Avengers: Endgame Encore Could Top Box Office in 2026

Avengers: Endgame Encore, a re-release of the 2019 superhero film, is poised to reclaim its place at the top of the domestic box office, just seven years after its initial release. According to projections by Variety, the film could earn between $25 million and $28 million in North America during its second weekend. This would put it in a close race for first place with Resident Evil, which is expected to pull in $24 million to $26 million over the same period.

Resident Evil had a strong opening, earning $61 million last weekend and becoming the franchise's biggest opening ever. As the new releases compete for the third spot, three films are anticipated to open with between $15 million and $20 million each: Brad Pitt's The Heart of the Beast, Universal and DreamWorks Animation's family film Forgotten Island, and A24's Primetime, starring Robert Pattinson.

The Heart of the Beast and Primetime are both projected to earn $17 million to $20 million, while Forgotten Island is expected to collect $15 million to $17 million. Primetime could potentially turn a profit due to its smaller production budget of $15 million, starring Pattinson as a journalist investigating a TV series with a dark past. The movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival to positive reviews.

For The Heart of the Beast, directed by David Ayer, the financial stakes are higher, with a $82 million production budget. The film follows a retired veteran who must survive a dangerous journey through the Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog after a plane crash.

Forgotten Island, aimed at family audiences, is projected to have a smaller budget of around $80 million. The animated film might benefit from less competition for its target demographic, as no major kid-focused movie has opened since Moana in July. Recent animated releases like The Wild Robot, GOAT, and Minions & Monsters have demonstrated the potential for family films to maintain strong box-office audiences beyond their initial weekends.

Avengers: Endgame Encore holds significance as the original film remains one of the highest-grossing in box-office history, earning $2.799 billion worldwide during its theatrical run. The film's return ahead of Avengers: Doomsday could provide early indications of audience enthusiasm for the upcoming superhero film. Currently, Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day leads the year's domestic openings with $360 million, amassing a worldwide total of $2.47 billion.