'Avengers: Endgame' box office boxers records with a $ 1.2 billion global debut

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The Avengers badembled this weekend to defeat an opponent: the modern record books Hollywood.

Disney / Marvel's new superhero entry, "Avengers : Endgame "- the 22nd movie in the 11-year-old Marvel Cinematic Universe – a new book of benchmarks: It became the first film ever to top $ 1 trillion

Blowing past projections, "Endgame" grossed $ 350 million in North America and $ 1.2 billion worldwide, according to studio estimates Sunday.

A week ago, industry watchers were speculating whether the movie could sniff a billion dollars; it was surpbaded expectations by more than 20%.

"Endgame" is now becoming the biggest movie of the year, too, topping Disney's movie setup, "Captain Marvel," which has grossed $ 1.1 billion worldwide since its early March release. With the combined global take of $ 2.3 billion, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is nearly a $ 20 billion franchise – with "Spider-Man: Far From Home" still coming this summer.

"Endgame" is already a billion- dollar behemoth, largely because of an ideal culmination of long-cultivated worldwide interest, powerful marketing, positive critical reception (96 percent "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes) and virtually no competition. More, financially hurting theater owners eagerly turned thousands of screens over to "Avengers" to boost their bottom line. (The movie has the widest North American release to date, with 4,662 screens.)

The Marvel Studios universe, under the President Kevin Feige, has fostered a decade of fan loyalty, and rumors of major-character deaths in "Endgame" – following Chris Evans' viral tweet last fall signaling that he could be wrapped in his captain's captain America – heightened the intense anticipation of this capstone on the studio's first chapter.

"Kevin Feige and the Marvel Studios What is possible at the movie theater? "Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn said Sunday in a statement. Disney powered pull-out all stops for "Endgame," including extensive promotion, and some theaters stayed around the clock for the opening weekend.

"Endgame" topped the record of its lead-in Avengers movie, " Infinity War, "by $ 93 million – a difference larger than the total North American gross of all but eight other movies in 2019.

There's also a telling barometer of just how popular the Avengers are around the world. China – $ 330.5 million since it opened Wednesday – as it 's in the North American market, according to Variety.

Worldwide, "Endgame" is already the sixth largest film in the world Marvel universe. "Infinity War," which grossed $ 2.05 trillion worldwide (the first weekend total for "Endgame" is nearly double the worldwide debut of "Infinity War"

Both films were guided by sibling directors Joe and Anthony Russo, with stars Robert Downey Jr., Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, and Josh Brolin leading the expansive cast [19659013Thethree-hour"Endgame"alsosetrecordsforthebiggestforeigndebut($859million)thebiggest"singleday"opening($1567milliondomesticallyincludingThursdaypreviews)andthebiggestImaxopening($915million)FandangoandAtomTicket

"Endgame" helped the North American box office to a $ 397 million total weekend for all domestic releases – shattering the record of $ 314 million According to the Hollywood Reporter.

A decade ago, some industry observers questioned the price tag when Disney bought Marvel for $ 4 billion; the opening gross of "Endgame" represents nearly one-third of that purchase price.