‘Avengers: Endgame’ Returns to Top of Box Office
The 2019 Marvel film retakes the No. 1 spot in its rerelease, while new films like Robert Pattinson's 'Primetime' also draw audiences.
Seven years after its initial release, “Avengers: Endgame” has reclaimed the No. 1 position at the box office. The Marvel film's rerelease, which includes new end-credits scenes and messages from stars Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, grossed an estimated $26 million over the weekend. Internationally, the rerelease added another $60 million.
This marks a significant return for a film that originally grossed $2.8 billion in 2019, making it the second-highest-grossing film ever. Among rereleases, only “Star Wars: A New Hope” in 1997 and “The Lion King” in 2011 have achieved higher domestic weekend earnings.
Hollywood has increasingly utilized rereleases to fill gaps in theatrical release schedules. However, Disney's “Endgame: Encore” succeeded on a particularly crowded weekend for new movie releases.
New films such as A24's “Primetime,” starring Robert Pattinson, Paramount Pictures’ “Heart of the Beast” with Brad Pitt, and Universal Pictures’ “Forgotten Island” also premiered.
“Resident Evil,” a reboot from Sony Pictures, secured second place in its second weekend, earning $23.3 million and bringing its two-week domestic total to $103.5 million.
In a close race for third, “Heart of the Beast” debuted with an estimated $20 million from 3,435 theaters. The film, which stars Pitt as a veteran stranded in the Alaskan wilderness, also earned $30.1 million internationally. The film had a production budget of $82 million.
“Primetime,” made on a more modest $15 million budget, opened with $19.2 million, debuting in 500 fewer theaters than “Heart of the Beast.” The film, which garnered positive reviews and buzz from the Venice Film Festival, features Pattinson as Chris Hansen, host of “To Catch a Predator.” Approximately 69% of “Primetime” ticket buyers were under 30, highlighting the growing influence of Gen Z moviegoers.
“Forgotten Island,” an animated film from DreamWorks Animation with an $80 million budget, landed in fifth place with a $12.8 million domestic opening. It added $7.8 million from 31 international markets.
The weekend's releases contributed to a strong September for the box office, with ticket sales up 58.5% compared to the same weekend last year. The domestic box office has accumulated $7.8 billion so far this year, 19% ahead of last year.