It’s hard to picture a world without the empire of films that Marvel Studios has created. Twice (or even three times) a year these movies plow through theaters, box offices, and our wallets. Whether you watch Marvel movies like it’s a religion like me, casually like most, or not at all, you know when one is coming out and what it’s called. There are now 19 movies included in the MCU, (which is more than 40 hours of superhero content) making it very easy to forget the earliest ones. After watching every single one of them in order of release over the past three weeks, here are the key points of the two I believe are the most important to understand leading up to Infinity War, and a review of the newest and most ambitious installment. Full disclosure – I would recommend having watched each installment in the series so that you understand the characters and Infinity Stones, as Infinity War, unlike the rest of the films, relies heavily on your prior knowledge and does not pander to the uninformed audience.

Thor: Ragnarok

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a film released less than six months before Infinity War is essential to view. Director Taika Waititi managed to completely re-imagine a founding Avenger’s entire formula and the process of the entire universe in one film. This comedic and outlandish take on Thor, the typically stern and stoic Asgardian, works perfectly. It helps to revitalize the character. Alongside other stars like Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, Tom Hiddleston, and Cate Blanchett, Chris Hemsworth reveals his comedic timing and improv skills. In addition to a fantastic cast, story, and great effects work, Ragnarok takes the audience directly into Infinity War. The last minutes of the film are seconds before the opening shots of Infinity War, and the location of one of the Infinity Stones is shifted as well. So yes, it’s worth a quick re-watch, and a necessary viewing if you didn’t see it in November.

Captain America: Civil War

While Ragnarok focuses on our cosmic Avenger, Civil War shows us an at-home brawl between Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The third installment in the Captain America franchise really feels more like Avengers 2.5, as the loaded roster includes every single major and minor Avenger sans Thor and Hulk, with new additions of Spiderman and Black Panther. The rift between Captain America and Iron Man dictates the beginning whereabouts of each Avenger in Infinity War, as well as the dynamics betweenthem. It is important to understand all these relationships and struggles in order to fully appreciate all the characters in Infinity War. This film is fantastic in every way, so you won’t be bored re-watching it. Its action is undeniably some of the best in the MCU, with raw emotion in almost every blow, and its story, characters, and visuals are compelling throughout. You are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t review this film before sitting down in the theater for Infinity War.

Avengers: Infinity War

There is nothing I can say that would adequately prepare you for this film. I thought I knew too much about it, but I knew nothing. No amount of video watching, movie binging, or comic reading could, would, or did prepare me for Marvel’s biggest release to date. I won’t spoil anything, but I will tell you it’s great. This is a near-perfect Marvel movie and a mind blowing film in general. The visuals are beyond compare, with only two or three missteps throughout. The jokes land, and the acting and chemistry between characters is beyond on point. Something that Marvel movies usually lack are stakes, meaning there isn’t really any danger or anything for the heroes to lose; in Infinity War, Thanos makes the stakes abundantly clear, and they are real. This film is ambitious through the first two acts, yet safe at the same time. However, during the third act, Marvel essentially plays all their cards in a Royal Flush. It’s gut wrenching from start to finish. The opening title started and everyone in the theater around me went, “Oh my God” with a collective thought of: “So that’s how it’s going to be.” You have to see this in the theater without letting someone spoil it for you; you won’t ever experience something like this again. I will say that if you haven’t seen a majority of the Marvel films to date, then don’t even bother, you won’t get it and it’s not worth it. I’ll wish you good luck because, like me, you will probably laugh a lot, cry a bit, and walk out of the theater having your jaw glued to the ground for twenty minutes.