Marvel is re-releasing Avengers: Endgame in theaters next month, because apparently, the 22 times you’ve already seen it on Disney+ just isn’t enough. The new version, dubbed Avengers: Endgame Encore, will feature a couple of minutes of new footage and some special looks at the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. And, according to co-director Joe Russo, it’s “required viewing” before Doomsday hits theaters. Because, you know, the 16 movies and numerous TV shows that Marvel has released since Endgame first debuted in 2019 just aren’t enough to keep the story straight.
Russo explained in an interview with Fandango that seeing Endgame again in theaters is crucial for two reasons: “One, if you want to have a lot of fun cheering and screaming and reliving all the emotions the first time you saw it. Number two, I think it’s required viewing for following the story in Doomsday.” So, if you want to understand the undoubtedly complex and nuanced plot of Doomsday, you’ll need to shell out more money to watch a movie you’ve already seen multiple times. Sounds like a blast.
The Nostalgia Harvest Continues
It’s been seven years since Avengers: Endgame first hit theaters, and Marvel has been working overtime to keep the nostalgia train rolling. With the release of Endgame Encore, the studio is hoping to capitalize on fans’ fond memories of the original film. And, of course, to convince them to see it again in theaters. Because what’s a little double-dipping when it comes to a movie that’s already made billions of dollars? The fact that Endgame is being re-released with a few minutes of new footage and some teasers for Doomsday is just a bonus – a way to make the experience feel fresh and exciting again.
But let’s be real, the real reason Marvel is re-releasing Endgame is to make more money. And who can blame them? The studio has a proven track record of churning out blockbuster after blockbuster, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become a well-oiled machine. The problem is, it’s starting to feel like the MCU is more concerned with setting up future movies than with telling actual stories. With the constant references to upcoming films and the emphasis on “required viewing,” it’s hard not to feel like you’re just being primed for the next big thing, rather than being given a genuine cinematic experience.
The Never-Ending Franchise
Avengers: Endgame Encore hits theaters on September 25, and Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to arrive on December 18. And then, of course, there will be the inevitable sequels, spin-offs, and merchandise opportunities. Because in the world of Hollywood, no franchise is ever truly dead – it’s just waiting to be resurrected and milked for all it’s worth. Somewhere, a Focus Group is earning another bonus for coming up with the brilliant idea to re-release Endgame. And somewhere else, an executive is nodding very seriously in a meeting, convinced that this is the key to unlocking even more box office success.
In the end, it’s hard not to feel a little cynical about the whole thing. Avengers: Endgame was a great movie, but do we really need to see it again in theaters? And do we really need to be told that it’s “required viewing” before Doomsday? It’s starting to feel like Hollywood has mistaken familiarity for originality, and that the only thing that matters is keeping the franchise machine rolling. But hey, at least we’ll always have the memories of watching Endgame for the first time – and the opportunity to relive them, again and again, for years to come.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
