Ten years ago I attended a showing of Iron Man with my Dad and ever since I’ve been enthralled by the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Seeing Iron Man come to life on the big screen was such a revolutionary experience for me, so much so that I made an effort to see every movie they put out on opening night. Only missing The Incredible Hulk and Thor, I went on to see 17 movies within 24 hours of release. Each movie brought something new to the table, especially the films in Phase Two. However, last month saw the release of ten year’s worth of universe building come together to form Avengers: Infinity War.

Avengers: Infinity War was something I’ve been looking forward to ever since the announcement was made in 2014. After four years of waiting, I was finally able to see Infinity War on opening night. Seeing Infinity War after 4 years of waiting, was well worth the wait. Every character and scene felt like it earned its place on the screen and every joke filled the theatre with laughter and joy. Even with the movie’s uncertain and fairly grim ending, I still walked out enjoying seeing my childhood converge into one giant movie. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken me on a wild ride with Captain America being my favorite Avenger until Thor: Ragnarok and Infinity War where I noticed Thor is a major standout after his transition to becoming a comedic hero. Seeing Thor arrive in Wakanda for the final battle is perhaps my favorite scene from any Marvel movie, which says a lot when compared to scenes from Civil War, Ant-Man, and Ragnarok.

However, this experience wasn’t necessarily about the movie itself. My Dad and I continued to see as many movies in theatres since Iron Man in 2008. With the eventual inclusion of my brother, the three of us spent quality time seeing these films over 10 years. We made time to see every movie on opening night even in different states such as Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought my family together through memorable comedic and action scenes over 10 years. Seeing our favorite’s like Iron Man and Captain America fight each other, seeing Captain America almost lift Thor’s hammer: Mjolnir, and even when the Hulk swung Loki into the ground several times in The Avengers.

Avengers: Infinity War is what I’ve always wanted from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, the memories associated with the franchise are what really set this movie apart. I cannot wait until next year to see how the Russo Brothers conclude Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Avengers 4.