Avengers Box Office: Endgame Sets Basically Every Opening Weekend Record

Avengers Box Office: Endgame Sets Basically Every Opening Weekend Record

As we've gotten closer and closer to the release of Joe and Anthony Russo's Avengers: Endgame in recent weeks, the big question wasn't whether or not the film could become the biggest film opening in history, as that was basically a given. The real question was about the ceiling. Just how much could one blockbuster make in a single weekend? Well, we now have our answer, and it's absolutely blowing minds. The Marvel Studios blockbuster has managed to basically set every record possible - not just domestically, but all around the world. Check out the Top 10 below, and join me after for analysis!

The previous record holder for biggest opening weekend ever was established last year when Joe and Anthony Russo's Avengers: Infinity War made a stunning $257.7 million domestically in its first week of release, and $640.5 million worldwide, but those look like nothing compared to what Avengers: Endgame just pulled off in its first few days of release (though admittedly it did have a big advantage by being released day-and-date in China). While some questioned whether it was actually physically possible for a movie - particularly a three hour one - to make more than $300 million in a three day weekend, the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe totally blew away all prognostications with a $350 million start in North America, and a $1.2 billion start globally.

To put those numbers in perspective, it took a grand total of five days for Avengers: Endgame to become the 18th highest grossing film of all time - hitting 10 figures more than twice as fast as Avengers: Infinity War (which took 11 days to hit a billion dollars). It still has a long way to go before it starts getting closer to the top of that particular chart, with James Cameron's Avatar still firmly planted at number one with its insane $2.788 billion final figure, but no matter where it ends up, it's going to be called one of the most successful blockbuster releases of all time.

This obviously isn't going to be a flash in the pan either, as Avengers: Endgame has not only lived up to being one of the most anticipated films of all time, but it is also being warmly embraced by basically everybody. Critics have been showing it some extreme love ever since the review embargo lifted on Tuesday, as it currently has a 96 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes - which is higher than every other Marvel Studios release other than Ryan Coogler's Black Panther (which maintains a 97 percent on the site). Obviously audiences are really loving it as well, and that's not something solely reflected with how they have voted with their dollar. CinemaScore is reporting an "A+" for the title, which is a grade only two other Marvel Studios releases have received: the aforementioned Black Panther, and Joss Whedon's The Avengers back in 2012.

How far will it ultimately climb up the all time release charts, though? That's a question that pundits will be focusing on for the next month, as it does have a certain disadvantage that's hard to ignore when you compare it to the titles that populate the top of that particular list. Avatar, James Cameron's Titanic, and J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens all had the benefit of coming out in mid- or late December, and the impact of that can't be undersold in their final figures. January is notoriously one of the worst movie months of the year, and all three of those films were able to keep making money deep into the new year because they lacked any real competition.

Meanwhile, the coming weeks will see Avengers: Endgame going up against some major new titles, including Rob Letterman's Detective Pikachu, Guy Ritchie's Aladdin, and Mike Dougherty's Godzilla: King Of The Monsters. At least one of those titles is going to unseat the Marvel feature from its spot at the top of the charts, and even those that don't are going to take a bite out of the earnings it would make if they didn't they didn't exist.

As for the rest of the Top 10... nobody can really be surprised by the results. Avengers: Endgame was the movie to see this weekend, and so little else got much attention.

That being said, as though the success of the Joe and Anthony Russo film weren't enough, Marvel Studios got a minor double win this week with Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's Captain Marvel doing a bit of chart climbing. The film has been a consistent presence in the Top 10 ever since its release in early March, but the arrival of Avengers: Endgame has definitely boosted it a bit. Two weeks ago the billion dollar hit had gone down to the number six slot, but its been moving north ever since. Last week it was positioned at number four, and now it's the second biggest movie in North America - probably because there are at least a few people out there either playing catch up (having not seen the Brie Larson feature yet), or constructing a special big screen double feature.

It's earnings have still been dropping (it made 11.6 percent less this week than last week), but the ranking situation is still a feather in its cap.

From a macro perspective, it's also worth recognizing that this was far and away the biggest box office weekend we've seen so far in 2019 - and we're talking by more than double. It's no secret that this has been a sadly slow year for Hollywood, but that shouldn't undercut this accomplishment entirely. All together, every movie showing in theaters this weekend (a total of 45 titles) made $392,178,036. The previous #1 weekend for this year was when Captain Marvel came out on March 8th, and at that time the 105 features showing on the big screen only managed to make $210,498,437. That's pretty nuts, and we probably won't see anything like it until J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker hits in December.

We have every expectation that Avengers: Endgame will once again dominate next week (a serious 60 percent drop would still result in it making $145 million), but audiences will also have the chance to go see Jonathan Levine's Long Shot, Ben Bray's El Chicano, Deon Taylor's The Intruder, and Kelly Asbury's Ugly Dolls. It should result in a nice shakeup for the Top 10, so be sure to come back next Sunday to see how it all turns out.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Cameo You Probably Missed In Avengers: Endgame

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Cameo You Probably Missed In Avengers: Endgame

Warning! The following contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame. Read at your own risk!

Avengers: Endgame's battle sequence at the end was massive. So massive, that if an unexpected character happened to help out, many in the audience may have missed it. Fortunately there were some who happened to catch an entirely unexpected Guardians of the Galaxy cameo, as a character from the movie popped in to lend a hand in the Avengers' time of need. Howard the Duck, of all people, showed up to fight for the world alongside the universe's mightiest heroes.

For those attending another showing in the near future, Howard can be spotted amongst the many warriors showing up when Doctor Strange, Wong, and the rest of the sorcerers start opening portals. When Hope Van Dyne is spotted, viewers should move their eyes to the blueish alien to her right, and then follow that character's gun downward. There's Howard, in the distance, looking a lot like he did in his cameo scene following Guardians of the Galaxy.

Howard's packing heat in lieu of a drink this time around, and he's looking poised to kick some Earth invader ass when the signal is given. His contributions beyond that are unknown, as he doesn't get a big action sequence to show what he's up to like other key characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Apparently, the Russos didn't find it pertinent to zero in on what one of the MCU's most bizarre characters was up to.

Here's the good news: There's still a chance we may learn what role Howard played in the battle. That's all thanks to an upcoming Howard The Duck television series which will feature the Marvel hero trapped on Earth. Provided this series takes place post-Avengers: Endgame, there's certainly an opportunity for the series to show that scene from Howard's perspective, or have him recall something from the event. Hell, this may even be the event that strands him on earth!

Whatever the case regarding the future series, it's been known that the Russos have wanted to include Howard in the action since Avengers: Infinity War. According to Joe Russo, the original idea was to have Peter Quill go to Howard and ask him about the whereabouts of an Infinity Stone while he was in the midst of a poker game. That would've been great to see, although one could argue this is better.

The real question now is, what was Howard The Duck up to before his arrival? The Russos confirmed he survived the snap, so there could be some deleted scene or one shot in the future that outlines what Howard was up to in the time between Infinity War and Endgame. If not, at least it's good to see him alongside the rest of the good guys, and possibly making a case to become a future Avenger?

Stick with CinemaBlend for more Avengers: Endgame analysis, and news on what is becoming a monumental box office run.

Looks Like Netflix Won't Be At Cannes Again This Year

Looks Like Netflix Won't Be At Cannes Again This Year

The friction between Netflix and the Cannes Film Festival came to a head last year when the streaming service skipped out on the festival entirely because Netflix movies are ineligible to compete for the Palme d’Or. That meant that acclaimed films from big name filmmakers like Roma and The Other Side of the Wind did not premiere at the illustrious festival where so many beloved films got their start. Now, a year later, it again looks like Netflix will be skipping Cannes.

According to Variety, Netflix will be absent from the French festival for the second year in a row, with no new movie premieres either in or out of competition. This is a result of the existing issues between the two parties, which have yet to be sorted out. And, even if Netflix and Cannes had come up with an agreeable solution, the movies that Netflix would theoretically premiere at Cannes simply aren’t ready yet.

At one point, it was expected that Netflix’s most prestigious original 2019 movie, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman would be ready for, and an ideal participant in, the May festival, but the arduous task of digitally de-aging the cast for half of the film will require more time. So The Irishman wouldn’t be ready for Cannes, regardless, and will likely premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September instead.

Another possible candidate for Cannes was The Laundromat, Steven Soderbergh’s new film about the Panama Papers starring Meryl Streep and Gary Oldman. David Michôd’s The King starring Timothée Chalamet would have also been an obvious choice for Netflix to enter in the festival. Alas, the issues aren’t sorted and these movies aren’t quite ready, either.

The issues between Netflix and the Cannes Film Festival first came to the fore in 2017 when Netflix movies Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories were accepted into the festival in the competition lineup. This resulted in backlash from French theater owners, because in France there is a 36-month minimum window between a film’s theatrical release and when it can show up on a streaming platform.

Cannes gave in and required that movies could not compete unless they would eventually be released in French theaters. So Netflix pulled out of the festival last year. In the time since, Netflix and the Cannes Film Festival have been quietly negotiating in friendly talks to try to work out their differences and find a way for the streaming service’s films to come back to the festival, but as of yet those issues are still unresolved.

Although Netflix will not be premiering any of its big 2019 movies at Cannes, it does still plan to send an acquisition team to France, so the streaming service may be opening its wallet even if it isn’t bringing anything to show itself.

Even without Netflix bringing its heavy-hitters to Cannes, there are still plenty of reasons to pay attention to May’s festival. Among them are James Gray’s Ad Astra and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which are both expected to be in competition.

We’ll keep you updated on all the latest as the industry’s various elements continue to try and adapt to the elephant in the room known as Netflix. For all of this year’s biggest theatrical releases, check out our 2019 premiere guide.

ReelBlend #59: The Netflix Vs Spielberg Debate And An Exciting Announcement

ReelBlend #59: The Netflix Vs Spielberg Debate And An Exciting Announcement

ReelBlend has its Patron Saints. Christopher Nolan. Martin Scorsese. Steven Spielberg. But that doesn’t mean that we blindly follow the words and thoughts of these filmmakers. Sometimes, we vehemently disagree with something that one of our icons has said… which makes this week’s ReelBlend all the more interesting.

Episode #59 of the weekly podcast kicks off with a description of Nolan’s next film. And if you want to hear three brains simultaneously melt, then explode, listen to Sean, Kevin and Jake read the logline for Nolan’s new movie. It sounds incredible. The hard part will be waiting for this movie to get into theaters!

Speaking of theaters, the ReelBlend guys transitioned to the big conversation of the week, which is Steven Spielberg’s belief that no movie made for a streaming service should be eligible for an Oscar – even if it gets a theatrical release. Spielberg allegedly sided with Green Book over Roma in the recent Oscar competition, mainly because Alfonso Cuaron (yet another Patron Saint of ReelBlend) made his deeply personal movie for Netflix.

Spielberg wants to implement rule changes that would block films like Roma from competing for Oscars. The guys have a lot to say on this topic, so give it a listen.

Only Kevin managed to see Captain Marvel before the guys recorded this week. Jake and Sean will have seen it by next week, which mean you all have homework. Go see it before Episode #60, because while Kevin teased his reaction to Marvel’s latest in this episode, the guys will take a full dive in next week’s show, spoilers left and right.

The #Blend Game this week was dedicated to a personal favorite of the ReelBlend hosts: Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. They played #ChivoBlend, and Sean’s pick literally stunned Jake and Kevin. It’s times like this, we wish that we still did the Facebook Live video.

Finally, the boys have a very big announcement about a future meet up that we hope people can make it to. Listen all the way to the end for details!

ReelBlend is a weekly podcast that we do on CinemaBlend. You can download the latest episode (and all of our past episodes) for FREE on our iTunes page! Visit. Subscribe. Like and comment. Review! Apple loves when you have star ratings and reviews, so if you listened, and you liked it (or even if you didn't), let us know. We also are on Spotify. And Google Play. And basically everywhere that you download podcasts. So download us.

Meanwhile, follow the guys on Social Media! We have an official Twitter feed for the show, so follow @ReelBlend. In addition, follow the guys at @Sean_OConnell, @JakesTakesand @KevinMcCarthyTV.

Natalie Portman Had A Tough Time Dealing With The The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Backlash

Natalie Portman Had A Tough Time Dealing With The The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Backlash

Star Wars is one of the biggest franchises in film history, and is still a behemoth at the box office after so many years in theaters. The galaxy far, far away has enthralled generations of moviegoers, which form its absolutely massive fanbase. But because so much stock is put into George Lucas' space opera, the wrath of the fans can be intense.

Just ask Natalie Portman, who starred as Padme Amidala in the prequel trilogy. George Lucas' second run in the Star Wars franchise has been the subject of some criticism, who took umbrage with excessive green screens, as well as the script and some performances. Portman recently opened up about the backlash to the films, especially as it they were being shot and released.

It was hard. It was a bummer because it felt like people were so excited about new ones and then to have people feel disappointed. Also to be at an age that I didn’t really understand that’s kind of the nature of the beast. When something has that much anticipation it can almost only disappoint.

Natalie Portman was still a teenager when Star Wars: The Phantom Menace arrived in theaters in 1999. It was definitely a breakthrough role for the young actress, but she was also privy to the backlash of the fans. People just don't know how to treat Naboo royalty.

The prequel trilogy has become more widely accepted in the years following its conclusion, but things started off very rocky. The Phantom Menace was noticeably more kid friendly, and the addition of the clownish Jar Jar Binks didn't resonate well with the adult audience. And considering it was this demographic that made the original trio of films so massive, that approval was key.

Related: Natalie Portman Shoots Down Star Wars 9 Rumor About Padme’s Return

The prequels seemed to improve as they went on, but there are some cringeworthy and often meme-d moments that consider to plague it. But with Disney continuing the franchise and producing subversive projects like The Last Jedi, the prequel has been getting more attention and love-- especially as the time before A New Hope is explored with standalone films.

In her same conversation with Empire, Natalie Portman addressed the love the prequels have gotten in more recent years, saying:

With the perspective of time, it’s been re-evaluated by a lot of people who actually really love them now. There’s a very avid group of people who think they’re the best ones now! I don’t have enough perspective to weigh in.

Natalie Portman may have played Padme through three movies, but she's always made it clear that she doesn't really follow up on the latest Star Wars news. She did manage to visit the set of The Last Jedi with her sons, so there are still some perks to being Queen.

It should be interesting to see how the prequel trilogy ends up factoring into future Star Wars projects. J.J. Arbams' The Rise of Skywalker will end the current trilogy and Skywalker Saga forever, and there are a few mysterious projects brewing at Lucasfilm. Will Rian Johnson's trilogy or D.B. Weiss and David Benioff's developing movies transport us back? We'll have to see.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will arrive on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Everything You Need To Know About Black Panther Going Into Phase 4

Everything You Need To Know About Black Panther Going Into Phase 4

If it was not already obvious, the Black Panther movie is getting a sequel we can expect to see in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which mean's we'll be spending plenty of time with T'Challa post Avengers: Endgame.

Originally, Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of the King of Wakanda made his first appearance in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, before returning in his solo Black Panther movie in 2018, which grossed over $1 billion worldwide and became an Oscar-nominee for Best Picture. Now that we have seen him fight alongside the Avengers in two movies over the past year, we are anxious to see what is next in store for T’Challa in his homeland.

Speaking of, as of now, there is still very little known in regards to what we can expect. Will we see Heart Shaped Herb regrow? Will Wakanda be equipped with extra security measures meant to keep out large, purple men? Could we see Michael B. Jordan reprise his role as a resurrected Erik Killmonger?

Let's take a peek behind the scenes and between the pages of Marvel comics and see what else we could see from the titular Black Panther and the rest of the Wakandan key figures moving forward. As always, there are some minor spoilers from recent Marvel movies that can be found throughout this piece. Only keep reading on if you are caught up!

Ryan Coogler Directing Black Panther 2

We would proudly make the claim the Black Panther movies are destined for a bright future as long as Ryan Coogler is there to guide them. Thankfully, he is not going away anytime soon.

The young, yet illustrious, movie-making wizard is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to direct his first sequel, a chance he actually opted out of previously, choosing Black Panther over the follow-up to his acclaimed 2015 Rocky spin-off, Creed.

Ryan Coogler has a lot to expand on with the next chapter of his most successful venture yet, following the rise, fall, and rise of T’Challa in battle against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. There are very few plot details available yet to see what RyanCoogler’s vision will give us in the next film.

Fortunately, as we tend to do as fans, we have come up with a few ideas for him in mind.

T’Challa Is Still The Ruler Of Wakanda

T’Challa never yielded and, as we could see in the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, he is not dead.

Yes, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa returned to Wakanda after Hulk snapped him back to life with the Avengers’ homemade Infinity Gauntlet to continue his reign as the country's leader and protector. Of course, based on the first post-credits scene in Black Panther, the African nation is due for some big changes.

T’Challa announced to the United Nations that Wakanda would be going public with its super advanced technology and plentiful resources, which has us curious about what sort of sociopolitical commentary Ryan Coogler will use as a jumping-off point in the Black Panther sequel.

My biggest questions regard how T’Challa plans to move forward following the Decimation. The king has five years of absence to make up for and we imagine the newly resurrected Wakandans have a lot of questions about the state of their country in a post-Thanos world. What sort of issues are there left to solve and what changes is Wakanda destined to go through?

Regardless, we are just as excited to see more of T’Challa the leader as we are to see more of T’Challa the Black Panther. However...

T’Challa Is Not The Only Black Panther In The Marvel Universe

Shuri, T’Challa’s sister and princess of Wakanda brought to life by Letitia Wright, has proven herself to be one of the best Black Panther characters as a heroine on the battlefield and in the lab. A brilliant scientist, she has designed many of Wakanda’s most innovative creations, improved her brother’s Black Panther suit with nano technology, and came closer to saving Vision from death by Mind Stone removal in Avengers: Infinity War than Bruce Banner did.

As we have seen in Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame, she can kick butt just as well as her brother. Her comic book persona is no exception, given that Shuri would eventually inherit his title.

When T’Challa suffers critical injuries from battle, Shuri must assume the role of Wakanda’s leader and as the Black Panther, as her brains and brawn have proven her worthy. Currently, we have no way of knowing that such a situation will occur with the Black Panther characters in the sequel, but we would love to see at least a hint about this heading into Phase Four.

Furthermore, given that we have seen a rise in more female-centric films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the success Captain Marvel and the anticipation for Scarlett Johansson’s solo Black Widow movie, we would not be surprised to see Shuri get her own moment in the spotlight.

A Fun Idea For The Next Black Panther Villain

There has been much speculation over who T’Challa will face off against in the Black Panther movies moving forward, particularly in Black Panther 2.

Rumors say Michael B. Jordan might reprise his role as Black Panther villain Kilmonger (somehow). There have been reports that Ryan Koogler has spoken to Donald Glover about appearing in the film, perhaps as his Spider-Man: Homecoming character if we don’t want to mess with continuity. There is even support for Black Panther soundtrack producer Kendrick Lamar to be the bad guy.

I may have a better idea.

Black Panther has fought many adversaries throughout the Marvel universe in the comics, among them is the ruthless Latverian leader Victor Von Doom. Not only does that concept give us the perfect set up for a battle between two warriors of royal authority, but also paves way for another group of superhero favorites to finally make an introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Since Doctor Doom is the archenemy of the Fantastic Four, why not see a team-up between Black Panther and Marvel’s first superhero family? Given the Black Panther character's first appearance was in a Fantastic Four comic, we cannot think of a better way to introduce them into this world now that Disney holds the keys to serve them justice. Still, given rights are still a complicated issue and it may be years before Fox's Marvel characters are shuffled into continuity, this may just be wishful thinking on my part.

Speaking of the Disney taking control of Fox characters…

Could A Future Black Panther Movie See Wakanda Getting A New Queen?

The end of the first Black Panther movie hinted that T’Challa would not rule Wakanda alone, taking Nakia (Lupita N’Yongo) as his wife and queen. Yet, the Wakandan covert operative was absent from both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

So, either she has just been carrying out her royal responsibilities behind the scenes and has yet to return in the Black Panther sequel, or maybe she and T’Challa broke up. While we would love to see the great Lupita Nyong'o reprise her role, if she were to exit the franchise, this would also leave room for another Marvel character to accept the throne.

In the comics, T’Challa befriends and eventually marries Ororo Munroe, better known under her X-Men alias, Storm. The Avenger and the mutant rule hand-in-hand and fight alongside in battle. What better way to kick off the X-Men’s role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the Disney-Fox merger but with Storm as Queen of Wakanda?

While it may seem like overkill in passing to have the Black Panther sequel as a jumping off point for this many characters to become a part of the MCU (and Dark Phoenix’s Storm actress Alexandra Shipp has already voiced against this idea), to many fans, this would a sweet trip to Nerdvana if at some point during Phase Four the Black Panther universe got a storyline of this ilk.

What would you like to see from Wakanda in future Marvel movies? Let us know in the comments below and be sure check back for more updates here on CinemaBlend. Oh, and Wakanda forever!

Chris Hemsworth Recalls Joss Whedon's Fury When The Avengers Kept Screwing Up A Take

Chris Hemsworth Recalls Joss Whedon's Fury When The Avengers Kept Screwing Up A Take

Chris Hemsworth has been a part of the MCU as Thor since 2011, and while he's surely had a lot of fun in his solo romps, the actor claimed his favorite on-set moment happened with the rest of his friends in The Avengers original six. Hemsworth recalled a time he was attempting to film a scene with the rest of his co-stars, but all they were succeeding in was awakening director Joss Whedon's fury.

I think it was on Avengers 1 or 2 where it was the original six trying to get -- where we had one line each in the scene, pretty simple thing, and we just couldn't get it together. We just kept cracking up and laughing. And then Joss Whedon, who was directing, was just exhausted and was just getting angrier and angrier. But the angrier he got, the funnier it got. It was like being back in high school. It was one of those moments where you're like, nothing's changed. No matter what age you're at or what point of life, there's that inherent quality to when you're not supposed to laugh, you laugh even more.

Chris Hemsworth couldn't remember the exact movie or scene -- whether from The Avengers or Avengers: Age of Ultron -- but apparently Joss Whedon's anger and the humor from it has stuck with him for quite a long time. It must've been quite a moment if it overshadowed some of the hilarity that had to have taken place on Taika Waititi's set on Thor: Ragnarok, although it's completely understandable. Who can deny that one of the times it's hardest not to laugh is when you're in a situation where you explicitly shouldn't?

Even if he pissed off Joss Whedon with his castmates a time or two in the past, Chris Hemsworth says he has no regrets about his ride thus far. The actor told MTV he wouldn't change a thing about his time in the MCU even if he could, and mentioned he feared if he did it would alter the course that it's presently on.

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but Chris Hemsworth talking about time travel and implications of changing the future of the MCU could point to him spending too much time on the Avengers: Endgame set. After all, time travel has been speculated and teased to play a decent role in the plot, and it was a weird way to answer a question when time travel doesn't ultimately exist.

Conspiracy theories aside, it sounds like Chris Hemsworth has a lot of laughs and love for his time spent in the MCU. Whether that will be enough to keep him in the world following Avengers: Endgame is another question, as we're still not sure what Thor's fate will be in the movie. Hemsworth is also not officially on board for any future Thor films, although has hinted he'd be up for returning.

We'll see if Thor has an opportunity to have more adventures following Avengers: Endgame, which is in theaters Friday, April 26. Keep with CinemaBlend in the meantime for more updates in the MCU and an idea of what's to come after.