“Avengers: Infinity War” is the culmination of 10 years and 18 films in the Marvel cinematic universe.

This epic story trusts that viewers already know the many story lines up until that point — and there’s a lot to keep track of. But how exactly did the MCU evolve into the billion-dollar movie genre it is today?

Marvel actually went bankrupt after the comics industry crashed in the ‘90s. So, they sold their characters’ studio rights to anyone that would have them, but this resulted in barely any revenue for Marvel. At the end this stint, all they had were characters that were really only known to comic book fans.

Still, Marvel was confident enough to create its own studio so that they could create movies on their terms. They put all their cards on the table and took huge chances on talent starting with 2008’s “Iron Man.” They enlisted Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. and both ended up being the breath of fresh air that superhero movies need. It ended up grossing $500 million at the box office and Marvel’s success only grew from here. Today, they’re raking in as much as $15 billion, so their ramble for cinematic independence definitely paid off.