Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame has once again surpassed James Cameron's Avatar to claim the title of the highest-grossing film of all time worldwide. The film's recent "Encore" re-release was instrumental in achieving this milestone, bringing its total gross to approximately $2.9255 billion.
This latest victory positions Endgame slightly ahead of Avatar's cumulative gross of $2.9237 billion. The Marvel Cinematic Universe film, which originally premiered in 2019, has benefited significantly from theatrical re-releases to reach its current standing. It first overtook Avatar in July 2019, shortly after its initial debut, a moment that was even acknowledged by director James Cameron.
However, Avatar reclaimed the top spot in 2021 following its own re-release, which pushed its total earnings past $2.81 billion. The recent "Encore" run for Endgame, which garnered $86 million in its opening weekend, has now shifted the balance back in favor of the Marvel production.
Despite its overall success, Endgame's performance in the most recent weekend box office was modest, placing seventh domestically and earning only $18.8 million globally. The film's current reign as the top earner is a narrow one, leaving open the possibility of Avatar returning to theaters for another bid at the record.
The "Encore" re-release included approximately four minutes of new footage spread across four scenes. These additions were presented as teasers for the upcoming film, Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in December. This new installment is expected to feature numerous cameos and surprises, with a new poster highlighting Doctor Doom and three Latverian witches recently unveiled.
With the box office returns for Avengers: Endgame Encore reportedly slowing, it remains uncertain if the film will reach the $3 billion mark. Some viewers expressed disappointment that certain new scenes were only available in specific theater formats, such as IMAX and Infinity Vision.