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Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War is a 2018 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics characters and produced by Marvel Studios.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Avengers: Infinity War is a 2018 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics characters and produced by Marvel Studios. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, it follows the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and other allies as they try to stop Thanos from collecting the six Infinity Stones. The film is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was released in April 2018.

Premise

The film centres on Thanos, who seeks the Infinity Stones in order to carry out his plan to destroy half of all life in the universe. The Avengers and their allies try to stop him across several interconnected storylines.

Production

Avengers: Infinity War was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. It was produced by Marvel Studios and designed as a major crossover within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Release

The film premiered in 2018 and was released in U.S. theatres on April 27, 2018. It has a PG-13 rating and a runtime of 149 minutes.

Reception and significance

The film was widely noted for bringing together a large cast of Marvel characters and for serving as a major turning point in the Infinity Saga. It is followed by Avengers: Endgame.

Key facts

  • The film is the 19th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
  • It features Thanos's attempt to gather all six Infinity Stones.
  • The story crosses multiple MCU character groups, including the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
  • The film was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.
  • It was released in the United States on April 27, 2018.
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Canadian context

The film had a wide commercial release in Canada in 2018 and is part of a globally distributed Marvel franchise that is popular with Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Avengers: Infinity War about?
It follows the Avengers and their allies as they try to stop Thanos from collecting the Infinity Stones and using them to kill half of all life in the universe.
Who directed Avengers: Infinity War?
It was directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo.
When was Avengers: Infinity War released?
It was released in the United States on April 27, 2018.
How long is Avengers: Infinity War?
The film runs for 149 minutes.
Is Avengers: Infinity War part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Yes. It is an installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and features characters from several MCU franchises.

References

  1. Marvel — https://www.marvel.com/movies/avengers-infinity-war
    Supports: Director, writers, release date, runtime, and plot premise.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avengers:_Infinity_War
    Supports: Plot premise and general film identification.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/facts/Avengers-Infinity-War
    Supports: Release year, runtime, directing, writing credits, and film facts.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/avengers_infinity_war
    Supports: Synopsis, director, screenwriters, genre, release date, and runtime.