Avengers: Endgame: Encore returned to theaters today, Sep. 25., delivering the classic Endgame film with a twist.
This rerelease is designed to bridge the gap between the Infinity Saga and Marvel‘s next major team-up event, Avenger’s Doomsday, with the help of some never-before-seen material.
(Avengers: Endgame: Encore via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Also read about: A Definitive Ranking of Marvel Cinematic Universe Superheroes
What’s New This Time Around
Endgame: Encore adds four minutes of brand-new footage that weren’t included in the original 2019 release. These new scenes work to directly tie the film into December’s highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday.
The new scenes reportedly showcase Doctor Doom, Loki traveling through the timeline and a big moment involving the start of the multiverse’s collapse.
Director Joe Russo called the rerelease “required viewing” for fans who hope to be fully caught up before Doomsday arrives.
Also read about: Where to Watch Tom Holland Next If You Love Him in The Odyssey
Endgame‘s Legacy
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Endgame served as the grand conclusion to the thrilling first decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, wrapping up storylines that had been building since 2008’s Iron Man, well before we knew how big the MCU would someday become.
The film also shattered opening weekend records with its original release, pulling in $1.2 billion globally in just its first three days. To this today, that number still stands as one of the biggest openings in box office history.
A New Way to Watch
Endgame: Encore is playing in standard theaters, as well as on IMAX and a new certification called Infinity Vision, designed specifically for premium large-format screens.
Audiences who catch the film on IMAX or an Infinity Vision-certified screen also get a little bonus, as they’ll be airing an exclusive sneak peek at Avengers: Doomsday before the rest of the world gets to see it.
As of earlier this year, Disney reported more than 75 Infinity Vision-certified theaters in the U.S. and 300 internationally. Thousands more exhibitors have applied for certification, and we’re hoping they become the norm, giving filmgoers everywhere the chance to see movies on the biggest formats possible.
Also read about: Lenore Zann on Returning as Rogue for X-Men ’97 and the Legacy of the Iconic Character
Endgame Retakes the Box Office Crown From Avatar
Update: Endgame: Encore has done it. Following the re-release’s second weekend, The Hollywood Reporter reports that Avengers: Endgame is once again the highest-grossing film of all time worldwide, with a global total of about $2.9255 billion to Avatar‘s $2.9237 billion. That’s a margin of only a couple million dollars.
The second weekend added roughly $4.4 million domestically and $14.4 million overseas, which was just enough to pass Avatar.
That came after a big start, as Encore opened at No. 1 domestically with $26.1 million and brought in about $86 million globally, before dropping more than 80% in its second weekend. Endgame‘s domestic total now stands at about $894.6 million.
Figures are estimates and vary slightly between outlets, and the gap is thin enough that the numbers could shift as final grosses come in.
Also read about: What to Watch Next If You Loved the Stars of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Setting Up Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Doomsday arrives Dec. 18, marking Chris Evans’ first return as Steve Rogers since Endgame, alongside Robert Downey Jr., who’s now taking a big character turn by stepping into the villainous role of Doctor Doom.
The film will bring together the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and the original X-Men from across the multiverse to defeat the biggest bad yet.
