Avengers: Endgame In Danger of Losing Box Office Record To Avatar

Avatar's latest box office haul from China should be enough to overtake Avengers: Endgame in the all-time box office tally this weekend.

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Updated:
Avengers: Endgame logo, Avatar, Avengers: Endgame poster

Back in 2019, Avengers: Endgame defied expectations by successfully finishing off the Infinity Saga chapter of the MCU. On top of that, the film also gave a fitting swan song for several members of the Avengers while also showcasing a plethora of memorable moments along the way.

As a result, the MCU blockbuster broke multiple box office records, ultimately defeating 2009's Avatar to become the highest-grossing film of all time. This is on top of receiving the title of “the most profitable movie” of 2019.

Now, it looks like the James Cameron-directed film has a chance to return to the top of the box-office ladder, as evidenced by a recent report.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME EXPECTED TO LOSE THE BOX OFFICE TITLE TO AVATAR

Deadline shared in a report that James Cameron's Avatar is expected to reclaim the box office title from Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame over the weekend since the former was re-released in China.

Given the massive boom at the country's box office, the numbers show that Avatar made $3.5 million to claim the No. 1 spot on Friday, and this pushed the PRC (People's Republic of China) gross for the film at an estimated $209.9 million.

For context, heading into this weekend, Endgame 's final box office tally is currently at $2.797 billion total while Avatar 's grosses stood at $2.789 billion worldwide.

WILL ANOTHER RE-RUN FOR ENDGAME SAVE THE FILM'S BOX OFFICE REIGN?

The push and pull between Endgame and Avatar continues, which isn't surprising given the close gap between the two box-office behemoths. The 2009 film seemingly took the first shot in terms of reclaiming the title through this latest re-release, and it appears that the strategy worked.

Factors such as China's recovery from the pandemic and the citizens' clamor for big-budget blockbusters could likely serve as reasons for this massive box-office haul, and it's possible that actual numbers will be bigger than what was initially reported. Given the situation, it remains to be seen if Marvel and Disney will fire back with another re-release for Endgame.

Endgame 's first re-release back in 2019 was the boost needed in order to claim the box-office title from Avatar, and a repeat performance makes sense for the studio if ever they decide to take another risk. If they do, it's possible that Endgame will be released with an added bonus, such as the inclusion of several deleted scenes or even a full-blown recap of the Infinity Saga to convince fans that the film is worth seeing again on the big screen.

At this point, it's no secret that this MCU mega-hit falls under the category of films that should be experienced inside a movie theater. That said, it will be interesting to find out if Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige decides to showcase the film again in order to help theaters worldwide recover from the pandemic. It's reasonable to assume that MCU fans will assemble to answer the call if that happens.

- In This Article: Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date
May 01, 2026
Platform
Theaters
Actors
- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.