NEW YORK – “Avengers: Endgame” reclaimed the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office seven years after becoming the second-highest-grossing movie of all time, giving Marvel a celebratory encore ahead of the highly anticipated “Avengers: Doomsday.”
The rerelease earned an estimated $26 million in North America over the weekend and an additional $60 million internationally, according to studio figures released Sunday. Originally released in 2019, “Endgame” amassed $2.8 billion worldwide. For its return to theaters, Disney added several new post-credits scenes along with an opening message thanking fans from stars Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.
Among movie rereleases, only the 1997 return of “Star Wars: A New Hope,” which opened to $35.9 million, and the 2011 rerelease of “The Lion King,” which debuted with $30.2 million, have posted stronger domestic openings than “Endgame.”
Studios have increasingly relied on rereleases to fill gaps in the theatrical calendar. Still, The Walt Disney Co.’s “Endgame: Encore” stood out, topping the box office during a particularly busy weekend for new movies.
Three well-reviewed newcomers also arrived in theaters: A24’s “Primetime,” starring Robert Pattinson; Paramount Pictures’ “Heart of the Beast,” led by Brad Pitt; and Universal Pictures’ animated adventure “Forgotten Island.”
“Resident Evil,” Zach Cregger’s reboot of the popular video-game franchise, claimed second place. The Sony Pictures release followed its stronger-than-expected debut with $23.3 million in its second weekend. After two weeks, the adaptation has collected $103.5 million at theaters in the United States and Canada.
The battle for third place was close, with “Heart of the Beast” narrowly edging out “Primetime.” The film took in an estimated $20 million from 3,435 theaters. Directed by David Ayer, it stars Pitt as a retired veteran who travels through the Alaskan wilderness alongside his combat dog after surviving a plane crash. International ticket sales added another $30.1 million.
Pattinson drives ‘Primetime’ sales
Despite finishing just behind “Heart of the Beast,” “Primetime” delivered the more striking opening. “Heart of the Beast” carried an $82 million production budget, making profitability a tougher climb. By comparison, A24 produced “Primetime” for $15 million, and the film opened in 500 fewer theaters.
Powered by strong reviews and attention from the Venice Film Festival, “Primetime” launched with $19.2 million. The result underscored Pattinson’s appeal, particularly among Gen Z moviegoers, following his appearances this year in A24’s “The Drama” and Universal’s “The Odyssey.”
About 69% of “Primetime” ticket buyers were younger than 30. Gen Z has become the most consistent moviegoing demographic, helping drive hits such as “Obsession” and “Backrooms” this year. The film was directed by 30-year-old documentarian Lance Oppenheim, who also co-directed the eagerly awaited Elizabeth Holmes documentary “You Can See Everything,” scheduled for release next month.
DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” struggled to break through the crowded marketplace. Made for $80 million, the film opened in fifth place with a disappointing $12.8 million in domestic ticket sales. It performed modestly overseas as well, earning $7.8 million across 31 international markets.
Universal is counting on families to discover the film, which received the weekend’s best CinemaScore, an “A,” as well as strong critical notices, including a 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, “Forgotten Island” follows two friends stranded in a mystical world.
The packed lineup helped produce one of the strongest September weekends in box-office history. Rentrak reported that overall ticket sales rose 58.5% from the same weekend a year earlier. Domestic box-office revenue has reached $7.8 billion so far this year, 19% ahead of last year’s pace.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
Because final domestic figures will be released Monday, the following ranking is based on estimated Friday-through-Sunday ticket sales at theaters in the United States and Canada, according to Rentrak:
1. “Avengers: Endgame: Encore,” $26 million.
2. “Resident Evil,” $23.3 million.
3. “Heart of the Beast,” $20 million.
4. “Primetime,” $19.2 million.
5. “Forgotten Island,” $12.8 million.
6. “Practical Magic 2,” $5.7 million.
7. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” $4.1 million.
8. “The Odyssey,” $3.7 million.
9. “Coyote vs. Acme,” $1.9 million.
10. “Daniel and the Fiery Furnace,” $1.5 million.
