The Avengers (2012)

This is an okay movie. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D., arrives at a remote research facility during an evacuation. The Tesseract suddenly activates and opens a portal, allowing Loki to reach Earth. In response to the attack, Fury reactivates the "Avengers Initiative". Agent Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) is sent to India to recruit Dr. Bruce Banner to trace the Tesseract through its gamma radiation emissions. Thor arrives and tries to convince his adopted brother Loki to abandon his plan and return to Asgard.

The film is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name and is the sixth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It set numerous box office records, including the biggest opening weekend and the fastest film to gross $1 billion and became the third highest-grossing film of all time. A sequel is scheduled for release in 2015. There are two post-credits scenes. Mark Ruffalo was cast as Banner and the Hulk after negotiations with Edward Norton broke down. Co-creator Stan Lee has a cameo appearance in a news report.