Marvel and DC have been locked in a rivalry for decades, but it's rare to see one studio's biggest blockbuster of the year get humbled before it even hits theaters. After a rough patch for superhero movies, audiences have become more selective about what they'll spend money on. Yet the combination of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven irresistible.
According to Comic Basics, Avengers: Doomsday has already pulled in more than $125 million in worldwide advance ticket sales, with about six weeks still to go before its December 18 release. That puts it within striking distance of the entire theatrical gross of DC Studios' Supergirl, which starred Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El and wrapped its run with $126.4 million worldwide. In other words, the Marvel juggernaut has generated nearly as much in presales as the DC film made over its whole time in theaters.
It's a jaw-dropping stat, though the numbers aren't directly comparable—presales are just one slice of the pie. Still, third-party tracking suggests this will be the biggest movie of the year, and it's hard to argue with that logic.
Record-Breaking Demand
The hype for Doomsday has been building for months. Premium format tickets (though notably not IMAX) went on sale in July and raked in $16.5 million in the first 24 hours. By October 6, worldwide presales had reportedly crossed $100 million, and the momentum has only grown since.
The star-studded cast includes Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards. The film also brings back X-Men favorites, including the late Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier, Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, and Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler. The Russo brothers are back in the director's chairs.
For fans of the X-Men, Alan Cumming has described the film as 'superhero soup', which might be the perfect way to sum up this massive crossover. And with Doctor Doom stealing the spotlight in new posters, the anticipation is only climbing.
While Supergirl struggled to find its audience, Doomsday is shaping up to be a box office phenomenon. The presales alone are a testament to the enduring power of the MCU, even after a few rocky years. Whether it can sustain that momentum through its opening weekend remains to be seen, but all signs point to a massive debut.
