It's 2019 all over again, as Avengers: Endgame is expected to open at #1 in North American theaters this weekend. While the leaks have already begun, Variety anticipates this extended cut of the movie debuting between $25 million and $28 million.
Zach Cregger's Resident Evil will likely end up in second place, as it's eyeing $24 million to $26 million during its sophomore outing. It will be a close race between the two blockbusters, but either way, Avengers Endgame: Encore is eyeing the biggest-ever start for a re-release.
In terms of new releases, The Heart of the Beast, DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island, and Primetime won't trouble Avengers: Endgame or Resident Evil.
Much has been said about the possibility of Avengers: Endgame regaining the top spot from Avatar as the world's highest-grossing movie. It's not an impossible feat, but there's a $124.27 million difference, so James Cameron's sci-fi epic stands a good chance of remaining at #1.
In a bizarre twist of fate, Taylor Swift has announced that she's releasing her own "Encore" this Friday—the same day Avengers Endgame: Encore hits theaters—with The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.
What's the connection to Earth's Mightiest Heroes? Well, beyond the title, back in 2019, a Taylor Swift fan famously posted a Tweet spoiling Avengers: Endgame in retaliation against Marvel fans who were mocking and hating on Taylor Swift's single "ME!", which was released on the same day (April 26, 2019).
The viral tweet—reading "since ya'll wanna be assholes for taylor, iron man dies in endgame"—has since become a legendary piece of pop culture and is often parodied online. This time, it'll be a little harder for those Swifties to spoil Avengers: Endgame for anyone.
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 arrives in theaters on September 25.