Evil Loki (Tom Hiddleston), a power-hungry ruler from the planet Asgard, is gathering a formidable army to launch an attack on Earth. In his way stands head of secret international agency SHIELD Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) who, realising the danger Loki poses, is attempting to assemble the greatest squad of superheroes the world has ever seen.
Its members, should they accept, are super-strong Captain America (Chris Evans), easily agitated Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), genius inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), aka Iron Man, and Loki's demi-god half-brother Thor (Chris Hemsworth). For the sake of the world, Fury must persuade the headstrong heroes to unite and face Loki in an epic battle from which only one side can emerge victorious.
This awesome blockbuster eclipsed all competition in 2012, becoming the highest grossing film of the year worldwide with takings of $1.5billion. As well as bringing together four already sizeable franchises in Thor, Captain America, Iron Man and Hulk, its appeal owes much to the masterful comic tone of Joss Whedon which is evident throughout. Ruffalo's angry monster Hulk steals the show, while Downey Jr delivers myriad one-liners with typical verve.
This fun, charismatic and explosive feature leaves a glut of conveyor-belt comic book adaptations languishing in its wake, and throws down the gauntlet for any superhero franchise to follow.
Marvel's Avengers Assemble is a Film programme that first aired in 2012 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
