With Avengers: Doomsday set to hit theaters on December 18, early industry chatter is split on whether the film can recapture the box office magic of its billion-dollar predecessors.
Variety: A “Safe Bet” With Star Power
In their 2026 box office preview, Variety labels Avengers: Doomsday a “safe bet” – not a “sure thing” – thanks to the high-wattage return of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, alongside fan-favorites and newcomers from the X-Men and Fantastic Four.
The outlet describes the film as a “true ‘the gang’s all here’ extravaganza,” and suggests that the long absence of the Avengers brand—six years since Endgame (nearly $2.8 billion)—will stir fan nostalgia and make this a major theatrical event.
Still, Variety warns of superhero fatigue, noting that Marvel’s recent outings like Thunderbolts, Captain America: Brave New World, and Fantastic Four: First Steps have underperformed.
While the movie has all the ingredients for a hit, the question remains whether audiences are still hungry for Marvel’s brand of spectacle.
Puck News: “Won’t Be Number One”
Over at Puck News, the tone is more skeptical.
Industry insiders there suggest that Doomsday won’t be the top-grossing film of 2026, despite the studio’s massive investment in bringing back Downey and Evans.
The piece argues that Marvel’s golden era is over and that the past several years of inconsistent storytelling have shrunk the MCU’s cultural footprint.
“This is a nostalgia play,” Puck writes bluntly, adding that Disney’s marketing is banking hard on emotional callbacks and fan service.
While the film may still clear $1.25 to $1.5 billion globally, Puck doesn’t see it breaking any records—especially with strong competition expected from titles like Toy Story 5 and Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The Verdict: Event Movie or Just Another Comeback?
Despite mixed signals, Avengers: Doomsday remains one of the most anticipated films of the year.
The return of Downey Jr. and Evans alone guarantees massive attention, and if early trailers and word-of-mouth land right, the movie could still explode at the box office.
But one thing is clear: Doomsday isn’t just fighting Kang or Galactus—it’s battling audience apathy and fatigue of Kevin Feige’s post-Endgame approach that destroyed the brand.
