‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Approaching ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Hype Levels in China

Tena Milakovic
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When ‘Avengers: Endgame’ premiered in China in 2019, it not only had a massive opening but also redefined the potential of Hollywood blockbusters in the world’s second-largest film market. Since then, every Marvel release has been compared to its success.

As anticipation builds for the upcoming team-up film, early interest metrics indicate that ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ might be nearing that iconic benchmark in China. This is particularly promising for a franchise that has faced challenges in recent years.

To grasp the significance of this comparison, it’s essential to recall the impact of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in China. The film shattered records with an astonishing $107.2 million on its opening day, which included $28.2 million from midnight previews.

Theaters were so packed that they scheduled screenings every 15 minutes, and the film raked in RMB 1 billion within just 45 hours. Audiences responded enthusiastically, awarding it a 9.3 out of 10 on Maoyan and 9.2 on Douban. Its three-day opening in China grossed $217 million, surpassing the previous record held by ‘Avengers: Infinity War’.

This historical context sets the stage for the latest figures. On Maoyan, the leading online movie-ticketing platform in China, the ‘want-to-see’ count for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is approaching the heights of ‘Avengers: Endgame’.

At the same point in time, 69 days before their respective releases, the numbers are as follows:

  • ‘Avengers: Endgame’: 264K
  • ‘Avengers: Doomsday’: 253K
  • ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’: 196.8K

This places ‘Doomsday’ just 11K behind ‘Endgame’, representing approximately 96% of its figure. It also shows ‘Doomsday’ significantly ahead of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ by over 56K in want-to-see counts.

While want-to-see counts indicate interest rather than actual ticket sales, they serve as an early indicator of potential performance. The gap to the franchise’s all-time high is notably small.

The marketing campaign has been consistent, with Marvel releasing four teaser trailers for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. The film is currently in post-production, with the Russo brothers returning to direct.

Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU, not as Tony Stark but as the antagonist Doctor Doom. The cast also features Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Letitia Wright, and Winston Duke, alongside members from the recent ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and ‘Thunderbolts’ casts, as well as much of the Fox ‘X-Men’ ensemble.

Disney has also provided a nostalgia boost, re-releasing ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in theaters on September 25. The Russos referred to this as the perfect prelude to ‘Doomsday’, reminding audiences of the moment when the full roster of heroes first assembled.

The timing is crucial, especially with concerns about ‘Doomsday’ potentially underperforming, given Marvel’s recent box office struggles. However, The Hollywood Reporter has indicated that the film is performing well in long-lead tracking, according to their sources.

‘Endgame’ debuted with $357.1 million in the United States and Canada, surpassing the $258.2 million opening of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ by nearly $100 million. Previous Avengers openings include $191.3 million for ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and $207 million for 2012’s ‘The Avengers’.

China has played a significant role in this narrative, and strong interest there would be a positive sign for the studio. A robust opening overseas could help alleviate some of the mounting pressure surrounding the franchise.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set to premiere in the United States on December 18, 2026. It follows ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, which was released on July 31, and will be succeeded by ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ a year later.

In the meantime, fans can expect more trailers, tracking updates, and ongoing comparisons to ‘Endgame’. If the want-to-see numbers continue to rise, that 11K gap could close well before the film’s release.

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