The Avengers (2012), also known as Marvel’s The Avengers, is a superhero action film from Marvel Studios directed by Joss Whedon. The movie brings Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye together for the first time as they face Loki and his Chitauri army in a battle that threatens New York City and the entire world.
Movie Details
| Movie Title | The Avengers |
|---|---|
| Original Title | Marvel’s The Avengers |
| Release Date | April 25, 2012 (first international release); May 4, 2012 (United States) |
| Release Year | 2012 |
| Runtime | 143 minutes |
| Certificate / Age Rating | PG-13 |
| Status | Released |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Superhero |
| Director | Joss Whedon |
| Writers | Joss Whedon, Zak Penn |
| Producer | Kevin Feige |
| Production Company | Marvel Studios |
| Distributor | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Budget | $220–225 million |
| Worldwide Box Office | $1.520 billion |
Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Marvel’s The Avengers from Marvel Entertainment.
Cast
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Robert Downey Jr. | Tony Stark / Iron Man |
| Chris Evans | Steve Rogers / Captain America |
| Mark Ruffalo | Bruce Banner / The Hulk |
| Chris Hemsworth | Thor |
| Scarlett Johansson | Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow |
| Jeremy Renner | Clint Barton / Hawkeye |
| Tom Hiddleston | Loki |
| Clark Gregg | Agent Phil Coulson |
| Cobie Smulders | Agent Maria Hill |
| Stellan Skarsgård | Erik Selvig |
| Samuel L. Jackson | Nick Fury |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | Pepper Potts |
| Paul Bettany | JARVIS (voice) |
| Alexis Denisof | The Other |
| Tina Benko | NASA Scientist |
| Jerzy Skolimowski | Georgi Luchkov |
| Kirill Nikiforov | Weaselly Thug |
| Jeff Wolfe | Tall Thug |
| M’laah Kaur Singh | Young Girl |
| Rashmi Rustagi | Calcutta Woman |
| Powers Boothe | World Security Council Member |
| Jenny Agutter | World Security Council Member |
| Arthur Darbinyan | World Security Council Member |
| Donald Li | World Security Council Member |
| Warren Kole | Carrier Bridge Tech |
| Alicia Sixtos | Carrier Bridge Tech |
| Jesse Garcia | Carrier Bridge Tech |
| Maximiliano Hernández | Agent Jasper Sitwell |
| Dieter Riesle | Gala Scientist |
| Kenneth Tigar | German Old Man |
| Walter Perez | Young S.H.I.E.L.D. Pilot |
| Harry Dean Stanton | Security Guard |
| Josh Cowdery | Maintenance Guy |
| Ashley Johnson | Waitress |
| Katsumi Komatsu | Japanese Family Member |
| Yumiko Komatsu | Japanese Family Member |
| Momoko Komatsu | Japanese Family Member |
| Robert Clohessy | Police Sergeant |
| Enver Gjokaj | Young Cop |
| Fernanda Toker | Office Woman |
| Andrea Vecchio | News Reporter |
| Robin Swoboda | News Reporter |
| Brent McGee | Faceless Pilot |
| Jamie McShane | Celebration Montage Interviewee |
| Michael Zhang | Celebration Montage Interviewee |
| William Christopher Stephens | Celebration Montage Interviewee |
| Kelley Robins Hicks | Celebration Montage Interviewee |
| Romy Rosemont | Shawna Lynde |
| James Eckhouse | Senator Boynton |
| Stan Lee | Stan Lee |
| Thomas Roberts | Thomas Roberts |
| Pat Kiernan | Pat Kiernan |
| Damion Poitier | Man #1 / Thanos |
| Lou Ferrigno | The Hulk (voice) |
Story / Plot
The Avengers begins when Loki arrives on Earth and steals the Tesseract, a powerful energy source that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been studying. Using the Tesseract and an alien army, Loki plans to open a portal that will allow the Chitauri forces to invade Earth.
Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., realizes that the threat is too great for one hero to handle. He activates the Avengers Initiative and begins bringing together several extraordinary individuals: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton and Thor.
The team does not immediately work well together. Tony Stark’s personality clashes with Steve Rogers’ disciplined approach, while Bruce Banner struggles with the danger of losing control of the Hulk. Thor also has a personal connection to Loki because Loki is his adopted brother.
Meanwhile, Loki uses his scepter to control Hawkeye and Dr. Erik Selvig. Selvig works on the Tesseract while Loki prepares the equipment needed to open a portal above Stark Tower in New York City.
After an early confrontation on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Loki’s actions contribute to the destruction of the facility and the death of Agent Phil Coulson. Coulson’s death becomes a turning point for the Avengers and gives the group a reason to stop fighting among themselves and work together.
Loki successfully opens the portal above Stark Tower, allowing the Chitauri army to enter New York City. The Avengers finally fight together as a team while attempting to protect civilians and stop the invasion.
Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye each play an important role in the Battle of New York. Hulk defeats Loki in a memorable confrontation, while Black Widow uses Loki’s scepter to close the portal by using the Tesseract’s energy against the gateway.
Iron Man carries a nuclear missile through the portal and redirects it toward the Chitauri fleet. The missile destroys the alien command structure, causing the Chitauri forces on Earth to lose their ability to continue the invasion.
Thor takes Loki back to Asgard as a prisoner, while the Avengers go their separate ways after successfully defending Earth.
Ending Explained
The ending of The Avengers revolves around the Battle of New York and the Avengers finally becoming a functioning team.
Loki and the Chitauri initially appear to have the advantage because the Tesseract has opened a portal over Stark Tower, allowing the alien army to enter New York City.
The Avengers fight the Chitauri across Manhattan while trying to protect civilians. Captain America coordinates the defense on the ground, Thor battles the invading forces, Hawkeye provides support from a distance, Black Widow works toward closing the portal, Hulk attacks the Chitauri directly, and Iron Man takes the fight into the sky.
The turning point comes when the World Security Council launches a nuclear missile toward New York City in an attempt to destroy the invasion. Iron Man intercepts the missile and carries it through the portal toward the Chitauri fleet.
Iron Man successfully destroys the alien command structure but loses power and begins falling back toward Earth. Hulk catches him and helps prevent his death.
Back on Earth, Black Widow reaches the portal mechanism. After learning from Selvig that the scepter can be used to close the portal, she uses it to shut the gateway.
With the portal closed and the Chitauri command structure destroyed, the alien invasion collapses. Thor takes Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard.
The final scenes show the Avengers going their separate ways, but the team has now been established as Earth’s main group of superheroes. The post-credits scene then introduces Thanos, revealing that Loki’s failed invasion was connected to a much larger threat that would become important in later MCU movies.
Where to Watch The Avengers
Franchise / Connections
Franchise
The Avengers is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and is the first live-action Avengers team-up movie. It is also the sixth feature film in the MCU and an important entry in the MCU’s Phase One and Infinity Saga.
Prequel / Lead-In Movies
The Avengers is preceded by several MCU movies that introduce the characters and events leading to the team-up:
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Sequel
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) is the direct sequel to The Avengers and brings the Avengers together again to face Ultron.
Related Movies
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
FAQs
What is The Avengers (2012) about?
The Avengers follows a group of superheroes who are brought together by Nick Fury to stop Loki and his Chitauri army from invading Earth.
When was The Avengers released?
The Avengers began its international theatrical release on April 25, 2012, before its United States release on May 4, 2012.
Who directed The Avengers?
Joss Whedon directed The Avengers.
Who wrote The Avengers?
The screenplay was written by Joss Whedon and Zak Penn.
Who produced The Avengers?
Kevin Feige produced The Avengers for Marvel Studios.
How long is The Avengers?
The Avengers has a runtime of approximately 143 minutes, or 2 hours and 23 minutes.
What is The Avengers age rating?
The Avengers is rated PG-13 in the United States.
What genre is The Avengers?
The movie is primarily an Action, Adventure and Sci-Fi superhero film.
What is the budget of The Avengers?
The reported production budget for The Avengers was approximately $220 million.
How much did The Avengers make?
The Avengers earned approximately $1.52 billion worldwide across all releases, according to Box Office Mojo.
Who plays Iron Man in The Avengers?
Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark / Iron Man.
Who plays Captain America in The Avengers?
Chris Evans plays Steve Rogers / Captain America.
Who plays Thor in The Avengers?
Chris Hemsworth plays Thor.
Who plays Hulk in The Avengers?
Mark Ruffalo plays Bruce Banner / the Hulk, with Lou Ferrigno providing the Hulk’s voice.
Who plays Black Widow in The Avengers?
Scarlett Johansson plays Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow.
Who plays Hawkeye in The Avengers?
Jeremy Renner plays Clint Barton / Hawkeye.
Who plays Loki in The Avengers?
Tom Hiddleston plays Loki.
Who plays Nick Fury in The Avengers?
Samuel L. Jackson plays Nick Fury.
Who plays Agent Coulson in The Avengers?
Clark Gregg plays Agent Phil Coulson.
Who plays Maria Hill in The Avengers?
Cobie Smulders plays Agent Maria Hill.
Who plays Erik Selvig in The Avengers?
Stellan Skarsgård plays Dr. Erik Selvig.
Who is the villain in The Avengers?
Loki is the primary antagonist of The Avengers. He leads the Chitauri invasion of Earth with the assistance of an alien army.
What does Loki want in The Avengers?
Loki wants to use the Tesseract to open a portal and allow the Chitauri army to invade Earth. He also wants to establish his power over humanity.
What is the Tesseract in The Avengers?
The Tesseract is a powerful cosmic object containing the Space Stone. In The Avengers, it is used as the energy source for opening the portal above Stark Tower.
Why does Nick Fury form the Avengers?
Nick Fury forms the Avengers because Loki and the Chitauri represent a threat that cannot be handled by a single superhero or ordinary military force.
Why do the Avengers fight each other?
The Avengers initially struggle to cooperate because of their different personalities, goals and methods. The tension becomes worse after Loki’s attack on the Helicarrier and the death of Agent Coulson.
How does the Avengers team come together?
The Avengers become a true team during the Battle of New York. They stop arguing and coordinate their abilities to defend civilians and defeat the Chitauri invasion.
Who kills Loki in The Avengers?
Loki is not killed in The Avengers. Hulk defeats him by repeatedly smashing him into the ground, but Loki survives and is later taken back to Asgard by Thor.
Does Loki die in The Avengers?
No. Loki survives the events of The Avengers. Thor takes him back to Asgard as a prisoner.
Does Iron Man die in The Avengers?
No. Tony Stark survives the movie. He nearly dies after carrying the nuclear missile through the portal, but Hulk helps catch him as he falls back toward Earth.
Does Captain America die in The Avengers?
No. Steve Rogers survives the Battle of New York and continues as Captain America in later MCU movies.
Does Thor die in The Avengers?
No. Thor survives the Battle of New York and returns to Asgard with Loki and the Tesseract.
Does Hulk die in The Avengers?
No. Bruce Banner and Hulk survive the events of The Avengers.
Does Hawkeye die in The Avengers?
No. Clint Barton survives the movie. He spends part of the story under Loki’s control before regaining control of himself.
Does Black Widow die in The Avengers?
No. Natasha Romanoff survives the Battle of New York and helps close the portal.
Does Agent Coulson die in The Avengers?
Yes. Agent Phil Coulson is killed by Loki on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. His death becomes a major motivation for the Avengers to unite.
How is the portal closed in The Avengers?
Black Widow uses Loki’s scepter to activate the mechanism capable of closing the portal after learning how the Tesseract’s energy system works.
Who destroys the Chitauri army?
The Avengers defeat the Chitauri invasion after Iron Man destroys the alien command structure with a nuclear missile and Black Widow closes the portal connecting Earth to the Chitauri forces.
Who stops the alien invasion in The Avengers?
The Avengers stop the invasion by working together during the Battle of New York. Iron Man destroys the Chitauri command structure while Black Widow closes the portal.
Why does Iron Man carry the nuclear missile into space?
Iron Man carries the missile through the portal because it is heading toward New York City and could destroy the city. He redirects it toward the Chitauri fleet and their command structure.
Who catches Iron Man after he falls from the portal?
Hulk catches Iron Man after Tony returns through the portal and begins falling toward the ground.
What happens to Loki at the end of The Avengers?
Thor takes Loki back to Asgard as a prisoner after the Chitauri invasion is defeated.
What happens after the Battle of New York?
The Avengers separate after successfully defending Earth. The events of the Battle of New York also become important to the stories of later MCU movies.
Who appears in the post-credits scene of The Avengers?
The post-credits scene introduces Thanos, played in the film’s credits sequence by Damion Poitier. The scene establishes a larger threat beyond Loki and the Battle of New York.
Is Thanos in The Avengers?
Yes. Thanos appears in the post-credits scene, although he does not participate in the main Battle of New York.
Is The Avengers connected to Avengers: Infinity War?
Yes. The Avengers is an important early chapter of the MCU story that eventually leads to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Is The Avengers connected to Avengers: Endgame?
Yes. The events and characters introduced in The Avengers become important throughout the MCU and eventually connect directly to Avengers: Endgame.
What movie comes after The Avengers?
The next MCU film released after The Avengers was Iron Man 3 (2013). The direct Avengers team sequel is Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
What should I watch before The Avengers?
The main MCU movies leading into The Avengers are Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.
What should I watch after The Avengers?
For MCU release order, watch Iron Man 3 after The Avengers. For the next Avengers team-up, watch Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Is The Avengers part of the MCU?
Yes. The Avengers is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is the sixth feature film released in the MCU.
Is The Avengers part of the Infinity Saga?
Yes. The Avengers is an early chapter of the MCU’s Infinity Saga and introduces events and characters that become important much later in the saga.
Is The Avengers based on Marvel Comics?
Yes. The movie is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team known as the Avengers.
Is The Avengers based on a true story?
No. The Avengers is a fictional superhero movie based on Marvel Comics characters.
Is The Avengers worth watching?
The Avengers is an important MCU movie because it brings several previously established superheroes together for the first time and establishes the Avengers as a unified team.
Where can I watch The Avengers?
The Avengers is available through different digital and streaming services depending on the country. Availability changes by region, so check the official platform links in the Where to Watch section above.
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