A close up of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom as he's fighting Thor in Avengers: Doomsday

Disney's senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, Hugh Johnston, recently confirmed a historic achievement for "Avengers: Doomsday" at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference. The Marvel Studios tentpole has already surpassed an unprecedented $50 million in pre-sales, a full 100 days before its release, marking it as the first film ever to reach this milestone. This impressive figure comes after Disney initiated pre-sale tickets for premium formats weeks ago, followed by the general release of standard tickets.

Adding a unique twist to its release strategy, Disney introduced a new premium format called Infinity Vision. This move comes as "Dune: Part Three" has reportedly secured the majority of IMAX screens globally for December. Despite the absence of this coveted premium format, "Avengers: Doomsday" appears unfazed in its early box office performance. The big question now looms: how high can "Doomsday" climb once it officially hits theaters?

One notable difference for this "Avengers" outing is the direct competition it faces. December 18, its release date, has been dubbed "Dunesday," as it sees "Doomsday" go head-to-head with "Dune: Part Three." Historically, Earth's Mightiest Heroes have largely enjoyed uncontested blockbuster releases.

Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be a massive hit (with a major caveat)

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers smirking in Avengers: Doomsday

The extent to which this competition will impact the film's total gross remains to be seen. However, recent trends suggest that diverse blockbusters can successfully co-exist, as demonstrated by the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon with "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," or the less-discussed "Glicked" showdown between "Wicked" and "Gladiator II." It's plausible that Marvel loyalists and "Dune" aficionados can both find their cinematic fix.

Another crucial factor is the late December release window. While 2019's "Avengers: Endgame" shattered records with $2.79 billion globally from an April release, and 2018's "Avengers: Infinity War" also crossed the $2 billion mark with a similar spring opening, December releases often benefit from exceptional 'legs.' Films released in this period tend to perform strongly well beyond their opening weekend, extending into January and February. James Cameron's "Avatar," for instance, achieved over $2.9 billion globally, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time twice, largely due to its December debut. "Avengers: Doomsday" could similarly capitalize on a potential lack of major blockbuster competition in the new year, solidifying its position as a dominant force even alongside a strong performer like "Dune: Part Three."

The $50 million in pre-sales this far out strongly indicates a colossal opening for "Doomsday." Predicting an exact figure is premature, but for context, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" recently opened with a record-setting $360 million, eventually grossing over $2.4 billion worldwide. This raises an intriguing question about whether a standalone Spider-Man film can now outgross an Avengers ensemble.

Can Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars end the Multiverse Saga on a High Note?

Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom raising an army of Sentinels in Avengers: Doomsday

The baseline for success for "Avengers: Doomsday" is to at least match the performance of its predecessors. "The Avengers" (2012) redefined blockbuster filmmaking with a $1.51 billion global haul, while "Age of Ultron" garnered $1.4 billion. Anything less than these figures would undoubtedly be seen as a significant disappointment, particularly given the stakes.

Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who famously helmed "Infinity War" and "Endgame," are returning, adding to the anticipation. Disney has invested heavily in this film, hoping it will decisively conclude the often-uneven Multiverse Saga. The MCU's recent box office performance, with films like "Captain America: Brave New World" ($415.1 million) and "Thunderbolts" ($382.4 million) falling short of expectations, underscores the critical need for "Avengers: Doomsday" to be a monumental success.

A tremendous amount rides on this movie. It serves as the crucial setup for "Avengers: Secret Wars," which is currently the only Marvel film scheduled for 2027. The studio is clearly aiming to replicate the immense hype generated by the "Infinity War" and "Endgame" pairing. The ultimate X-factor will be critical reception. "Doomsday" needs to recapture the magic of "2010s Marvel" and avoid a lukewarm response. While a massive opening weekend seems guaranteed, the film's long-term success and its ability to build momentum for "Secret Wars" to conclude this saga on a high note — while also paving the way for future narratives — will depend heavily on its quality. No pressure, of course.

"Avengers: Doomsday" is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.