“Avengers: Endgame” by the Numbers

by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 29, 2019

Avengers: Endgame ranks as the superhero of superhero movies. (See the DisneyBizJournal spoiler-free review here.) In fact, at the box office, it could turn out to be the superhero of all movies. That’s what the numbers – indeed, pretty much all of the numbers – are telling us. 

Consider the following bits of data about the film:

• Avengers: Endgame is the 22^ndmovie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe stretching back to 2008.

• Topping an estimated $350 million, Endgame has set the record for opening weekend domestic (i.e., North America) box office.

• The international opening weekend box office estimate of roughly $860 million is another record for Endgame.

• Therefore, the grand total opening weekend estimate of more than $1.2 billion, again, is the all-time record.

• According to Deadline.com, Disney spent an estimated $475 million to make and market Endgame.

• The Observer.com reports: “With Endgame, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has now seen 12 of its 22 entries (so 54 percent of them) open to at least $100 million domestic, an unfathomable rate of blockbuster consistency. Additionally, Endgame is the fourth film of the MCU’s past five entries to cross $1 billion worldwide and its eighth overall. Thirty-six percent of MCU movies have grossed in the 10 digits, and when Endgame concludes its run, Disney will boast 12 of the 20 highest-grossing films of all time.”

• Over at Rottentomatoes.com, Avengers: Endgame has earned a 95% score among critics, and 92% among audiences.

• The latest tally from BoxOfficeMojo.com puts the total box office tally for all 22 MCU films at $19.8 billion ... and counting.

• TheWrap.com has noted that Endgame has broken 144 box office records, with the counting still proceeding.

Finally, Avatar was released in December 2009, and it earned $2.78 billion at the worldwide box office. In nominal dollars, that’s the record. Can Avengers: Endgame become the new number one? I think so in part because many people disliked the Avatar story but went to see it anyway for the breakthrough special effects. In contrast, the Avengers is a group of superheroes that most everyone can get behind, and Endgame is a great tale. I’m looking for Endgame to top $3 billion.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with three books - Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story and Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story –published in 2018. In addition, the second edition of Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel was published in January 2019. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.