‘Avengers: Endgame’ Surpasses $2.8 Billion, Closing in on Box Office Record

Avatar photoHrvoje Milakovic
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Nostalgia can only take a re-release so far at the box office, but Marvel Studios has demonstrated with ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ that a well-timed encore can significantly impact earnings. The 2019 blockbuster’s return to theaters wasn’t merely about giving dedicated fans another opportunity to experience the Infinity Saga’s conclusion.

It was also strategically aimed at closing the gap on one of cinema’s most enduring records. For years, ‘Endgame’ has lingered just behind James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ on the all-time global box office list, a gap that once seemed nearly impossible to bridge without a fresh theatrical push.

That push has officially started to yield results. ‘Avengers: Endgame’ has now crossed $2.8 billion at the global box office following the launch of its ‘Endgame Encore’ re-release, positioning the film approximately $120 million away from surpassing ‘Avatar’s’ $2.92 billion worldwide total.

This milestone was achieved after the Encore re-release generated around $10 million globally on its opening day, according to data provided by tracking service Global Box Office. This single-day revenue was sufficient to elevate ‘Endgame’ past the $2.8 billion mark for the first time.

Unlike a standard reissue, ‘Endgame Encore’ is not just a straightforward replay of the 2019 original. Marvel has included about four minutes of new footage designed to connect the film directly to ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ featuring new scenes with Loki, Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter, Bruce Banner and Doctor Doom, along with additional multiverse-related content.

Every Encore screening also includes an exclusive preview of ‘Doomsday,’ which is set to hit theaters on December 18. This built-in incentive seems to be effective, with the re-release earning $3.8 million from Thursday preview screenings alone, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, ahead of an anticipated $25 million domestic weekend and another $25 million to $30 million internationally.

Screenshot 2026 09 24 at 11 24 57 Avengers Endgame Rotten Tomatoes

Despite this strong start, box office analysts warn that closing the remaining $120 million gap won’t happen quickly. ‘Endgame’ will require consistent, robust performances over multiple weekends to fully close the deficit and reclaim the all-time crown, rather than relying solely on one significant opening weekend.

This isn’t the first instance of these two films swapping places atop the all-time chart. ‘Avengers: Endgame’ initially surpassed ‘Avatar’ in 2019, only for Cameron’s film to reclaim the record in 2021 after a re-release in China pushed its total beyond $2.8 billion.

History indicates that ‘Avatar’ won’t simply give up its ground without a fight. The film’s 2022 theatrical re-release alone garnered $30 million worldwide, enough to lead the global box office that weekend, serving as a reminder that Cameron’s film has consistently found ways to boost its total whenever it returns to theaters.

Nevertheless, with ‘Doomsday’ excitement building and Marvel clearly aiming to use ‘Endgame Encore’ as a launchpad, the pressure is now on ‘Avatar’ to respond. Whether ‘Endgame’ can finally close the gap for good remains one of the most intriguing subplots of this fall’s box office season.

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