‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ returns to No 1 at box office

Seven years after its original theatrical run, “Avengers: Endgame” has returned to the top of the North American box office.

“Avengers: Endgame Encore” earned $11.2 million from 3,060 screens on Friday, putting the Marvel re-release in first place. Industry estimates project a weekend haul of about $26 million.

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Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, the 2019 blockbuster is back in cinemas ahead of “Avengers: Doomsday”, which is scheduled for release on December 18. The re-release adds new material connected to the upcoming Marvel film.

“Avengers: Endgame” originally grossed $2.799 billion worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film in history at the time. “Avatar” remains ahead with about $2.9 billion worldwide.

A24’s “Primetime” opened in second place on Friday, taking $8.49 million from 2,874 locations. The drama-thriller, starring Robert Pattinson as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen, is projected to earn around $20.5 million over the weekend.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month and has generated positive early reviews. Hansen, however, has criticised the portrayal, describing it as “so bizarre and so in-and-out of reality” and “detached from reality.”

Brad Pitt’s “The Heart of the Beast” opened in third place with an estimated $7.45 million from 3,435 locations. Directed by David Ayer, the Paramount adventure follows a retired veteran and his combat dog as they attempt to survive a 58-mile journey through the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. The film is expected to finish its opening weekend near $20 million.

“Resident Evil” fell to fourth place with $6.9 million from 3,684 locations. Zach Cregger’s adaptation of the Capcom video game series stars Austin Abrams as a medical courier caught in a zombie outbreak while making a delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital.

The horror film opened to a franchise-best $61 million last weekend and is projected to add about $23.5 million in its second weekend.

DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” rounded out the top five, earning $4.38 million from 3,548 screens. The animated adventure is projected to reach about $11.5 million by the end of the weekend.

Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the film follows two friends who “stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families”.

“When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.”

H.E.R., Dave Franco, Lea Salonga and Jenny Slate are among the voice cast.