‘Avengers: Endgame’ Encore Is Already Breaking Re-Release Records
More than 7 years after Earth’s Mightiest Heroes took down Thanos, the ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore‘ box office run is officially underway, and Marvel fans are clearly ready to relive the moment. The 2019 epic originally pulled in nearly $2.8 billion worldwide, and now it is back on the big screen with fresh material designed to lure audiences into theaters once again.
This is not a simple nostalgia replay. The re-release adds new scenes to the original blockbuster ahead of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, which is scheduled for December 18. Current listings put the new cut at around 185 minutes, several minutes longer than the original, giving die-hard viewers a reason to return.
The early verdict is in, and it is a strong one. Exhibitor Relations Co. announced on X that the Marvel re-release scored $3.8 million in previews, playfully declaring that Earth’s Mightiest Heroes were back at number 1. That total came from Thursday preview screenings, an eye-catching figure for a re-release whose only new material is a few extra minutes of deleted scenes.
The preview total also put the Avengers ahead of a crowded Thursday field. ‘Resident Evil’ took in $3.3 million, while ‘Primetime’ earned $2.7 million, ‘Heart of the Beast’ brought in $2 million, and ‘Forgotten Island’ collected $1.4 million. Fans in the replies were having fun with the post too, with one user joking that they could no longer take the accompanying Robert Downey Jr. GIF seriously.
The strong Thursday showing did not come out of nowhere. When tickets went on sale in late August, the film posted the biggest first-day presales of this century for a re-release, beating the benchmark set by the ‘Titanic 3D’ return.
Momentum only grew from there. Box office analyst Jatinder Singh reported that the extended re-release generated nearly $15 million in North American presales, the highest ever for a theatrical re-release, surpassing the anniversary return of ‘Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’. That April 2025 re-release opened to $25.2 million domestically after $3.4 million in Thursday previews, which makes the Encore’s early numbers look even more impressive by comparison.
Guess who’s back at #1? Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Marvel’s AVENGERS ENGAME: ENCORE scored $3.8M in previews yesterday. https://t.co/i4naNj376m
— Exhibitor Relations Co. (@ERCboxoffice) September 25, 2026
Industry projections are now aiming high. The film is tracking for $25 million to $28 million this weekend, and some watchers are even more bullish. One outlet noted that strong presales could make the run frontloaded, but that it now looks headed for about $30 million and a real shot at the top spot.
$1M CLUB: PREVIEW THURSDAY 1. AVENGERS ENDGAME: ENCORE ($3.8M) 2. RESIDENT EVIL ($3.3M) 3. PRIMETIME ($2.7M) 4. HEART OF THE BEAST ($2M) 5. THE PARADISE ($1.7M) 6. FORGOTTEN ISLAND ($1.5M)
— Exhibitor Relations Co. (@ERCboxoffice) September 25, 2026
History is on the line. Anything above $25.6 million would surpass ‘Titanic’s 2012 3D re-release for the biggest re-release opening weekend ever. Still, the ultimate crown remains out of reach for now, since the all-time domestic total for a re-release belongs to the 1997 Special Edition of ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’, which earned about $138 million.
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 bigger storyline is the global chart. ‘Avengers: Endgame’ earned $2.799 billion worldwide in its initial run, just short of the all-time record held by ‘Avatar’ at $2.923 billion, a gap of roughly $124 million. Analysts suggest that strong domestic and international performances, paired with solid holds in later weekends, could help Endgame claim that record.
Of course, the competition is stiff. Three new films are opening the same weekend, while ‘Resident Evil’ is still playing after leading the box office last weekend. Presale excitement does not always translate into final grosses, and screen availability could limit walk-up business, so the full weekend tally will reveal how much gas this victory lap really has.
Marketing has also played a big role in reframing the event. The re-release launches Disney’s Infinity Vision program, and director Joe Russo has positioned the film as an essential companion piece to ‘Doomsday’, turning a beloved blockbuster into must-see viewing all over again.
Do you think Avengers: Endgame Encore can reclaim the all-time box office record from Avatar?
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