After dominating the zeitgeist for well over a decade, things have been shakier for Marvel in recent years. "Thunderbolts*" was one of the biggest box office flops at the summer 2025 box office, and titles like "Captain America: Brave New World" got dismal reviews from critics. There was a question if audiences would still care about "Avengers: Doomsday" by the time it came out, but based on early box office projections, there should be no worries. Check out Looper's breakdown video above for the full scoop.

"Avenges: Doomsday" is currently tracking to have the biggest opening weekend in history. Tickets recently went on sale, and it's already made over $100 million in domestic pre-sales. In fact, the film could wind up making over $100 million in Thursday preview showings alone, a feat that's never been done before. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" came close with $72 million in domestic Thursday showings, but with "Doomsday" doing better so far already, $100 million isn't out of reach. 

As it stands, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" currently holds the title for biggest domestic opening weekend box office with $360 million ($932 million globally). Seeing how well "Doomsday" is selling now, it's not a stretch to see it beating Spidey's killer year. And with "Brand New Day" crossing $2 billion total as of this writing, "Doomsday" could be a $2 billion-hit, too. Never bet against Marvel. 

Marvel Studios

The overall box office performance of "Avengers: Doomsday" will be reliant on positive word-of-mouth. That'll affect how many hardcore fans go back for repeat showings. If reviews are solid, it could entice people who checked out of Marvel to return to the franchise. But there's something else to keep your eye on during the weekend of December 18. 

"Dune: Part 3" comes out the same day as "Avengers: Doomsday," and fans are already dubbing the phenomenon "Dunesday." It's another big-budget sci-fi spectacle, but it doesn't look like going up against an Avengers movie is hurting its prospects in the slightest. It helps that "Dune: Part 3" has a hold on IMAX screens during that release window, and the sci-fi epic has already earned $10 million in wider pre-sale releases. Some insiders speculate the film could open above $100 million domestically in its opening frame, beating out the $82.5 million opening of "Dune: Part 2."

It doesn't seem like "Dune: Part 3" will take a chunk out of the earnings of "Doomsday," though. But the big winner out of the double feature will be anyone who loves going to cinemas. It's not surprising to hear that theaters have struggled in the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns to regain its footing pre-pandemic. But 2026 has been fruitful with hits like "Spider-Man," "The Odyssey," and "Michael." The one-two punch of "Doomsday" and "Dune" will surely lift those profits even higher and, hopefully, convince casual theatergoers to give smaller films a chance on the big screen. 

When any movie does well, we all win. But if you want more data on how well "Avengers: Doomsday" will perform, don't skip our video, linked above.