Avengers Endgame Box Office: Iron Man, Cap And Friends Do 10X Their Nearest Competitor

Avengers Endgame Box Office: Iron Man, Cap And Friends Do 10X Their Nearest Competitor

Well, we all knew Avengers: Endgame was going to have a good weekend. You can't mix this much hype with really good reviews and spectacular word of mouth and expect the buzz to die down after one weekend. Avengers: Endgame was winning this weekend. The question was just by how much. Well, the results are in, and the answer is by a lot. Avengers: Endgame did more than 10X the business of its nearest competitor The Intruder which came in a very, very distant second.

You can check out the full results of the weekend box office below, including how newcomers Longshot, UglyDolls and The Intruder stacked up...

So, let's finish out the Avengers conversation before we move on. The film is on pace to surpass $2 billion at the worldwide box office by the end of this weekend. That's absolutely incredible, and everyone involved with the MCU, especially the Russo Brothers who are on this week's ReelBlend, and this movie in particular should applaud themselves. Not only did they create a movie that's playing really well with fans, they somehow created one that's surpassing the crazy numbers put up by Infinity War. Spectacular. Hard stop.

Now, the key here is following Endgame, observers need to adjust their expectations for future Marvel movies. This was, in my ways, the end of an era. There are numerous characters in the MCU that we'll almost certainly never see again. It took a decade of churning out a lot of really good movies that built on top of each other in order to generate this excitement. Now, it's not like the MCU is starting from scratch, but the engine really needs to be restarted and the momentum needs to go in a new direction. So, expectations will continue to be very high, but we should be comparing those future movies against some of Marvel's other offerings... not against Endgame.

After Endgame, it was basically a three way fight for second place among the week's newest movies. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have predicted The Intruder to come out on top, but with disappointing openings from the Seth Rogen/ Charlize Theron comedy Long Shot, as well as the new animated feature UglyDolls, that second place was wide open for the taking. I'm not sure we'll really learn anything from this Long Shot result. The comedy romance is a bit of a departure from what we're used to from both lead actors. As such, we'll probably see both return toward what's comfortable, and given this will likely do well streaming and probably didn't cost that much to make, it's kind of a net neutral. As for UglyDolls, it was relatively cheap to make for an animated movie ($45M), but it's going to be a long road to get to profitability here. Consequently, we may see STX hold off on any animated features in the near future.

Finally, quick shoutouts are in order to both Little and Breakthrough, which just keep rolling. Both films are clearly filling voids in what's being offered right now, and we'll likely continue to see productions like these pop up in order to fill those gaps. Not everyone wants to see the same stuff, and the wider variety as an audience we can get, the healthier the movie industry will be.

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.

Ben Affleck Was Amused By Zack Snyder's Response To His Batman Exit

Ben Affleck Was Amused By Zack Snyder's Response To His Batman Exit

After a cloud of uncertainty hung over the DCEU’s The Batman for years, Ben Affleck finally confirmed his departure from the role last month. The Matt Reeves project now moves forward with an official release date: June 25, 2021. Following the news, Zack Snyder posted a heartfelt goodbye to Affleck’s Batman with these words:

There was a time above.. A time before… there were perfect things… diamond absolutes. But things fall.. Things on earth. And what falls… is fallen. In the dream, it took me to the light. A beautiful lie, Best Batman ever. Thank you my friend for blessing me with that fucking glorious chin and an amazing heart.

How poetic! Ben Affleck was recently asked for a reaction to the Zack Snyder quote -- specifically the part about his chin -- while he was doing press for action drama Triple Frontier alongside co-star Oscar Isaac. Here’s what they said to Associated Press:

Ben Affleck: Zack's a funny guy, what can I say? [laughs]

Oscar Isaac: He's got a good chin too, doesn't he?

Ben Affleck: He does have a very nice chin! He shouldn't sell himself short.

You get a glorious chin and you get a glorious chin! Ben Affleck was tickled by Zack Snyder’s love letter to the actor’s superhero role, and Oscar Isaac also weighed in, observing the DCEU filmmaker’s also chiseled chin. I’d like to think Isaac is subtly campaigning to take over the role of Bruce Wayne by contributing to the flattery… he was rumored to be considered for a Batman role.

Ben Affleck and Zack Snyder worked closely together to bring a new Batman back to screen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad and Justice League. After some initial backlash to Affleck’s casting, many fans embraced the actor as the Dark Knight, though some still voiced other issues with the direction of the DCEU.

After the overall negative reception to 2017’s Justice League, plans to continue making movies about the interconnected stories of the superhero team seemed to shift. That shift came just as Ben Affleck’s original plans to direct, produce, and star in a standalone Batman movie fell apart. Now War for the Planet of the Apes’ writer/director Matt Reeves is directing and writing The Batman script, and he's looking for a new star.

As the DCEU moves forward, the focus is on standalone origin stories and less on Zack Snyder’s vision -- with Shazam!, Joker and Birds of Prey on the way. Matt Reeves’ The Batman is said to be a "noir" Batman tale that will have the hero using his detective skills and featuring a Rogue’s Gallery of villains, though a new Bruce Wayne has not yet been cast.

Ben Affleck stars next in Netflix’s Triple Frontier, coming to the streaming service on March 13. The movie is about five former Special Forces operatives who reunite to plan a heist in South America; it also stars Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal.

Toy Story 4: The Late Don Rickles To Still Voice Mr. Potato Head

Toy Story 4: The Late Don Rickles To Still Voice Mr. Potato Head

Disney has always been known for its animated blockbusters, as the behemoth studio continues producing tear inducing adventures for the big screen. There are a number of highly anticipated sequels coming down the pipeline, including Frozen 2 and Toy Story 4. The latter will catch audiences up with Andy's toys, as they continue life under the care of Bonnie. The entire cast is set to reprise their roles, including Annie Potts returning as Bo Peep. But there was a big question regarding the role of Mr. Potato Head, played by the late Don Rickles.

Legendary comic Don Rickles passed away in April of 2017 of kidney failure, and it was a loss felt by his generations of fans and the comedy community. And since he didn't record his dialogue before dying, it was unclear whether or not he would reprise his role in Toy Story 4, of if Disney was going to have to recast. But director Josh Cooley calmed those fears on social media, updating the fandom with:

Now this is exciting. Despite his death, Don Rickles will still be joining the rest of the Toy Story cast for the highly anticipated sequel. Of course, some moviegoers may be wondering how they managed to work the comic into the film.

Josh Cooley's tweet is sure to make the generations of Toy Story fans very happy. Mr. Potato Head has been a scene stealer since the original 1995 classic, and it just wouldn't be the same without Don Rickles' iconic performance as the disgruntled spud. Potato Head adds a level of cynicism to the group dynamic, even if it's sometimes at Woody's expense. What's more, his family unit with Mrs. Potato Head and the claw aliens is always the source of laughs.

Regarding how Don Rickles will be brought back for Toy Story 4, director Josh Cooley didn't offer any specifics. Rickles' name wasn't included in the original cast list, so perhaps Pixar only recently landed on the plan of action to include him as Potato Head. Smart money says the project will use archived footage from the first three films, and therefore allow Rickles' inclusion in the project. Considering this is being done in live-action for Carrie Fisher in Star Wars Episode IX, the animated version of using unused audio seems far more easy.

Toy Story 4 is going to break new ground for the franchise, bringing the iconic group of toys on a road trip with Bonnie's family. This seems to ups the stakes, as it would be easy for one of the group to get left behind. The sequel will also bring back Annie Potts' Bo Peep, who was abandoned by Andy's sister before the events of the threequel. And she's looking decidedly more badass.

The cast has teased big things for Toy Story 4, which will no doubt shatter out hearts just as it did with the last movie. Although it is exciting that Don Rickles' iconic comedy will be present in the upcoming project.

Toy Story 4 will hit theaters on June 21, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

See What Idris Elba Could Look Like As Deadshot In The Suicide Squad

See What Idris Elba Could Look Like As Deadshot In The Suicide Squad

The DC live-action universe is in a fascinating place right now. While things looked bleak after the release of Justice League, Warner Bros. changed its plan of action, and seems to be on the upswing. With less of a focus on serialized storytelling, James Wan's Aquaman was a critical and box office success, and there's plenty of other exciting projects coming down the pipeline. One of them is James Gunn's still developing The Suicide Squad, which will make liberal changes to the titular team and cast.

James Gunn's plans for The Suicide Squad are slowly coming to light, as the story and characters are chosen for the upcoming sequel to David Ayer's original film. While rumored character lists have already started swirling around the internet, one bit of casting has been confirmed: Idris Elba will replace Will Smith as DC's Deadshot. Smith won't be participating in the blockbuster due to conflicts, and fans are eager to see what 46 year-old actor Elba will do with the villain. Now we've got an idea of what he could look like as the man who never misses. Check it out below.

Does anyone else have chills? Idris Elba looked like a hulking force as Deadshot, and this image should get any naysayers a better idea of what the recasting could look like on the silver screen. Elba's star power has been growing for years, and now seems like the perfect time to give him another comic book role in The Suicide Squad.

The above image comes to us from Boss Logic, who regularly renders potential superhero looks for rumored actors. But Idris Elba's role as Deadshot has been confirmed, so his art is especially exciting. If James Gunn keeps Deadshot's costume consistent with the one Will Smith rocked in Suicide Squad, then that might be exactly what Elba could look like in the still developing sequel. And it's awesome.

Suicide Squad adapted Deadshot's costume fairly accurately, although the Batman rogue didn't wear his signature white mask quite as much as comic book fans are accustomed do. This was obviously so director David Ayer could better feature Will Smith. Why book the A-lister if you're going to keep his face covered? As such, it seems logical that James Gunn would use a similar design for his follow up, and might once again opt to keep the character mostly unmasked. When you've got the Sexiest Man Alive, you're going to want to show that Golden Globe winning mug to the audience.

Then again, James Gunn could opt to change Deadshot's appearance in The Suicide Squad, and differentiate his version of the character from Will Smith's. The sequel will reportedly feature returning characters in Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Rick Flag, but reports also indicate that Gunn is going to be adding in some newcomers. The developments for The Suicide Squad have been fascinating, especially as the writer/director has already shown a willingness to recast if the original actors are unavailable.

Regardless, the rendering of Idris Elba as Deadshot is sure to excite both comic book enthusiasts and casual moviegoers. Elba's career has been on a serious trajectory, and he's got experience in the superhero genre as well. Before we get to see him suit up as the DC villain, he'll be the big bad Hobbs & Shaw. So while he's shut down rumors of replacing Daniel Craig as James Bond, the action genre is one that Elba clearly feelings comfortable in.

Suicide Squad's performance was fascinating, as it had both highs and lows once arriving in theaters. While David Ayer's blockbuster made a good bit of money at the box office, it was a critical failure that failed to really resonate with audiences. But that didn't stop the blockbuster from picking up an Oscar along the way, and starting a franchise and spinoff in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).

Will Smith's Deadshot was one of the strongest aspects of Suicide Squad, as he and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn helped to carry the somewhat disjointed blockbuster. Deadshot's fixation and hatred of Batman was fleshed out, as was his undying love for his daughter. The character was arguably the most nuanced member of the Squad, as Smith balanced a love for killing and villainy with a family focused story. Idris Elba has some big shoes to fill, but the actor luckily got the following and star power to hopefully set him up for success.

Idris Elba has had his own long tenure in the superhero genre, thanks to his role as Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Elba played the powerful Asgardian in all three Thor movies, in addition to making brief appearances in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Infinity War.

Unfortunately, Idris Elba was never given quite enough material to showcase his talents during the Thor trilogy. This is a symptom of the franchise, which has put most of its focus on the title character and Loki. Shazam! star Zachary Levi has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with playing Fandral in the last two Thor movies, because the Warrior's Three never got to be properly fleshed out. The same can arguably be said for Heimdall, who mostly served as a tertiary presence as the keeper of the Bifrost.

Heimdall was tragically killed off during the opening moments of Avengers: Infinity War. After Thanos laid siege to the Asgardian ships from Thor: Ragnarok, Heimdall summoned the last of his powers to teleport Hulk back to Earth. His last action was a heroic one, and Thanos made him pay by taking his life. Heimdall and Loki's murders were the primary motivation for Thor to get revenge on the Mad Titan. Although he probably should have aimed for the head.

Now that Heimdall's story has been wrapped up, it frees Idris Elba to hop over to DC and get a starring role in The Suicide Squad. The combination between Elba and James Gunn is enough to get most comic book fans extremely excited.

The Suicide Squad is currently set to arrive in theaters on August 6th, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Mckenna Grace Had A Scary Set Experience Making Annabelle Comes Home

Mckenna Grace Had A Scary Set Experience Making Annabelle Comes Home

For audience members sitting in a darkened theater, the right horror film can truly scare you and have you squirming in your seat, watching the screen through your fingers. But does that scariness extend to the making of the film itself? It seems it can, and did for Annabelle Comes Home star Mckenna Grace, who had a scary set experience making the Conjuring Universe film, as she explained:

I’ve done about three scared scenes so far, and I haven’t been too scared in those, but I do have a scary story. On one of the first days, I came and looked at the house that they built, on set. We were doing our rehearsal and my nose was pouring blood, all of a sudden. The lights were off because they had to re-set something, and I was like, “There’s blood!” And then, as soon as I stepped outside to go to the restroom to get a tissue, it stopped. It was creepy. But then we had the set blessing, so everything is good now.

Well, that’s disconcerting. The 12-year-old actress who plays the Warren’s daughter Judy in the film hasn’t been frightened by the actual scary scenes she’s filmed, where she is required to act scared, but she still experienced a creepy moment on set. As she told reporters during a set visit attended by CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg while on the set of the Warren home, which is filled with haunted objects, her nose started bleeding profusely.

She seemingly didn’t even know it was her blood at first because the lights were off. Then as she left to get a tissue and got outside of the set’s radius of supernatural effect, the bleeding stopped. A coincidence perhaps, but one that could definitely freak someone out, especially a young actress on one of her first days on a big horror film.

Also, I imagine that hearing Mckenna Grace, a child actor, scream out “There’s blood!” provided a different kind of fright for those on the set within earshot and must have given a few people mild heart attacks. Fortunately, they had the set blessing and there was no more blood. There were still some weird occurrences though. Elaborating on some of her other Annabelle Comes Home filming experiences, Mckenna Grace said:

Yes! There was this statue thing. It had its eyes closed, but to me, it looked like they were open. I was like, “Oh, that’s fun!” It was creepy. And then, one day, our trailer lights were just out, at the end of the day. None of the other trailer lights were off. There were two trailers, and the other one wasn’t off. It was so weird. They wouldn’t turn on and off, so they had to go re-set stuff. After they re-set it, they were like, “Everything is perfect. Why isn’t it turning on?” It just wouldn’t turn on. It took them 15 minutes to figure it out. It was crazy!

It’s fascinating how everyday occurrences can take on a poltergeist-like, supernatural quality when they happen in the right context. That was the case here, where the actual stuff that is supposed to be scary in the film is just cool, but it creates an environment where what in most other contexts would be a frustrating technical malfunction, here becomes something quite strange.

It even sounds like a scene out of a horror movie where the hey keep trying to flick the trailer lights on and they won’t come on, but when they do, you get a killer jump scare with a creepy doll or something. Fortunately, these were just weird occurrences and Mckenna Grace seems to have taken them all in stride. I suppose we should expect nothing less from the actress who played young Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel.

Annabelle Comes Home sees the Warrens bringing the possessed Annabelle doll into their home and locking it in the artifacts room where it can hopefully do no more harm. But that move proves to be like lighting a match near barrels of gunpowder, as Annabelle awakens the room's evil spirits, which then go after the Warren's daughter Judy and her friends. The trailer for Annabelle Comes Home debuted recently and it really is a homecoming, with the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.

Annabelle Comes Home to the Warren’s and theaters on June 28. Check out our 2019 release schedule to see this and all the other movies you can look forward to this year, and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest movie news.

The Final Avengers: Endgame Trailer Was Watched An Insane Amount Of Times

The Final Avengers: Endgame Trailer Was Watched An Insane Amount Of Times

Well, this is it, folks. The long-running saga that has been the MCU for over a decade now is about to wrap up all the major threads (so far) when Avengers: Endgame finally hits theaters on April 26. So, when Disney actually saw fit, last week, to release a new (and final) trailer for the upcoming epic, you can probably imagine that it drove fans wild. It drove them so wild, in fact, that fans were obliged to watch that trailer many, many times. How many times, you ask? Why, only 268 million times in 24 hours. That's all.

When things got rolling with Iron Man in 2008, we had no idea where we'd be several years later, and we certainly had no idea how highly anticipated the film that was once (and for a long time) only known as Avengers 4 would come to be. That all changed, however, when Avengers: Infinity War was released and we realized that many of the heroes we'd spent so many years watching were either going to go into Endgame as big fat losers or as...big piles of dust. The desire to see and hear anything possible from the actual footage of Endgame has been building for almost a full year, but we've been treated to a lot of misdirects, out right lies and tons of secrecy when it comes to how the story of The Decimation will be resolved. Thus, the crazy response to the final Endgame trailer.

Here's a thank you to the fans that was posted on the official Avengers Twitter feed:

Now, it's not unusual for trailers (usually the first trailer) from big budget blockbuster extravaganzas to hit views of many several million, mostly because they tend to be based on properties that have built in audiences (like comic books) who are eager to see some of our biggest stars take on something they've loved for many years. But, even knowing that...268 million views in only 24 hours is kinda insane. That's actually 56 million more views than the number of people in the entire United States as of the 2017 census. I mean, wow.

Someone has certainly overachieved when it comes to watching the last Avengers: Endgame trailer, right? Actually, I have no doubt that hundreds of someones watched this trailer many times in an effort to parse out all the relevant information that could be found in the, mostly new, footage contained within. The trailer was released last Thursday, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people suddenly got "too sick" to go to work that day and just spent all their newly allowed free time lazing around in bed and revisiting the awesomeness that was Avengers: Endgame.

Of course, now the question is whether or not we'll get more new footage before the film releases at the end of next month. Most fans at least seem to agree that no more full length trailers are required at this point, especially if Marvel wants to continue to keep as many secrets of the film away from us as possible. And, there's also the fact that many of us now just want to see the damn movie, and can't bear any more teases, rumors, suppositions and the like.

Well, I'm sure everyone who was on board with the super secretive, and long-standing, marketing plan that's driven the publicity behind Avengers: Endgame is officially breathing a sigh of relief that all the withholding worked to help drive up anticipation for the film. Those opening night crowds are going to be ridiculous. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something I need to watch about 50 more times before April 26.