Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame.

Avengers: Endgame climbs on IMDb’s Top 250 List less than a week from its release. The crowning jewel of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally out after building it up in the last 11 years across 21 films. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo with the story written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, it’s the direct sequel to last year’s Avengers: Infinity War which ended on a cliffhanger. Thanos handed the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes their first ever real defeat by successfully collecting all six Infinity Stones and using them to wipe out half of life in the universe.

Both critics and fans are thrilled with how Endgame panned out, evidenced in Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh rating and A+ Cinemascore - review aggregating sites that target different markets when it comes to collecting data regarding the consensus on a film. And with almost $1.5 billion earned on the global box office - $1.2 billion on its opening weekend alone, it’s safe to say that the majority of the moviegoing public has already gone and seen the film. But aside from said review aggregators, another indication of people’s reception of the film comes via IMDb which backs up the notion that Marvel Studios stuck the landing with their culminating film, although its process is a bit different. To be able to be considered, a film should at least have 25,000 ratings, with scores of more established registered users given higher importance.

IMDb’s Top 250 list places Endgame in its third spot with 9.0 rating, ascending two notches from its initial ranking of being at number five (8.9). At this point, the only two films that are ahead of it are classics, Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972). With this new placement, Avengers 4 pushed past Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008) and The Godfather II (1974), making it the highest ranking comic book film in the list.

It’s difficult to review Endgame on its own merit since its built on the backs of all the films that came before it - something that the Russos, as well as Markus and McFeely made a conscious effort of emphasizing. The idea that the heroes travel into the past and revisit key moments of MCU’s history already evokes nostalgia, not to mention that the founding heroes of the universe are front and center. There were countless references to previous movies that long-time supporter of the franchise absolutely love. Is it still an enjoyable watch for non-MCU fans? Yes, since it ticks all the boxes of a traditional summer blockbuster. But more than anything, the movie is a reward for those who put in the time and effort to support the universe in the past 11 years.

But just because it relies on the world-building that came before it doesn’t mean that the film didn’t do its job in providing a compelling narrative and movie-going experience like no other. The very idea of making Avengers: Endgame feel like a culmination of The Infinity Saga was already a massive undertaking. Add the pressure to cap off the personal arcs of beloved heroes makes people more appreciative of it.

More: Avengers: Endgame’s Post-Credits Surprise Explained

Source: IMDb

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