'Avengers: Endgame' re-release opens at No. 1 with $26 million in North America

"Avengers: Endgame" has returned to the top of the North American box office. The re-release, titled "Avengers Endgame: Encore," earned $26 million over the weekend of September 25 to 27, 2026, according to Disney and Rotten Tomatoes.

The opening

Disney said the re-release added $60 million from international markets, for a global opening of $86 million. According to the company, it played on more than 3,000 screens, including more than 1,300 premium-format screens.

Rotten Tomatoes reported that the $26 million start is the third-largest re-release opening of all time. Only the 1997 "Star Wars" Special Edition, which opened with $35.9 million, and Disney's 2011 3-D version of "The Lion King" did better.

What is new in the re-release

According to Disney, the Encore edition includes new footage introducing "Avengers: Doomsday," the next Avengers film. That film, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. Disney said Robert Downey Jr. returns in a new role as Doctor Doom.

Disney also cited audience scores for the re-release, saying it earned five out of five stars from general and family audiences on PostTrak.

Marvel milestone

Disney said the weekend pushed Marvel Studios past $35 billion at the global box office, with a total of $35.075 billion across 38 films. The company describes Marvel Studios as the most successful film franchise in history.

According to Disney, the new run brings the global total for "Avengers: Endgame" to $2.885 billion. The company said that places the film second on the all-time worldwide chart, $39 million behind "Avatar."

The rest of the weekend

Rotten Tomatoes reported a crowded weekend at the box office. Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil" fell to second place in its second weekend, with a domestic total above $100 million. The new drama "Heart of the Beast," starring Brad Pitt and directed by David Ayer, opened in third place with $20.0 million. "Primetime," starring Robert Pattinson, debuted in fourth place with $19.1 million, and the animated film "Forgotten Island" opened in fifth with $12.8 million, which Rotten Tomatoes described as below expectations.

Rotten Tomatoes also reported that "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" had reached $950.6 million domestically, adding to the domestic record it set earlier in September.

Why it matters

The re-release beat several new wide releases, including two films that each opened with about $20 million. The result shows that a familiar blockbuster, paired with new footage tied to an upcoming sequel, can draw large audiences back to theaters. For Disney, the Encore run serves both as a revenue source and as promotion for "Avengers: Doomsday," which arrives in December.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.