There was a time when every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie was all but guaranteed to become a box-office hit, regardless of whether it starred a B-list hero or was released to mixed reviews. The studio delivered multiple hits one after another during its Infinity Saga, but all of that momentum started to crumble during the Multiverse Saga.
An overabundance of films meant that not all of them managed to become box-office successes, with The Marvels, Thunderbolts*, and Eternals either failing to turn a profit or barely managing to break even. The franchise's longevity was, naturally, put into question, but it seems the superhero giant has finally gone back to its glory days.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day made history by becoming the wall-crawler's highest-grossing project and joining the exclusive $2 billion club. Now, the studio is looking to capture lightning in a bottle once again with the release of its most ambitious crossover to date, Avengers: Doomsday. It has been seven years since Earth's Mightiest Heroes assembled on the big screen, and their return will be met with astounding levels of commercial success if early projections are anything to go by.
Avengers: Doomsday could have a massive opening weekend of over a billion dollars
Advance ticket sales for Spider-Man: Brand New Day began 45 days before its release, and the film had a juggernaut opening weekend, grossing $360 million at the domestic box office and $932 million worldwide. However, this level of success is all but confirmed to be overshadowed by Avengers: Doomsday.
Tickets for the next MCU crossover were released four months ahead of its release, and during the first four days, the upcoming ensemble is 65% ahead of the sales that Spider-Man: Brand New Day generated during that same period, according to a report by The Wrap.
Avengers: Doomsday has already grossed $40 million in domestic pre-sales, and the film is tracking to have a $300 million domestic opening and a $1 billion global release. Some outlets even project the upcoming crossover could gross $1.5 billion at the global box office during its first three days in theaters. Of course, these estimates are likely to change as we get closer to the release to reflect a more accurate result.
Marvel needs a mighty success, especially considering Avengers: Doomsday is one of the studio's most expensive projects to date. According to industry insider John Campea, the film has a budget of around $400 million, with an extra $300 million dedicated to marketing and promotional expenses. That means its break-even point is, at minimum, around $700 million. Despite that, Avengers: Doomsday is likely to turn a profit during its first three days in theaters.
One of the biggest reasons why Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to become the MCU's most successful crossover yet is the sheer number of unexpected characters it will feature. Chris Evans' Steve Rogers will be back in action, while Robert Downey Jr. will return to the franchise as Doctor Doom. Variants of the X-Men from the 20th Century Fox era will join forces with Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and for the first time in cinematic history, these groups will cross paths with the likes of the Fantastic Four and the Thunderbolts.
Reports indicate that Avengers: Doomsday also has multiple surprises in store. It has been widely rumored that Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, and Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool will be instrumental in the film's opening. Superhero fans have plenty of reasons to watch the upcoming crossover, and it is also helped by the fact that the Avengers haven't assembled on the big screen in the last seven years.
The future seems bright for the MCU, even if it looks dire for its titular heroes. While it remains to be seen just how big an opening Avengers: Doomsday will have, all signs indicate that the studio has found its biggest success yet.
Avengers: Doomsday will be released on Dec. 18, 2026.
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