Marvel Studio's latest superhero movie Avengers: Infinity War is expected to have one of the biggest opening weekends on record.
The first reviews for the film have been mostly positive with critics calling it "bedazzling" and "supremely watchable".
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Josh Brolin and many, many more A-listers, Disney's Infinity Wars had a reported $300m-$400m production budget.
It brings together more than 20 superheroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow and Black Panther for an all-out battle with supervillain Thanos.
"Marvel hits the jackpot again," said The Hollywood Reporter, while Variety said the movie is a "sleekly witty action opera that's at once overstuffed and bedazzling…"
Vulture's David Edelstein wrote that "Marvel has done it again – only bigger."
He added: "Avengers: Infinity War is going to dazzle, stagger, and rile people up … Flagrantly, bombastically extravagant, it plays its audience like a hundred million fiddles."
The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw wrote that "the film delivers the sugar-rush of spectacle and some very amusing one-liners".
He added: "It's just a supremely watchable film, utterly confident in its self-created malleable mythology. And confident also in the note of apocalyptic darkness."
Box office analysts say Infinity War could come close to, or even break, the $248m North American opening weekend record set in 2015 by Star Wars: The Force Awakens, also from Disney.
Plot details have been shrouded in secrecy, but several major characters die or appear to be killed off.
Many film websites and blogs have put odds on which characters will not make it with Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, coming out on top in many.
Iron Man may also come to a sticky end with fans saying it would be a symbolic way to mark the character's 10-year anniversary and Downey Jr hinting that he is finished with the franchise.
Earlier this week the directors asked fans not to give away spoilers in a letter posted on Twitter.
Anthony and Joseph Russo also encouraged enthusiasts to stay away from social media if they want to enjoy the surprises.
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Another, as-yet-untitled Avengers movie is in post-production and due for release in May 2019.
:: Avengers: Infinity War is in cinemas on Thursday
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