Marvel Studios’ re-release of Avengers: Endgame has reclaimed the title of highest-grossing film in box office history, overtaking James Cameron’s Avatar for a second time. The Encore edition, which added new footage to the 2019 superhero epic, helped the Marvel film reach $2.9255 billion worldwide—just barely edging past Avatar’s standing total of $2.9237 billion and securing its place as the movie that has earned the most money in theaters.
The milestone was achieved over last weekend, though the numbers themselves tell a story of diminishing returns rather than explosive growth. Despite not cracking the top five earners for this week’s box office chart, Endgame Encore managed to gather enough revenue to cross the threshold separating it from Cameron’s sci-fi saga. The achievement marks another chapter in an ongoing rivalry that has played out over several years and multiple theatrical re-releases.
A Long-Running Battle for the Crown
Considering Infinity Saga-ending team-up film first premiered in 2019, it should come as no surprise that re-releases have done much of the work helping it reach its current total. Endgame first passed Avatar when it topped $2.79 billion back in July 2019, just months after its initial release date—a milestone even director James Cameron celebrated at the time. But Marvel did not wear the crown for long.
An Avatar re-release from 2021 saw Cameron’s sci-fi epic reclaim victory when its total reached more than $2.81 billion. With one re-release already under its belt, it was last weekend’s Encore—which attracted a staggering $86 million in its debut—that helped Endgame take the top spot again.
Thank you for assembling to make Avengers: Endgame the biggest movie of all time. We love you 3000.
James Cameron
A Narrow Victory with Diminishing Returns
It was not all wins for heroes like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, though. Endgame’s new place among the rankings marks a narrow victory that landed it in seventh place at the domestic box office for the weekend. It also brought in a dismal worldwide total of just $18.8 million, marking a steep decline from last weekend’s numbers.
The overall result remains a victory nonetheless. With its spot so loosely secured, however, fans cannot help but wonder how long it will be before Avatar makes its own surprise return to theaters to take the crown once again. The razor-thin margin of just $1.8 million between the two films underscores how competitive this race has become.
The Encore’s New Footage
A significant part of the allure for Avengers: Endgame Encore is the new footage it brought to the table. Although bonus content totals about four minutes of runtime across four new scenes, each segment serves as a teaser for December’s Avengers: Doomsday.
The Doctor Doom introduction film is poised to be another gigantic release for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, packing in even more cameos and surprises than expected. A new poster for the film was released just yesterday, building anticipation among fans eager to see how the next installment will unfold within the sprawling franchise.
Looking Ahead
The question now looms large: how long before Avatar makes its own surprise return to theaters? With both films separated by less than $2 million, the box office crown could shift once more with minimal effort. For now, however, Marvel’s grand finale holds the title—and the anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday may well determine who wears it next.
Join the conversation