Article Image

IPFS News Link • Entertainment: Movies

Box Office Preview: 'Avengers: Endgame' Preps for Record $850M-$900M Global Bow

• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com

The superhero tentpole could cross $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales in less than a week in release.

The only game in town at the box office this weekend is Avengers: Endgame — and then some.

Marvel Studios and Disney's superhero juggernaut is virtually assured of shattering records with a projected global launch of $850 to $900 million, if not more. That could include a potential all-time best of $270 million to $300 million in North America, where it unfurls in 4,600 theaters, the widest release ever.

The big caveat is the tentpole's running time of three hours and 58 seconds. That means a reduction in showtimes. So far, Disney and theater owners appear to be making up the difference by adding additional screens and showtimes. And online ticket service Fandango says 4,000 shows are sold out.

The box office is in sore need of good news. Domestic revenue is running 17 percent behind the same corridor last year, although many believe Endgame could be the first of many 2019 juggernauts (many of them from Disney).

Avengers: Endgame is directed by the Russo brothers, who shot the movie back-to-back with last year's Avengers: Infinity War.

The nostalgia factor is running hot. Not only is Endgame a direct sequel to Infinity War, it's the culmination of the previous 21 titles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a blockbuster series of films that commenced with Iron Man in 2008 and established Kevin Feige's Marvel Studios as best in show.

null

Read More

'Avengers: Endgame' — What the Critics Are Saying

Avengers: Infinity War, which ran two hours and 29 minutes, is the current record holder for biggest global opening ($640.5 million) and biggest domestic launch ($257.6 million) after stealing the crown from Disney and Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248 million), not adjusted for inflation.

A big difference this time out is that Avengers: Endgame is opening day-and-date in China, unlike Infinity War, which debuted to more than $191 million in the Middle Kingdom two weeks after rolling out in much of the rest of the world.


thelibertyadvisor.com/declare