By It’s been more than seven years since Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” debuted in theaters and (Hulk-) smashed box office numbers, becoming one of the top grossing films of all time.
Now, the film is slated to hit theaters once again on Sept. 25. This time around, it’s got an estimated four minutes added to the original runtime.
The movie —which united the MCU’s original Avengers Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye against supervillain warlord Thanos — marked the conclusion of the first decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So why is it back on the big screen with a smidge of extra footage?
The film’s directors, Anthony and Joe Russo, have described the re-release as “required viewing,” setting up viewers for the future of the “Avengers” franchise.
When and Where Is ‘Avengers Endgame: Encore’ Being Released?
The film — which stars Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and several other big names — will hit theaters once again on Friday, Sept. 25 under the name “Avengers Endgame: Encore.”
Much like when it was first released, the movie will be offered on standard laser projection and IMAX. It will also be shown on Infinity Vision, a Disney-specific certification badge for premium large format theaters.
Those who catch the movie on IMAX and Infinity Vision will be able to watch an additional sneak peek of the much-awaited next film in the “Avengers” franchise, “Avengers: Doomsday,” which comes out on Dec. 18.
Why Is ‘Avengers Endgame’ Being Re-Released?
The Russo brothers, who directed “Endgame,” have said that this re-released version is necessary to watch ahead of “Doomsday,” of which they are also at the helm.
In an interview with Fandango, Joe Russo explained that the re-release, with its added footage, is the connective tissue that links the previous “Avengers” films to the next chapter — one that will usher in the arrival of new supervillain Doctor Doom, also played by Downey Jr.
“There’s a natural progression from ‘Endgame’ into ‘Doomsday’ which is also inclusive of all the other stories that have been playing out,” Joe Russo told Fandango during an interview at San Diego Comic-Con in July.
Of course, fans will also be able to relive all the shocking twists packed in “Endgame” as well, Joe Russo added.
Anthony Russo also explained that the extra few minutes are expected to include some pretty pivotal moments.
“If you saw ‘Endgame’ when it was originally released, you couldn’t see this coming,” he told Fandango.
What Makes This Re-Release Necessary For The Upcoming MCU Storylines?
The original release of “Endgame” was followed by the introduction of villain Kang the Conquerer in 2021’s television series “Loki.” And he’s a villain that Marvel has since abandoned.
Kang, played by Jonathan Majors, was a time traveler who discovered the existence of the Multiverse, seeking to conquer and rule over them all.
The villain was once poised to succeed Thanos as the new Big Bad of the MCU, with Marvel diving into multiverse plotlines and even going so far as announcing in 2022 that film “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.” would be the successor to “Endgame.” At the time, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige had even told fans that the film would hit theaters in May 2025.
Majors appeared in a number of Marvel productions including “Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” However, he was dropped by the studio after he was convicted by a New York City jury of misdemeanor assault and harassment in 2023.
Majors sent a letter to Feige following his termination. In a 2025 interview with Variety, Majors told the outlet that his letter to the Marvel Studios chief included his appreciation for the role.
“I loved my time at Marvel, and I still love Kang,” Majors said, later telling the outlet that he is “not upset at all.” “I’m watching them. I see what they’re doing and I’m pulling for them. If they need me, they know where I’m at.”
Meanwhile, the MCU pursued a different villain, bringing back Downey Jr., the beloved actor behind Tony Stark/Iron Man, to fulfill the role of Doctor Doom. Feige has said that the decision to pivot came before Majors’ controversy.
“We had started even before what had happened to the actor happened,” Feige said during a 2025 roundtable interview with press. “We had started to realize that Kang wasn’t big enough, wasn’t Thanos, and that there was only one character that could be that, because he was that in the comics for decades and decades.”
