Seven years after its initial groundbreaking release, Avengers: Endgame has once again captivated audiences worldwide, with its 'Encore' re-release pulling in a remarkable $86 million globally over the weekend. According to a report by Deadline, this robust performance underscores the enduring appeal of the Marvel franchise and its dedicated fanbase.
The global total for Endgame: Encore was split between $26 million from North American theaters and a substantial $60 million from international markets. A significant portion of this success came from IMAX screens, which contributed $13.7 million to the overall tally, comprising $4 million domestically and $9.7 million internationally. Disney's Global Boss of Distribution, Andrew Cripps, highlighted the achievement, stating, “The success of the re-release reiterates that there’s a massive fanbase for this franchise, and the fact that it’s a 7-year-old movie on Disney+, it’s an incredible opening.”
Beyond just a nostalgic revisit, the 'Encore' release included several minutes of additional footage teasing the Russo Brothers' highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday. This effectively transformed the re-release into a global advertisement for the next major MCU installment, while simultaneously adding to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's staggering $35 billion cumulative global box office across its 38 titles. With this latest surge, Avengers: Endgame's lifetime worldwide gross now stands at $2.885 billion, placing it even closer to Avatar's all-time record of $2.92 billion and further ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's updated global tally of $2.495 billion.
The re-release's performance stands out in the annals of box office history. Domestically, its $26 million opening ranks as the third-best start for a re-release, following the 1997 re-issue of Star Wars ($35.9 million) and 2011's The Lion King 3D ($30.2 million). Internationally, Endgame: Encore secured the second-highest foreign debut for a re-release with $60 million, only behind James Cameron's Titanic 3D in 2012, which benefited significantly from the 3D craze and a strong showing in China.
The film dominated numerous international territories, opening at No. 1 in key markets such as China ($13.5 million), the UK ($5.4 million), Mexico ($4.2 million), Italy ($2.6 million), Brazil ($2.2 million), and Germany ($2 million). It was also the top non-local film in Japan ($2.6 million) and Spain ($1.7 million). Disney estimates that 'Encore' achieved the highest-ever opening weekend for an MPA re-release in a wide array of countries, including the UK, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, Greece, South Africa, Poland, and many more across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Additionally, it marked the second-highest opening ever for an MPA title in Italy, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Argentina.
This impressive showing for Avengers Endgame: Encore reaffirms the unparalleled power of the Marvel brand and its ability to draw audiences back to theaters, even for a film that has been available on streaming for years. It sets a high bar for future re-releases and demonstrates the effectiveness of leveraging past successes to build anticipation for upcoming cinematic events.