'Avengers: Endgame Encore' Presales Surpass Previous Re-Releases Ahead of Opening Weekend

Re-releases are often seen as nostalgic side dishes, but ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ is taking center stage. It has been breaking presale records for weeks, generating forecasts that rival those of new blockbusters. As opening day arrives, box office analysts are getting a clearer picture of the strong demand.

The record chase began in late August when tickets became available. Within hours, the film achieved the highest first-day presales of this century for a re-release, surpassing the previous record held by the ‘Titanic 3D’ return. The all-time domestic record for a re-release still belongs to the 1997 Special Edition of ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’, which grossed approximately $138 million.

A recent update from a box office tracker has further fueled the excitement. Box office tracker @Itsjat32 reported on Thursday that ‘Endgame Encore’ has nearly $15 million in presales in North America, marking the highest ever for a re-release. This surpasses the ’20th Anniversary’ return of ‘Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’, with weekend projections reaching $25 million or more, and a potential to hit $30 million. The update was shared on Reddit’s r/boxoffice.

The comparison to ‘Revenge of the Sith’ is significant. That April 2025 re-release opened to $25.2 million domestically after $3.4 million in Thursday previews, making it one of the largest re-release openings on record. Prior to that weekend, Pinkvilla reported presales exceeding $10 million, so nearly $15 million for ‘Endgame Encore’ is a notable increase.

It’s important to note that presale totals can vary across sources, as different trackers measure different windows and platforms. The same account noted on September 20 that ‘Endgame Encore’ had surpassed $10 million and predicted a weekend total of $40 million to $50 million at that time. However, they cautioned that momentum had slowed for about a week, leading to a more conservative estimate of $25 million or more.

This newer estimate aligns with the broader consensus. Variety suggests the film is tracking for $25 million to $28 million, while TheWrap indicates independent trackers see at least $25 million, with a good chance of exceeding $30 million. Murphy’s Multiverse projects $22 million to $27 million, while Box Office Theory starts lower at $18 million.

Screenshot 2026 09 24 at 11 24 57 Avengers Endgame Rotten Tomatoes

The benchmark for comparison varies based on how one defines a re-release. The ‘Titanic 3D’ opening of $25.6 million is often cited as the largest domestic opening weekend for a re-release. However, SlashFilm pointed out that the 1997 ‘A New Hope’ Special Edition opened to $35.9 million, and the 2011 3D ‘The Lion King’ opened to $30.1 million, although those included new footage or a 3D presentation.

This is why the approach of ‘Endgame Encore’ is noteworthy. It features four additional minutes of footage, a new post-credits scene, and an exclusive look at ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, set to release on December 18. IMAX and Infinity Vision screenings will also include an extra sneak peek.

A total in the $25 million to $30 million range would place the film in the same conversation as these other titles. It would also serve as a strong opener against ‘Resident Evil’, which is projected to earn $24 million to $26 million in its second weekend.

Reassemble the team & relive the experience as Avengers Endgame: Encore returns to theaters September 25.

Tickets now available for IMAX and Infinity Vision screens: https://t.co/pZZ4PiOyQb pic.twitter.com/2wKSVG4FLz

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 25, 2026

The domestic weekend is just one part of the picture. The film has also shown strong presales internationally, including $965,000 in China after just two days of sales, surpassing the two-day totals for ‘The Batman’ and ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’. Analysts predict a potential global opening exceeding $50 million.

The ultimate goal is the all-time box office crown. ‘Avengers: Endgame’ currently stands at around $2.799 billion worldwide, while ‘Avatar’ holds the record at $2.9237 billion following its own re-release, leaving a gap of approximately $124 million. Even with a domestic weekend total of $25 million to $28 million, ‘Endgame Encore’ would still be about $96 million to $99 million short, meaning international audiences will need to contribute significantly.

However, caution is advised. Enthusiasm in presales doesn’t always translate to final grosses once the opening weekend arrives, and screen availability may limit walk-up business. Nevertheless, the early figures indicate that this re-release is exceeding expectations.

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