Good news, indoor kids! You can spend Labor Day weekend in the air-conditioned confines of your local IMAX theater watching all twenty MCU films. In honor of their 10th anniversary, Marvel has teamed up with IMAX for a multi-day movie marathon. And unlike previous Marvel marathons, these screenings are a la carte and affordable, with ticket prices set at $8.
The schedule for the screenings will be:
Aug. 30: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor
Aug. 31: Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World
Sept. 1: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man
Sept. 2: Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming
Sept. 3: Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp
Sept. 4: Iron Man, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Black Panther, Doctor Strange
Sept. 5: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Captain America: Civil War, The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War
Sept. 6: Iron Man, The Avengers
Fans will vote for the final two screenings on September 6th. This will be the first-ever IMAX screening for Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Captain America: The First Avenger. The first five days of the festival will be showing the films in release order, while the final two days will focus on “Origins” and “Team Ups” themes.
While there are surely some Marvel die-hards who will brave the butt-numbing week of non-stop action, most of us will be limited by our stamina and our wallets. With that in mind, I’m picking five MCU films that I think are worth seeing in IMAX.
1. Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is not my favorite Marvel movie. To be honest, it wouldn’t crack my top five. But I would see it in IMAX in a heartbeat for its spectacular visual effects. There is so much gorgeous detail in the scenes of Strange and his cohorts bending reality and folding cityscapes in on themselves. For their inventive VFX work alone, it’s worth the price of admission to see it all again on such a big screen.
2. Black Panther
There are plenty of reasons to want to see Black Panther in IMAX. It’s one of the strongest entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet, and it boasts fantastic special effects and inspired action sequences. But what really sets the film apart is the gorgeous cinematography from Rachel Morrison. Morrison’s sweeping vistas of Wakanda are rich and evocative, the effect of which will only be amplified on such a big screen. Though Morrison became the first female cinematographer nominated for an Academy Award for Mudbound, her work in Black Panther is more than worthy of the title.
3. Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger makes its IMAX debut in this festival, so you get to see Chris Evans’ glorious glow-up happen on the biggest screen possible. Plus, you get the World War II battle sequences, the Steve/Bucky bromance origins, and the one and only Peggy Carter. While First Avenger suffers from the same issues that all Phase One films do (formulaic, off pacing) it remains one of the most winning origin stories of the O.G. Avengers.
4. Thor: Ragnarok
The trippiest, funniest entry into the MCU is more than deserving of an IMAX viewing. Ragnarok features a dazzling color palette, as well as brilliant costume and make-up work. Plus, it features some of the most inventive and entertaining fight sequences of the entire MCU. Oh, and did I mention it’s funny as hell? Besides, who doesn’t want to hear “Immigrant Song” playing so loudly that it vibrates your sternum?
5. Avengers: Infinity War
Infinity War is the obvious choice, as it unites all the players into one massive storyline. Infinity War was also the first studio film to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras, so you’re getting to see final picture as it was meant to be seen. Infinity War has it all: humor, heart, slow motion running…truly, what’s not to love?
Will you be dropping in to see any of the IMAX screenings? If so, what makes your list? Let us know in the comments,
(via The Hollywood Reporter, image: Marvel)
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