Seven years after its original theatre run, the audience has been assembled at the box office again for the Marvel blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame - Encore” re-release. It opened No.1 in North America, earning $26 million during its opening weekend. It has also minted $60 million internationally, taking its global weekend haul to $86 million.
The new release comes with additional footage designed to build anticipation for “Avengers: Doomsday”, which is scheduled to arrive in December. The “Encore” version features new scenes and post-credit material tied to the upcoming Avengers film, giving fans another reason to return to a familiar movie. The re-release has pushed the lifetime global gross of “Endgame” to approximately $2.88 billion, leaving it around $39 million short of the $2.9 billion worldwide total of “Avatar”.
Domestically, “Endgame Encore” recorded the third-biggest opening weekend for a re-release, behind the 1997 special edition of “Star Wars” ($35.9 million) and the 2011 3D re-release of “The Lion King”. Its $26 million debut also edged past last year’s 20th anniversary re-release of “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”, which opened to $25.4 million.
The Marvel re-release pushed “Resident Evil” to second place in its second weekend. Zach Cregger’s reboot added $23.3 million, bringing its domestic total to $103.4 million after 10 days. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt’s “Heart of the Beast” debuted in third place with $20 million, followed closely by Robert Pattinson’s “Primetime”, which opened with $19.1 million. DreamWorks’ animated “Forgotten Island” rounded out the top five with $12.8 million.
The strong performance of “Endgame Encore” also highlights the enduring theatrical pull of Marvel’s biggest films. With “Avengers: Doomsday” just months away, the re-release gives audiences an opportunity to revisit the Infinity Saga finale while offering new material that connects it to the MCU’s next chapter.
