For most of the last 20 years, James Cameron has reigned as the box office king for his work on Avatar, which has grossed more than $2.92 billion over its run (including multiple re-releases). Overall, the three movies in the Pandora-centric saga have grossed over $6 billion, but the first movie featuring Jake Sully, Neytiri, and an A-list cast still stands tall as the film that has grossed more at the box office than any other in history. Over the years, this movie has only had one true contender: Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame.
Upon Endgame’s original release, the culmination event of the Infinity Saga had the best worldwide opening weekend in history ($1.2 billion) and eventually surpassed Avatar for the all-time box office top spot. Avatar then had a re-release in the early 2020s, pushing Cameron’s epic back to the #1 position. This year, Marvel decided to re-release Endgame as Avengers: Endgame Encore, bringing a few minutes of extra footage in post-credits scenes to set up Avengers: Doomsday. Now, that re-release has taken the box-office title back from Avatar, prompting Cameron to congratulateMarvel on its 2019 epic.
Avatar director/writer James Cameron shared a post on Instagram to congratulate Marvel Studios on the release of Avengers: Endgame Encore, which pushed Avengers: Endgame into the top spot on the all-time box office rankings at over $2.9 billion worldwide. He shared a picture of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man standing in the middle of the Na’vi people from Avatar, saying, “You are one of the People.” Congratulating Marvel for “bringing moviegoers to the cinemas,” he also challenged the team behind the MCU in his caption by saying, “Until 2029 and the Avatar 20th Anniversary release reclaims the title yet again.”
Iron Man in the middle of the Na’vi from ‘Avatar.’James Cameron
Seeing Avengers: Endgame Encore surpass Avatar is almost no surprise, especially considering the MCU sequel topped the box office upon its debut seven years after its original release. The two movies have gone back and forth for the box-office title throughout the 2020s, and Cameron even admitted that he plans to bring his 2009 epic back to the big screen for a 20th-anniversary celebration in only three years. This could also coincide with the release of Cameron’s fourth Avatar movie, which is currently lined up for Dec. 21, 2029.
Meanwhile, Marvel is using Endgame Encore to prep for the release of Avengers: Doomsday, which is expected to be the MCU’s biggest movie ever. After Spider-Man: Brand New Day grossed more than $2.5 billion this summer, coming up short of only Avatar and Endgame, Marvel has high hopes for Doomsday (especially considering it has already grossed $100 million in presales alone).
Avengers: Endgame Encore is now playing in theaters.
Release Date
September 25, 2026
Runtime
185 Minutes