‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ Is About to Do Something No Marvel Movie Has Done in Years

Marvel Studios rarely does anything by halves, and its decision to send ‘Avengers: Endgame’ back into theaters seven years after its original release is proving to be no exception. The re-release, dubbed ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore,’ arrived this weekend carrying new footage designed to bridge the gap between the 2019 blockbuster and its long-awaited sequel, ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’

That connective tissue has clearly resonated with fans well before opening day. Presale tracking showed the film posting the biggest first-day presales of the century for any theatrical re-release, surpassing even the benchmark previously set by the 2012 return of ‘Titanic 3D,’ and momentum only continued building from there.

Early Thursday preview numbers are now reinforcing just how strong that demand has been, with reports pointing to roughly $4 million in domestic previews and word-of-mouth described as extremely positive. That preview haul has trackers now projecting a $25 million or higher opening weekend for the film, setting up a legitimately tight race for the top spot at the box office.

‘Endgame Encore’ is tracking to earn somewhere between $25 million and $28 million domestically in its opening weekend, according to Variety, putting it in direct competition with Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ reboot for the number one spot. That horror film opened to a franchise-record $61 million last weekend and is projected to add another $24 million to $26 million in its second outing, meaning this weekend’s chart-topper could come down to razor-thin margins between a beloved rerelease and a genuine surprise hit.

Other trackers have landed in similar territory, with Murphy’s Multiverse projecting a range of $22 million to $27 million, while TheWrap noted that independent trackers see at least $25 million with a real chance of clearing $30 million. Earlier presale data had painted an even more dramatic picture, with some trackers projecting a $40 million to $50 million weekend after North American ticket pre-sales surpassed $10 million in the days leading up to release, though that momentum cooled somewhat as opening weekend approached.

The film’s new footage isn’t just a marketing gimmick tacked onto old material. Speaking about the re-release, ‘Doomsday’ director Joe Russo said it’s “gonna connect the story of the two movies,” describing a “natural progression from Endgame into Doomsday” that also ties into other storylines that have played out across the franchise since 2019. He went as far as calling ‘Endgame Encore’ “required viewing” for anyone following the larger story heading into December’s release.

Beyond Marvel’s own crowd, ‘Endgame Encore’ also faces competition from a trio of new releases all fighting for third place, including Brad Pitt’s survival adventure ‘The Heart of the Beast,’ Robert Pattinson’s ‘Primetime,’ and the animated family film ‘Forgotten Island,’ each projected in the $15 million to $20 million range.

Reassemble the team & relive the experience as Avengers Endgame: Encore returns to theaters September 25.

Tickets now available for IMAX and Infinity Vision screens: https://t.co/pZZ4PiOyQb pic.twitter.com/2wKSVG4FLz

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 25, 2026

Should the re-release perform anywhere near the higher end of its projections, it could meaningfully close the gap between ‘Endgame’ and ‘Avatar’ in the all-time worldwide box office standings. ‘Endgame’ currently sits at $2.799 billion worldwide, while ‘Avatar’ has climbed to $2.9237 billion across its various re-releases, leaving a gap of roughly $124.3 million between the two films.

With a strong preview haul already banked and word-of-mouth reportedly running hot, ‘Endgame Encore’ looks poised to prove that even a seven-year-old film can still command genuine event status at the box office.

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