1. Why was The Avengers so successful? $1.5 billion worldwide …… £52.3 million in the UK

2. Why do you think it was so successful?

3. How did The Avengers benefit from a “five-year marketing plan”?

4. The Avengers had essentially been marketed to audiences since Iron Man first appeared at Comic-Con in 2007. When that movie became a blockbuster hit in May 2008 ($98.6 million opening weekend), Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige quickly unveiled his intention to make four more movies -- The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America -- all of which would lead to a giant team-up. "This is Feige's six-year vision to get to a place where people would want to watch these characters assemble. Every movie that they released was prepping for this one," says a top producer. "That's never been done before, and it was ingenious."

5. Summer blockbuster In the movie calendar, the summer months are typically when the big-budget blockbuster films are released to maximise their profitability. What are some of the conventions of summer blockbuster films? Why do you think they are so popular?

6. Target Audience How does the film appeal to a MASS AUDIENCE? How does it appease casual and cult audiences? Be specific!

7. Target Audience How does the film appeal to a MASS AUDIENCE? How does it appease casual and cult audiences? The Avengers audience breakdown – 50% over 25, 40% female, 55% couples, 24% families -- shows the film's wide appeal. That's a testament to casting. Fortysomething leading men Downey, Renner and Mark Ruffalo signalled to adults that the movie wasn't just for kids. Hemsworth, 28, and Evans, 30, appealed to young adults, and Samuel L. Jackson, 63, has a huge African-American fan base. At the same time, colourful costumes helped sell the movie to youngsters.