‘Avengers: Doomsday’ crosses USD 125 million in presales; ‘Dune: Part Three’ lags behind amid impending box office clash

Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has reportedly crossed the USD 125 million mark in advance ticket sales months before its theatrical release. This has reportedly set a new benchmark for presales, and has reportedly put the upcoming superhero blockbuster well ahead of ‘Dune: Part Three’ in early sales projections.The latest figures mark a significant boost in box office numbers from the USD 100 million milestone it hit early this month, as reported Global Box Office. The latest development comes shortly after Marvel released a new trailer for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, featuring Chris Hemsworth’s Thor warning the assembled superheroes about the threat posed by Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom. “Doom will tear this world apart… team up, stand together,” Thor says in the trailer, which has further fuelled anticipation for the film.‘Avengers: Doomsday’ presales surge ahead of releaseThe film’s advance ticket sales began unusually early, with premium-format tickets going on sale on July 20. The early start has given the film a substantial lead over films that began selling tickets closer to their release dates.Global Box Office has projected a domestic opening weekend estimated between USD 300 million and a potential USD 400 million opening.‘Avengers: Doomsday’ vs ‘Dune: Part Three’: A ‘Dunesday’ box office battleWith both ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Dune: Part Three’ scheduled to open on December 18, the clash dubbed ‘Dunesday’ has already tipped the scales in 'Avengers' favour. Early tracking estimates suggest that ‘Doomsday’ could deliver an opening weekend approximately three to four times bigger than that of ‘Dune: Part Three’.Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part Three’ has also generated strong demand for premium-format screenings, with the film beating 'The Odyssey' to now hold the record for the highest first-day presales record at London’s BFI IMAX.IMAX dispute adds another dimension to the box office clashWhile 'Dune' has blocked all IMAX screens, 'Doomsday' has taken over Infinity Vision and other premium large-format screens. Despite the lack of an IMAX release box office reports indicate that the film could still become a billion-dollar global hit, much like ‘Barbie’, which crossed the USD 1 billion mark worldwide without an IMAX release, beating even 'Oppenheimer' at the box office.‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is, however, set to receive an IMAX release in China on December 16, two days before its scheduled US theatrical debut. Meanwhile, ‘Dune: Part Three’ has reportedly moved its China release to December 31.‘Dunesday’ runtimesThe currently reported runtimes for ‘Dune: Part Three’ are said to be an estimated 2 hours and 30 minutes, while ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is a tad longer, with a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!