Marvel’s blockbuster film, “Avengers: Endgame,” reclaimed its position as the highest-grossing movie ever over the weekend, excluding inflation. The Disney movie garnered a total of $2.9255 billion in earnings, narrowly surpassing James Cameron’s “Avatar,” which raked in $2.9237 billion.
This achievement came after a recent re-release of “Endgame” in cinemas, marking the second time it has surpassed “Avatar” at the box office. The updated version of the superhero ensemble film, released with an additional four minutes, premiered globally with earnings of $86 million ($26 million domestically), as reported by Disney.
The re-release of the film was timed to build anticipation for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe installment, “Avengers: Doomsday,” set to hit theaters on Dec. 18. The new movie will feature familiar faces like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, aiming to reignite audience interest after recent MCU films like “Thunderbolts” and “Captain America: Brave New World” failed to capture viewers.
Among re-releases, only “Star Wars: A New Hope” in 1997 and “The Lion King” in 2011 have had higher domestic opening earnings than “Endgame.” The record-breaking success of “Endgame” in 2019 marked its ascension over “Avatar,” the sci-fi epic depicting a conflict between Na’vi and humans.
Director James Cameron had held the highest-grossing film record since 1998 with “Titanic.” Despite the lower ticket prices during its release, “Avatar” swiftly claimed the top spot in 2010 after only 39 days in theaters. When “Endgame” surpassed “Avatar” in 2019, Cameron graciously congratulated the Marvel team for their achievement.
Following a 2021 re-release in China, “Avatar” reclaimed its top spot by surpassing $2.8 billion in earnings, prompting the “Endgame” directors to pass on their congratulations to Cameron.
The recent back-and-forth record-setting between the two films reflects the unpredictable nature of the box office. While Hollywood experienced its most successful summer in terms of domestic ticket sales this year, it also saw several high-profile flops, including films like “Disclosure Day” and “The End of Oak Street.”
Despite disappointments from major studios like Warner Bros., niche genres such as “Obsession,” “Resident Evil,” and “Backrooms” have garnered significant audience interest, indicating a shift towards unique and unexpected storytelling over established franchise offerings.
