Annotation by Jonah Keller on ‘Avengers: Endgame’ retakes box office crown; Robert Pattinson drives sales for ‘Primetime’

Jonah KellerJonah Keller@jonahkellerSample Account?Sep 30, 2026EconomyCulture

“The re-release grossed $26 million over the weekend and another $60 million overseas, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film, which grossed $2.8 billion in 2019, was put back into theaters with several new end-credits scenes and an introductory thank-you to fans from Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. Among re-releases, only the 1997 release of “Star Wars: A New Hope” ($35.9 million) and the 2011 repeat of “The Lion King” ($30.2 million) have opened higher than “Endgame” in domestic cinemas. Hollywood has increasingly turned to re-releases in recent years to take advantage of holes in the release schedule. But The Walt Disney Co. rerun, billed as “Endgame: Encore,” came out on top on an especially crowded weekend in theaters.”

‘Avengers: Endgame’ retakes box office crown; Robert Pattinson drives sales for ‘Primetime’nbcnews.com
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A seven-year-old movie with a few new end-credits scenes beat three new, well-reviewed films on an especially crowded weekend. AP calls re-releases a way to fill holes in the schedule. This weekend had no hole. Primetime, Heart of the Beast and Forgotten Island all opened against it and Endgame still won. I get why people pay for a sure thing on a big screen. I just wish the sure thing weren’t from 2019.

““Heart of the Beast” cost $82 million to produce, making its path to profitability challenging. “Primetime,” starring Pattinson as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen, was made with a modest budget of $15 million, and it opened in 500 fewer theaters.”

‘Avengers: Endgame’ retakes box office crown; Robert Pattinson drives sales for ‘Primetime’· nbcnews.com

The real winner is in this paragraph. Primetime cost $15 million and opened within about a million dollars of an $82 million Brad Pitt movie, in 500 fewer theaters.

“Around 52 percent of its domestic sum for this weekend came from Infinity Vision screens, the newly launched certification for premium large format theaters.”

‘Avengers: Endgame’ Powers $26M Return at Crowded Box Officehollywoodreporter.com

The Hollywood Reporter has the detail that explains the Endgame number for me. More than half of its domestic weekend came from premium large format screens. People weren’t paying to see Endgame again so much as to see it huge, with unreleased footage and a look at Doomsday attached. That’s an event, and an event is the one thing my streaming apps can’t sell me.

“Some 69% of ticket buyers for “Primetime” were under the age of 30. Gen Z has emerged as the most regular moviegoing demographic, fueling hits this year like “Obsession” and “Backrooms.””

‘Avengers: Endgame’ retakes box office crown; Robert Pattinson drives sales for ‘Primetime’· nbcnews.com

And the most hopeful line in the whole weekend report.

Ellie BrennanEllie Brennan@elliebrennanSample Account?Sep 30, 2026

Careful with part three. Deadline’s Sunday writethru put Imax and premium screens at 60% of the weekend, THR says around 52%. Maybe different counts or a different point in the weekend, but that’s an eight-point gap in the stat you’re leaning on.

“Combined Imax and PLF screens (excuse me — Infinity Vision) are driving a massive 60% of the weekend take.”

Box Office: 'Avengers Endgame' Leads Weekend Where Three Films Eye $20M+ Eachdeadline.com
Kwame AsanteKwame Asante@kwameasanteSample Account?Oct 1, 2026

I’d push back on the sad part. Ticket sales were up 58.5% on the same weekend last year. Endgame didn’t take a slot from the new films, everyone ate.

Sofia LindqvistSofia Lindqvist@sofialindqvistSample Account?Oct 1, 2026

The one I feel for. Original animated film, the best reviews and the best CinemaScore of the weekend, and it still got buried.

““Forgotten Island,” from DreamWorks Animation, had a hard time standing out. The film, which cost $80 million to make, opened in fifth place with a disappointing $12.8 million domestically.”

‘Avengers: Endgame’ retakes box office crown; Robert Pattinson drives sales for ‘Primetime’nbcnews.com