‘Avengers: Endgame’: Our reporter braved the 65-hour Marvel movie marathon
The Los Angeles Times’ Randy Lewis attempts to activate his superpowers of endurance while attending the 64-hour Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” marathon.
Along the path to “Avengers: Endgame,” there was a 21-movie pit stop — a marathon viewing of every Avengers-related Marvel film starting with 2008’s “Iron Man” — that included between-film appearances by Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes) and Cobie Smulders (Agent Maria Hill), plus Hulk-shaped fruit drinks to sip while lounging in the comfy confines of Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre.
What did the marathon ticket include? A reserved seat for viewing every movies involving the Avengers — that’s 22, including “Endgame” — seven meals, a souvenir popcorn tin (+ 2 refills of popcorn), 3 bottled drinks, an exclusive poster, souvenir blanket, collectible coin, a comfort kit, raffles and more.
Here’s the journey (in tweets) one reporter took to get to the 5 p.m. launch of “Endgame”:
Game on—@ElCapitanThtre Hollywood for the 22-movie @MarvelStudios marathon leading into Thursday’s #AvengersEndgamePremiere. Just 60 hours away. Bonus: @RandysDonutsLA and coffee. #WhateverItTakes. pic.twitter.com/CM5538iI7P
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 23, 2019
Four films, 10 hours into @MarvelStudios Marathon @ElCapitanThtre-Hollywood. Rep from @YMCA led the crowd in stretches before dinner break w/food trucks. Only 18 movies, 2 days to go till #AvengersEndgamePremiere. #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/tndXuUyN6v
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019
First surprise guest: #SebastianStan @MarvelStudios Marathon @ElCapitanThtre Hollywood. Now 5 movies in, 17 to go. Still awake, only 48 hours left. #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/JzMyL8VAFT
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019
Best audience comment so far: Kyle from @Nerdist urges fans @MarvelStudios Marathon @ElCapitanThtre to “stay hydrated,” promoting the response—immediately after “Captain America: The First Avenger”:—“Heil Hydration!” pic.twitter.com/y29P1EIHhz
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019
After midnight @ElCapitanThtre for 3-day, 22-movie, 65-hour @MarvelStudios MCU Marathon and the bodies are starting to pile up. pic.twitter.com/iTYyZYLE37
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019
Who knew traffic was so reasonable on @HollywBoulevard at 3 am? Another revelation of @MarvelStudios 22-movie, 65-hour marathon @ElCapitanThtre. #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/bbAQSwBgHW
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019
Maybe it’s having been up almost 24 hours, or dozing a time or two during “Thor: The Dark World,” but I swear that Malekith, in one of his growls Dark Elf language speeches, said something that sounded a LOT like “covfefe.” That explains a lot. @MarvelStudios Marathon. pic.twitter.com/kTLQ4GDyzo
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019
Actress #ColbieSmulders aka Agent #MariaHill of S.H.I.E.L.D., held a quick Q&A ahead of “#Avengers: Age of Ultron,” movie #11 in the MCU 22-movie marathon @ElCapitanThtre-Hollywood. So we’re at the halfway point before tomorrow’ evening’s #AvengersEndgame” premiere. #StayAwake pic.twitter.com/TXJ74GpqTy
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019
Nice to be able to find @PaulRudd’s Star on @LAWalkOfFame outside @EgyptianTheatre right after seeing “@AntMan,” film #12 in @MarvelStudios Marathon. Plus #CubaGoodingJr, @ChrisPratt & Mark @HamillHimself. Wanna play Which one does not belong? pic.twitter.com/g2MFKYftD7
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 24, 2019
Dinner break, Night 2 of @MarvelStudios’ 22-movie, 3-day marathon culminating in Thur #AvengersEndgamePremiere. I’m WAY past my regular bedtime, heading into Hour 35 I. The theater w500-600 similarly ridiculous fans. pic.twitter.com/7fByCS5UTm
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019
Another guest @MarvelComics Marathon tonight @ElCapitanThtre-Hollywood: @SeanGunn, aka #Kraglin, in #GuardiansoftheGalaxy,, aka writer-director @JamesGunn’s brother. His spoiler ahead of “Guardians 2”: “I’m great in it...you freakin’ maniacs.” pic.twitter.com/q31t4NAvgG
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019
Midnight treat time heading into 3rd day of @MarvelStudios’ 22-movie Marathon for tonight’s #AvengersEndgamePremiere: @AntMan or @Hulk shaped fruit juice bottles. #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/VZqFiCLfL9
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019
Day 3, film No. 19 coming up in the @MarvelStudios Marathon @ElCapitanThtre-Hollywood. Reps from @Nerdist introducing most of the movies with trivia and other nonsense. I’m punchy but still engaged after 48 hours in this theater. pic.twitter.com/LZDDWzJyOL
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019
In the home stretch: final three films of 22 movie @MarvelStudios Marathon at @ElCapitanThtre. Thanks to rep from Hollywood @ymca for the stretch between movies. Also for all the smart fan apparel on display. pic.twitter.com/l5ElinfuCV
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019
Down to the wire. Up now: @CaptainMarvel, which today becomes the penultimate film in the @MarvelStudios extended saga. Final prelude in the 22-movie, 65-hour marathon @ElCapitanThtre preceding #AvengersEngamePremiere tonight. The suspense is killing me. pic.twitter.com/IVU3oTkMp8
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019
The hour is upon us at last: Grand finale of @MarvelStudios universe marathon just minutes away @ElCapitanThtre. #AvengersEndgamePremiere follows 57 hours watching 21 previous #MCU films. #WhateverItTakes #ICouldDoThisAllDay pic.twitter.com/JoqaKYvwJu
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 25, 2019
Mission accomplished: I traversed the entirety of the 3-day, 22-movie @MarvelStudios marathon capped by #AvengersEndgamePremiere @ElCapitanThtre-Hollywood. That’s a LOT of time in superhero world. But to borrow a phrase: #ICouldDoThisAllDay pic.twitter.com/xrnpifRkQG
— Randy Lewis (@RandyLewis2) April 26, 2019
Only good movies
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Randy Lewis covered pop music for the Los Angeles Times from 1981 to 2020, working in that time as a reporter, music critic and editor for the Calendar section. He has interviewed most of the members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s also written first-person accounts of performing the music of Shostakovich and Prokofiev on clarinet and singing Mozart’s Requiem with world-class professionals. In addition, he enjoys belting out “Wooly Bully” in dive bars with his band, the Rounders.