When tickets for Avengers: Endgame went on sale several weeks ago, the demand was so high that the apps for AMC, Fandango, and Atom Tickets all crashed under the pressure.
In that first day of ticket sales, the upcoming superhero finale event broke pre-sale records, and is projected to open to around $850 million worldwide, with some analysts saying it will pass the $1 billion mark in less than a week.
This is all very exciting for the people who made the movie, but it's a little less thrilling for the workers at theaters showing the film. To meet the extraordinary demand for showings, some theaters are going to extreme lengths.
As of now, 17 AMC locations will be open for four days straight — or 96 hours https://t.co/Yg6vAhDGdG… https://t.co/xLNXnkKbds— Hollywood Reporter (@Hollywood Reporter)1555972923.0
17 AMC locations are planning to stay open for 72 straight hours to accommodate fans desperate to see Avengers: Endgame.
Demand for Avengers: Endgame is so high that AMC is keeping 17 theaters open for more than 72 hours straight. No cl… https://t.co/2ohGdfzOvM— Joel Franco (@Joel Franco)1555967814.0
The situation is a bit ironic if you consider Thanos' motivation for wiping out half the population: over-crowding.
wow way to prove Thanos' point, AMC https://t.co/BiD8f64eXn— Jason Linkins (@Jason Linkins)1555965030.0
Of course, theaters don't just stay open 24 hours without people working inside them.
think everyone should take a minute and pray for their local cinema employees they ain’t dead but they may as well… https://t.co/q1bFwV34Vp— olivia (@olivia)1555967103.0
Saw a 2:30am screening on the AMC and was floored. So wild... https://t.co/LAvNc8gL8B— EJ Moreno (@EJ Moreno)1555964071.0
What kind of hours are theater employees going to have to work?
It neat that Avengers Endgame is likely to beat Avatar and stuff but people working at theaters are probably gonna… https://t.co/l6zBXrhS1K— 🦋Olivia @Punk Hazard🦋 (@🦋Olivia @Punk Hazard🦋)1555970719.0
Please be kind to your ushers this week. https://t.co/wLMUyPABKk— Carli Velocci (@Carli Velocci)1555973124.0
For their super-heroic efforts, theater employees will likely be underpaid.
@THR Those poor underpaid teenagers— ✨Rob✨ (@✨Rob✨)1555972981.0
AMC better be paying its employees huge bonuses for having to work at 4 in the morning https://t.co/ahFsYlHa10— Eric Francisco (@Eric Francisco)1555965661.0
@THR Hoping AMC pays those employees overtime rate shift differential for the added hours.— Crap_Locker (@Crap_Locker)1555976371.0
Everyone working at your theater is doing the best that they can.
If you are going to see #Avengers #EndGame this weekend BE NICE to the workers at the theater. They are not respons… https://t.co/xNd8yQ6F6M— 𝙰𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚠 𝙺𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚕𝚕 (@𝙰𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚠 𝙺𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚕𝚕)1555965412.0
I’m a little surprised no theaters (at least none that I found) are bothering to screening INFINITY WAR and ENDGAME… https://t.co/cnnHZmXgKL— Matt Goldberg (@Matt Goldberg)1555959215.0
After 96 straight hours of Avengers, many theater workers will probably wish for The Snap.
@THR Those very 17 location AMC employees after the four-day/96-hour marathon be like.😏😂 https://t.co/qZIQSaJfME— Kaijusaurus Rex (@Kaijusaurus Rex)1555976666.0
@THR The movie projectors on day 3 of 4 https://t.co/8oUTN9sjim— Cisco (@Cisco)1555979031.0
@THR I respect their commitment. https://t.co/hMh99pUVNJ— ✨Donna Bagwell is No One ⚔️🐉✨ (@✨Donna Bagwell is No One ⚔️🐉✨)1555976165.0
Movie theater employees are basically the real heroes this weekend.
@THR "Whatever it takes". Yeah, they weren't kidding...— marioh1357 (@marioh1357)1555981019.0
@THR Also, young teens won't be working all night. There are labor laws in place which prevent this. It's the 18+ c… https://t.co/w1weQgsJZy— LadyVirgo ♍ (@LadyVirgo ♍)1555992714.0
@THR Let this be a lesson to all those who fill out availability forms to never write OPEN - CLOSE or ANYTIME. Alw… https://t.co/yjxiQlP07G— LadyVirgo ♍ (@LadyVirgo ♍)1555992648.0
Many online hope that the huge profits movie theaters rake in will also return to support theater staffs.
@THR Hey @AMCTheatres treat your employees good during this. You’re gonna be making crazy bank. Offer time and a ha… https://t.co/QVdweQW8oB— Zak (@Zak)1555987904.0
@THR How much money is this movie gonna make opening weekend 😱 it’s scary to even imagine— TshaunX ✊🏾💯🦍🐻 🌈 (@TshaunX ✊🏾💯🦍🐻 🌈)1555992465.0
After selling more pre-sale tickets than any other movie in history within the first 24 hours of availability, some are expecting Avengers: Endgame to become the highest grossing movie of all time.
If it does, however, it will be thanks to the theater employees who keep everything running smoothly through what will surely be a VERY long opening weekend.
Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame - Official Trailer www.youtube.com