Captain Marvel just before he and Maria Hill are dusted by the snap.
Who directed Avengers: Infinity War?
Anthony and Joe Russo directed Infinity War. They had previously directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War for Marvel.
What is the runtime of Avengers: Infinity War?
The theatrical runtime is 149 minutes (2 hours 29 minutes).
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.