SEOUL — The 2012 blockbuster hit Marvel’s The Avengers isn’t just the most successful superhero film to date, it’s also a really good movie.

Which was probably why Captain America actor Chris Evans felt the need to speak up about the franchise’s highly anticipated sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron’s artistry — and its rightful place in Oscar history.

“It really shocks me!” he told TODAY when asked about Age Of Ultron’s chances of bagging a Best Picture nomination.

“What goes into these movies is just astronomical. What is required to make these movies work is a mind blowing accomplishment of art! It really is!” said Evans, who was in Seoul to promote the movie.

“It’s everything the Academy should stand for. And I, for one, am disappointed more often than not when films like this aren’t acknowledged. It’s a shame.”

He’s not the only one who has recently spoken up for so-called popcorn flicks. Vin Diesel recently made headlines when he said, in apparent seriousness, that Furious 7 should win Best Picture at next year’s Academy Awards.

Although Evans conceded that there was some acknowledgement of the merits of the first Avengers, which not only garnered numerous critical awards and nominations, including Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for visual effects, he feels more should be done.

“There should be recognition, to some degree, (and) not just in the realm of special effects and sound editing. There is a lot more that goes into this,” he said.

“Especially with regards to directing. I don’t even know where to begin to try and tackle a job like this as a director. It makes me have panic attacks just thinking about how to get those ducks in a row. And I do think they should be a little more acknowledged.”

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in Singapore on April 23.