After years of build up and months of capital-H hype, “Avengers: Infinity War” is finally hitting theaters this week. And, uh, speaking of build up and hype, Marvel has been so determined to keep spoilers from spilling out that world premiere screenings held tonight in Los Angeles and New York City are (as far as we know) the first time the film has been shown to anyone outside of the studio.
In fact, most movie critics won’t even see “Infinity War” until tomorrow morning. By the way, good luck critics, because the review embargo lifts at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time. But while critics have to wait to speak their peace, the social media embargo expired Monday night at 10:30, right after the Hollywood gala premiere let out.
Anyway, you’re probably not going to believe this, but people who attended tonight’s screenings are freaking out on Twitter.
First past the post was Kevin Smith, who violated the embargo by several hours to gush about “Infinity War”:
I am overwhelmed. The movie is epic beyond compare. LOVED it. My legs are still shaking. It’s a gigantic @Marvel masterpiece. So much to say but I’ll stay Silent Bob til Monday so as not to slip in spoilers. Suffice to say it’s gonna be a looooong year until @Avengers 4… pic.twitter.com/aHnsgj5MK0
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) April 24, 2018
And the rest followed at the appoint hour: 10:30 p.m. PST
https://twitter.com/NateBrail/status/988651303319588864
https://twitter.com/JimVejvoda/status/988655841220878336
#InfinityWar is a whole lot to process. I liked it a lot, and there’s so much that works, but it definitely is “Part 1.” The ending is amazing and worth the journey, but there is a LOT crammed into its run time. Overall really liked it but need a rewatch already. pic.twitter.com/3P3rd3ojHJ
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) April 24, 2018
Infinity War is insane. That’s all I’m going to say.
— Rachel Heine ✨ (@RachelHeine) April 24, 2018
So #InfinityWar takes the Marvel universe to a whole new orbit.
— Daniel Alter (@DAlter007) April 24, 2018
So overwhelmed at what I saw in #AvengersInfinityWarPremiere I'm still processing. It's an epic event unlike anything you ever seen. I would follow the Russo's advice about staying offline because the movie has major reveals!
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) April 24, 2018
Had the pleasure of watching #Avengers: #InfinityWar. One of the most unique MCU films, IW has a distinct Marvel/Russo feel, while also bringing a TON of emotional layers, dodging many MCU tropes, & carried by a magnificent villain in #Thanos
Avoid social media untill you watch! pic.twitter.com/6ChaRhK5Eq
— Sheraz Farooqi (@SherazFarooqi_) April 24, 2018
The final minutes of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR are heartstopping. Can’t wait for the next one. Marvel wins again. #AvengersInfinityWar #Avengers #InfinityWar
— Ben Barna (@sufferings) April 24, 2018
Doctor Strange emerges as a truly fascinating character. He contains multitudes… literally. Cumberbatch is now in firm command of that character’s gravitas, and delivers the one action and single line that everyone will be discussing and debating for the next year. #InfinityWar
— Max Evry (@maxevry) April 24, 2018
Weak stuff: Subplot involving Vision, the concept of which I never entirely bought into, and which drives the entire Wakandan section of the film. Everyone in that subplot feels like ciphers, lacking any arc beyond being cool-looking chess pieces from better movies. #InfinityWar
— Max Evry (@maxevry) April 24, 2018
I saw #AvengersInfinityWar earlier tonight and I can say that it delivers. There's a lot of really fun character interactions, some cool action moments (Thor's powers, Iron Man's suit), and a few powerful emotional beats. Most of the humor is 👌🏻 Also Captain America is 💥 pic.twitter.com/WoZNPDpGXk
— molly freeman (@mollyrockit) April 24, 2018
#AvengersInfinityWar is the MCU's biggest soap opera ever, and that's not a bad thing. Feels more like a sequel to Guardians, and you'll get to see what makes a Mad Titan tick. We will have A LOT to unpack soon.
— Mike Sorrentino (@MikeJSorrentino) April 24, 2018
Emotionally, narratively, visually, Avengers: Infinity War a very impressive piece of entertainment and storytelling. Somehow, it left me exhausted and excited at the same time. pic.twitter.com/YPICbbNNyQ
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) April 24, 2018
#AvengersInfinityWar: Despite some truly thrilling moments, feels like less than the sum of its parts. A definite step down after that epic run of GotGV2 / Spidey / Thor 3 / Black Panther, but what else did I expect?
— Angie J. Han (@ajhan) April 24, 2018
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR: A movie version of a massive comic-book crossover, for better (fun character interactions) and worse (it's pretty much all Infinity Stone shenanigans). YMMV. #avengersinfinitywar
— Matt Singer / mattsinger.bsky.social (@mattsinger) April 24, 2018