The second showing of Avengers: Endgame, known as the Encore presentation, has a smaller number of Doomsday references than the original screening. In some theaters, those references have been cut entirely. The change affects only the non-IMAX version of the film, so viewers in IMAX still get the full set of teases. The PSAs for these screenings have been adjusted to reflect the reduced content, with theaters informing audiences about the altered presentation ahead of time.
Be prepared before you head to the cinema for Avengers: Endgame Encore, because not every theater is showing all four Avengers: Doomsday teaser clips. Some theaters may skip one or more of the bonus scenes entirely.
Avengers: Endgame Encore’s additional scenes are being shown exclusively on IMAX screens, alongside Infinity Vision theaters. Infinity Vision does not represent a brand-new film format; it is instead a certification program put together by Disney that tells viewers which Premium Large Format theaters have satisfied its standards for a “exceptional” moviegoing experience.
What Disney Said
Disney acknowledged the distinction between screenings in an Aug. 25 press release, noting “An additional sneak peek at [Avengers: Doomsday] will also be available to audiences who see Avengers: Endgame Encore on IMAX and Infinity Vision-certified screens.”.
Audiences were disappointed by the fact that IMAX and Infinity Vision screenings of Avengers: Endgame Encore failed to deliver exclusive content, especially given that the missing scene makes up a good portion of the extra four minutes added to Avengers: Endgame.
The Missing Scene
In the Avengers: Endgame Encore scene, which is exclusive, the action unfolds at the headquarters of the Time Variance Authority (TVA). That organization was first shown in Season 1 of Loki. Within it, three TVA employees watch a worrying incursion. They are Mobius (Owen Wilson), Ouroboros (Ke Huy Quan), and Casey (Eugene Cordero).
Two alternate Earths are about to collide, and they’re firing missiles at one another. From there, the number of incursions multiples. It’s not long before thousands of universes are colliding, and the TVA is out of its depth.
“The multiverse is collapsing,” Ouroboros says.
The two separate universes being compared here are It’s a foreboding set up for Avengers: Doomsday, one that could explain how the main MCU crosses over with the Fantastic Four’s universe and the one that houses Fox’s X-Men.
Who Is Watching What
The exclusivity split is simple to state:
- IMAX screenings show all four extra scenes.
- Infinity Vision-certified theaters show all four extra scenes.
- Non-IMAX theaters skip one of the extra scenes.
Real disappointment has set in among viewers who expected to see every element the movie offers, only to find certain theaters holding some content back instead.
Why This Matters
This sequence is not padding. It establishes the chain of events that ties the main MCU to the Fantastic Four’s world and the Fox X-Men timeline. That connection carries real weight for the story’s larger shape; it is not merely a cameo or a throwaway gag.
Omitting it leaves non-IMAX viewers with a shorter, less complete version of the film. The added four minutes include a good chunk of material, making the cut a significant slice of runtime.
The Reaction
The disappointment over the fact that IMAX and Infinity Vision screenings of Avengers: Endgame Encore did not include exclusive content is understandable. A teaser is a marketing tool, but it is also part of the product. Withholding that product from the majority of theaters feels like a bait-and-switch.
What To Know Before You Go
Avengers: Endgame Encore is currently showing in cinemas. The sequel, Avengers: Doomsday, arrives in theaters on Dec. 18.
To view all four additional scenes, your best bet is to look for theaters that hold IMAX or Infinity Vision certification close to where you live.
The Bottom Line
Disney is giving theaters a certification called Infinity Vision, based on meeting specific standards for a superior viewing experience. That stamp comes with its own exclusive material. As a consequence, the exact same movie ends up playing differently depending on which theater seat you choose.
This is not a matter of technical limits. It is a business decision. One that leaves a vast audience without more details on what comes next in the MCU.
Some viewers are finding out about the collapse of the multiverse later than others. The multiverse is falling apart, yet the timing of that information reaches certain audiences at a different rate.
Source material: “PSA: Avengers: Endgame Encore features one less Doomsday tease in non-IMAX theaters,” Mashable.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.