Endgame Is Back on Screens, and the Box Office Is Crowded
Marvel Studios has brought Avengers: Endgame back to theaters for a second run. The 2019 hit movie is coming back to 3,060 North American screens with a special edition titled Avengers Endgame: Encore. On Friday, it made around $11.2 million, counting Thursday previews. It is expected to land at number one of the domestic chart with an estimated total of $26 million.
Sony’s horror remake of Resident Evil is still drawing crowds in its second weekend, and the numbers show a drop that’s anything but small: a decline of roughly 60 percent. The film stays a force to be reckoned with in the battle for attention, even as attendance slips.
Endgame’s Numbers, Then and Now
The film Endgame arrived in April 2019, drawing an opening weekend of $1.2 billion globally. It climbed to No. 2 on the all-time worldwide chart, with a total run of $2.7 billion.
Marvel Studios is bringing back Avengers: Doomsday with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the film, which hits theaters again Dec. 18. The rerelease gives fans another chance to see the movie ahead of the next chapter in the franchise.
The 2019 opening weekend of $1.2 billion came from a global audience hungry for closure on a decade of storytelling. The film’s climb to No. 2 on the all-time worldwide chart reflected that appetite. The total run of $2.7 billion shows how long that audience stayed engaged.
Resident Evil Holds Its Ground
The remake of Resident Evil remains the headline act this weekend. Sony’s version pulled in $6.9 million on Friday, counting Thursday’s previews, and is projected to land at roughly $23.5 million across North America for its second week.
It lands in second place over the weekend. With a projected dip of roughly 60 percent, the film’s North American total would move to $103.6 million.
That 60 percent drop is a steep one. Few films hold their ground this firmly while losing so many viewers. The film’s staying power is notable given the crowded field around it.
Primetime Arrives With Pattinson
Robert Pattinson plays journalist Chris Hansen in A24’s Primetime, a film that earned around $8.4 million on Friday, counting Thursday previews. With ticket sales projected to reach roughly $20.5 million from 2,800 North American theaters, the movie is currently tracking for that total.
Skyler Gisondo, Merritt Wever and Phoebe Bridgers appear alongside one another in this directorial effort from Lance Oppenheim, whose feature carries a production cost of $15 million dollars. The picture holds an 87 percent score among critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
David Rooney, the chief film critic at The Hollywood Reporter, wrote a review where he described it as “peak Sleaze TV rerun, for whoever wants it.” His description captures the film’s tone, which leans heavily into the sleazy world of tabloid television.
Heart of the Beast Packs an Emotional Punch
Paramount Pictures’ Heart of the Beast notched $7.4 million on Friday, including previews. It is expected to gross around $20 million domestically for the weekend from 3,400 North American locations.
A Special Forces officer played by Brad Pitt is left behind with his combat dog in the wild in this film, which has a production budget of $82 million dollars. With David Ayer directing, the picture holds an 87 mark from Rotten Tomatoes critics.
Frank Scheck, a critic for THR, wrote that it “packs a surprising emotional punch.” That assessment suggests the film delivers more than its premise might suggest.
Forgotten Island Rounds Out the Top Five
DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island is rounding out the top five. The Universal Pictures release is expected to bring in around $11.5 million domestically for the weekend after collecting $4.3 million on Friday, including Thursday previews and other advance screenings.
Two companions find themselves spirited away to a mythical Philippine isle in this tale, with the voices of H.E.R., Liza Soberano and Dave Franco bringing it to life. The picture carries a critic approval mark of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Scheck wrote for THR that it is “an exciting original.” His review points to the film’s freshness as a selling point.
The Weekend’s Other Players
A number of new titles are set to debut this weekend, with several strong releases vying for notice. The lineup includes a variety of films across the board.
- Avengers Endgame: Encore — $26 million expected, top spot
- Resident Evil — $23.5 million expected, second place
- Primetime — $20.5 million expected
- Heart of the Beast — $20 million expected
- Forgotten Island — $11.5 million expected
A Look at the Production Budgets
| Film | Production Budget |
|---|---|
| Avengers Endgame: Encore | Not stated |
| Resident Evil | Not stated |
| Primetime | $15 million |
| Heart of the Beast | $82 million |
| Forgotten Island | $80 million |
The Weekend’s Early Picture
This weekend’s box office test will reveal which path moviegoers choose: a Marvel sequel they already know, or a fresh title. The initial returns point toward a split verdict, with interest in both kinds of films on display.
Fans who want to return to a story they already know have an encore edition waiting for them. Those who prefer something fresh have new releases offering other reasons to engage. Both approaches are operating at the same time.
A great deal of rivalry is packed into one weekend. The figures will reveal the whole picture once they arrive.
Source material: “‘Avengers: Endgame’ Snapping Up $26M at Box Office Amid Crowded Weekend,” The Hollywood Reporter.
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