Marvel's The Avengers or simply The Avengers is a 2012 American superhero film produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. It is the sixth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is scripted and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble cast that includes Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson. In The Avengers, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor to form a team that must stop Thor's adoptive brother Loki from subjugating Earth.



The Avengers premiered on April 11, 2012, at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. The film received positive reviews from most film critics and set or tied numerous box office records, including the biggest opening weekend in North America and the fastest film to gross $1 billion. The Avengers grossed $1.51 billion worldwide, and became the third highest-grossing film of all time. The film was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on September 25, 2012. A sequel to be written and directed by Whedon is scheduled for release on May 1, 2015.

In 2012, The Avengers [$1.511B/worldwide,$623.4M domestic] and The Dark Knight Rises [$1.080B/worldwide, $447.8M domestic] were number one and two respectively in domestic and worldwide box office gross. However, it's the number two film that's making a serious Oscar push while the number one movie of the year looks content to let the chips fall where they may regarding Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Instead, the studio is focusing on its animation feature films Brave, Wreck-It Ralph and Frankenweenie and the animated short Paperman.SEE:SEE:This shouldn't be considered a surprise, if there's a shocker in all this it would be Warner Bros.' decision to campaign for The Dark Knight Rises but seeing the studio has had success in the past with the final installment of trilogies, (see) maybe it shouldn't be considered too much of a surprise.But there is one movie awards show where The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises will be going head to head in a number of categories, The People's Choice Awards 2013, where honors are bestowed upon those who receive the most votes from fans like you. Clickto vote.