I saw Avengers: Endgame yesterday, like the rest of the planet. Am I a comic book fan? No. But I had such severe FOMO that I was compelled to go see it.

I had to watch its predecessor, Avengers: Infinity War to quickly catch up with the story line. That done, hubby and I popped off to the IMAX in CradleStone Mall – because how else are you going to watch Avengers Endgame if not on a gigantic screen with surround sound, hey? He is the one who watches more comic book movies and TV series, but I wound up answering his questions about “Who is that character again?”

I am not going to risk “life and limb” by doing an actual review of the movie because … did you see that Facebook story about the guy in Hong Kong who was beaten up because he shouted out spoilers to a line of waiting patrons who were about to see the movie. Instead, here are some interesting facts and figures about the box office takings thus far in South, East and West Africa, for Avengers Endgame.

Marvel Studios film opens to become the biggest weekend of all time in South, East and West Africa

Audiences across Africa assembled in cinemas this past weekend (April 26-28) to witness the next stage in the historic cinematic journey, eleven years and twenty-two films in the making, delivering Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame not only to the top of the box office, but also into the record books.

The latest film release from the Marvel Cinematic Universe took in over R34 million at the South African Box Office, with over 377 000 attendances for its opening weekend, including Thursday night previews. This debut ranks as the biggest industry opening weekend ever in South African Box Office history, beating out previous record holder, and its predecessor, 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War.

Friday 26 April also saw Avengers: Endgame take in over R9.2 million with over 100 000 attendances, the biggest industry opening day ever at the local box office, toppling the prior holder of the title, again Avengers: Infinity War, which opened on the April 27^th public holiday last year. Furthermore, the film’s Saturday takings totalled more than R11.8 million, making it the biggest single day at the local box office and the first to pass the R11 million in one day.

In addition to the biggest opening weekend of all time, Avengers: Endgame passed a number of other milestones, including the biggest ever opening weekend of any Super Hero, Marvel Studios and Disney film, and it has become the fastest film to hit the R30 million mark in South Africa.

Elsewhere on the continent, Avengers: Endgame achieved the biggest opening weekend of all time in West Africa with over N214.4 million and in East Africa with over KES (Kenyan Shillings)33 million (both including previews). In both regions, Avengers: Endgame had the highest opening day (Friday 26 April), the highest industry single day (Saturday 27 April), as well as the biggest opening for a Super Hero and Marvel Studios film ever.

These records showcase the extraordinary support the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to garner from fans across the continent, following last year’s historic runs of both Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War and Black Panther, with the latter becoming the number 1 film of all time in South, East and West Africa.

Also in cinemas, Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel continues its run, following it’s 4-week stay at the top of the South African Box Office in March.

Both Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel are now in cinemas.

About the Film:

The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, Avengers: Endgame. Kevin Feige produces Avengers: Endgame, and Anthony and Joe Russo are the directors. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, Jon Favreau and Stan Lee are the executive producers, and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay.

Enjoy! And as promised, no spoilers!