April 2, 2019
by Carla Hay
Marvel superhero fever has reached new heights as Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” (which arrives in cinemas on April 26, 2019) broke first-day pre-sale records for Fandango and Atom Tickets. When the movie’s tickets went on sale at 8 a.m. ET on April 2, 2019, demand was so high that it apparently caused website crashes for AMC Theatres (the largest cinema chain in the United States), Alamo Drafthouse, Fandango and Atom Tickets. AMC Theatres’ website was offline for at least five hours during the crash. Numerous customers who normally would have purchased tickets online had to go to movie theaters to get their tickets.
According to an Atom Tickets press release: “‘Avengers: Endgame” has set a new record on Atom Tickets for the best first day of sales in less than half a day (and ticket purchases are ongoing). So far, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ has outsold the previous record held by ‘Aquaman,’ by four times the amount … To date, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ has sold three times more tickets on Atom in the first hour of pre-sales than ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ did last year. The first hour of pre-sales for ‘Avengers: Endgame’ sets a new record for Atom Tickets, outpacing ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ which round out the top 3 movies with the best first hour of presales.”
While supplies last, Atom is offering an exclusive “Avengers: Endgame” movie poster designed by Australian artist Bosslogic as a gift with a ticket purchase. Bosslogic. AMC and Alamo Drafthouse also have their own exclusive “Avengers: Endgame” giveaways for people who buy tickets for the “Avengers: Endgame” preview shows taking place on April 25, 2019.
Meanwhile, Fandango announced that “Avengers: Endgame” now holds the Fandango record as the biggest-selling movie for first-day pre-sale tickets, This Fandango record was previously held by 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which now holds Fandango’s No. 2 spot, followed by 2017’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” at No. 3; 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” at No. 4; and 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War” at No. 5.
“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,” which clocks in at a little more than three hours, is expected to be reveal what happened to all the superheroes who “died” in “Avengers: Infinity War.” Brother duo Anthony Russo and Joe Russo directed “Avengers: Endgame,” as well as “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
“Marvel 22” Marathon
Adding to the Marvel superhero madness, AMC Theaters, Alamo Drafthouse, Cinemark and Megaplex Theatres are hosting “Marvel 22,” a 59-hour marathon in select cities showing all 22 of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, from 2008’s “Iron Man” to 2019’s “Avengers: Infinity War.” AMC and Cinemark are charging $125 per ticket, while Alamo Drafthouse is charging $135 per ticket, and Megaplex is charging $99 per ticket. The ticket price includes some concession discount offers and exclusive Marvel memorabilia. The marathon begins on April 23, 2019, and start times vary by theater.