Marvel Studios is the movie production arm of Marvel Entertainment, the legendary comic book company behind titles like Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Captain America. In 2007, the company begin releasing a succession of films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe–including Iron Man, Thor, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Avengers–which feature interconnected plot lines and characters. The 17 films that have been released in that time have grossed over $13.5 billion at the global box office, making Marvel the most profitable movie franchise of all time. The films have been lauded by critics and superhero fans alike for their creative storytelling and willingness to redefine what a superhero story is in surprising, counterintuitive ways. In 2009 Disney bought Marvel for $4 billion, giving Marvel the added benefit of the powerful Disney marketing and merchandise machine. As of 2017, five more movies from the Marvel universe were either plotted out or in production, including 2018’s Black Panther, the first superhero movie to feature an African-American lead. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige says, “We’ve got another 20 movies on the docket that are completely different from anything that’s come before—intentionally.”