Avengers: Endgame has officially been out for a week now, and is making a ton of money at the box office. Plenty of moviegoers have been running to theaters to check out the 22nd installment in the MCU, hoping to get the full theatrical experience before any of the myriad twists were spoiled for them. Clearly, the stakes were sky high.
Ahead of Endgame's release, the Russo Brothers encouraged moviegoers to try and see a screening on opening weekend, to help ensure it's a spoiler-free experience. What's more, a social media campaign with #DontSpoilTheEndgame also went viral last week. But now that the movie is out, how long do we have to keep its secrets for? The co-directors recently appeared on CinemaBlend's ReelBlend podcast, where Joe Russo revealed how long he thinks the statute of limitations is. He said:
You have to be fair about it because we are, as you know, exceedingly anti-spoiler and I feel it, for the same reason, it's bullying. It could even be sociopathic to go online or, or walk out of a theater like some guy did and shout out the end of a movie while a bunch of people are standing in line waiting to go see it. And they've got 10 years of their life and their time and their emotions invested in it. It's a despicable thing to do. But I think you have to be fair. Two weekends feels like enough time for everyone to get to see it and then people should be… because you also want people to be able to talk about it. And so at a certain point, I think after the second weekend, it's okay to share spoilers.
There you have it. There's no one more anti-spoiler than Joe and Anthony Russo, who have spent the past three years guarding the secrets of the secrets of their record-breaking pair of Avengers movies. And with Endgame marking the end of the Infinity Saga and containing a ton of crazy plot twists, they've had to keep especially tight lipped. Until now.
Joe Russo's comments on ReelBleend may surprise the fandom, as the directors don't expect the public to stay mum for much longer. Spoiler alerts might be in order, but Joe believes that those moviegoers truly invested and worried about spoilers will make their way to theaters within the first two weeks of Endgame's release.
The time for spoiler-filled conversation will come up after this coming weekend, with Monday being the official day the directors suggest breaking the fan imposed gag order. Aside from the Thursday opening night and various weekday screenings that have happened over the past few days, this date will also give moviegoers two weekends to make seeing Avengers: Endgame a priority.
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While these comments might jive well with the hardcore fandom who broke the internet by getting pre-sale tickets, it might not sit well with casual moviegoers. Not everyone is quite as into the MCU, and folks may be trying to catch up on the previous 21 movies ahead of seeing Endgame. But considering what a massive event Avengers: Endgame is, places like the water cooler and social media have become landmines for spoilers.
Spoilers for Avengers: Endgame are unique because there are simply so many surprising moments and plot twists. The Russo Brothers crafted an absolutely massive narrative, with deep cuts and connections to multiple movies in the MCU's history. Because there are so many mind-blowing moments throughout the movie's runtime, one spoiler can't really ruin Endgame's contents. So even if a few plot points end up revealed, there are still a plethora of big moments that should follow.
Since The Russo Brothers have such a specific date picked out to lift the ban on Avengers: Endgame spoilers, I have to wonder if the movie's marketing campaign will take a shift. Ahead of its release, the trailers revealed a small amount of footage, mostly coming from the first 30 mins of the Endgame. But after the two weekend mark, should we expect some of the movie's biggest moments appearing in TV spots and commercials?
Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame. You have been warned, click away!
This shift has already begun ahead of Monday, as a recent TV spot revealed some new footage of Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts. While the character was hidden from the first trailer, she was shown in her Rescue armor in the newest Avengers: Endgame commercials. This was a long awaited moment that happens super late into the film's runtime, so it's surprising that Marvel Studios loosened the reigns for Tony Stark's true love. But considering Paltrow essentially spoiled this while filming, perhaps Pepper's superhero debut wasn't the biggest plot point that had to be kept under wraps.
Since so little is known about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, opening up the conversation regarding Avengers: Endgame is a way to satisfy the rabid fandom, and their endless questions. After Spider-Man: Far From Home, the public has no semblance of when the next Marvel movies will arrive, or what their titles might be. But Endgame is finally here, and moviegoers are eager to freely discuss the record-breaking blockbuster.
The secrets of Avengers: Endgame are finally out, but Marvel Studios is still keeping its cards close to the chest. Spider-Man: Far From Home will the final installment in Phase Three, and the first movie post Infinity Saga. While this project is arriving in a few months and will help to bring the MCU back into its regularly scheduled programming, no one is sure what comes next. What's more, there's been no clue as to when Phase Four might be reveled.
The Russo Brothers might hope that the public keeps Avengers: Endgame's secrets for a few more days, but they were happy to talk about the movie's contents with ReelBlend hosts Sean O'Connell, Kevin McCarthy, and Jake Hamilton. The pair of directors are no doubt relieved that the pressure of spoilers is gone-- a responsibility that seems to have weighed on the actors as well.
Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
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