Disney and Marvel’s re-release of Avengers: Endgame, branded the “Encore” edition, collected an estimated $86 million at the global box office this past weekend, topping international charts and drawing legions of MCU fans back to cinemas in anticipation of December’s Avengers: Doomsday. Of that monumental haul, the Infinity Saga finale earned $26 million domestically and $60 million abroad, cementing a gargantuan opening that ranks among the strongest debuts ever recorded for a theatrical re-release.
The seven-year-old blockbuster has returned to screens for a handful of clear reasons, chief among them a handful of new minutes of extra footage that tie directly into the upcoming superhero crossover film. Director Joe Russo previously framed those added clips as “critical” to the next movie’s plot, making it almost inevitable that die-hard followers of the franchise would return to catch details that could reshape their understanding of the story. With $86 million banked, it appears plenty of fans agreed the added runtime justified the price of another ticket.
A Re-Release Built on Nostalgia and Curiosity
Outside of a single new scene, the Encore edition keeps Endgame’s original story largely intact, allowing moviegoers to relive the film’s most hyped moments and dramatic reveals ahead of the return of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and a host of other stars to the MCU later this year. The film originally shattered records upon its 2019 release and was re-released later that same year; many of its notable box office feats have held firm over the past seven years, with only Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day toppling some of them last month.
Through it all, Avengers: Endgame has now soared to an astonishing $2.885 billion worldwide total. Disney has branded the Encore opening as the second-highest debut for a re-release in history, trailing only 2012’s Titanic 3D.
The new footage ties directly into what’s coming, and Joe has made clear these moments matter for the story ahead.
Joe Russo, Director
27 Awesome MCU Callbacks in Avengers: Endgame
While Marvel and Disney appear to be enjoying an endless run of victory laps, Resident Evil proved it retains considerable staying power in its second weekend of theatrical life. The Capcom video game-turned-horror film pulled in another $23 million domestically and $27 million internationally, pushing its two-weekend total to $196.5 million against a reported $75 million budget. Despite facing an uphill battle with some fans, the adaptation quickly became the highest-rated game adaptation of all time.
Also debuting at the box office this weekend was Heart of the Beast, the Brad Pitt-led, dog-driven survival flick that earned $50.1 million globally and a solid 8/10 review from IGN. Meanwhile, director Lance Oppenheim and star Robert Pattinson’s Primetime, a sweeping biopic built around Chris Hansen’s To Catch a Predator, brought in $20.06 million globally, with the overwhelming majority—$19.2 million—arriving domestically. IGN awarded the film a 9/10.
Looking Ahead
The top five films at the global box office this past weekend saw Avengers: Endgame Encore take first place, Resident Evil follow in second, and Heart of the Beast round out the podium in third, with Primetime and Forgotten Island completing the list in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Avengers: Endgame Encore is largely the same film audiences knew in 2019, but its return has already sparked plenty of conversation as Doomsday approaches. One topic dominating fans’ discussions is a new star-studded, pre-movie opener that asks audiences to silence their phones, adding a fresh layer of ceremony to an already monumental theatrical moment.
1 comment