Avengers Endgame Encore review: How the re-release sets the stage for Doomsday
By Katemarthason Okudo, September 20, 2026Avengers: Endgame Encore is a 2026 superhero, action, and science-fiction re-release of Avengers: Endgame, bringing the Marvel story back to cinemas with new footage connected to Avengers: Doomsday. The film returns on September 25, 2026, more than seven years after the original Endgame was released.
For anyone who missed the original film, the story follows the surviving Avengers after Thanos uses the Infinity Stones to wipe out half of all life in the universe. Tony Stark/Iron Man, Steve Rogers/Captain America, Thor, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Bruce Banner/Hulk, Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and the other surviving heroes must find a way to undo what happened.
The Encore version keeps that story intact but adds new material designed to connect the events of Endgame with the next Avengers film, Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled for December 2026.
The story remains the same
The main story begins after Thanos has succeeded in his plan. The surviving heroes are left dealing with the loss of their families, friends, and fellow Avengers. Steve Rogers continues trying to help people affected by the disaster, while Tony Stark has stepped away from the fight and started a family with Pepper Potts.
When the Avengers discover a possible way to reverse Thanos’ actions, they reunite and attempt a dangerous plan involving time travel. Their mission takes them back to important moments from the earlier Marvel films as they try to collect the Infinity Stones before Thanos can use them.
The plan eventually leads to a huge battle in which the Avengers and their allies face Thanos and his army.
Tony, Steve, and the other heroes
At the centre of the story is Tony Stark, whose journey has been building since the first Iron Man film.
Tony begins Endgame as someone who has lost hope in returning to the fight. However, he eventually joins the Avengers because he wants to bring back the people who disappeared.
Steve Rogers, meanwhile, remains focused on completing the mission even when the odds are against them. Thor is dealing with his own failure after not stopping Thanos earlier, while Natasha is determined to find a way to bring their lost friends back.
These personal struggles are what make the large battles feel connected to the characters rather than simply being action scenes.
What Encore adds
The biggest difference in Avengers: Endgame Encore is the additional material.
The re-release has a new opening and new footage connected to Avengers: Doomsday. The theatrical version runs longer than the original 181-minute film, although the amount of new material depends on the format.
The exact details of the new story material have been kept limited, which means viewers will need to see the film themselves to understand how Marvel has connected the two stories.
Is it worth watching again?
For someone watching Endgame for the first time, the story still works as the conclusion to the Infinity Saga. The emotional moments, time-travel mission, and final battle remain the main reason the film has stayed important to Marvel fans.
For viewers who already watched the 2019 version, the decision is different.
The main story has not been replaced. Instead, Encore adds a small amount of material to prepare audiences for Avengers: Doomsday. The new scenes therefore matter more to viewers following the larger Marvel storyline than to someone simply looking for a different version of Endgame.
The film’s return also gives audiences a chance to experience major moments such as the Avengers’ final battle on the big screen again.
With Avengers: Doomsday arriving in December, the Encore release gives Marvel fans another opportunity to revisit the characters, the losses, and the choices that shaped the Avengers before the next chapter begins.