Marvel Studios' Avengers Endgame has reclaimed the title of the highest grossing film of all time after a successful theatrical re release in 2026.
The 2019 superhero blockbuster has now earned approximately $2.9255 billion worldwide, narrowly moving ahead of James Cameron's Avatar, which has a reported lifetime global total of approximately $2.9237 billion. The latest milestone was achieved after the release of Avengers Endgame Encore, which brought the Marvel film back to cinemas seven years after its original release.
The achievement marks another chapter in one of the closest box office battles in modern cinema. Endgame and Avatar have exchanged the top position several times through theatrical releases and re releases.
Avengers Endgame was originally released in April 2019 and became an immediate worldwide box office sensation. It concluded Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga and brought together major characters and storylines developed across more than a decade of Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
Here are seven major milestones from the film's box office journey.
First milestone: Record opening weekend in 2019
Avengers Endgame created history immediately after its original release. The film collected approximately $1.2 billion worldwide during its opening weekend.
It became the first film to cross the $1 billion mark during its opening weekend, a record that demonstrated the enormous global demand for the conclusion of the Infinity Saga.
The opening performance was far beyond the usual scale of blockbuster releases and established Endgame as one of the most commercially successful films ever made.
Second milestone: Fastest film to cross $2 billion
The film continued its extraordinary run during the weeks following its release.
Endgame crossed $2 billion worldwide at remarkable speed, becoming one of the fastest films to reach the milestone. Its performance was supported by strong ticket sales across North America, China, India and numerous international markets.
The film's global popularity helped Marvel Studios turn the conclusion of the Infinity Saga into a major worldwide cinema event.
Third milestone: Endgame overtakes Avatar in 2019
During its original theatrical run, Avengers Endgame eventually overtook Avatar to become the highest grossing film in history.
Avatar had held the record for almost a decade after its release in 2009. Endgame's performance in 2019 finally moved it past Cameron's science fiction epic.
The achievement was particularly significant because Avatar had remained at the top of the worldwide box office rankings for many years.
Fourth milestone: Avatar regains the crown
The box office battle did not end with Endgame taking the record.
Avatar returned to cinemas in 2021 and regained the highest grossing film title. The re release in China added enough revenue to push Avatar back ahead of Endgame.
Avatar later received another theatrical re release in 2022 before the arrival of Avatar The Way of Water.
The additional theatrical runs demonstrated the importance of re releases in the competition for the all time worldwide box office record.
Fifth milestone: Endgame returns to cinemas in 2026
Marvel Studios brought Avengers Endgame back to theatres in September 2026 under the title Avengers Endgame Encore.
The re release included additional material and was positioned as a major theatrical event ahead of Avengers Doomsday.
Endgame Encore opened strongly, collecting approximately $86 million worldwide during its opening weekend. That included around $26 million in North America and $60 million from international markets. The performance made it one of the biggest global opening weekends ever recorded for a theatrical re release.
The re release also gave audiences another opportunity to watch the conclusion of the Infinity Saga on the big screen.
Sixth milestone: Endgame becomes the second film to cross $2 billion internationally
During the 2026 Encore run, Endgame achieved another major box office milestone.
The film became the second movie ever to cross $2 billion in international box office revenue. Variety reported that the film's international earnings had passed the $2 billion mark following the re release.
The achievement highlights the unusually broad international appeal of the Marvel franchise.
Unlike many films that rely heavily on one or two major markets, Endgame generated substantial revenue across numerous territories.
Seventh milestone: Endgame reclaims the all time worldwide record
The biggest milestone came in October 2026.
After additional earnings from the Encore theatrical release, Avengers Endgame moved past Avatar once again.
According to Disney, Endgame's worldwide total reached an estimated $2.9255 billion, while Avatar stood at approximately $2.9237 billion. The difference is relatively small, making the latest change in rankings another close chapter in the long running box office competition between the two films.
The additional revenue from the 2026 re release was crucial. Reports indicate that Endgame Encore generated more than $126 million worldwide during its theatrical return. That additional business was enough to push the film back into first place.
The Russo brothers, who directed Avengers Endgame, also thanked fans for returning to cinemas. Marvel Studios similarly acknowledged audiences for helping the film regain the record.
The re release was not only about revisiting a successful film. It was also part of Marvel Studios' strategy to build interest in the next major Avengers movie.
Avengers Doomsday is scheduled for release in December 2026 and is being directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. The upcoming film is expected to bring together a large group of Marvel characters, creating another major crossover event for the franchise.
The timing of Endgame Encore therefore gave Marvel an opportunity to reconnect audiences with the previous Avengers storyline before the next chapter arrives.
The re release also demonstrated the continued commercial strength of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney said Marvel Studios' 38 theatrical films have collectively generated more than $35 billion worldwide, reinforcing the MCU's position as one of the most commercially successful film franchises in cinema history.
The success of Endgame also reflects the growing importance of theatrical re releases in the modern box office market.
Studios increasingly use re releases to bring established films back to cinemas during periods with fewer major new releases. Successful franchise films can attract audiences through nostalgia, premium formats, additional footage and connections to upcoming movies.
Endgame Encore benefited from all of these factors. The film already has a large global fan base, while the upcoming Avengers Doomsday provided an additional reason for audiences to return.
The box office competition with Avatar also shows how worldwide rankings can change years after a film's original release.
Avatar initially dominated the all time box office for almost ten years. Endgame then took the record in 2019. Avatar reclaimed it through its 2021 re release, and Endgame has now taken the position again in 2026.
The latest figures are also not adjusted for inflation. Therefore, the ranking measures nominal worldwide box office revenue rather than the purchasing power of ticket sales across different decades.
For Marvel Studios, the latest achievement is a major commercial milestone at an important point for the franchise.
The MCU has experienced mixed box office results across some projects in recent years, but Endgame's continued ability to attract audiences demonstrates the strength of its most established characters and storylines.
The film's latest success also provides an early indication of the potential audience interest surrounding Avengers Doomsday.
For moviegoers, however, the most significant part of the achievement may be the return of a film that originally became a cultural and commercial phenomenon in 2019.
Avengers Endgame is now once again the highest grossing film in worldwide box office history, with a total of approximately $2.9255 billion.
Whether Avatar or another film eventually takes the record again remains uncertain. For now, Marvel's Endgame has completed another remarkable chapter in its box office journey, moving from a record breaking original release in 2019 to a successful re release seven years later and ultimately reclaiming the global box office crown.
