Don't count the Marvel Cinematic Universe out just yet. Despite a mixed reception to the first official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday—and with audiences still buzzing over Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey—the superhero epic is proving it's still one of the most anticipated films of 2026. In a bold move, Disney opened advance ticket sales alongside the trailer drop, well ahead of San Diego Comic-Con, and the results are already impressive.
According to a new report from Variety, Avengers: Doomsday has pulled in more than $16 million in advance ticket sales for its opening day alone. That's a remarkable figure, especially considering the film doesn't hit theaters until December. To put that in perspective, it's already outpaced the preview hauls of recent MCU entries like Captain America: Brave New World and The Marvels. Even more striking, those advance sales were limited to just 1,000 large-format screens, making the number even more significant.
Typically, studios open advance ticket sales for major blockbusters about a month before release. By offering fans the chance to book seats five months early, Disney is signaling confidence in the film's appeal—and perhaps trying to lock in audiences before the buzz from the trailer's record-breaking 503 million views fades. The studio is also facing a unique challenge: Dune: Part Three, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is set to open on the same day, December 18. That film will occupy all IMAX screens for three weeks, leaving Doomsday to rely on other premium formats. To sweeten the deal, Disney is promoting something called "Infinity Vision"—not a new format, but a stamp given to theaters that meet specific technological specs.
The MCU, still the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, has had a rocky few years. Underperformers like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels raised questions about audience fatigue. Even newer team-up movies like Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps struggled commercially. But Doomsday is designed to be a reset button, uniting a sprawling cast of characters—including the return of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, whose characters were retired in Avengers: Endgame.
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be a massive event. The trailer teased a story that adapts the "Time Runs Out" comic arc, which fans have called one of the most devastating Marvel stories ever. For those who want to dive deeper into the lore, watching Loki before Doomsday is highly recommended, as the series sets up key multiverse concepts. And if you missed any hidden details, our breakdown of six comic book Easter eggs will help you catch up.
The film's advance sales success is a strong indicator that fans are ready to rally behind the MCU again. While the road ahead includes competition from Dune: Part Three and the challenge of winning over skeptical audiences, the $16 million haul suggests that the Avengers still have plenty of box office firepower. Avengers: Doomsday opens worldwide on December 18. Before that, Marvel fans can check out Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which swings into theaters on July 31.
