The End is here. The final chapter of the Infinity Saga has ended an era and left the world in awe.

Last week, the most widely anticipated movie in human history arrived, annihilating previous opening weekend box office records to gross over $1 billion across the world.

A cultural phenomenon of apocalyptic proportions, “Avengers: Endgame” concluded over a decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a gargantuan three-hour finale that defied all expectations.

Eleven years ago, a simple action movie called “Iron Man” kicked off the MCU, which would become the most profitable and beloved cinema enterprise ever. A story of terrorists, greedy businessmen, and a playboy in a metal suit evolved into a collective universe that spans from the subatomic to the intergalactic.

One man who chose heroism over narcissism opened the door for eleven unique franchises that would coexist and each piece together the overarching Infinity Stone storyline, which concluded in the sprawling epic released last Thursday.

In the devastating wake of “Avengers: Infinity War,” the remaining Avengers and their allies struggle to pick up the pieces and regain what they lost. Their last stand against Thanos, the ultimate supervillain, brings everything we’ve seen so far to a close.

While “Infinity War” was a tale of destruction, “Endgame” is a tale of hope. It’s a massive epic that manages to conclude every Marvel subplot, character arc, and main storyline in a fulfilling and entertaining manner.

Little can be said about the plot, but “Endgame” is definitively the best MCU installment ever. The stakes have never been higher, the quality never better, and the payoff never more complete. It is a tribute to the stories Marvel has told so far and a shrine to the characters that laid the groundwork for the first “Avengers.”

Under the masterful guidance of the Russo brothers, who directed “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Endgame” achieved more financial and critical success than anyone could have imagined. As of now, the powerhouse directorial duo has created three MCU installments to achieve over $1 billion at the box office. Their films have all maintained the MCU standard of humor and heroism, but each one has expanded the MCU’s boundaries more and more, adding a more vast cast of heroes.

Back in 2016, during the buildup to “Civil War,” critics and fans questioned how a cast of twelve heroes could result in anything other than a convoluted film that can’t juggle its own character arcs and the primary plot focus. The Russos, instead of cracking under the scrutiny, showed the world their greatness. They were the natural choice to direct both halves of the final “Avengers” story.

Now that all is said and done, and fans can look back on a finished decade of successful stories, some may ask how the MCU succeeded so spectacularly.

The phrase “Avengers fatigue” has been used here and there throughout the years, but last weekend’s box office numbers seem to suggest that fans love Marvel now more than ever. There has been steady growth in the Marvel fanbase since the start, and today that fanbase is global.

“Infinity War” and “Endgame” left a crater in our cultural psyche. Thanos’ snap has become an iconic act that will remain a historically fundamental aspect of this time period’s culture.

The reason for this success is that stories of heroism, in whatever form they come, will always be loved. Our world is a world of underdogs, of quiet tales of heroism, of the small and daily acts of grace that make mankind what it is.

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When we help each other, we know in our heart that it’s right. That’s what the MCU captures. The monumentous, world-saving heroics of the Avengers and their allies are engaging because, simply put, they’re good. It’s always been about acting not out of self-interest, but out of compassion. We want the good guys to win, and more than that we expect them to win.

Beyond that, the characters of Marvel have always been easy to love: good at heart, but always flawed enough to feel credible. Watching half of them die last April was difficult. Watching the remaining half struggle with their tremendous loss isn’t easy this time either.

“Endgame” is a story of the characters, that’s why it’s easy to invest in. The plot matters because it serves the purpose of bringing back half of the beloved heroes.

“Infinity War” shocked everyone for subverting expectations and making its own formula for greatness. For the first time in Marvel’s film history the good guys lost. “Endgame” follows this mind-blowing twist with more unprecedented plot twists that are experimental enough to be surprising and handled expertly enough to be beautiful.

The MCU is not over by an means, but this chapter has come to a close. Our very real world has watched this fictitious one evolve over the last decade, and the final chapter could not have possibly been more bittersweet.