Buckle up, folks, because we’re about to embark on a whirlwind tour through the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). That’s right, we’re talking about the franchise that has dominated the box office for the past 15 years, leaving other studios green with envy (and not just because of the Hulk).

It all started back in 2008 with a little movie called Iron Man. Who would’ve thought that a B-list superhero played by a guy known for his troubled past would kickstart a cinematic phenomenon? Well, that’s exactly what happened. Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark was so charismatic and engaging that audiences couldn’t help but fall in love with the character (and the actor).

From there, the MCU just kept growing. We met Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, and the rest of the gang, each with their own unique personalities and quirks. And then, in 2012, something magical happened: The Avengers. Seeing all these heroes come together on the big screen was a comic book fan’s dream come true. The movie was a massive success, grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide and cementing the MCU’s place in cinematic history.

Over the next several years, the MCU continued to expand, introducing new characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, and Black Panther. Each movie seemed to outdo the last in terms of scope, action, and box office returns. And then, in 2018 and 2019, the MCU reached its apex with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. These two movies were the culmination of over a decade’s worth of storytelling, and they delivered in every possible way. Endgame even became the highest-grossing movie of all time (until James Cameron had to go and rain on their parade with Avatar re-releases, but I digress).

Now, I know what you might be thinking: “But what about Phase 4? Haven’t those movies been kind of disappointing?” And you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Movies like Black Widow, Eternals, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania haven’t quite lived up to the hype (or the box office receipts) of their predecessors. But here’s the thing: even a “disappointing” MCU movie is still better than most other blockbusters out there. And with the upcoming introduction of Deadpool and Wolverine to the MCU in Deadpool and Wolverine there’s still plenty of reason to be excited about the future of the franchise.

So there you have it, folks: 15 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a nutshell. It’s been a wild ride, full of laughter, tears, and more superhero quips than you can shake a vibranium shield at. But what do you think? Are you still on board with the MCU, or has the shine worn off a bit? Leave your thoughts in the comments below (just don’t start any Iron Man vs. Captain America arguments, please).