Full Breakdown
Avengers: Endgame Encore Rewrites Box-Office Records Amid Global Ban
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Marvel Studios re-released the 2019 blockbuster Avengers: Endgame under the title *Endgame: Encore* on September 25. The limited-run version added four minutes of new footage that ties directly into the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday* (scheduled for December 18, 2026). In its opening weekend the film earned an estimated $86 million worldwide—$26 million domestically and $60 million from overseas markets—propelling its lifetime worldwide gross to $2.885 billion, the second-highest total in history. Simultaneously, the re-release was barred from cinemas in Kuwait, where chains Cinescape and Vox Cinemas cancelled all showings and promised full refunds.
Background & Context
When *Endgame* debuted in 2019 it grossed $2.799 billion worldwide, briefly overtaking *Avatar* as the all-time highest-grossing film before the latter reclaimed the crown after a 2021 re-release. Re-issues of major titles have become a strategic tool for studios, with past benchmarks including the 1997 *Star Wars: A New Hope* ($35.9 million domestic debut) and the 2011 3-D *The Lion King* ($30.2 million). Marvel positioned *Encore* as both a nostalgia event and a promotional bridge to *Doomsday*, inserting new scenes featuring Steve Rogers, Loki, Doctor Doom and the Time Variance Authority.
Data & Statistics
- Domestic opening: $26 million (Rentrak estimate).
- International opening: $60 million (Deadline tracking).
- Global weekend total: $86 million (multiple sources).
- Cumulative worldwide gross: $2.885 billion, $39 million behind *Avatar*.
- Preview earnings: $3.8 million from Thursday previews.
- Pre-sale momentum: nearly $15 million in North-American pre-sales.
- IMAX contribution: $13.7 million (?14 % of total).
- Key markets: $13.5 million in China, $5.4 million in the UK, $4.2 million in Mexico, $2.6 million in Italy and Japan each.
Official Statements & Responses
Vox Cinemas issued a matching apology, citing “circumstances beyond our control.”
Criticism & Opposition
Kuwaiti authorities have not provided a formal rationale for the ban. The lack of a specific explanation leaves the decision open to speculation about whether the new material, the original content, or broader cultural concerns prompted the restriction.
On-the-Ground Reports
Both Cinescape and Vox Cinemas posted cancellation notices on their websites and social-media channels, confirming that all scheduled screenings were removed and refunds processed for ticket holders. No alternative venues in Kuwait have announced plans to show the film.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Opening-weekend projections vary: Variety and TheWrap forecast $25-$28 million domestically, while Murphy’s Multiverse and Box Office Theory suggest a lower range of $22-$27 million. International totals are similarly unsettled, with some trackers estimating a $60 million overseas debut and others projecting up to $85 million worldwide. Final audited figures have not yet been released, leaving the exact gap to *Avatar*—approximately $124 million—uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Very Well. Doom shall attend, but there will be no sharing of snacks,” — Robert Downey
What’s Next
Marvel will continue to leverage *Encore*’s performance to build anticipation for *Avengers: Doomsday* on December 18, 2026. International markets such as China, India and Europe are expected to sustain the film’s momentum, potentially narrowing the remaining distance to the all-time box-office record. The outcome of the Kuwait ban may also influence future regional release strategies for Marvel’s expanding multiverse narrative.