Seven years after its original release, Avengers: Endgame has delivered another blockbuster reversal. Marvel's superhero epic has reclaimed the worldwide box office crown from James Cameron's Avatar, with Disney announcing an estimated lifetime total of $2.9255 billion following its Avengers Endgame: Encore theatrical rerelease. Avatar stands at approximately $2.9237 billion-leaving just $1.8 million between two films whose earnings approach $3 billion apiece.
The decisive push came during the rerelease's second weekend. Endgame added an estimated $4.4 million in North America and $14.4 million overseas, enough to move ahead on the all-time worldwide chart. Remarkably, it reclaimed that record while placing seventh in the current domestic weekend rankings: the latest milestone reflects its accumulated global earnings across theatrical runs.
The comeback renews a rivalry that has repeatedly rewritten Hollywood's record books. Endgame first overtook Avatar in 2019, before Cameron's film regained the lead following its 2021 rerelease in China. With both blockbusters benefiting from return engagements, their contest has continued long after their original theatrical releases ended.
This latest return also arrives as Marvel prepares audiences for another Avengers event. The Encore release forms part of the buildup to Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for December 18, reconnecting moviegoers with the story that brought the Infinity Saga to its conclusion. Its performance suggests that revisiting a familiar cinematic event can still persuade fans to buy a theater ticket.
For Disney, the victory carries an unusual twist: both contenders belong to its studio portfolio. Marvel Studios produced Endgame, while Avatar sits under 20th Century Studios, making this a battle between two of the company's most valuable movie properties. Disney says it is responsible for seven of the ten highest-grossing films worldwide, and that Marvel Studios' 38 theatrical releases have collectively generated more than $35 billion.
The record concerns worldwide ticket revenue without adjusting for inflation, and the latest weekend figures remain estimates. With the reported gap so narrow, the renewed crown also invites the question that has kept this rivalry alive for years: how long will the lead last? For now, the Avengers have assembled once more-and audiences have returned them to the top of Hollywood's global earnings chart.
