The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) centers on a series of American superhero films produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The MCU is the shared universe in which all of the films are set. The films have been in production since 2007, and in that time Marvel Studios has produced and released 36 films, with at least 9 more in various stages of development. It is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, having grossed over $31.9 billion at the global box office. This includes Avengers: Endgame, which became the highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release.