After breaking several box-office records, Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” has now broken the ultimate box-office record. The movie has now surpassed 2009’s “Avatar” as the world’s biggest-selling movie of all time for ticket sales. “Avengers: Endgame” (which opened worldwide on April 26, 2019) now has $2.793 billion in worldwide ticket sales, compared to $2.790 billion for “Avatar,” according to Box Office Mojo. In the U.S. and Canada, “Avengers: Endgame” had a total haul of $857 million.
Before reaching this historic milestone, “Avengers: Endgame” shattered box-office records for the highest-grossing opening weekend in movie history, with a whopping $350 million in tickets sold in the U.S. and Canada, and a total worldwide haul of $1.2 billion, according to Box Office Mojo. The previous record was held by 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” which had opening-weekend sales of $258 million in the U.S. and Canada and $641 million worldwide.
“Avengers: Endgame” easily became the world’s highest-grossing movie of the 2010s decade, surpassing 2014’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” whose ticket sales totaled $914 million in the U.S. and Canada and $2.1 billion worldwide. (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is still the No. 1-selling movie of all time in the U.S. and Canada.) “Avengers: Endgame” then became the world’s No. 2 highest-grossing movie of all time, surpassing 1997’s “Titanic,” which had $659 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales and a total haul of $2.2 billion in worldwide ticket sales.
On June 28, 2019, “Avengers: Endgame” was re-released in theaters, which helped push the movie’s box-office numbers past “Avatar.” The re-release had previously unreleased bonus footage during the end credits.
The home-video release of “Avengers: Endgame” is also expected to shatter home-video sales records. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will release the movie in the U.S. release on digital download on July 30, 2019, and Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on August 13, 2019. The movie’s U.K. release on Digital HD and Blu-ray is on September 2, 2019.
As previously reported, “Avengers: Endgame” co-director brothers Joe and Anthony Russo will be doing a “We Love You 3000” tour of the U.S. to promote the movie’s home-video release. The title of the tour comes from the “I love you 3000” line that Tony Stark/Iron Man and his daughter Morgan say to each other in “Avengers: Endgame.” The Russo brothers also directed “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
Even though “Avengers: Endgame” clocks in at about three hours, several movie theaters (including AMC Theatres in numerous cities) stayed open 24 hours a day during the movie’s opening weekend to accommodate the demand for tickets and screenings. Some theaters remained open for 24 hours even after the opening weekend so that they could have round-the-clock “Avengers: Endgame” screenings for the movie’s entire first week in theaters. As previously reported, advance ticket sales for “Avengers: Endgame” caused crashes on several websites that sell movie tickets including AMC Theatres, Alamo Drafthouse, Atom Tickets and Fandango.
“Avengers: Endgame” has a superhero cast that includes Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (played by Chris Evans), Black Widow (played by Scarlett Joahnsson), Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner), War Machine (played by Don Cheadle), Ant-Man (played by Paul Rudd) and Captain Marvel (played by Brie Larson). “Avengers: Endgame” reveals what happened to all the superheroes who “died” in “Avengers: Infinity War.” The remaining superheroes band together to go after supervillain Thanos (played by Josh Brolin), who was responsible for wiping out half of the universe’s population at the end of “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Joe Russo and Anthony Russo (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
The following is a press release from Marvel Studios:
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame became Earth’s Mightiest Super Hero franchise this year, and soon fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will soon be able to own their own copy on Digital (July 30) and Blu-ray (August 13). But even though the curtains have closed on this phase of the MCU, the celebration is far from over. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo are hitting the road for the “We Love You 3000” Tour, a series of in-person events in nine cities throughout the United States where fans will get to express their love for the MCU while the storytellers themselves get to express their gratitude!
The “We Love You 3000” Tour will kick off July 20 at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 with the Russo brothers and some surprise guests from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans will be treated to free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (while supplies last) and fans who come in costume will get the chance to participate in a special Marvel Studios Cosplay photo with the Russos and their special guests!
From there, the tour will go to Seattle, San Francisco, Torrance, Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis, and Cleveland before wrapping up at the D23 Expo in Anaheim on August 25. Every event will be hosted by the Russos and other favorites from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Each event will have something different to offer Marvel fans including photo ops, in-store events at Best Buy Stores, and giveaways of 3,000 MCU Funko Pop Vinyl Figures and the limited edition Avengers: Endgame SteelBook – all as a way for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to express their appreciation to Marvel fans.
Marvel fans made Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame the most successful franchise in film history – now it’s time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to say thank you!
Here are the dates, times and locations of the We Love You 3000 tour:
(All times listed are in the local time zone. Details are to be announced for start and end times at several of the tour stops.)
San Diego, California
WHEN: July 20, 2019: 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
WHERE: IMDboat – 5th Avenue Landing Marina, Slip 5B (Directly behind the convention center)
Everett, Washington
WHEN: July 30, 2019: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Funko Headquarters
San Francisco, California
WHEN: August 8, 2019
WHERE: Giants Game at Oracle Park
Chicago, Illinois
WHEN: August 12, 2019
WHERE: Best Buy (exact location to be announced)
Torrance, California
WHEN: August 13, 2019
WHERE: Best Buy, 3675 Pacific Coast Highway
Miami, Florida
WHEN: August 13, 2019
WHERE: Best Buy (exact location to be announced)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
WHEN: August 14, 2019
WHERE: Best Buy (exact location to be announced)
Cleveland, Ohio
WHEN: August 20, 2019
WHERE: Best Buy, 7400 Brookpark Road
Anaheim, California
WHEN: August 13, 2019
WHERE: D23 Expo, Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Avenue
CinemaCon, the annual convention for the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), will be held April 1 to April 4, 2019, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. About 5,000 people attend the event, which gives movie studios the chance to showcase what they expect to be their biggest hits of the year.
A major change to this year’s event is that Sony Pictures Entertainment and 20th Century Fox will not be giving presentations. Movie studios scheduled to give their presentations at the event are STX Films and Warner Bros. Pictures on April 2; Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures on April 3; and Paramount Pictures and Lionsgate on April 4.
Independent film studio Neon will promote its music-based drama “Wild Rose” with a screening of the movie on April 1 and a “Wild Rose” party on April 2. Other movies that will be screened in their entirety at CinemaCon 2019 will be Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Blinded by the Light” on April 2, Amazon’s “Late Night” on April 3 and Lionsgate’s “Long Shot” on April 4.
CinemaCon culminates with the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony, which will take place April 4.
Here are the announced winners of the awards:
CinemaCon Icon Award Steve Buscemi
Steve Buscemi (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix)
One of the most respected actors in the entertainment industry, Emmy-winning “Boardwalk Empire” star Steve Buscemi has played a wide range of characters in movies and television. His most memorable films include 1992’s “Reservoir Dogs,” 1996’s “Fargo” and 2001’s “Ghost World.” He has also voiced several roles in hit animated movies such as 2017’s “The Boss Baby,” and the “Hotel Transylvania” films. Buscemi’s 2019 film is the horror comedy, co-starring Adam Driver, Chloë Sevigny, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton.
CinemaCon Vanguard Award Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis (Photo by Andrew Eccles/Universal Pictures)
In a career spanning more than 40 years, Jamie Lee Curtis has made her mark in the film industry, beginning with her starring role in her movie debut: the 1978 horror classic “Halloween.” She has starred in multiple “Halloween” sequels, most notably 2018’s “Halloween,” which made her the first woman over the age of 60 to star in a movie that debuted at No. 1 in the United States. Curtis’ other well-known movies include the 1980 horror flick “Prom Night,” the 1988 comedy “A Fish Called Wanda,” the 1994 action film “True Lies” and the 2003 remake of the comedy “Freaky Friday.” Curtis has two films due out in 2019: the crime drama “Knives Out” and the comedy “Senior Entourage.”
CinemaCon International Star of the Year Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart (Photo by David Lee)
Kevin Hart is one of the busiest people in showbiz, with starring roles in movies, TV and Web series, in addition to headlining successful arena tours. The year 2019 started out with the dramedy “The Upside” (starring Hart and Bryan Cranston) debuting at No. 1 in the United States. His 2018 comedy film “Night School” was also a hit.
CinemaCon Ensemble Award: The Cast of “Terminator: Dark Fate” – Linda Hamilton, Natalia Reyes, Mackenzie Davis and Gabriel Luna
Natalie Reyes, Mackenzie Davis and Linda Hamilton of “Terminator: Dark Fate” (Photo by Kerry Brown)
“Terminator: Dark Fate” is the 2019 entry in the longtime “Terminator” film series. “Terminator: Dark Fate” stands out from the rest of the films in the series because the cast is led by women: Linda Hamilton (who starred in the first two “Terminator” movies), Natalie Reyes and Mackenzie Davis. The movie’s cast also includes Gabriel Luna. Original “Terminator” star Arnold Schwarzenegger is reportedly making a cameo appearance.
CinemaCon Directors of the Year Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Joe Russo and Anthony Russo (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Director brothers Joe Russo and Anthony Russo helmed the superhero movie “Avengers: Endgame,” which is expected to be the biggest box-office blockbuster of 2019. The Russo brothers also directed several other Marvel movie blockbusters, including 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War” and 2014’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
CinemaCon Action Star of the Year David Harbour
David Harbour (Photo by Marion Curtis/ StarPix for Summit Entertainment)
David Harbour might be best-known as a co-star of Netflix’s horror series “Stranger Things,” but he’s aiming to make a big splash in movies by starring as the title character in the 2019 superhero flick “Hellboy.” Harbour takes over the role that was originated by Ron Perlman.
Cinema Spotlight Award Octavia Spencer
Octavia Spencer (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Octavia Spencer won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her breakthrough role in 2011’s “The Help.” She has also has Oscar nominations for her supporting roles in 2016’s “Hidden Figures” and 2017’s “The Shape of Water.” Spencer has branched out into producing films, including the 2019 horror flick “Ma,” where she has a starring role.
CinemaCon Male Star of Tomorrow Henry Golding
Henry Golding (Photo by Kelsey McNeal/ABC)
Henry Golding made his feature-film debut with a starring role in the 2018 blockbuster romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians.” He was also in the 2018 crime thriller “A Simple Favor,” co-starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. Golding has re-teamed with “A Simple Favor” director Paul Feig for the 2019 romantic comedy “Last Christmas,” co-starring Emilia Clarke, Emma Thompson (who wrote the movie’s screenplay) and “Crazy Rich Asians” co-star Michelle Yeoh.
CinemaCon Female Stars of Tomorrow Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever
Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever (Photo by Francois Duhamel)
Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever co-star in the 2019 comedy “Booksmart,” about two straight-laced best friends who decide to go wild on the day before their high-school graduation. Feldstein is also known for her supporting roles in the 2018 Oscar-nominated comedy film “Lady Bird” and the 2016 comedy film “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” while Dever is a co-star of the comedy series “Last Man Standing.” Dever’s other recent film roles include the 2018 dramas “Beautiful Boy” and “The Front Runner.”
CinemaCon Breakthrough Director of the Year Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images)
Olivia Wilde made her directorial feature-film debut with the 2019 comedy film “Booksmart,” which got rave reviews when it had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. Wilde is an accomplished actress who has starred in such films as 2018’s “Life Itself” and 2010’s “Tron: Legacy.” She is also known for her past TV roles in the medical drama “House” and the nighttime soap opera “The O.C.”
CinemaCon Comedy Stars of the Year Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron
Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron (Photo by Philippe Bossé)
Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron play unlikely love interests in the 2019 political comedy film “Long Shot.” Rogen is best known for his comedic roles in movies (such as 2007’s “Knocked Up,” 2008’s “Pineapple Express” and the “Neighbors” films), while Theron does mostly dramatic and action movies, including 2005’s “Monster” (for which she won an Oscar for Best Actress), 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” and 2017’s “Atomic Blonde.”
Other awards that will be given at the ceremony:
CinemaCon International Filmmaker of the Year Award: Graham King, producer of 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”
CinemaCon Passpartout Award: Helen Moss, Paramount Pictures senior vice president of international distribution
NATO Marquee Award: John D. Loeks, Studio C chairman
Career Achievement in Exhibition Award: Jérôme Seydoux, Pathé co-chairman/CEO and Les Cinémas Gaumont Pathé chairman/CEO
Lifetime Achievement Award: Anthony Bloom, Cineworld Group chairman
