‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ Overseas Presales Are off to a Historic Start
Marvel’s decision to send ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ back into theaters was always going to draw attention from die-hard fans. What nobody quite expected was how fast the numbers would start piling up once tickets hit international markets.
‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ lands in theaters worldwide on September 25, and the lead-up has already produced some eye-catching milestones. The re-release isn’t just a nostalgia lap, either, since it comes packaged with new footage tied to ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ arriving in December.
Presales in China have now gone live, and the early rush has been described as superb, with the opening haul crossing ¥500,000, or roughly $75,000, almost immediately after tickets became available. Trackers following the rollout suggested the pace could put the film in contention for the number 1 spot worldwide.
China wasn’t the first market to show strength. Presales in several overseas territories reportedly exceeded the openings of comic book titles like ‘Fantastic Four’ and ‘Superman,’ echoing the pattern set by ‘Avengers: Doomsday’s’ own advance sales earlier this year.
That momentum carried into the domestic market as well. ‘Endgame Encore’ reportedly posted the biggest first-day presales this century for any theatrical rerelease within hours of tickets going on sale in late August, surpassing the benchmark set by the 2012 3D return of ‘Titanic.’ The all-time domestic rerelease record still belongs to the 1997 rerelease of ‘Star Wars: A New Hope.’
Reassemble the team & relive the experience as Avengers Endgame: Encore returns to theaters September 25.
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 25, 2026
Tickets now available for IMAX and Infinity Vision screens: https://t.co/pZZ4PiOyQb pic.twitter.com/2wKSVG4FLz
The presale surge feeds into a much bigger storyline: the ongoing tug-of-war between ‘Endgame’ and ‘Avatar’ for the title of highest-grossing film ever. ‘Avatar’ currently sits atop the list at $2.923 billion worldwide after its own successful 2022 rerelease pushed it past ‘Endgame’s’ $2.79 billion total.
Industry estimates suggest ‘Endgame Encore’ would need to add roughly $124.3 million in additional worldwide grosses to leapfrog ‘Avatar’ again. Domestic projections for the opening weekend have ranged between $19 million and $28 million, with a potential global opening weekend north of $60 million based on the split the original film saw overseas.
Relive the experience for the first time in Infinity Vision.
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) September 18, 2026
In ONE week, Avengers Endgame: Encore returns to theaters. Get tickets now: https://t.co/BqAjEHlZNI pic.twitter.com/5UnkyBFgYb
Part of the strategy behind the re-release appears to be building anticipation for ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ which has already logged more than $50 million in advance ticket sales at the 100-day mark ahead of its own release. The Russo Brothers have reportedly framed watching ‘Endgame’ again as close to required viewing before the new film arrives.
That framing seems to be resonating with audiences shelling out for another trip to the theater. Whether it’s curiosity about the new footage, a desire to see Tony Stark’s story on the big screen one more time, or genuine excitement for what ‘Doomsday’ has in store, ticket buyers in China and beyond are treating this rerelease as an event rather than a formality.
The broader box office landscape adds context to why these numbers are turning heads. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ recently became the eighth film to cross $2 billion worldwide, landing at number 3 all-time with a $2.4 billion total, a reminder that the MCU’s pulling power hasn’t faded even as some analysts point to a general softening in international interest, particularly around China’s box office dependence in recent years.
Against that backdrop, a seven-year-old film reclaiming this kind of spotlight stands out. It suggests Marvel’s built-in audience is still willing to show up in force when the studio gives them a real reason, whether that’s fresh footage, a bridge to a new film, or simply the chance to relive a defining moment in franchise history on the big screen again.
The China numbers are still early, and presale enthusiasm doesn’t always translate directly into final grosses once opening weekend actually arrives. Still, for a film first released more than 7 years ago, generating this kind of buzz all over again is no small feat, especially with ‘Doomsday’ waiting in the wings for December.
Fan chatter online has already picked up on the scale of the response, with box office trackers pointing to the presale pace as a sign that ‘Endgame Encore’ could genuinely compete for the top global spot in its opening days. That kind of talk was rare for a rerelease before this year, and it says as much about the durability of the original film as it does about Marvel’s marketing instincts heading into ‘Doomsday’ season.
What do you think is driving the huge presales for ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’?
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