Endgame Reclaims the Record
The all-time box office champion is now Avengers: Endgame, which has taken the top spot back from Avatar. These two films have traded the record repeatedly as theaters brought them back for special runs. Thanks to Disney's latest theatrical return of Endgame, the 2019 superhero film now stands at $2.925 billion in global ticket sales. That total edges out 2009's Avatar, which has earned $2.923 billion worldwide following five separate re-releases.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
Avatar held the top spot for a decade until Endgame overtook the record in 2019 during its initial run. Endgame then dropped to No. 2 on the all-time charts in 2021 when Avatar returned to theaters ahead of Avatar: The Way of Water. Five years later, Earth's Mightiest Heroes have triumphed over the Na'vi again.[S1]
Disney Wins Either Way
Whichever giant film holds the No. 1 position, Disney comes out ahead. Avatar originally came from 20th Century Fox, a studio Disney absorbed through its 2019 merger. Thanks to Fox's movie catalog, Disney now counts seven of the ten biggest earners of all time, among them Avatar: The Way of Water at $2.33 billion, Titanic at $2.26 billion, and Avengers: Infinity War at $2.05 billion.[S1]
Building Hype for Doomsday
Disney and Marvel brought Avengers: Endgame back to theaters to build anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday, arriving in December. Endgame stood out as the payoff to 21 films spread across a decade, assembling virtually every comic book hero, including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Tom Holland as Spider-Man, Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, and Anthony Mackie as Falcon.[S1]
Following a mixed period after the pandemic, Marvel is bringing almost all of its heroes together again in Doomsday, the first such gathering since Endgame. The Endgame re-release has pulled in over $126 million globally, and the strong response has exhibitors eager for Doomsday, which is projected to be among the year's largest releases. Anthony and Joe Russo directed Avengers: Doomsday, the 39th Marvel Cinematic Universe entry. The MCU remains the highest-earning film franchise ever, with a cumulative $35.07 billion across its movies after this summer's blockbuster Spider-Man: Brand New Day reached $2.5 billion and continues to climb.[S1]
