Avengers: Endgame Reclaims Box Office Record From Avatar

The Avengers Endgame box office record is back where Marvel fans believe it belongs. Seven years after the Russo brothers' superhero epic first claimed the all-time crown, Avengers: Endgame has once again overtaken James Cameron's Avatar as the highest-grossing film in history, thanks to its Endgame: Encore theatrical re-release. And in a moment of pure Hollywood class, Cameron himself publicly congratulated Marvel with brand-new crossover artwork welcoming Iron Man to Pandora.

The Numbers: Endgame Edges Past Avatar

According to TheWrap, after two more weekends of play with its "Encore" reissue, Avengers: Endgame has added roughly $126 million to its lifetime gross — $36.2 million domestically and $89.8 million overseas. That pushes the 2019 Marvel epic to an estimated $2.9255 billion worldwide, narrowly ahead of Avatar's $2.9237 billion lifetime total reported by Box Office Mojo. It is a razor-thin margin, but it is enough to flip the unadjusted all-time record once again.

Disney brought Endgame: Encore back to cinemas on 25 September 2026, timing it to build anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday's $100M presales, set for release on 18 December. The re-release opened strongly — an estimated $86 million worldwide across its opening weekend, per trade reports — with premium formats like IMAX and Disney's Infinity Vision campaign driving the hype. The "Encore" cut features a tweaked ending and three new mid-credit and post-credit scenes connected to the upcoming blockbuster.

James Cameron Congratulates Marvel With New Artwork

On 16 October 2026, James Cameron took to his X handle and official Instagram account to congratulate Marvel with bespoke crossover artwork: Iron Man in his red-and-gold armour, surrounded by the Na'vi of Pandora — figures resembling Jake Sully and Neytiri among them — placing their hands on him in a gesture of welcome.

The text overlaid on the image reads, "You are one of the people," followed by: "Congratulations to Marvel and the #1 Avengers: Endgame: Encore for bringing moviegoers to the cinemas! – Jim Cameron."

The phrase borrows the Na'vi ritual used to accept an outsider into the clan — a gesture far warmer than a simple acknowledgement. As one report put it, Cameron has gone from "I see you" to welcoming the rival into the fold.

A Rivalry Seven Years in the Making

This is far from the first time these two titans have traded the crown. Avatar held the worldwide record for roughly a decade after its 2009 release. Endgame first passed it in July 2019 — prompting Cameron's famous message, "Oel ngati kameie. I see you Marvel. Congratulations to Avengers: Endgame on becoming the new box-office king."

Avatar then reclaimed the title in March 2021 via a re-release in China, and Marvel returned the favour with its own congratulatory artwork. Now the pendulum has swung once more — and with both franchises under Disney's ownership, the House of Mouse is the real winner either way. The 38 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have generated over $35 billion worldwide, making it the most successful film franchise of all time.

Could the Crown Move Again?

Industry observers note the top spot remains vulnerable to future re-releases. Avatar has already benefited from multiple reissues since 2009, and another could push it back ahead. With Avengers: Doomsday arriving on 18 December, Marvel's box office dominance looks set to continue regardless — Endgame is now inching toward the $3 billion milestone.

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