Even after 'Avengers: Endgame,' this year's box office is down thanks to a bleak summer full of stale sequels

Marvel Studios

"Avengers: Endgame"

• Even after "Avengers: Endgame," the domestic 2019 box office is still down from last year by 6%, and the worldwide box office is down as well.
• Recent releases haven't helped, as three critically panned sequels this summer have dramatically underperformed compared to their predecessors.
• As "Endgame's" theatrical run slows down, it will likely finish as the second-biggest movie of all time both domestically and globally.
• But Disney has plenty of movies on the way that could give the box office a boost, such as "Toy Story 4" and "The Lion King."
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As "Avengers: Endgame" winds down its theatrical run, one thing is clear: the 2019 box office still has some catching up to do.

"Endgame" will certainly be the biggest movie of the year (unless "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" pulls off a miracle in December), and the box office is still down compared to last year. The 2019 total domestic box office so far is at $4.9 billion, according to data provided by Comscore. It's down 6% compared to the same time in 2018, when it was at $5.2 billion. The domestic box office went on to earn $11.9 billion in 2018, the biggest of all time.

The 2019 worldwide box office is at $17 billion so far, according to Comscore, down 4.7% compared to this time last year when it was at $17.8 billion.

READ MORE: Experts say the 'X-Men' franchise will rebound after the 'Dark Phoenix' disaster - here are 2 major reasons why

"Endgame" broke all kinds of records, including biggest domestic and worldwide opening weekends ever, but it will likely finish its theatrical run as the second-biggest movie of all time both domestically and globally. It has earned $825 million in the US, but would have to make over $936 million to beat "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." And it's at $2.73 billion worldwide, still over $50 million away from the $2.79 billion that "Avatar" grossed in 2009.

Sony

"Men In Black: International"

This summer has not helped the box office.

Three summer sequels so far - "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," "The Secret Life of Pets 2," and "Dark Phoenix" - have opened with 50% less at the domestic box office than their predecessors, and this weekend's "Men in Black: International" is heading for another disappointing debut. Boxoffice.com is projecting it to make $28 million, far below the $54 million "Men in Black 3" earned in its opening weekend in 2012.

All of these movies have been torn apart by critics, too. "Men in Black: International" has a 29% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. "Dark Phoenix" is the worst-reviewed movie in the "X-Men" franchise at 23%.

There's hope, though, and it primarily lies with Disney. Not only is it releasing the aforementioned "The Rise of Skywalker" later this year, but it has potential blockbusters like "The Lion King," "Spider-Man: Far From Home," and "Toy Story 4" still on the way this summer. All of these movies could gross over $1 billion worldwide.