Avengers Endgame Encore Leads Crowded Weekend With $3.8M Previews

Key points

• Avengers Endgame Encore earned $3.8 million in previews, tracking for a $25-28 million opening weekend.
• The re-release adds four new scenes connecting to the upcoming Avengers Doomsday, scheduled for December 18.
• Robert Pattinson's Primetime and Brad Pitt's Heart of the Beast both track for $17-20 million debuts.
• Resident Evil is projected to drop to $24-26 million in its second week, potentially losing the No. 1 spot.
• Universal's animated film Forgotten Island tracks for $15-17 million, targeting family audiences.

Background

Avengers Endgame previously held the record for highest domestic previews before Spider-Man Brand New Day surpassed it. The 2019 film remains the No. 2 all-time domestic hit, recently overtaken by Brand New Day. This re-release aims to capitalize on fan nostalgia and bridge the gap to the next MCU installment.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and Deadline both report the $3.8 million preview figure for Endgame Encore, noting it surpasses the 2019 re-release of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith. Deadline emphasizes the competitive nature of the weekend, suggesting a three-way fight for the top spot between Endgame, Primetime, and Resident Evil. Marvel.com highlights director Anthony Russo's perspective, framing the re-release as a way to restore the theatrical experience disrupted by the pandemic and to build emotional momentum for Doomsday. While Variety focuses on the financial tracking, Deadline provides deeper context on the relative performance of Pattinson's recent films and the critical reception of the new releases.

Why it matters

The strong preview numbers for a re-release indicate sustained audience interest in the MCU and the potential for Endgame to reclaim the No. 1 domestic box office spot. The success of Primetime and Heart of the Beast suggests a diverse audience appetite for both genre-driven and character-driven films in the late September market.

What to watch

The full weekend box office results will determine if Endgame Encore can dethrone Resident Evil. The performance of Primetime and Heart of the Beast will also indicate the strength of the late September release window. Avengers Doomsday is set to open on December 18.