A Year Later, AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors Reminisce on the Emotional Opening Night They Experienced
Last April, fans were treated to Avengers: Endgame, the finale of the Infinity Saga, and the defeat of Thanos, the most evil nemesis the Avengers had come up against. It was such an exciting moviegoing experience, being surrounded by other fans, cheering, crying, laughing, and enjoying the incredible film.
On the anniversary of the movie, directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo spoke to Deadline about their most recent Netflix film, Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth. While talking, Deadline mentioned the anniversary of the film, and asked what their most treasured memory is of that time.
Joe said:
My most treasured memory is when Ant and I, Kevin Feige, Markus & McFeely and Lou D’Esposito snuck into the Westwood Theater on opening night to watch it with an audience. I’ve never had an experience like that in a movie theater, where an audience was that viscerally and emotionally connected to what was going on, vocalizing and emoting the way they were. We had chills all around and were brought to tears once or twice, realizing you told a story that had such binding communal impact. It was something we’ll never forget.
I know I truly enjoyed having that experience, but never thought about whether the people who made the movie got to have the same experience. It’s only fair that they got to sit and watch and be fans, and see the impact of what they created.
Anthony added:
It’s related to what you’re exploring here. We grew up in Cleveland and rock music and going to concerts was everything. To be in a movie theater that feels like a rock arena, I never imagined it and to be part of that energy and see the crowds experience the movie in that way with that fervor, sharing it together and feeding one another. That was something I never anticipated and to see it happen on that movie…it keeps you humbled because you don’t know where art is going to take you or where movies take us. It was nice to be part of that moment.
That’s so cool. I have watched Endgame many times since then, and still truly enjoy it, but those first couple of viewings in the crowded theater are my favorite. Did you get to see it on opening night?