Marvel Cinematic Universe
Definition
A sprawling, interconnected American media franchise centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters from Marvel Comics.
A shared storytelling ecosystem that popularized the concept of 'cinematic universes' in modern Hollywood through Phase-based narrative structures.
Examples
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become so vast that keeping track of every branching reality is starting to feel like a full-time job without the corporate benefits.
Trying to explain the full timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a newcomer feels like teaching advanced quantum mechanics to a hamster.
After three dozen films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe appears to be testing whether audiences have bottomless appetites or just a profound fear of missing out on post-credits scenes.