The eternal battle between the two highest-grossing film franchises has reached another decisive chapter. Avengers: Endgame has reclaimed the top spot at the all-time global box office, once again unseating Avatar, and this time it was James Cameron himself, director of the saga set on Pandora, who reacted publicly.
The reason for this new shake-up in the rankings is the special re-release known as Avengers: Endgame Encore, which arrived in theaters in September 2026 with an additional scene and post-credits sequences designed to set the stage for Avengers: Doomsday. The result was enough of a boost for the Russo brothers' film to move back ahead of Avatar in worldwide gross revenue, not adjusted for inflation.
This news is relevant now because it confirms a pattern that has been repeating between both blockbusters for years, while also reopening the debate on whether any film will be able to break the $3 billion barrier at the global box office.
James Cameron congratulates Marvel for surpassing Avatar
Far from showing rivalry, James Cameron shared a message on social media to celebrate the achievement of Avengers: Endgame Encore. The director began his congratulation with an expression associated with the culture of the Na'vi of Pandora, the fictional people of Avatar, before acknowledging the merit of Marvel and the film for having managed to get audiences back into movie theaters.
The message also included an illustration in which Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr., appears surrounded and embraced by the Na'vi, a visual nod that generated numerous reactions among fans of both franchises.
Beyond the lighthearted tone, Cameron's gesture has an underlying meaning: the director does not interpret Marvel's success as a personal defeat, but as good news for the entire film industry, at a time when attracting millions of viewers to theaters remains one of Hollywood's greatest challenges.
Avengers: Endgame is once again the highest-grossing film in history
According to box office data accumulated as of October 16, 2026, the global ranking is as follows:
- Avengers: Endgame (2019): $2.938 billion.
- Avatar (2009): $2.923 billion.
The difference between the two films is around $15 million, a small margin when compared to the total figures accumulated by each of them over the years.
A competition that has been repeating since 2019
This is not the first time these two films have swapped the top spot. Avengers: Endgame already managed to surpass Avatar in 2019, ending a decade of dominance by James Cameron's film at the global box office.
Subsequently, Avatar reclaimed the lead thanks to successive re-releases, including the one that accompanied the promotion of Avatar: The Way of Water. Now, Marvel has repeated a similar strategy with the Encore re-release of Endgame, and the result has been as expected: the film is once again the highest-grossing in history in global gross figures.
Eyes on Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars
The big question now is how long Avengers: Endgame will manage to stay at the top of the rankings. The main threats to that lead could arise from its own franchise.
Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are emerging as the top candidates to attempt a milestone that no film has achieved yet: surpassing $3 billion at the global box office.
It is a demanding goal, as it would require turning both films into true box office phenomena, capable of attracting both the loyal Marvel audience and viewers who have been away from their stories for some time.
Meanwhile, James Cameron continues to lead the new installments of Avatar, although the saga's revenue trend is pointing downward, making it unlikely that future films will reach the level achieved by the first film in 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Avengers: Endgame overtake Avatar at the box office again?
Thanks to the special re-release Avengers: Endgame Encore, launched in September 2026 with additional material, which once again pushed the film's global revenue above Avatar.
How much money separates Avengers: Endgame from Avatar at the box office?
According to figures accumulated as of October 16, 2026, the difference is around $15 million, with Endgame at $2.938 billion compared to Avatar's $2.923 billion.
How did James Cameron react to this new change in the rankings?
The director shared a congratulatory message to Marvel on social media, accompanied by an illustration of Iron Man alongside the Na'vi from Avatar, celebrating the achievement without showing rivalry.
What content did the Avengers: Endgame Encore re-release add?
It included an additional scene at the end of the film and several post-credits sequences designed to prepare for the arrival of Avengers: Doomsday.
Which films could break the $3 billion barrier?
Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are emerging as the main candidates to attempt to reach that historic figure at the global box office.
Is this the first time Endgame and Avatar have swapped the top spot?
No. Endgame already surpassed Avatar in 2019, but the latter reclaimed the lead thanks to subsequent re-releases, including the one linked to Avatar: The Way of Water.
