Avengers: Endgame has officially reclaimed the title of the highest-grossing film of all time, overtaking Avatar at the global box office after its theatrical re-release. Disney confirmed on October 4 that the Marvel blockbuster's lifetime total reached an estimated $2.9255 billion, edging past Avatar's $2.9237 billion in one of the tightest finishes in box office history.
The Re-Release That Moved the Needle
The record fell thanks to Avengers: Endgame: Encore, the enhanced theatrical reissue Disney rolled out on September 25 to build anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday. The re-release opened to an estimated $86 million worldwide, including $26 million from North America and $60 million from international markets, with IMAX screens alone contributing $13.7 million.
All told, the Encore run added about $126 million to the film's lifetime gross, roughly $36.2 million domestically and $89.8 million internationally. This was no simple reissue: Encore arrived with several new end-credits scenes, an introductory thank-you to fans, and exclusive footage tying directly into Doomsday, with two to six minutes of new material depending on the format.
Cameron Welcomes Iron Man to Pandora
James Cameron took the result in stride. On October 16, the Avatar director shared crossover artwork on social media showing Tony Stark's Iron Man being welcomed by the Na'vi people of Pandora, including Jake Sully and Neytiri. The message read, "You are one of the people," followed by: "Congratulations to Marvel and the #1 Avengers: Endgame: Encore for bringing moviegoers to the cinemas!"
The phrase carries real meaning for Avatar fans: being named "one of the people" is how the Na'vi accept an outsider into their clan, the honor Jake Sully earns in the 2009 film.
A Crown That Keeps Changing Hands
The two blockbusters have now traded the all-time record three times. Avatar held the crown for roughly a decade before Endgame first passed it in July 2019, prompting Cameron's now-famous "Oel ngati kameie. I see you Marvel" tribute. Avatar reclaimed the top spot in March 2021 through a re-release in China, and the Russo brothers answered at the time with "Passing the gauntlet back to you."
Now the gauntlet sits with Marvel again. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo thanked fans on social media for returning to theaters, closing their message with the franchise's signature line: "We love you 3000."
All Eyes on Doomsday
The timing is no accident. Avengers: Doomsday, directed by the Russo brothers and featuring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, arrives in theaters on December 18. The Encore re-release functioned as both a celebration of the Infinity Saga and a launchpad for Marvel's next chapter, and the box office crown is the cherry on top.
With both films now sitting under the Disney umbrella, the rivalry has become something rarer than a grudge match: a friendly, decade-long duel between two franchises that keep outdoing each other, with moviegoers the real winners.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Silly Fun (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources: TheWrap, EpicFlix, Just Jared