Marvel's "Endgame" Re-release Tops Box Office as New Films Compete
"Avengers: Endgame" earned $26 million domestically in its re-release, while Robert Pattinson's "Primetime" opened with $19.2 million, reflecting strong interest in both legacy and new titles.
Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame" returned to the top of the U.S. box office after a re-release that generated $26 million over the weekend and an additional $60 million in overseas markets, according to studio estimates. The film, originally released in 2019 with a $2.8 billion worldwide gross, was presented as "Endgame: Encore" and featured updated end-credits scenes and a brief thank-you message from Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.
The re-release outperformed other recent rereleases, ranking above the 1997 "Star Wars: A New Hope" and the 2011 "The Lion King" openings in domestic earnings. It led a crowded weekend that also saw the debut of A24's "Primetime" starring Robert Pattinson, Paramount's "Heart of the Beast" with Brad Pitt, and Universal's "Forgotten Island."
Resident Evil, a Sony Pictures reboot, held second place with $23.3 million in its second weekend, bringing its two-week total to $103.5 million in North America. "Heart of the Beast" earned an estimated $20 million, while "Primetime" opened with $19.2 million despite playing in 500 fewer theaters than its competitor. The film, directed by Lance Oppenheim, attracted a youthful audience, with 69 % of ticket buyers under 30, highlighting Pattinson's appeal to Gen Z viewers.
"Forgotten Island" opened in fifth place with $12.8 million domestically and $7.8 million internationally, falling short of expectations for the $80 million production. The animated feature received an "A" CinemaScore and a 94 % fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Overall, the weekend marked a strong September for theaters, with ticket sales up 58.5 % compared with the same period last year, and the domestic box office reaching $7.8 billion, 19 % ahead of the previous year.
"Endgame: Encore" demonstrates the continued commercial viability of major franchise re-releases, while new titles like "Primetime" show that modestly budgeted films can also achieve notable openings.