This review will contain minor spoilers for Avengers: Endgame

If you thought that Avengers: Infinity War was a tearjerker, expect to leave the movie theaters bawling after watching Avengers: Endgame.

Endgame picks up right where the previous Avengers movie left off, after Thanos obtained all six Infinity Stones and snapped his fingers, turning half of the universe’s population into nothingness. Only the OG Avengers (including Hawkeye, who was absent in Infinity War), along with Ant-Man, Nebula and Captain Marvel are left to defeat Thanos and undo the paradoxical act of “peace” he brought to the world. Endgame keeps the audience members on their toes throughout its nearly three-hour runtime as the heroes lay their lives on the line to undo the snap and return the universe to normal.

The most intriguing aspect of Endgame was how time-travel returns many characters to moments from their previous movies, giving both them and the audience members a chance to view their pasts from an alternative perspective. It pays homage to the characters who’ve sacrificed so much and instills a strong sense of nostalgia in the viewers. As the Avengers revisit their past, they interact with other characters who played a pivotal role in making the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) what it is now.

If I were to compare Endgame to Infinity War, I would say the latter is better. The biggest factor is the plot. Don’t get me wrong, Endgame has an intricate storyline with so many simultaneous events. The directors did a great job of streamlining the story, making it easy for the audience to follow along. However, Infinity War outdid itself by showing the characters’ failure to save the universe, which is completely unorthodox in the realm of superhero movies in general. Because we’re so used to superheroes always winning, the plot of Infinity War set itself apart from all other MCU films. With Endgame, it’s safe to say that we knew that the Avengers would win somehow – we just didn’t know at what cost.

Endgame is undeniably a good movie. It answers all the questions we’ve had since the conclusion of Infinity War. The film gives the audience members closure on the fates of all the characters featured in the franchise’s previous movie and doesn’t leave room for arguments or further theories on what really happened or what will happen next, which I prefer.

Endgame provides a satisfying conclusion to a series that has brought hope and joy to its fanbase through the stories of superheroes who are persistent, confident, empathetic and faithful. Through its movies, the MCU gave us the opportunity to find glimpses of ourselves in these heroes, whether they be good qualities or flaws. Endgame was the perfect way to end the third phase of the MCU, and now its fans are left saying, “Love you 3000.”