German Cinema Listing Confirms ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Runtime of 170 Minutes

voice film logo squareArthur S. Poe
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Marvel Studios has been carefully deliberating the runtime for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, a task complicated by the film’s expansive cast that spans three distinct cinematic universes. Integrating the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four into a cohesive narrative has necessitated significant screen time, as indicated by various reports during the film’s post-production phase.

Over the past few months, estimates for the film’s runtime have fluctuated widely, reflecting the editing process led by the Russo brothers. Initial rumors suggested a lengthy three-and-a-half-hour cut, while more recent test screenings indicated that Marvel had successfully reduced the runtime.

Now, a definitive source has emerged from official listings. A German cinema chain has disclosed that ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ will have a runtime of 170 minutes, or 2 hours and 50 minutes, as per listings from Cineplex theaters in various German cities. This runtime is corroborated by cinema pages in Euskirchen and Bayreuth, both confirming the same duration along with the film’s German release date on December 16.

This new figure marks an increase from the previously reported 165-minute runtime, or 2 hours and 45 minutes, which had circulated after a test screening in September. It also aligns closely with the two figures Marvel had been aiming for during the editing process, leaning towards the higher end of what insiders had indicated was the studio’s target.

The journey to this final runtime has not been straightforward. Earlier reports this year mentioned an initial cut of the film running as long as 3 hours and 30 minutes, prompting Marvel’s editing team to make substantial cuts to create a more audience-friendly version. Director Anthony Russo had previously kept details vague, stating at San Diego Comic-Con that “it’s too early to say what the running time is. But it’s substantial.”

Despite its length, ‘Doomsday’ will still fall short of the MCU’s longest film. ‘Avengers: Endgame’ holds the record for the longest theatrical release in the franchise at approximately 181 minutes, meaning ‘Doomsday’ will be about 11 minutes shorter, even with its newly confirmed 170-minute runtime.

In comparison to other films in the franchise, ‘Doomsday’ now ranks as the second-longest Avengers film, surpassing ‘Avengers: Infinity War’s’ 149-minute runtime by a considerable margin. It stands ahead of the original ‘The Avengers’ at 143 minutes and ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ at 141 minutes, highlighting the significant scale of this crossover compared to earlier team-up films.

Given the extensive ensemble cast, which features returning Avengers alongside X-Men icons like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, as well as Fantastic Four newcomers like Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, a lengthy runtime was essential to adequately develop each storyline. Whether 170 minutes will be enough to accommodate this vast roster remains to be seen once the film is released.

With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ scheduled to premiere in theaters on December 18, fans now have a solid runtime figure, even as Marvel continues to refine the film ahead of its debut.

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