Avengers: Endgame Marketing Puts Hawkeye Next To Urinals, And Jeremy Renner Is Having A Field Day

Avengers: Endgame Marketing Puts Hawkeye Next To Urinals, And Jeremy Renner Is Having A Field Day

The marketing for Avengers: Infinity War was a game of ‘Where’s Hawkeye?’ with us constantly looking for the team’s resident archer and him nowhere to be found. That is not the case with Avengers: Endgame, as Clint Barton is back in action with bow and sword in the trailers for the year’s biggest movie. He’s not just in the trailers though, the marketing for the film has also put Hawkeye in a very unexpected place: next to a urinal. And naturally, Jeremy Renner is having a field day with it. Take a look:

Jeremy Renner is right, marketing is different in Europe. But wow, this is something else entirely,and it's both weird and hilarious. Instead of having a poster for the film above the urinal for you to look at as you do your business, Europe apparently has Hawkeye with his eyes trained like a hawk on the urinal and accordingly, on you-- the user of said urinal.

I can’t imagine that Jeremy Renner knew or could have guessed when he signed his Marvel contract that his likeness would one day be intently watching European men as they peed, but here we are and the actor seems to find the whole situation quite amusing. Never known as the quippiest Avenger in the films, Jeremy Renner delivers the funny here in his Instagram post, with the punny hashtag #euro-peein’.

This is awfully powerful marketing on the part of Avengers: Endgame. And weird, let’s not forget weird. You can’t change the channel or press mute, it’s right there, staring at you, catching you off guard with your pants literally down. Dread it, run from it, Hawkeye cannot be ignored, not unless you decide to go to a stall or hold it.

It’s as if Hawkeye, an expert marksman, is staring to intimidate you into aiming properly at the urinal, critiquing your accuracy with harsh judgment. An archer judging your aim, I guess this is what they mean when they talk about targeted marketing. I would love to hear the conversation and genesis of this from inception to execution.

In addition to a hashtag putting forth the obvious WTF question, Jeremy Renner promises that he isn’t looking at you as you pee. It certainly looks like he is though and not everyone has the Infinity Stones to perform under this kind of pressure, among them, Jeremy Renner’s MCU co-star, Star-Lord himself, Chris Pratt. The actor commented on Instagram, saying:

Dud…e I would get REAL bladder shy of Hawkeye was staring at my Hogeye.

You had to know that Chris Pratt would have something to say if he got wind of this and he gave a hilarious Andy Dwyer-esque response if ever there was one. Star-Lord has already proven himself to have some difficulties reacting prematurely and now you can add performance anxiety to the Guardian of the Galaxy’s many faults.

Indeed I expect some might experience a bit of stage fright with Hawkeye watching them pee, but whether you hit your mark or not, you leave that bathroom thinking about Avengers: Endgame.

I’m curious if Hawkeye is the only Avenger who gets the European bathroom advertisement treatment or if other characters have urinal adjacent posters as well. And if only Hawkeye gets them, is that an insult or a compliment? Given the gross viral theory about how Ant-Man will defeat Thanos, it might be a real missed opportunity if there aren't posters of a tiny Ant-Man in bathroom stalls.

Make sure your bladder is feeling confident in its abilities before you head off to see the potentially 3 hour Avengers: Endgame, opening April 26. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of this year’s biggest movies.

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Avengers: Endgame Made Even More In Its Opening Weekend Than We Thought

Avengers: Endgame Made Even More In Its Opening Weekend Than We Thought

It's hard to believe, but Avengers: Endgame is officially running in theaters, and blowing minds of the collective Marvel fandom. The Russo Brothers crafted an absolutely massive story, which was truly the cumulation of the last 21 movies ahead of it. Because of the high stakes and Marvel's long history in theaters, moviegoers have been running to theaters to see Endgame, and hopefully avoid any spoilers that might come first.

Since its release, Avengers: Endgame has been breaking box office records left and right, despite only being in theaters for less than a week. One of those records include the biggest opening night and weekend, as the masses assembled in theaters and some theaters included round the clock screenings. And it turns out the opening weekend made even more millions than we thought.

Originally, it was reported that Avengers: Endgame took home a whopping $350 million during its first weekend of showings, already recouping the cost of the massive blockbuster's budget. But turns out that Endgame made a few more millions, ultimately capping out at over $357 million in a matter of days.

This new numbers from Box Office Mojo further shows just how much moneymaking power Avengers: Endgame has. Every single installment in Phase Three has been a critical and box office success, and anticipation over Infinity War drove cinephiles to theaters. And when Josh Brolin's Thanos managed to snap half of all life out of existence, fans could barely stand the year-long wait before Endgame.

Avengers: Endgame's box office run should be a long one, as it's a dense movie that seems to invite multiple showings. The Russo Brothers included everything and the kitchen sink, including surprising cameos, references to past Marvel films, and a ton of breathtaking action. With so much in play, it's easy for you to miss moments on the first screening. So fans will be going to multiple screenings, and shelling out even more money over the next few weeks.

Related: Man Reportedly Beaten Outside Cinema For Shouting Avengers: Endgame Spoilers

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is great at serialized storytelling, but the massive franchise is even better at making money at the box office. And given the finale of Endgame, it should be interesting to see what the future has in store. There are certainly fans who will be eager for any/all new content, especially given Endgame's wild ending.

As for Marvel Studios' plans for the future, much of that currently remains a mystery. Spider-Man: Far From Home will arrive in theaters next, but the schedule for Phase Four hasn't been released. As such, it's unclear when the next movies will arrive in theaters, and give the House of Mouse the opportunity to make even more money at the box office.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now, and Spider-Man: Far From Home will follow up on July 5th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Avengers: Endgame Made Chris Evans Choke Up Three Times

Avengers: Endgame Made Chris Evans Choke Up Three Times

In less than one month, Avengers: Endgame will be in theaters. Marvel is hyping this one up like crazy and fans have been readying themselves for a real emotional journey. It's highly likely that we will be saying goodbye to some favorite characters either because they walk off into the sunset or they die. Blood will be spilled and tears will be shed. Take it from Chris Evans, who has supposedly only seen the first hour of the Endgame, but also supposedly knows the entire script's story, and he "choked up" three times.

Avengers: Endgame is the culmination of the MCU's "Infinity Saga," a 22 film long journey that began a little over a decade. So little is known about this movie that fan theories have been popping up left and right to fill the information gap. Even the directors of Endgame, the Russo Bros., say that there are more spoilers in this film than last summer's Avengers: Infinity War, a movie which ended with half of the characters dying in a fit of cosmic genocide.

Speaking of that spoiler-heavy ending, I can distinctly remember the sniffles and soft sobs of my theater as the Avengers were snapped out of existence by Thanos. It was an extremely emotional experience and a real gut punch of ending. We've known that Endgame would likely have its fair share of heartbreak before the credits roll and Chris Evans may have confirmed that.

In an in-depth interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Evans said that he had only seen the first hour of Endgame. However, whether addressing that footage or the entire three-hour script's story, he said Endgame left him on the verge of tears three separate times.

Chris Evans: [I]t's a good one. It's a real good one. I saw, like, the first hour of it.

So you watched it up to the point where Cap dies?

Chris Evans [joking]: Right, exactly. After I die by Tony's hand, I just said, You know what? I can't watch this.

And later, in the same interview...

Chris Evans: Man. This one's really good. I choked up like three times.

Because Cap dies?

Chris Evans: Right. It's hard. Seeing my own death. [He laughs] It's going to be a long movie, that's for sure. The first edit clocked in over three hours. My funeral's like an hour.

Of course, Chris Evans is just joking about having a funeral, but it's long been expected that Captain America will die in Endgame. It's been on of the most consistent theories that this will be his last rodeo, something that Evans has not really confirmed or denied.

As far as the crying goes, fans may want to bring some tissues with them. The film is reportedly over three hours long, which leaves plenty of room to tug at the heart strings multiple times. Only time will tell how it stacks up with the ending of Infinity War, but Endgame is sure to be a wild ride.

Avengers: Endgame is all set to be released on April 26. The film is tracking for an absolutely massive opening, so be sure to reserve your tickets (whenever it is that they go on sale). To learn more about the movie, here's what we know so far.

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Avengers: Endgame Is Still Hiding A Character We Think Is Going To Be Pretty Important

Avengers: Endgame Is Still Hiding A Character We Think Is Going To Be Pretty Important

We have a brand new trailer for Avengers: Endgame to pour over and while it does a great job hiding a lot of information, it's what is being hidden that has us curious. We know the Avengers have a hail mary play in mind to save half the world, but we have no idea what it is. We got to see glimpse all of the remaining heroes in the new film, except for one. The trailer gives us a single shot of Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner, and nothing of his big green friend, the Incredible Hulk.

At the end of Avengers: Infinity War Bruce Banner was having something of an anger management problem, which is to say he wasn't able to get his anger to produce the intended result. Hulk was refusing to surface for reasons that even Bruce Banner didn't understand. For a guy who, in the previous Marvel movie, Thor: Ragnarok, was afraid he might never be able to change back if he ever became Hulk again, this was quite a switch.

Exactly what the issue is, and how Bruce Banner overcomes it, will likely be the character's primary story arc throughout Avengers: Endgame. We know this. We also know, with near certainty, that he will overcome it. We know, as much as we can know anything, that the Hulk will return. So why are the trailers keeping this fact hidden?

This new trailer gives literally one shot, the image above, of Bruce Banner, and nothing else. He's not suited up with the team at the end, or if he is, that image wasn't shown. If he's not with the rest of the team, where is he?

The trailer only confirmed in those final moments that Tony Stark and Nebula will, in fact, make it back to Earth to rejoin the rest of our heroes. It gave us that, which was another moment that we "knew" would happen, but had previously been kept secret. It's ok that we know this, because we still don't know how they'll make it back, and that's the part that's truly interesting. The trailer could have done the same thing with Hulk, letting us know that he will be back, but without telling us how.

When the Avengers: Infinity War trailers never showed us Hawkeye, we wondered if there was a reason. It turned out the reason was, because he wasn't in the film. We can be fairly sure that's not the case here. There was a story set up in the last movie that needs to be fulfilled in this one.

There certainly are numerous possible explanations as to why Hulk is being hidden. Perhaps he only appears at a moment in the story that the Russo Brothers want to keep off the screen. Showing Hulk in any shot of a trailer could potentially give away too much. Perhaps any hint as to the method of his return could give away a key aspect of the larger story.

While Marvel has always been good about not giving away too many spoilers, the franchise's trailers don't mind giving away big moments if they're the sort of thing that drum up excitement. How cool would it have been if you'd never seen Hulk in the Thor: Ragnarok trailers and the first moment you did was on the big screen? So why isn't Hulk getting similar treatment here?

It feels like the reason has to be a big one. They could be teasing us with Hulk's return, instead, it seems like they want us to forget he exists.

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Avengers: Endgame Is Passing Avatar At The Domestic Box Office This Weekend

Avengers: Endgame Is Passing Avatar At The Domestic Box Office This Weekend

Now in its fourth week of release, Avengers: Endgame continues on its journey to become the highest-grossing film of all time. The superhero film has already made its mark on cinema history by breaking a ton of box office records and surpassing Titanic to become the second highest-grossing movie ever. Avatar is the last film standing, and while Endgame still needs a push to surpass that worldwide total, it'll at least beat Avatar domestically this weekend.

Avengers: Endgame has been the No. 1 movie domestically since it opened, with last week's top contender, Detective Pikachu, falling short of knocking the superhero film off its throne. However, this looks to be the week that Endgame takes second place, and it's only fitting that headshot master John Wick is the man who does it.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is projected to open at anywhere from $45-55 million while Endgame will finish the weekend just shy of $30 million. While Endgame might not be taking the crown for the fifth consecutive week, it will still be passing another milestone this weekend. The superhero epic will become the second highest-grossing domestically, officially passing Avatar.

Endgame is likely to earn $29.7 million this weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. This would push Endgame's domestic total to $771.1 million, dethroning Avatar. James Cameron's sci-fi flick currently sits at $760.5 million domestic, a position it's comfortably held since about 2010.

The record that fans really seem to care about is the worldwide total, but Endgame still has a bit to go before we can say that the reign of Avatar is over. However, perhaps the domestic record is a sign of things to come.

However, it's unlikely that Endgame will be able to secure the all-time No. 1 domestic release spot. That title belongs to Star: Wars: The Force Awakens with a whopping $936.6 million. Even if Endgame has some serious legs, it seems impossible that it could topple this particular record. The Force Awakens was a tidal wave when it premiered back in 2015, and it played like gangbusters domestically.

But there's nothing wrong with second place! Endgame will have left its mark on history when all is said and done, and it'll be interesting to see what its total gross is when the summer ends. Avatar's longstanding worldwide total of $2,787,965,087 is within sight, but Endgame still has to deal with contenders like Toy Story 4 and Lion King.

We'll be watching all this as it progresses, so be sure to keep checking in with CinemaBlend for all the latest updates. In the meantime, you can go see Avengers: Endgame for the fourth time in theaters. If your looking for something else to enjoy in the theater, here are all the major releases heading your way this year.

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Avengers: Endgame Is Expected To Pass $2 Billion This Weekend

Avengers: Endgame Is Expected To Pass $2 Billion This Weekend

Everyone and their grandma went to see Avengers: Endgame last weekend and they must have seen it twice. Marvel's grand finale to the Infinity Saga is destroying every box office record that it comes across, reaching $1 billion worldwide in just one weekend. It's a straight up cultural moment, and it's not done yet. Endgame is on track to take home more than $2 billion by the end of its second weekend.

A sophomore slump doesn't seem to be in the cards for Marvel's latest blockbuster. Endgame is already the 12th highest grossing film domestically, having collected $514 million since it released in theaters on April 26. From Monday to Thursday, it grossed $117 million domestically, topping several single-day release records along the way.

Internationally, the film added $100 million just on Thursday, lifting its overseas total to a current $1.4 billion as of Saturday morning. Globally, Endgame is currently sitting at a total of $1.91 billion, making it the fifth highest grossing film in history, behind only Avengers: Infinity War, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Titanic, and Avatar.

With practically zero competition this weekend (unless Ugly Dolls is about to pull off the greatest upset in history), passing the $2 billion milestone is well within Endgame's reach. According the Deadline, the superhero epic could pass the benchmark by the end of Saturday. This would make Endgame only the fifth movie in history to gross over $2 billion.

However, the real question on industry analysts' minds is whether Endgame can surpass Avatar to become the highest grossing film of all time. It sounds like people are remaining cautious on the subject. There's never been a film like Endgame and it blew way past initial projections during opening weekend.

That huge opening weekend total will likely lead to a second weekend drop off within the range of 55-57%, according to Box Office Mojo. That's about in line with how Infinity War performed. The real test, however, will be how Endgame performs in the coming weeks when things get a lot more crowded.

Avatar had the advantage of opening in December, so it had ample room to stretch its legs and earn the title it has held for the past decade. Endgame is right at the start of the much more crowded summer season. You've got films like Detective Pikachu, Aladdin, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters all looking for their share of the pie, and they are hungry as hell.

If there is any film that can topple Avatar right now, it's Endgame. It's practically a guarantee at this point that the movie is taking home $2 billion this weekend, and you can bet people are watching very closely for what will happen next.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters right now, but you've probably seen it at least once by now. For everything else coming to theaters, here's our 2019 movie guide. Come back to CinemaBlend Sunday afternoon for our full May 3-5 weekend box office rundown with figures on Endgame's second weekend.

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Avengers: Endgame Is Already Breaking Records In China

Avengers: Endgame Is Already Breaking Records In China

Last night Avengers: Endgame had its world premiere in Los Angeles and the early response was overwhelmingly positive. The star-studded cast assembled on the red carpet to see the conclusion the highly-anticipated film that marks the end of an era for the MCU for the first time themselves. Soon enough, the rest of the world will get a chance to see Endgame themselves starting with China’s Wednesday debut to the best opening of all time.

Avengers: Endgame has already shattered pre-sale records for the market, with $90 million in early ticket sales, well over 2018’s Infinity War’s $59 million pre-sale total and the previous record holder Monster Hunt 2 almost $60 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter, after Endgame breaks records for making more than $20 million in midnight previews, it could take $270 million during its five-day debut and make around $450 million by the time it leaves Chinese theaters.

The Marvel film also has the luck of having its second weekend overlap with China’s Labor Day, which gives students and workers time off between Wednesday, May 1 and Saturday, May 4. During this time off, fans from all over China will have more time to go see the epic superhero film, instead of having to skip out on work or school in order to catch the fate of their favorite characters.

Endgame is the conclusion to a 22-film journey across 11 years, which started just at China’s box office boom era, also characterized by the success of Avatar in 3D overseas. The movie of course isn’t only set to do well for itself over in China, but very well break some incredible box office records globally. The Avengers film could pass $800 million worldwide after its first weekend alone, which would be the biggest opening ever.

In the United States, Avengers: Endgame is predicted to see a record-breaking debut of $270 million. The film already sold five times as many advance tickets as Infinity War in first week they went on sale. Since Endgame has been clouded in secrecy since the shocking conclusion of Infinity War, it’s no wonder fans want to go out and it see it especially in its first weekend. The fear of spoilers are certainly in high gear since well... the internet exists and when the movie comes out people will be talking about it left and right.

Avengers: Endgame will follow the superheroes who survived the snap, such as the original six, Nebula, Rocket, Ant-Man, War Machine, Okoye and Captain Marvel who must deal with the aftermath of their failed mission to stop Thanos. Endgame certainly will answer questions about the continuation of the Marvel franchise as well when it hits theaters globally this week.

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Avengers: Endgame Is Adding A Post-Credits Scene, And It's Not What You Think

Avengers: Endgame Is Adding A Post-Credits Scene, And It's Not What You Think

It goes without saying, but SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are ahead!

If you’ve already seen Avengers: Endgame in theaters, you know that unlike every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie before it, it does not have a mid/post-credits scene attached. Instead, the noise of a hammer hitting iron is played, reminding audiences of when Tony Stark escaped that cave all those years ago in Iron Man. However, for its third weekend in theaters, Endgame tacking on extra footage to play after the credits, and while it’s not a scene in the conventional sense, it does show what’s to come.

At the beginning of the week, the second Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer was released, and unlike the teaser, it was packed with Avengers: Endgame spoilers. Now Deadline is reporting that folks who see Endgame this weekend will see a pre-film message from Peter Parker himself, Tom Holland, telling moviegoers to stick around after the credits to watch the latest Far From Home trailer.

It’s not often that you see a movie trailer tagged onto a movie after it’s finished playing. However, it does remind me how back when The Amazing Spider-Man 2 came out, a teaser scene from X-Men: Days of Future Past was shown due to a deal between director Marc Webb and 20th Century Fox. This is a more synergetic move given that Marvel Studios and Sony have partnered up for Spider-Man’s MCU exploits, and it makes even more sense to tack the trailer onto Avengers: Endgame given that while that movie was the last installment of the Infinity Saga, Spider-Man: Far From Home is the last movie of Phase 3.

The latest Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer has been a tremendous success for Sony, as it collected over 135 million views in its first 24 hours online. It was also distinctive for leading with a spoiler warning from Tom Holland, which is ironic given how many sensitive plot details he’s accidentally let slip over the years.

Although Marvel was originally firm on not divulging any specific and juicy details about Avengers: Endgame ahead of time in marketing, starting this week, the studio has opened the proverbial floodgates and gone all in on spoilery content, thus allowing for Spider-Man: Far From Home to address the aftermath of Endgame. Along with Peter Parker getting back into the swing of things after being gone for five years like every other person who was snapped away by Thanos, he’s also mourning the loss of his mentor and father figure, Tony Stark.

However, the biggest revelation in the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer is that a hole has been torn in reality, and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Quentin Beck, a.k.a. Mysterio, claims to be from a different Earth. Given Mysterio’s penchant for illusions and trickery in the comics, we shouldn’t discount the possibility that he’s lying, but given how Avengers: Endgame explored different timelines, the MCU could indeed be setting the stage for a proper multiverse to be brought into the equation.

Avengers: Endgame isn’t leaving theaters anytime soon, and Spider-Man: Far From Home swings into theaters on July 2, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage about the sequel. For now, you can learn what else is coming down the MCU pipeline with our comprehensive guide.

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Avengers: Endgame Has Screened, Here’s What People Are Saying

Avengers: Endgame Has Screened, Here’s What People Are Saying

Avengers: Endgame had its world premiere last night, and that means there are a select group of people walking this earth who know how it all ends. Those people know, but they're not talking, because they're decent human beings. They are, however, talking in much more broad strokes about what they thought of Endgame as a whole. In a word, well, it was a marvel. Critics began tweeting their thoughts after the premiere last night and not only are they basically overwhelmingly positive, they're flat out in shock.

CinemaBlend's own Eric Eisenberg was one of the people lucky enough to attend the premiere, and he is still coming to terms with what he saw.

This can't be understated: Avengers Endgame is everything you want it to be and more. I am absolutely floored. A perfect reflection on the last 11 years that pays off everything in the best way possible. Without question my new favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Stunned.

Fans are likely breathing a sigh of relief right about now. The build up to Avengers: Endgame has been immense. Infinity War left things with an incredible conclusion that even those familiar with the story weren't necessarily expecting. It was hard for people to imagine how Marvel would top that.

And that's the challenge after all. Ending a story isn't easy. Finding a way to make things satisfying for the audience, especially because expectations are so high, is that much harder. However, Slashfilm's Peter Sciretta says that expectations will be met, and likely exceeded. Also, bring tissues...

Imagine the best possible version of Avengers Endgame and somehow the film still surpasses all expectations. I cried 5-6 times. It’s the most emotional, most epic, MCU film. A tribute to ten years of this universe and holy shit the great fan service in this movie. Soooo good.

Certainly, nobody could have imaged 11 years ago when the first Iron Man was released that the experiment that was the Marvel Cinematic Universe would become quite this successful. When The Avengers came out and set box office records that was an achievement all on its own. And yet, things continued forward and a story began to take shape that as eventually going to lead things to an even bigger conclusion.

Spoiler heavy material has leaked onto the internet, a difficult thing to avoid happening with something this in demand, but hopefully most fans have successfully avoided it. Kara Warner of People urges all fans to go in to the movie knowing as little as possible.

Wow Avengers Endgame. Just wow. What a supremely satisfying film. See it as soon as you can and go in as blind as possible.

Leaked videos notwithstanding, Marvel has done a remarkable job of keeping a lid on things. Even the trailers, while they've given us the film's basic setup, really haven't shown us much beyond that. I doubt there's a single shot in the trailers that doesn't come from the first hour of the movie, and considering the film is three hours long, that leaves a lot of additional material that we know essentially nothing about.

Does anybody have a bad thing to say at all about Avengers: Endgame. Not really. One of the few critical statements I could find came from i09's Germain Lussier, who admitted that the film is long, which means that it actually felt long, and that it's not entirely perfect. Beyond that, still amazed.

Wow. Avengers Endgame is staggering. It’s surprising in ways I never saw coming and satisfying in ways I didn’t realize I needed. It’s kind of the ultimate gift to fans of the MCU. It’s very long and has a few hiccups, but is everything you’re hoping for and more.

People have been waiting for more than a decade through more than 20 movies to get to this point. If you've seen them all, you've certainly been on a journey. Fandango's Erik Davis says that dedication will be rewarded, as Endgame is actually able to expand on the entire MCU and make you see the entire series in a new way.

Avengers Endgame is a masterful epic - a true culmination of 22 films that not only concludes the story, but expands upon it. You’ll learn more about the other movies while this one unfolds. If Infinity War is the brawn, Endgame is the brains. And wow, what an ending!

Is there anything at all to be critical of? Well, as one might expect of a three hour epic of a movie, it's a slow build. Yolanda Machado admits that younger viewers may not get behind some of the slower bits, and it sounds like there might also be some scarier parts, but in the end, it's all worth it.

More on Avengers Endgame. The story is a long, slow build but the payoff is fantastic. Kids under 10 might not handle the first half, for a few reasons, but older kids will dig it. I cried, and there's one moment I just screamed YASSSS!!! Then I cried some more. I just loved it.

If it was possible for Avengers: Endgame to be hyped any more than it already has been, that seems to have been accomplished. The good news is that all corners seem to indicate that's ok, as the movie will meet or exceed all of our expectations. If it was able to work for basically everybody in attendance at the premier in that way, then it will almost certainly satisfy theaters full of people when it debuts this weekend.

In the end, it's not a question of if Avengers: Endgame is going to be big, it's just a question of how big it will be. Any worry that Endgame wasn't going to stick the landing should be gone now. Will the end of this epic story become the highest grossing movie of all-time? The film has already set pre-sale records, meaning the movie will likely set opening weekend records. The fact that some theaters are running screenings overnight will help that too.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had no shortage of epic moments, but it seems like we may have several more in store for us very soon. What happens next? Not even those at the premiere know the answer to that, if they do, they're not saying.

Full reviews for Avengers: Endgame will be hitting later today, so if you want more information, come back to CinemaBlend this afternoon.

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Avengers: Endgame Has Replaced Die Hard As My Favorite Movie, Which Is Crazy

Avengers: Endgame Has Replaced Die Hard As My Favorite Movie, Which Is Crazy

Most movie journalists likely get asked the question so many times, they have crafted a go-to answer. “Oh, you write about movies?” strangers will ask upon meeting you. “What’s your favorite movie of all time?” It’s an ice breaker. An audio party favor, and a conversation starter. It’s also a barometer of your taste, because if you are revealing what you believe to be your favorite movie of all time, it will tell the person who’s listening that they might love the same kinds of movies as you. And naturally, if you disagree, it also tells them that they shouldn’t listen to you at all.

For years – 31 years, to be specific – my answer to that very question was John McTiernan’s Die Hard. The original, and still the best. Die Hard remains the finest example of my favorite type of movie, a cop thriller centered around a sarcastic and flawed hero who overcomes impossible odds to triumph. It’s a brilliant script, with an outstanding lead performance, and when I saw it in theaters in 1988, it literally changed my life. Die Hard opened me up to the idea that movies were a reality, and I knew then and there that I’d like to do SOMETHING with movies with the rest of my existence.

Over the years, as I saw more movies, other titles helped me eventually form a Top 10 of “All Timers” for me. Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest. George Roy Hill’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Toy Story trilogy. Movies that meant something to me, personally, and belonged in the conversation when discussing a flick that would go on my own Mount Rushmore. But none of them topped Die Hard, from a purely selfish “My Favorite Movie of All Time” standpoint. McTiernan’s masterpiece was the top of the mountain.

Until last week. When it was dethroned by Joe and Anthony Russo’s Avengers: Endgame.

In addition to being a movie junkie as a kid, I also grew up reading comics. Specifically, I grew up reading Marvel. Spider-Man was my favorite character, but I collected books on the X-Men, the New Mutants, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four and the bulk of the Avengers titles. In the Marvel universe, characters teamed up often, so the adventures of the characters I loved bled into the realms of Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk.

When the Marvel Cinematic Universe started, I was skeptical. How could you not be? Comic book adaptations weren’t exactly home runs. For every Iron Man in 2008, fans had to endure the Joel Schumacher Batman films, Ben Affleck’s Daredevil, it’s spinoff Elektra, Nic Cage’s Ghost Rider… you get the gist.

Starting with Iron Man, the character, also seemed like an odd choice. In hindsight, it worked, but Tony Stark wasn’t the household name back in 2008, and Robert Downey Jr. was still an unpredictable talent who had burned very bright but was rebuilding his professional reputation with turns in movies like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Tropic Thunder and David Fincher’s Zodiac.

No one, back then, could have imagined what the MCU would become. Building a shared universe like this takes patience, time and dedication. It requires several happy accidents on the production schedules of some massive blockbusters. It relies heavily on smart casting, and those casting moves have to pay off with contracts that keep talent in the fold for the right amount of time. It takes bold storytelling choices, but ones that resonate with an audience so that they choose to return time and again for the next movies.

And of course, sticking a landing on an 11 year, 22 film experiment like this seems downright impossible.

Yet, as I watched Avengers: Endgame unfold, my mouth simply hung open in awe at the major moves Joe and Anthony took, and the stunning accomplishments they achieved. Time travel? Check. Killing off half of the known Marvel universe? Check. Bringing them all back? Check. Surprising fans with huge reveals? Check. Pitting every hero in the MCU against Thanos and his minions? Check mate.

Avengers: Endgame shouldn’t exist. Anyone who understands how movies are made have to accept this. Endgame is a magic trick, a Herculean feat that should have failed under the weight of its own ambition. It’s a movie that contains countless nods to the Marvel movies that blazed a trail before it, while also completing a story the brothers started in Avengers: Infinity War. It completes a journey, while teasing a path for the future. It’s a love letter to a universe that I adore. It’s the best movie Marvel has created to date, and I think it’s going to be pretty damn tough to top.

Which is why I replaced Die Hard at the top of my all-time favorite list with Avengers: Endgame. (How fitting, too, that Paul Rudd shouts out McTiernan’s classic, cementing my decision for me in my own head the moment it happened.) Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that I feel one movie is BETTER than the other.

I have been explaining this to people who instantly jump to the conclusion that I’m deciding Endgame is a better movie than Die Hard. Truthfully, I think it’s unfair to even try and compare the two, as McTiernan in 1988 wasn’t trying to accomplish anything close to what the Russo Brothers are doing in 2019.

Die Hard will always hold a very special place in my heart. It’s not like it’s being removed from existence. I’ll still watch it a few times each year, and likely will learn more about it with each repeat viewing.

But it had a fantastic, three-decade run at the top of my personal leaderboard. And nothing lasts forever. Sooner or later, I was bound to encounter a movie that hit me as hard as McTiernan’s film did back in 1988. And the sheer achievement of Avengers: Endgame, the massive spectacle and the epic amount of entertainment it produces in the heart of this Marvel geek, means that it’s my new Number One. What’s yours?

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Avengers: Endgame Has Officially Beat One Of Avatar's Box Office Records

Avengers: Endgame Has Officially Beat One Of Avatar's Box Office Records

Like Captain Marvel blazing through the sky and cutting through enemy ships, Avengers: Endgame came out fast and furious at the box office, felling many records. But Endgame’s run isn’t done yet and there are still records left to conquer, particularly those belonging to the almighty box office champ, Avatar. Now, after this past weekend, Avengers: Endgame has officially beat one of Avatar’s box office records.

Prior to this past weekend, it looked like the MCU’s massive culmination film would pass Avatar to become the second-biggest film at the domestic box office all-time. All the money has now been counted and we can finally say that officially, The Russo Brothers’ latest film has done just that. According to Box Office Mojo, Avengers: Endgame now stands at $774.5 million on the domestic charts, surpassing Avatar’s $760.5 million.

It’s a remarkable feat considering that Avatar’s domestic record held all the way until 2015 when it was beat out by the return of Star Wars in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens. No film since then has passed Avatar domestically, including box office titans like Black Panther, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Avengers: Infinity War. But records are made to be broken and Avengers: Endgame has done that in less than a month.

The $774.5 million and counting Avengers: Endgame has made cements it as the second-biggest domestic film ever, now trailing only The Force Awakens. It may have to settle for No. 2 though because the record held by Episode VII will require extraordinary legs to catch. Star Wars: The Force Awakens holds the top spot on the domestic charts with a historic $936.6 million, over $160 million more than where Endgame is currently at.

On the worldwide record front, things are more competitive and interesting. Avengers: Endgame may have passed Avatar’s domestic total and James Cameron’s other box office champ Titanic worldwide, but Avatar’s all-time, worldwide box office record remains intact.

Avatar is the No. 1, biggest movie ever at the box office, with $2.788 million worldwide. Right now, Avengers: Endgame sits at $2.620 million worldwide. Like the domestic record, Endgame will have to make over $160 million more around the world to catch Avatar and stand alone atop the worldwide box office chart.

Whether it can do that remains to be seen, but we may be in for a photo finish with box office aficionados watching Endgame’s every dollar come in like political pundits on election night. As of now, Avengers: Endgame has won a battle against Avatar, but the war is undecided and James Cameron still sits upon the throne.

Avengers: Endgame is now playing while Avatar 2 has been delayed (again) until 2021. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see all the movies you can look forward to the rest of this year.

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Avengers: Endgame Has Locked Its Movie Edit, Here’s How The Russos Celebrated

Avengers: Endgame Has Locked Its Movie Edit, Here’s How The Russos Celebrated

This weekend marks the release of Captain Marvel, meaning that Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers is understandably and rightly going to be getting a lot of attention. That said, it won’t be too much longer of a wait for the movie following this 1990s-set origin story, as Avengers: Endgame arrives at the end of April. That said, directors Joe and Anthony Russo have officially crossed another item off their Endgame to-do list by locking in the movie edit, and they celebrated this by snacking on some sugary treats.

If you’re wondering what it means for Avengers: Endgame to have its edit locked, it's that the Russos and their editing team are done assembling everything together. There’s still some work to be done before the movie is officially finished, namely the VFX crew putting the final touches on certain shots, but there won’t be anymore scenes thrown in or taken out. What’s in Endgame currently is what moviegoers will see when it’s finally thrown up on the big screen, so in these remaining weeks, the other departments can go about perfecting the final product. Crossing such a milestone definitely warrants hitting up the sundae bar, as the Russos showed on Twitter, although I’ll advocate for that being appropriate for any major achievement. I also appreciate that Whoppers were being offered, as they’re one of the underrated topping options.

One of the big questions that’s been asked about Avengers: Endgame over the last year is how long it will be. Back in November, Joe Russo said that the running time stood at three hours, and then in late December, he said there was a “high probability” it would clock in around that same period since, as he later put it, there’s a lot of “real estate.” Endgame’s runtime hasn’t been officially confirmed yet by Marvel, but whatever it is, it’s now set in proverbial stone. Endgame is not only the final Phase 3 installment, but also the end of this iteration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since it began with 2008’s Iron Man, so it’s safe to assume that it will cover a lot of ground to give fans a proper conclusion of sorts.

With less than two months to go until Avengers: Endgame, presumably more advertising will be shown. That said, so far only one trailer and a Super Bowl TV spot have been released, and they provided barely any plot details. If Marvel is wanting to keep this secrecy train going, that’s going to make it hard to kick marketing to the next level, but considering how popular the MCU has grown over the last decade, it’s not like Marvel Studios has to worry about a low turnout for Endgame. Given how Avengers: Infinity War ended, you can be sure most, if not all the people who saw that movie will want to see how the conflict with Thanos is resolved.

Avengers: Endgame opens in theaters on April 26, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. For information about what else is coming down the MCU pipeline, look through our comprehensive Phase 4 guide.

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Avengers: Endgame Has Already Hit Pirating Websites

Avengers: Endgame Has Already Hit Pirating Websites

It's been a long year of waiting, but Avengers: Endgame is finally upon us. Hardcore Marvel fans have secured their tickets for tonight's opening showings, which will pick up the narrative after Thanos won and destroyed half of life in Infinity War. The stakes are at an all-time high, so moviegoers are desperately attempting to avoid spoilers before heading to theaters.

Despite Marvel Studios' best work with security and marketing, spoilers have still hit the internet, as early screenings of Endgame expose the film's secrets. And now it turns out that the leaks have gotten worse, and the movie is already on pirating sites ahead of its official release. Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige has expressed his disapproval of spoilers, so he must not be happy about these surprising turn of events.

News of Avengers: Endgame's leak onto pirating sites come to us from Torrent Freak, and there may have some silver lining to it all. Because the version of the movie currently making its way around pirating sites is of extremely poor quality. And it hardly sounds like the way to enjoy such a massive and CGI-heavy blockbuster. As the report reveals:

The image flickers constantly throughout. It’s semi-rotated and is littered throughout with watermarks for a gambling site that spin around the screen.

Well, this hardly sounds satisfying to the moviegoers who have spent a decade and 21 trips to the movies ahead of Avengers: Endgame's release. The marketing material for Avengers: Endgame is reportedly from the first 10 minutes of the blockbuster, so the public should know little to nothing about the contents of The Russo Brothers' highly anticipated release. Unless they go searching out spoilers.

There are some moviegoers that just can't wait until tonight's screenings, and want to know about what happens throughout the course of Avengers: Endgame. Spoilers arrived last week, and now the pirating copy is out there as well. You may just have to watch an uber-crappy version with online games on the edge of the frame. Still, the year of waiting is just too much for certain moviegoers to sustain.

Related: 10 Questions We Still Have About Avengers: Endgame

The Russo Brothers have been staunchly against spoilers, encouraging cinephiles to run to the theater opening weekend to ensure you get the full theatrical experience. Avengers: Endgame is the cumulation of a decade of filmmaking, and it seems like the brothers could go anywhere narratively. Infinity War showed what daring filmmaking they were capable for with such a massive cast, and the twist ending showed they were pulling no punches.

The early reception for Avengers: Endgame has been overwhelmingly positive, and the official reviews and Rotten Tomatoes score are sky high. It appears that The Russo Brothers threw everything and the kitchen sink into the new blockbuster, and that is miraculously worked. Luckily, we can judge for ourselves starting tonight.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters starting tonight. In the meantime, check out CinemaBlend's Endgame death pool, and utilize our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Avengers: Endgame Has A Deep-Cut Iron Man 3 Reference That's Surprising Fans

Avengers: Endgame Has A Deep-Cut Iron Man 3 Reference That's Surprising Fans

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are ahead!

Tony Stark has been one of the most important characters in the go since it launched, but let’s not forget that it’s been six years since his solo film series wrapped up. Iron Man 3 marked the last time Tony embarked on a standalone journey on screen, and while that movie wasn’t nearly as important as other past MCU entries in the now-released Avengers: Endgame, the Phase 3 capper did reference Iron Man’s last solo outing through one of the characters it introduced: Harley Keener.

As some Marvel fans guessed in the lead-up to Avengers: Endgame, the movie saw Tony Stark being killed, as he was mortally wounded when harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones to turn Thanos and his forces to dust. Tony’s funeral was held soon after, and Ty Simpkins’ Harley Keener was one of the people in attendance.

Unlike most of the other familiar faces in that crowd, Harley Keener only had the one Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance under his belt. That, plus the fact that it’s been six years since we last saw the character (within the MCU timeline, around a decade has passed) and he’s grown up a lot, and one couldn’t be faulted for not recognizing that Harley was back to honor Tony.

It is worth pointing out that if you followed the development of Avengers: Endgame closely, Harley Keener’s appearance might not come as a total shock. Back in October 2017, it was reported that Ty Simpkins, who has since appeared in movies like Jurassic World and The Nice Guys, would reprise the role. So that ultimately came to fruition.

What didn’t pan out was a separate rumor that claimed that Harley Keener would appear alongside Tony Stark as he used his B.A.R.F. (Binarily Augmented Retro-Framing) technology to study the Battle of New York. B.A.R.F., which was first shown in Captain America: Civil War, didn’t appear at all in Endgame, as the heroes were revisiting key moments in MCU history through actual time travel.

Tony Stark and Harley Keener crossed paths in Iron Man 3 when the former was transported to Tennessee by J.A.R.V.I.S. after the Stark mansion was destroyed by The Mandarin’s minions. With Harley’s help, Tony learned about Extremis, and at the end of the movie, Harley came back to his garage filled various mechanical and robotic presents from Tony, a.k.a. The Mechanic.

There was potential for Harley to become Tony Stark’s protege down the line, but that role was eventually filled by Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man. Still, it was nice that Avengers: Endgame brought Harley back for a cameo to remind us of an earlier era in the MCU and in Tony’s life. Who knows, even though Iron Man is dead, perhaps Harley could pop up in a different corner of this franchise in the coming years.

Don’t forget to read CinemaBlend’s review of Avengers: Endgame, and stay tuned for more updates about the future of the MCU. Those of you interested in what other movies are coming out later this year can find that information in our 2019 release schedule.

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Avengers: Endgame Had An Awesome Easter Egg For Another Marvel Character

Avengers: Endgame Had An Awesome Easter Egg For Another Marvel Character

Warning: SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are in play. If you’re worried about spoiling the fun, bookmark this piece and come back once you’ve experienced the magic for yourself.

While a movie like Avengers: Endgame is designed to wrap up a lot of history in a neat and tidy package, the expectation is also set for that same film to drop some hints towards the future. And if some eagle-eyed, or rather eagle-eared, moviegoers are right, a pretty big clue towards another hero’s debut may have been woven into the film’s narrative. And that hero just might be Captain Britain himself, Brian Braddock.

As the story goes, during the 1970 section of the big time heist in Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers hides in what he finds out is Peggy Carter’s office as the S.H.I.E.L.D. director at Camp Lehigh. While seeing the love of his life in her prime, we overhear something about how an operative named Braddock hasn’t checked in.

This small reference doesn’t come up again in Avengers: Endgame, but some fans think that this particular name drop means that Captain Britain might be on his way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Looking into the history of the character’s existence in reality, as well as the timeline of this particular scene, just might tell us what this could mean for the MCU.

Debuting in 1976, Captain Britain’s origin story involved Brian Braddock’s isolated, but well-off, beginnings, which eventually saw him gaining superpowers after being visited by Merlin himself. Captain Britain would later go on to work for the U.K.’s version of S.H.I.E.L.D., names S.T.R.I.K.E. This connection is interesting, considering it furthers the connection between Captain Britain and the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Should this reference picked out by ComicBookMovie.com be true, and Captain Britain is being seeded into the MCU, then the S.T.R.I.K.E. team, introduced with Brock Rumlow and his associates in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, could be that very same team. So not only could Captain Britain become another entry in Marvel’s cinematic canon, whether it be in Phase 4 or beyond, there’s a chance we could see another period piece fleshing out the backstory of this very universe.

Considering we’ve seen several rounds of speculation and backtracking around the fact that Simon Pegg once said he’d want to play Captain Britain, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to possibly start sniffing around a scenario that would see Pegg brought on to bring this legendary hero to life.

Maybe this could even be the project that would act as the ultimate mea culpa to director Edgar Wright. With full creative control possibly being granted to the man who was once set to direct Ant-Man, before circumstances spun out of control, we might see a new age of filmmakers being brought into Marvel Studios history.

For now though, all we have is a fun reference that could pan out into a future round of fun. With everything else that’s already in the works for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s not like the company is hurting for options. But at the same time, if the hypothetical scenario we described is the best chance for this reference to pay off, then we’re going to cross our fingers and let the wishing begin!

Avengers: Endgame is currently in theaters now, ready for you to experience for the first or fifth time.

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Avengers: Endgame Got An A+ CinemaScore, But How Would You Grade It?

Avengers: Endgame Got An A+ CinemaScore, But How Would You Grade It?

Avengers: Endgame is already on track to have the highest opening weekend in history, but money isn't the best judgement of quality. We already know that critics mostly loved the movie, giving it a 96% over on Rotten Tomatoes at this point. We here at CinemaBlend also loved the film, but what does the moviegoing audience think? That's where CinemaScore comes in and Avengers: Endgame is sitting at an extremely healthy A+.

For those who may not know, CinemaScore doesn't work the same way as other review aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic. Rather than give a movie a ranking based on reviews, CinemaScore polls the feelings of the audience. Audience members are surveyed outside the theater after their showing and assign the movie a grade from A+ to F.

In that sense, the results can be a little skewed, because people are surveyed right at the height of their hype (or lack thereof) and might feel differently after a little time. Generally, though, it's a good way to get a consensus on a movie.

In the case of Avengers: Endgame, audiences love the movie right now. The Marvel blockbuster sits at the highest possible ranking of A+. CinemaScore doesn't usually go into much more detail than that, but there's plenty to love in Marvel's latest.

The score is pretty comparable to the rest of the MCU's 22 film library. The vast majority of the films got some version of an A grade. However, the only other movies that have an A+ are The Avengers and Black Panther, so Endgame is part of a select club within the MCU.

Interestingly enough, the only MCU to not have an A grade at all is the very first Thor movie, which has a B+. Not even The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2, generally agreed to be two of the worst MCU films, have lower than an A-.

So, people generally really love MCU movies, but only a few ever get the highest ranking. However, we want to know what YOU think of Avengers: Endgame. The movie is a finale and those tend to be divisive, but it seems like people are on the same page with Endgame.

Taking a page from CinemaScore, we've put together a poll ranking the movie based on the aggregator's ranking system. Just click the score you think applies to Endgame and we'll see were it goes. My own ranking is in the A to A+ category, but don't let me sway you.

If you haven't seen it already, Avengers: Endgame is in theaters right now and currently dominating everything in its path. For more on the hit blockbuster, be sure to visit CinemaBlend where we will continue to update you on Endgame, from its box office performance to our own questions about the movie.

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Avengers: Endgame Fan Reportedly Hospitalized For Uncontrollable Sobbing

Avengers: Endgame Fan Reportedly Hospitalized For Uncontrollable Sobbing

If you found yourself sniffling through Avengers: Endgame, take heart. You were not alone. At least one fan even had to be hospitalized after reportedly feeling all of the feelings at once during a showing.

A 21-year-old woman in China was reportedly sobbing uncontrollably during a showing of Avengers: Endgame and afterward reported feeling short of breath, with her hands and feet numb. She went to the ER, and doctors said they believed she was suffering from hyperventilation. They gave her oxygen and she eventually recovered.

This unnamed woman is probably just embarrassed by all of the attention now, but her story -- reported to Chinanews.com (via MFMY News) -- is probably not that different from reactions around the globe.

Emotions are running high for Avengers: Endgame fans. China, in particular, seems to be the source of a lot of heightened activity. Endgame is breaking box office records everywhere -- think of a record and it will probably break it if it hasn't done so already -- and that also includes China.

A man in Hong Kong reportedly wasn't so keen on team spirit and shouted some Endgame spoilers to people waiting in line to buy tickets at the movie theater. He was reportedly beaten for those spoilers, with fan reaction to that beating seeming divided.

People are just feeling a lot of things about Endgame, and that includes the stars themselves. Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America) said at last Monday's Avengers 4 premiere that he "cried like six times" watching the movie. He may have been exaggerating, but it's equally believable that he meant it. There's no shame in it.

Since Avengers: Endgame is playing on a record number of screens, fans who've already seen the movie in sold-out showings are already managing to get tickets to return. And they are crying all over again. It's the end of an era, and it's good to feel that. It would be sad if you felt nothing after that three-hour run (besides perhaps an urge to pee, or irritation with your fellow moviegoers, if you too had to sit next to an extremely loud laugher whose guffaws drowned out most of the post-joke lines).

We'll have our full box office rundown up later today (Sunday, April 28) but don't be shocked to see $1 billion in headlines for the global opening weekend gross. That's enough to send Disney execs sobbing with joy. (Like they need the money.) Fans seem to love the movie, with opening night moviegoers grading it with an A+ and CinemaBlend readers seeming to agree with our own poll.

Just don't forget: Take a deep breath, it's only a movie. And there will be more to come as the MCU continues with Spider-Man: Far From Home and Phase 4.

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