‘Avengers: Endgame’ Re-Release Breaks Records Thursday, Anticipates Huge Weekend Against ‘Star Wars’

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Marvel Studios has a history of celebrating its biggest hits, and this fall, the studio is leveraging one of its crown jewels to generate excitement ahead of December’s major crossover event. While nostalgia typically doesn’t drive box office numbers this significantly, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is far from an ordinary film.

The 2019 blockbuster made its return to North American theaters this week under a new title, featuring fresh footage and an enhanced marketing strategy linked to the franchise’s next chapter. Early indicators hinted at strong interest in the re-release even before its official launch.

These predictions were confirmed as ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ raked in $3.8 million during Thursday night preview screenings, setting a record for the highest Thursday preview total ever recorded for a theatrical re-release, surpassing the $3.4 million earned by last year’s ‘Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’ reissue.

This impressive preview total has analysts projecting a three-day opening weekend in the $25 million to $30 million range domestically. If the film reaches approximately $30.2 million, it would establish a new unadjusted record for the highest opening weekend ever for a theatrical re-release, surpassing the 2011 3D reissue of ‘The Lion King.’

The comparisons extend beyond just one previous re-release. ‘Revenge of the Sith’s reissue opened to $25.5 million following its own Thursday previews, while the 2012 3D re-release of ‘Titanic’ peaked at $17.3 million, and a 2022 return of ‘Avatar’ garnered $10.5 million.

‘Endgame Encore’ is on track to outperform all three benchmarks, potentially marking the biggest modern-era reissue opening weekend since ‘The Lion King’s’ 3D return over a decade ago. Achieving such performance would be a remarkable accomplishment for a film that is already seven years removed from its original theatrical release.

Part of the appeal is strategic rather than purely nostalgic. The re-release features several additional minutes of footage directly related to ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ the Russo brothers’ upcoming crossover film set to hit theaters on December 18. Marketing for the re-release has positioned it as essential viewing for fans eager to catch every connection leading up to ‘Doomsday.’

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

There’s an even larger prize at stake beyond re-release records. ‘Avengers: Endgame’ currently stands at $2.799 billion worldwide, trailing James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ by approximately $124 million for the title of highest-grossing film of all time.

A strong international performance for ‘Encore,’ which is projected to earn an additional $25 million to $30 million overseas this weekend, could significantly narrow that gap. Disney has largely taken a wait-and-see approach regarding whether the film can ultimately reclaim the top spot before ‘Doomsday’ arrives in December, but a record-setting domestic and international weekend would be a crucial step in that direction.

The competition at the box office this weekend is fierce, with ‘Resident Evil’ maintaining a strong presence in its second week and new releases like ‘Primetime’ and ‘Heart of the Beast’ also attracting audiences. Nevertheless, ‘Endgame’s’ preview figures indicate it is well-positioned to compete against both new releases and its own illustrious history.

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