Apr 25, 2019

"Avengers: Endgame" is set to smash box office records around the globe

Axios

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame” opens Thursday night on 4,600 U.S. and Canadian screens — the most for any movie ever, AP's Jake Coyle writes.

The impact: Many theaters will stay open for 24 hours. Seventeen AMC Theatres won’t close for 72 hours straight. Presales set records on Fandango and Atom.

Buzz: Disney said "Endgame" grossed $107 million on Wednesday in China, where it first opened — the most lucrative single day ever in Chinese theaters.

  • The current opening weekend record is held by the last "Avengers" movie — "Infinity War," last year's prelude to "Endgame."
  • Reviews — 97% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes — have been among the best for any Marvel movie.

The big picture: "Endgame" will give a much-needed jolt to the box office, which is 16% behind the pace of 2018.

  • L.A. Times review: Thrilling "Endgame" ... The latest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings satisfying closure to the blockbuster 22-film series.

Go deeper: "Black Panther" makes history at the box office

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Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 11 a.m. ET: 883,225 — Total deaths: 44,156 — Total recoveries: 185,377 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 11 a.m. ET: 189,753 — Total deaths: 4,090 — Total recoveries: 7,141 — Map.
  3. Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index: It's "a tale of two Americas" as the rich are more likely to work from home and the poor are more likely to report to work.
  4. Federal government latest: President Trump said the next two weeks would be "very painful," with projections indicating the virus could kill 100,000–240,000 Americans.
  5. State updates: Washington and California appear to have slowed their surges of new cases — Florida cases have been doubling the past four days, approaching 7,000.
  6. NYPD: Over 1,400 of its employees have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
  7. What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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