Marvel Re-Release Tops Box Office as New Films Debut
A re-release of "Avengers: Endgame" earned $86 million worldwide this weekend, outpacing new releases including A24's "Primetime" and Paramount's "The Heart of the Beast".
"Avengers: Endgame Encore," a re-release of the 2019 Marvel film with added footage, generated $26 million from 3,060 North American theaters and $60 million overseas for a total of $86 million this weekend. The strong showing is seen as a marketing boost ahead of the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday" slated for December.
David A. Gross of the box-office newsletter FranchiseRe noted that re-releases rarely exceed $10 million, calling the result an effective way to build early word-of-mouth.
Among new releases, A24's crime drama "Primetime" opened with $19.2 million from 2,863 venues, marking the distributor's third-best debut. Gross described the opening as "outstanding for an original crime drama" and highlighted Robert Pattinson's star power. The film attracted a largely young audience, with 69 % under age 30, and received a CinemaScore of "B."
Paramount's survival adventure "The Heart of the Beast," starring Brad Pitt, earned $20 million domestically and $30.1 million internationally for a $50.1 million global start, though its $82 million budget means it will need sustained performance. The film holds an 87 % Rotten Tomatoes rating and an "A-" CinemaScore.
Universal's family animation "Forgotten Island" debuted at fifth place with $12.8 million domestically and $7.8 million overseas, totaling $20.6 million worldwide against an $80 million budget. Despite critical praise (94 % Rotten Tomatoes, "A" CinemaScore), the film will rely on a long theatrical run. Universal domestic distribution chief Jim Orr said the studio hopes audience reactions will support a prolonged run.
Sony's "Resident Evil" reboot took second place with $23 million, a 60 % drop from its opening but still well above its franchise's previous domestic totals.
Overall, the domestic box office approached $8 billion for the year, a level not reached until December of the prior year. Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak, said the weekend demonstrated that 2026 audiences are attending a wide range of titles, from classic reissues to original genre films.