Avengers: Endgame is once again the highest-grossing film in box office history, reclaiming the title from Avatar after a theatrical re-release pushed the Marvel Studios epic past its rival's worldwide total. Endgame has now grossed $2.9255 billion globally, compared with $2.9237 billion for James Cameron's 2009 science-fiction blockbuster, according to studio figures.
The margin is narrow — roughly $1.8 million — but it is enough to restore Endgame to the top of the all-time chart, unadjusted for inflation. The two films have traded the crown repeatedly over the past several years, as each has returned to theaters for special engagements designed to add to its cumulative gross.
The latest shift stems from Disney's re-release of Endgame, which the studio positioned as a lead-in to Avengers: Doomsday, the next installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, scheduled to arrive in theaters on Dec. 18. The re-release, billed as an encore presentation, gave audiences another chance to see the Anthony and Joe Russo-directed film on the big screen while building momentum for the franchise's next chapter.
Endgame originally opened in April 2019 and became a cultural phenomenon, concluding a story arc that spanned more than 20 films and drew audiences worldwide. It first overtook Avatar in July 2019, only for Avatar to retake the record in 2021 after a re-release in China. The back-and-forth has become a recurring feature of the modern box office, where repertory screenings and anniversary events can meaningfully alter all-time rankings.
Avatar, directed by Cameron, remains a formidable presence in the record books. Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, released in 2022, also performed strongly, and additional sequels are planned. The franchise's enduring appeal has kept it within striking distance of Endgame even years after its original run.
The record is measured without adjusting for inflation, a standard that favors more recent releases with higher average ticket prices. Adjusted for inflation, 1939's Gone with the Wind is widely considered the highest-grossing film in North American history, though international comparisons are complicated by fluctuating exchange rates and market growth.
For Disney, the Endgame milestone offers a timely promotional boost. The studio owns both Marvel and the Avatar franchise through its acquisition of 20th Century Fox, meaning the contest for the all-time crown is, in corporate terms, an internal affair. Still, the symbolic value of holding the record is significant for Marvel, which has been working to re-energize its theatrical slate after a period of mixed critical and commercial results.
Avengers: Doomsday is expected to bring together characters from across the Marvel universe, and the re-release of Endgame serves as a reminder of the heights the franchise reached at its peak. Whether the new film can approach Endgame's totals remains an open question, but the studio is clearly hoping the encore run will prime audiences for another global event.
For now, Endgame sits atop the list, with Avatar a close second. Given the history between the two films, the ranking may not be settled for long.