Avengers Endgame Beats Avatar Again: All-Time Box Office Record

Avengers: Endgame is the highest-grossing movie of all time again. Disney said on Oct. 4, 2026, that the 2019 Marvel finale reached an estimated $2.9255 billion worldwide after its Avengers Endgame: Encore re-release, edging past James Cameron’s Avatar at $2.9237 billion. The margin is only about $1.8 million. This guide covers how the Encore run closed the gap, the full history of the record trading hands, what changed in the new cut, and whether Avatar can take the crown back.

The answer: Avengers: Endgame is No. 1 on the unadjusted worldwide box office chart with about $2.9255 billion, per The Walt Disney Company.
The margin: It leads Avatar by roughly $1.8 million, which is almost nothing by blockbuster standards.
What did it: The Encore re-release opened Sept. 25 and added about $126 million worldwide over two weekends, with $36.2 million domestic and $89.8 million overseas.
The clincher: A second weekend of $4.4 million domestic and $14.4 million overseas pushed it over the line on Oct. 4.
China mattered: Encore earned $21.3 million in China, the same market whose 2021 Avatar reissue took the record away from Marvel.
Third time trading places: Endgame first passed Avatar in 2019, lost the record in 2021, and has now taken it back.
Disney wins either way: Disney owns both films and now has seven of the 10 highest-grossing movies ever.
Why now: The re-release was built to promote Avengers: Doomsday, which opens Dec. 18, 2026, and is already near $60 million in presales.

Yes, Avengers: Endgame is the highest-grossing movie of all time as of Oct. 4, 2026. It stands at about $2.9255 billion worldwide, just ahead of Avatar’s $2.9237 billion, after the Encore re-release added roughly $126 million. The ranking is not adjusted for inflation, and the gap is only about $1.8 million.

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Is Avengers: Endgame the Highest-Grossing Movie of All Time?

Yes. Avengers: Endgame is the highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide, with an estimated $2.9255 billion as of Oct. 4, 2026. Disney announced the milestone that Sunday, crediting the Encore re-release. Avatar drops to No. 2 at $2.9237 billion, and the two films are separated by about $1.8 million.

Disney framed the moment as a fan achievement. Its announcement opened with a simple line.

“Audiences once again assembled to make Avengers: Endgame the No. 1 film of all time.” (The Walt Disney Company)

Variety rounded the figures to $2.925 billion for Endgame and $2.923 billion for Avatar, noting that Avatar reached its total “after five re-releases.” Deadline reported the same $2.9255 billion to $2.9237 billion split, and credited the reissue that was timed as a “tee-up” for Avengers: Doomsday.

Is the record adjusted for inflation?

No. The ranking uses unadjusted worldwide grosses, which means older films with cheaper tickets are not boosted to today’s prices. CBC News and TheWrap both specified that this is the unadjusted record. That is the standard industry chart and the one studios cite in announcements.

CBC gave one useful example of why the distinction matters. Titanic reached $1.84 billion in its original run “via markedly lower ticket prices,” yet it held the all-time record from 1998 until Avatar passed it. Ticket price growth is a big part of why the top of the chart keeps climbing.

How Much Did Avengers Endgame: Encore Make?

Avengers Endgame: Encore has earned about $126 million worldwide since Sept. 25, 2026, with $36.2 million domestic and $89.8 million international, according to TheWrap. That was enough to lift the film’s lifetime total past Avatar after two weekends. Here is how the run broke down.

Milestone	Reported figure
Opening weekend, domestic (Sept. 25-27)	About $26.1 million (Rolling Out)
Opening weekend, worldwide	About $86 million (Disney via CBC)
Second weekend, domestic (Oct. 2-4)	$4.4 million (Rolling Out, Comic Basics)
Second weekend, international	$14.4 million (Rolling Out, Comic Basics)
Encore total to date	About $126 million ($36.2M domestic, $89.8M international, per TheWrap)
Endgame lifetime worldwide	About $2.9255 billion (Disney)
Endgame lifetime domestic	Near $894.5 million (Rolling Out)

The opening was historic for a reissue. Rolling Out reported that the $86 million global start was the second-biggest worldwide opening ever for a re-release, behind only 2012’s Titanic 3D. CBC added that among domestic re-release openings, only 1997’s Star Wars: A New Hope ($35.9 million) and 2011’s The Lion King ($30.2 million) started higher.

Did Endgame Encore drop in its second weekend?

Yes. The second weekend fell more than 80% in North America, but the smaller haul was still enough to cross the finish line. Rolling Out reported the steep decline, which is common for re-releases that are front-loaded with fans who rush out on opening weekend. Encore did not need a big hold. It needed only a few million dollars more to clear a gap that was already narrow.

The opening weekend was crowded and Encore still won it. It took No. 1 domestically over Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, which went on to pass $124 million domestic by its third weekend. Our Resident Evil reboot box office explainer covers the horror hit that Encore beat that weekend.

How Did China Help Endgame Beat Avatar?

China gave Endgame a big push this time, after being the market that cost it the record in 2021. Rolling Out reported that Encore earned $21.3 million in China, making it the top non-Chinese movie in the country. That is a notable reversal, since Avatar retook the record in March 2021 thanks to a re-release there.

The market that took the crown from Marvel five years ago helped hand it back. Rolling Out listed several other strong international results for Encore:

China: $21.3 million, top non-Chinese release
Mexico: $6.1 million, part of the highest-grossing re-release run across Latin America
India: $3.8 million
Brazil: $3.1 million
Indonesia and Vietnam: No. 1 among international releases

International markets did most of the lifting. TheWrap’s split shows $89.8 million of the $126 million came from outside North America, roughly 71% of the total.

How Many Times Has the Box Office Record Changed Hands?

The all-time worldwide record has changed hands between Avatar and Avengers: Endgame three times since 2019, and James Cameron has held it for most of the past three decades. CBC noted that Cameron held the record personally from 1998, first with Titanic and then with Avatar. Here is the full timeline based on CBC, Variety, Deadline, and Rolling Out.

1998: Titanic becomes the highest-grossing film ever and holds the record for more than a decade.
2010: Avatar passes Titanic after just 39 days in theaters, per CBC.
July 2019: Avengers: Endgame overtakes Avatar during its first theatrical run, which Deadline notes was announced at Comic-Con 2019.
March 2021: A re-release of Avatar in China pushes it back to No. 1, according to Rolling Out and CBC.
2022: Avatar returns to theaters again ahead of Avatar: The Way of Water, per Euronews.
Oct. 4, 2026: Avengers: Endgame retakes the record after the Encore re-release.

What did James Cameron say when Endgame first beat Avatar?

In 2019, Cameron congratulated Marvel in public, using a phrase from Avatar’s fictional Na’vi language. CBC quoted his post from the time. When Avatar took the record back in 2021, the Russo brothers returned the favor.

“Oel ngati kameie. I see you, Marvel. Congratulations to Avengers: Endgame on becoming the new box-office king.” (James Cameron in 2019, via CBC News)

“Passing the gauntlet back to you.” (Joe and Anthony Russo in 2021, via CBC News)

As of Oct. 5, 2026, none of the coverage we reviewed reported a public response from Cameron to Endgame reclaiming the record.

What Are the 10 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time Now?

After the Encore run, Avengers: Endgame leads the all-time worldwide chart, followed by Avatar and this summer’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Euronews published the updated list on Oct. 5, 2026. All figures are unadjusted worldwide grosses.

Avengers: Endgame (2019): $2.925 billion
Avatar (2009): $2.923 billion
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026): $2.505 billion
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022): $2.334 billion
Titanic (1997): $2.257 billion
Ne Zha 2 (2025): $2.217 billion
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015): $2.068 billion
Avengers: Infinity War (2018): $2.048 billion
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021): $1.922 billion
Zootopia 2 (2025): $1.866 billion

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the newcomer most readers will notice. It climbed to No. 3 all-time in its summer run, and Variety credited it with lifting the MCU’s combined total. Our Spider-Man: Brand New Day guide covers the film, its cast, and where to watch it.

Why does Disney win no matter which film is No. 1?

Disney owns both Avengers: Endgame and Avatar, so the record stays in the same company whichever film leads. Avatar was released by 20th Century Fox, which Disney acquired in 2019, as Variety explained. Variety put it plainly: “Disney is popping Champagne no matter which big-screen behemoth claims the No. 1 spot.”

Disney’s own announcement said the company is responsible for seven of the 10 highest-grossing films ever. Based on the Euronews list, those are both Avengers films, both Avatar films, Titanic, The Force Awakens, and Zootopia 2. The two Spider-Man films are Sony releases.

What Is New in Avengers Endgame: Encore?

Avengers Endgame: Encore is a slightly recut version of the 2019 film with about four extra minutes, a tweaked ending, and new credits scenes that set up Avengers: Doomsday. CBC reported the four added minutes. Reports differ slightly on how many new credits scenes there are, so here is what each outlet said.

TheWrap: A tweaked ending and three new mid-credits and post-credits scenes connected to Doomsday.
**Comic Basics:** New footage, four new scenes during the closing credits, and a look ahead at Doomsday.
Rolling Out: A revised ending featuring Loki, new end-credits scenes, and a hint of Doctor Doom.
**Collider:** Four minutes of new footage “designed to link it directly” to Doomsday.

The core of the movie is the same. Disney quoted director Anthony Russo explaining why the next film needed to start where Endgame stopped.

“Many years later, as we started to conceive a road forward that would evolve into Doomsday, it just begged of us: ‘You really need to pick the story up from where you left it in Endgame.'” (Anthony Russo, via The Walt Disney Company)

Encore is the same Endgame with connective tissue added. Expect roughly four extra minutes, a reworked ending beat, and new credits scenes that tease Doctor Doom and Avengers: Doomsday. The Battle of Earth, the snap, and the original emotional beats are all still there.

How Did Marvel and the Russo Brothers React?

Marvel Studios thanked fans with a post on X, and directors Joe and Anthony Russo released a 52-second thank-you video. Both signed off with “I love you 3000,” the line Tony Stark’s daughter made famous in Endgame. The studio’s post went up on Oct. 4.

“Thank you for assembling to make Avengers: Endgame the biggest movie of all time. We love you 3000.” (Marvel Studios on X, via Rolling Out)

Comic Basics described the Russos’ video in detail. The brothers said their favorite part of making Endgame was sitting in theaters with audiences, and that Encore let them do that again. They called the record one of the most special moments of their careers and thanked fans for bringing first-time viewers along.

Fans had fun with the rivalry. CinemaBlend highlighted one reply under Marvel’s post that joked about Cameron’s next move.

“James Cameron ain’t gonna take this lightly he firing up his motion capture set up as we speak.” (Fan comment, via CinemaBlend)

Can Avatar Take the Record Back?

Avatar could take the record back with another re-release, but no new Avatar reissue had been reported as of Oct. 5, 2026. Cameron has used reissues before, and Avatar needed five of them to reach its current total, according to Variety. A gap of about $1.8 million is small enough that even a modest run could flip the chart again.

A few factors shape what happens next:

Endgame is still in theaters. Any further Encore grosses will widen its lead, even if only slightly.
Avatar has a track record. Rolling Out wrote that “another one feels likely” given how Cameron has used re-releases before.
The Avatar franchise is active. Avatar: Fire and Ash arrived in December 2025, which keeps the series in front of audiences. Our Avatar: Fire and Ash guide covers the cast, the ending, and how to stream it.
Fatigue is real. Collider argued that the back-and-forth was fun at first but that the achievement “feels like the success is diluted every time a movie is re-released.”

For now, the only confirmed fact is the chart itself. Endgame is No. 1, Avatar is No. 2, and Comic Basics summed it up: the record may not last, “but for now, the biggest number belongs to the Avengers.”

What Does the Record Mean for Avengers: Doomsday?

The Encore run was designed to build demand for Avengers: Doomsday, and early presales suggest it worked. TheWrap reported that Doomsday has racked up close to $60 million in presales according to theatrical sources. Comic Basics said it recently became the earliest film to reach $50 million in domestic advance ticket sales.

Here is what is confirmed about the next Avengers film:

Release date: Dec. 18, 2026, the same day as Dune: Part Three.
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo, who also made Infinity War and Endgame.
Place in the MCU: The 39th Marvel Cinematic Universe film, per Variety.
Teams involved: The Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the Talokan, the Thunderbolts, the Wakandans, and the X-Men, all onscreen together for the first time, per Disney.
Villain: Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU as Doctor Doom, and Rolling Out reported a new poster showing Doom with three Latverian witches.
No Imax at launch: TheWrap reported that Doomsday will not play on Imax screens for at least its first three weeks because of the Dune date.

That Imax gap is why Disney is pushing its own premium label. TheWrap said 70% of Doomsday presales have come through Disney’s Infinity Vision campaign, which certifies premium large-format screens. Encore served as a public test run for that label. For dates, trailers, and the full release timeline, see our Avengers: Doomsday release date guide.

How big is the MCU after the record?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has earned more than $35 billion worldwide across 38 films, making it the most successful film franchise in history, according to Disney. Variety put the combined figure at $35.07 billion. That total stretches back to Iron Man in 2008.

The record also lands at a useful moment for Marvel. CBC pointed to disappointing recent entries such as Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World, whose new leads “failed to capture audience interest.” A return to No. 1 gives the studio a clear story to tell heading into December.

Why Does This Record Matter for the 2026 Box Office?

The record shows that event films with deep fan loyalty can still draw crowds, even in a year full of expensive misses. CBC reported that Hollywood had its best summer on record in 2026, with $4.76 billion in domestic ticket sales according to Rentrak. The same report listed several high-profile flops.

Digger: Tom Cruise’s film opened to about $8 million domestic against a reported budget of $125 million to $180 million, per CBC.
The Dog Stars: The Jacob Elordi film opened to roughly $8 million against a reported $80 million budget.
Warner Bros.: None of the studio’s 2026 releases had passed $100 million domestic, according to CBC.

CBC also noted that original genre films such as Obsession, Resident Evil, and Backrooms posted strong numbers. Endgame sits on the other end of that pattern. It is a seven-year-old movie that people already know, and it still sold enough new tickets to set the biggest record in the business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest-grossing movie of all time?

Avengers: Endgame is the highest-grossing movie of all time, with about $2.9255 billion worldwide as of Oct. 4, 2026. It passed Avatar, which stands at about $2.9237 billion, after the Encore re-release.

How much did Avengers Endgame Encore make?

The Encore re-release earned about $126 million worldwide over two weekends, with $36.2 million in North America and $89.8 million internationally, according to TheWrap.

When did Endgame beat Avatar again?

Endgame passed Avatar on Oct. 4, 2026, based on Sunday estimates after the Encore re-release’s second weekend in theaters.

How much is Endgame ahead of Avatar?

About $1.8 million. Endgame stands at roughly $2.9255 billion and Avatar at roughly $2.9237 billion, per Disney.

Will Avatar be re-released to beat Endgame?

No new Avatar re-release had been announced as of Oct. 5, 2026. Avatar has been re-released five times, according to Variety, so another reissue is possible.

Avengers Endgame Beats Avatar Again Explained: All-Time Box Office Record, Encore Haul, and What’s Next