Avengers Endgame: Encore has arrived in theaters, with the 2019 blockbuster returning to the big screen with a new ending and post-credits scenes.
This weekend, Earth's Mightiest Heroes won't only have Thanos to contend with. After earning $3.8 million from Thursday previews, Avengers Endgame: Encore is eyeing a $25 million to $28 million opening weekend, a potentially record-breaking haul for a re-release.
However, Resident Evil remains a very real threat during its second week in theaters, and is currently targeting a $24 million to $26 million haul after kicking its run off with an impressive $61 million last week.
Back to Avengers: Endgame, and it's well on its way to beating Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith's $25.5 million for the biggest re-release opening. It will also make short work of Titanic ($17.3 million) and Avatar ($10.5 million). Ultimately, international audiences will decide whether Avengers: Endgame can make the $124.27 million necessary to become the highest-grossing movie ever worldwide.
These numbers serve as a reminder that the Avengers franchise is Marvel Studios' biggest draw outside of Spider-Man. The fact we're this deep into the Multiverse Saga before getting an Avengers movie is a little baffling, but the long wait has clearly done wonders for anticipation levels. That will obviously be key for Avengers: Doomsday this December.
Robert Pattinson's Primetime made $2.7 million in previews, and is on the way to a $17 million to $20 million debut. Heart of the Beast earned $2 million on Thursday, and is likely set to land in the same ballpark. Throw in DreamWorks' Forgotten Island ($1.5 million from previews ahead of a $15 million to $17 million start), and it's fair to say this will be a busy weekend for theaters.
The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, Avengers: Endgame.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the movie features an epic ensemble which includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin.
"Avengers: Endgame is a masterpiece which not only delivers on every expectation you had but exceeds ones you didn't even think about. This isn't just a movie, it's an experience," we wrote in our 2019 review of the movie.
Avengers Endgame: Encore is now playing in theaters.