The Avengers have assembled for the last time, and they are destroying the competition — even before hitting US movie theaters.
“Avengers: Endgame,” the last in a 22-film arc featuring the beloved Marvel Universe superheroes, shattered records upon its release in Asia, specifically in China, Disney — which owns Marvel Studios — announced Thursday.
The movie raked in $169 million on Wednesday, its first day of release in 25 markets including China, Australia and several countries in Europe.
It set single-day box office records in China, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries, said Disney, which bought Marvel Studios in 2009.
The film’s performance in China was impressive — $107.5 million.
In France, “Endgame” scored the biggest opening day for a Marvel film. It set an overall opening day record in the Netherlands, Greece, and Egypt.
The figures indicate that “Endgame” will surpass the receipts generated by the previous episode in the “Avengers” saga — “Infinity War” — which came out last year, it added.
The film will go into wide release in the United States and Canada on Friday, with showings in select cities from Thursday.
Experts predict the well-reviewed “Avengers” finale — featuring Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson and a raft of other stars — could make $200-260 million in its opening weekend in North America.
The film clocks runs just about three hours, leading US movie chain powerhouse AMC to schedule showings around the clock in several dozen cinemas to satisfy demand from moviegoing fans.
In India, the country’s main ticket trader said advance sales had exceeded 2.5 million, and some cinemas in the usually Bollywood-mad country are planning around-the-clock screenings.
Pundits are predicting a debut weekend that could break records with the first billion-dollar worldwide opening in history.
The 21 preceding films — featuring many of the comic book heroes created by the late legend Stan Lee — have earned about $19 billion globally.
Fans who have seen the movie all over the world, have stirred storms on social media, some attempting to spoil the fun for those who are yet to see the movie, many others expressing how enthralling their experience at the theatres was, giving other fans great reason to head back to the movies, for what some argue is an experience they may never get again.
Fans of the Avengers strike a pose while dressed in costumes for a costume contest before the first screening of “Avengers: Endgame” at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on April 25, 2019. Frederic J. BROWN / AFPThe real hero that saved us all #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/rJF0YopyX4— Master Chief (@SpifterSwifter) April 26, 2019
the whole theater during THAT scene #Avengersendame pic.twitter.com/L3GsI1FQsL— ME! | love you 3000 (@jjknysus) April 26, 2019
me waiting for all of my friends to see #AvengersEndame so I can finally talk about it pic.twitter.com/9V3J6gR6xE— kate (@_katiebugx) April 26, 2019
Me getting back into the car after #AvengersEndgame…..#AvengersEndame#DontSpoilTheEndgame #Endgame pic.twitter.com/YSDw9onaSi— Feliz Karen News (@felizkrennews) April 26, 2019
me talking to myself about endgame since i can’t talk to my friends about it cause they haven’t seen it yet #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/Oa20smsrjO— sarai saw endgame aahh (@hollandspetcr) April 26, 2019
One taught me love,
One taught me patience,
One taught me pain,
And one taught me infinite pain.The end of an epic saga ❤️
Thanks for 10 years of happiness & memories avengers ❤️
I love u 3000 times.#AvengersEndgame #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/IPeQ2aUV2u— Doctor Strange ✨ (@Mana_K_Tum_) April 26, 2019AAvengers Endgame spoilers, but with no context #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/iOlrmYaOVk
— analissa (@horansalmighty3) April 26, 2019
Marvel stan eating cheeseburger after #AvengersEndame #Endgame pic.twitter.com/9IS4rR7GNw— Endgame | 3000 (@teameushin) April 26, 2019
Yoo.. Google thanos.. And click on the gauntlet golden hand on d right.. And c d page wipe out ♂……..#AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/ja93lB3WCZ— Taekoff_yrn (@TaekoffY) April 26, 2019
Me in the bathroom after watching #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/cnBwk8TUJT— Aylin (@aylllinn) April 26, 2019
It’s 3 AM and I have work tmrw morning but I can’t stop thinking about “I love you 3000” #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/HxLhhXK5J4— • (@oopsgemini) April 26, 2019
#AvengersEndame mood pic.twitter.com/smKDqekdn7— Marvel Studios Türkiye (@marvelstudiostr) April 26, 2019
So we’ll never watch them together on the same movie poster again
Feel like crying.This all end here.
10 years of memories.
10 years of happiness.
They end this saga in epic way. It is 5 times more epic than what I expected ❤️#AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/6giLpvXqJ9— Doctor Strange ✨ (@Mana_K_Tum_) April 26, 2019
Guys google Thanos & click on the hand #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/VLcc8kh53P— Nkosazana Nkosi (@khvnyi) April 26, 2019
You wanna tell me about her?
No, No I think I don’t
#AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/I8HUgC41UJ— RuViews (@RuViews) April 26, 2019
He didn’t even spoil it for iron man even when he asked for the spoilers#AvengersEndame#AvengersEndGamespoilers#Avengers#AvengersEndGamespoilers pic.twitter.com/xL0jSAWqO5— Futball Devil (@futballdevil) April 26, 2019
When you haven’t seen avengers Endgame yet and everyone’s tweeting “I love you 3000” but you have no idea what’s going on… #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/CZqVksgZC8— impractical jokers ❤️ (@jokersfanzz) April 26, 2019
Different stages while watching End Game #AvengersEndame #AvengersEndgame pic.twitter.com/a59C2oyhjb— Doctor Strange ✨ (@Mana_K_Tum_) April 26, 2019
How does one move on from #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/lvPKe1eRoI— spring summer fall winter || Chanyeol ♡ (@oohlalalalisa_) April 26, 2019
Wow! I just can’t take it… they really did that. #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/9muGiTq0nX— Harsh Deep (@Deepplays1) April 26, 2019
#AvengersEndame The saga is over. A new one will be written. pic.twitter.com/dzQKpQv7OU— Pekee (@phymer2016) April 26, 2019
#AvengersEndame
Love you more than 3000 times❤ pic.twitter.com/7KpNgBEFMR— Tuber (@Stephen_Kobe) April 26, 2019
Every marvel fan after watching #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/K5MhFp1VnH— N. (@iistargirl) April 26, 2019
You have my respect Stark #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/ZUP7yWF5pQ— Yusuf Patel (@JP0610) April 26, 2019
I’m yet to watch captain marvel! #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/2UFoQP9aY8— Karim Marshall (@marshall_karim) April 26, 2019
Wong walking in to save the universe from Thanos #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/nsGme4NqZ9— isaiah (@LosBlasian) April 26, 2019
Me after #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/33RK8pEXWI— YungWade (@DroSims) April 26, 2019
Marvel should have just hire John Wick
and make Thanos kill his dog.#AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/X2BfanNPOJ— KADUNA KING (@TBoywonder) April 26, 2019
And remember kids #DontSpoilAvengersEndgame #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/habucFdf2Q— (@aidetdayana) April 26, 2019
I LOVE YOU THREE THOUSAND TIMES #AvengersEndame pic.twitter.com/SAeqsbKJ7X— XINYI19 (@liaoxinyi) April 26, 2019
What do you think?
