Thescreescore – The much-anticipated re-release of Marvel’s monumental Avengers: Endgame, dubbed Encore, has presented a fascinating paradox in its box office narrative. Launched on September 25, 2026, with additional footage designed to reignite fan fervor ahead of the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday, the film initially soared. Its opening weekend saw a robust $26 million domestically and an additional $60 million from international markets, propelling Endgame‘s cumulative global earnings to within a tantalizing $38.7 million of surpassing Avatar as the highest-grossing film of all time. However, this initial surge was quickly followed by a dramatic downturn, casting a shadow over its record-breaking ambitions.
The second weekend proved to be a stark contrast. Projections indicate Encore will muster a mere $4.2 million domestically over its sophomore three-day period. This represents a staggering 87% decline from its opening weekend, marking the most precipitous second-week drop for any Marvel Cinematic Universe film, whether an original release or a re-issue. This performance places Endgame: Encore in an unenviable position, tying for the 11th worst Week 2 drop on Box Office Mojo’s extensive chart, alongside Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft. Prior MCU entries on this list include 2023’s The Marvels with a 78.1% drop (ranking 74th) and the 2022 re-release of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, which saw a 75.3% reduction (117th).
While such a significant plummet might seem alarming, it’s not entirely unprecedented for re-releases. These cinematic events primarily target dedicated fan bases who typically flock to theaters during the initial days, leading to heavily frontloaded box office figures. Consequently, sharp declines in subsequent weeks are a common phenomenon. Indeed, nine of the top 50 worst sophomore drops ever recorded belong to re-released titles, with three even cracking the top ten. For context, the 2026 re-release of 2001’s The Fast and the Furious currently holds the second-highest Week 2 drop at 91.9%.
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Despite the domestic woes, the global race against Avatar remains fiercely contested. The substantial international interest in Encore could still tip the scales. Following its projected domestic haul, the gap between Endgame and Avatar has narrowed to approximately $29.2 million. To finally claim the coveted top spot this weekend, international markets would need to demonstrate resilience, ideally experiencing a drop of 51% or less. A more significant collapse overseas, yielding only around $8 million, would see the superhero epic fall short of its ultimate box office goal for this particular frame.
Even if Avengers: Endgame: Encore doesn’t ultimately dethrone Avatar this weekend, its overall performance as a re-release is undeniably a triumph. Its impressive $86 million global debut positioned it firmly among the highest-grossing re-releases of all time. This figure comfortably surpassed the 2012 3D re-release of Finding Nemo ($69.3 million), the 2022 re-release of Avatar itself ($76 million), and the 1997 special edition of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back ($78 million), solidifying Encore‘s status as a significant commercial event despite its volatile domestic trajectory.
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