‘Avengers: Endgame’ Poised to Reclaim Box Office Crown From ‘Avatar’
The rivalry between ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and ‘Avatar’ has been one of the most intense in Hollywood history. For years, these two blockbusters have exchanged the title of the biggest movie ever, much like a championship belt. Now, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is entering what could be its final lap in this box office race.
The history of this competition is a fascinating back-and-forth. ‘Endgame’ initially surpassed ‘Avatar’ on July 21, 2019, after 89 days in theaters, only to see James Cameron’s film reclaim the title in March 2021 following a re-release in China. Subsequent re-releases, including a successful run in 2022, boosted ‘Avatar’s’ lifetime total to approximately $2.923 billion, while ‘Endgame’ concluded its original run at around $2.799 billion.
The latest development comes with the release of ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore,’ which hit theaters on September 25. This re-release opened to $86 million globally, with $26 million from domestic markets and $60 million from international audiences, making it the top film worldwide for that weekend. Currently, ‘Endgame’ is trailing ‘Avatar’ by about $39 million.
As of October 2, box office analyst Jatinder Singh reported that ‘Encore’ had amassed a total of $109 million worldwide, including $32 million domestically and $77 million internationally. This brings the overall total for ‘Endgame’ to $2.909 billion, just $15 million shy of ‘Avatar,’ with the tracker noting that missing grosses from India and Thailand account for approximately $5 million of the difference.
$109M worldwide running total for #AvengersEndgameEncore through THU, with $32M DOM & $77M INT.
Overall cume: $2.909B. Just $15M* short of #Avatar to become the #1 movie of all time. ETA on that sometime next week, Sunday at the earliest.
* = including missing grosses from… pic.twitter.com/4lwGO1aHsD
— ਜਤਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ (@Itsjat32) October 2, 2026
The timeline for reclaiming the top spot is approaching quickly. According to the tracker, ‘Endgame’ is expected to take the all-time No. 1 position sometime next week, with Sunday being the earliest possible date. Before the re-release, Disney and Marvel Studios estimated they needed around $124 million to achieve this milestone.
‘Encore’ is also outperforming typical re-releases. Analysts had predicted its total could fall between $116 million and $160 million, depending on its performance, and it is already nearing the lower end of that range after just one week. The film has now recorded 400 million admissions globally.
Part of the film’s allure lies in the additional footage. The re-release features about four minutes of new material filmed during the production of ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ providing fans with a connection between the two Avengers narratives. Disney appears to be banking on this extra content to reignite interest ahead of ‘Doomsday,’ which is set to premiere in December.
The new scenes feel like a true prologue. Following the final dance between Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter, new footage introduces Loki in the branched timeline created by Steve’s decision. A mid-credits scene features Bruce Banner experimenting with a serum to control the Hulk in an underground bunker, only to be interrupted by Doctor Doom, who claims he is there to collect him.
The final moments reveal Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor Von Doom crafting his Doctor Doom mask, with the hammer strikes synchronized to the clanging sound that concluded the original film’s credits. Another post-credits scene shows the TVA discovering that the multiverse is collapsing. Fans are eagerly analyzing the hints about Doom’s plans, runes, and Banner’s seemingly absent presence from the main ‘Doomsday’ cast list.
Reassemble the team & relive the experience as Avengers Endgame: Encore returns to theaters September 25.
Tickets now available for IMAX and Infinity Vision screens: https://t.co/pZZ4PiOyQb pic.twitter.com/2wKSVG4FLz
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 25, 2026
Even if ‘Endgame’ manages to reclaim the title, history suggests that it may not hold it for long. ‘Avatar’ has a track record of returning to theaters and could do so again, as Cameron’s franchise has consistently made comebacks. Analysts have also pointed out that ‘Endgame’ is unlikely to surpass the $3 billion mark, which would have made it the first film to achieve that milestone.
For Marvel, the timing is impeccable. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set to premiere on December 18 in the U.S. and December 16 in the U.K., and a new record headline would only add excitement to the lead-up.
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