Along the path to “Avengers: Endgame,” there was a 21-movie pit stop — a marathon viewing of every Avengers-related Marvel film starting with 2008’s “Iron Man” — that included between-film appearances by Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes) and Cobie Smulders (Agent Maria Hill), plus Hulk-shaped fruit drinks to sip while lounging in the comfy confines of Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre.

What did the marathon ticket include? A reserved seat for viewing every movies involving the Avengers — that’s 22, including “Endgame” — seven meals, a souvenir popcorn tin (+ 2 refills of popcorn), 3 bottled drinks, an exclusive poster, souvenir blanket, collectible coin, a comfort kit, raffles and more.

Here’s the journey (in tweets) one reporter took to get to the 5 p.m. launch of “Endgame”:


Four films, 10 hours into ⁦@MarvelStudios⁩ Marathon ⁦@ElCapitanThtre⁩-Hollywood. Rep from @YMCA led the crowd in stretches before dinner break w/food trucks. Only 18 movies, 2 days to go till #AvengersEndgamePremiere. #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/tndXuUyN6v — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019

Best audience comment so far: Kyle from ⁦@Nerdist⁩ urges fans ⁦@MarvelStudios⁩ Marathon ⁦@ElCapitanThtre⁩ to “stay hydrated,” promoting the response—immediately after “Captain America: The First Avenger”:—“Heil Hydration!” pic.twitter.com/y29P1EIHhz — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019

After midnight ⁦@ElCapitanThtre⁩ for 3-day, 22-movie, 65-hour @MarvelStudios MCU Marathon and the bodies are starting to pile up. pic.twitter.com/iTYyZYLE37 — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019


Maybe it’s having been up almost 24 hours, or dozing a time or two during “Thor: The Dark World,” but I swear that Malekith, in one of his growls Dark Elf language speeches, said something that sounded a LOT like “covfefe.” That explains a lot. ⁦@MarvelStudios⁩ Marathon. pic.twitter.com/kTLQ4GDyzo — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019

Actress #ColbieSmulders aka Agent #MariaHill of S.H.I.E.L.D., held a quick Q&A ahead of “#Avengers: Age of Ultron,” movie #11 in the MCU 22-movie marathon @ElCapitanThtre-Hollywood. So we’re at the halfway point before tomorrow’ evening’s #AvengersEndgame” premiere. #StayAwake pic.twitter.com/TXJ74GpqTy — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019


Dinner break, Night 2 of ⁦@MarvelStudios⁩’ 22-movie, 3-day marathon culminating in Thur #AvengersEndgamePremiere. I’m WAY past my regular bedtime, heading into Hour 35 I. The theater w500-600 similarly ridiculous fans. pic.twitter.com/7fByCS5UTm — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019

Day 3, film No. 19 coming up in the ⁦@MarvelStudios⁩ Marathon ⁦@ElCapitanThtre⁩-Hollywood. Reps from @Nerdist introducing most of the movies with trivia and other nonsense. I’m punchy but still engaged after 48 hours in this theater. pic.twitter.com/LZDDWzJyOL — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019


In the home stretch: final three films of 22 movie ⁦⁦@MarvelStudios⁩ Marathon at ⁦@ElCapitanThtre⁩. Thanks to rep from Hollywood ⁦@ymca⁩ for the stretch between movies. Also for all the smart fan apparel on display. pic.twitter.com/l5ElinfuCV — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019

Down to the wire. Up now: ⁦@CaptainMarvel⁩, which today becomes the penultimate film in the ⁦@MarvelStudios⁩ extended saga. Final prelude in the 22-movie, 65-hour marathon ⁦@ElCapitanThtre⁩ preceding #AvengersEngamePremiere tonight. The suspense is killing me. pic.twitter.com/IVU3oTkMp8 — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019

Mission accomplished: I traversed the entirety of the ⁦⁦⁩ 3-day, 22-movie @MarvelStudios marathon capped by #AvengersEndgamePremiere ⁦@ElCapitanThtre-Hollywood.⁩ That’s a LOT of time in superhero world. But to borrow a phrase: #ICouldDoThisAllDay pic.twitter.com/xrnpifRkQG — Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 26, 2019