Avengers: Endgame Ushers in New Era of Storytelling: Shared Viewing Experience and Global Box Office Records

Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame raked in $1.2 Billion in its opening weekend, the biggest opening of any film ever.

“Avengers: Endgame” brought in $1.2 billion its opening weekend at the worldwide box office, breaking prior Marvel Studio records set by “Avengers: Infinity War” at $640 million last year. “Avengers: Endgame” has become the only film in history to debut at the $1 billion mark, achieving this milestone in just five days as the film rolled out last week on Wednesday.

Domestically too, the film shattered records, besting the prior $258 million mark reached by “Avengers: Infinity War” with an estimated $350 million this past weekend, even surpassing analyst estimates. The film opened astronomically with $60 million on its first night domestically, besting “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at $57 million in 2015.

Fans arrive for a costume contest before the first screening of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Photo by Frederic J. Brown, Agence France-Press/Getty Images

The film’s global earnings also exceeded by large measure, the prior record held by "The Fate of the Furious” in 2017. Of the $859 million earned globally, the last film in the Avengers series was very popular in China where the film made $330.5 million, becoming the most popular debut in China’s history.

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Photo by Chris Pizzello, AP

A New Era in Storytelling: Worldwide Platform and Shared Viewing Experience

“Avengers: Endgame” has become a worldwide cinematic event where movie theaters are rushing to add showtimes to keep up with audience demand as seats quickly sell out, with some theaters showing the film round the clock 24 hours a day. With a run time of more than three hours, “Endgame,” is showing nationwide at all hours to meet demand. Moviegoers are eager for the full cinematic experience, which includes premium 3-D IMAX tickets and AMX food and beverage, leading to the highest sales in history. “Endgame,” is playing in more than 4,600 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, which is the widest release of any film, according to box-office data firm Comscore.

“We’re watching a monumental moment in the history of cinema unfold - one that the entire world is experiencing together.”

— Shawn Robbins, Chief analyst at Boxoffice.com

Today moviegoers worldwide can enjoy almost simultaneous film releases, creating a global storytelling phenomenon. “Avengers: Endgame” is the last film in a series of popular films that are intricately woven with individual films throughout the Marvel universe, amounting to a total of 22 interconnected films.

“The pent-up factor, off the ending of ‘Infinity War’ and on the heels of ‘Captain Marvel,’ drove people to show up.”

— Cathleen Taff, Disney’s head of distribution

Over the last 11 years, Marvel has reigned at the box office, beginning with “Iron Man” in 2008. With so many interconnected story lines and characters appearing across films, Marvel has become a household name, along with its line up of eclectic superheroes ranging from Thor to Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel. Marvel’s remarkable continued success has also triggered competing studios to look for their own franchise wonders. Marvel’s slew of comic book heroes has also revitalized the exhibition industry and made American comic books a worldwide global export.

Image via WSJ and data from Boxoffice Mojo

“Though ‘Endgame’ is far from an end for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, these first 22 films constitute a sprawling achievement, and this weekend’s monumental success is a testament to the world they’ve envisioned.”

— Alan Horn, Walt Disney Studios' chairman

Creating films based on its founder Stan Lee’s comics, Marvel Studios has made almost $20 billion at the worldwide box office over the last 10 years. Few movies are so popular with moviegoers and also with critics. “Endgame” has a 96% score on review site, Rotten Tomatoes and an A+ CinemaScore.

Marvel’s excellent marketing of the most recent Avengers movie builds upon its prior successes. The launch of Disney’s new online video streaming platform, Disney+ could not be more fortuitous or well planned. Moviegoers can enjoy watching blockbuster hits from Marvel, along with its other popular franchises such as Star Wars, Pixars and its own range of Disney popular favorites and classics on both the small screen now, as well as large IMAX screens.

“This will extend to the small screen as well with Disney + on the horizon. We will likely see a lot of synergy between the big and small screen.”

— Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst at Comscore

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Wing, Google's Drone Delivery Company, First to Get FAA Approval

Alphabet offshoot is the first drone company approved as an airline by the FAA, clearing the path for drone commerce.

Wing has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clearance and the same certification that smaller airlines receive, enabling the drone company to now offer regular deliveries of consumer items in Virginia. Google’s achievement comes ahead of expected drone delivery service by Amazon, and is a huge step forward for drone commerce. It opens the doors to Google providing direct delivery service to customers.

“It’s an exciting moment for us to have earned the FAA’s approval to actually run a business with our technology. ”

— James Ryan Burgess, CEO at Wing, in an interview

While drone regulations today do not allow flights over urban areas and crowds for safety, the FAA approval now allows Wing to delivery consumer goods in two areas in Virginia, with permission to expand to other regions. Wing has secured drone delivery approval in Finland and Canberra, Australia as well. Wing is the first company that meets FAA requirements for traditional charter airlines and smaller air cargo aircraft.

A Wing delivery drone sits on a charging pad in Blacksburg, Virginia. Photo credit: AP

To achieve the certification, Wing had to create a lot of documentation for processes, safety and training similar to an air carrier. To receive permission, a company has to be owned by American citizens for safety under requirements by the Department of Transportation. The application took several months and has deterred other drone companies due to its extensive, rigorous requirements. However, Wing’s application should make other drone company approval easier. Deliveries are expected to start in a few months. Currently, images and videos used for navigation are not archived and given concerns about noise and privacy from prior testing.

Current drone operation requirements issued in 2016 limit deliveries beyond the eyesight of a ground operator. Automated flights over longer distances are prohibited as well as accepting payment. To charge for services and to operate over a longer range, Wing had to become a full air carrier.

The local community has been excited about the new venture.

“Our community is very excited to be the birthplace of drone delivery in the United States.”

— Craig Meadows, Montgomery County Administrator

While Amazon’s Prime Air would speed up deliveries for its Prime members nationwide, Wing will sell products from local merchants mostly and is currently looking for local partners in Virginia. Currently, Wing has done research at Virginia Tech and is offering deliveries in the Blacksburg and Christiansburg areas of Virginia. The company has also done extensive testing in Australia, where it will be offering deliveries in the Canberra region.

The Wing drone is a hybrid between a helicopter and plane. It can lift off vertically and fly horizontally at a high speed. The drone carries packages underneath and lowers them to people with a tether, while hovering in the air at a safe distance.

Drone technology has rapidly advanced in recent years. Drone technology is faster, cleaner and costs less to transport items. Kyxz Mendiola, an inventor from the Philippines, modified drone technology to launch his own flying car prototype.

“To me, this is like the Wright Brothers. Now it is happening in a place where I was born and raised and where my family has lived for 200 years.”

— Chris Tuck, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors

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Apple Opening Store In Knightsbridge

Apple is opening a new 20,000-square-foot retail store in the center of Knightsbridge, a popular luxury shopping area in London, according to The Evening Standard.

Apple signed a deal with Chelsfield, the property asset manager that is currently renovating The Knightsbridge Estate and securing retail agreements for new stores between Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

The Estate transformation will consist of new world-class retail with six flagship stores, 66,000 square feet of Grade A offices, a rooftop restaurant and 35 rental apartments centered around an internal courtyard garden. A public art installation called "The Knights of Knightsbridge" on the exterior currently hides the construction in process.

Apple already has five retail locations in London, including flagship stores Regent Street and Covent Garden, that reopened at the end of last year after a three-month renovation. The new Knightsbridge location is just a six-minute drive to our office in Kensington.

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