Overview
- Disney reported that Avengers: Endgame moved ahead of Avatar in unadjusted lifetime grosses on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at about $2.9255 billion versus Avatar’s $2.9237 billion.
- The Encore run, released Sept. 25, 2026, included a modified ending and new post-credit scenes and earned an $11.2 million opening Friday from 3,060 locations to boost the film’s cumulative total.
- Director James Cameron publicly congratulated Marvel with bespoke crossover artwork that welcomed Iron Man into the Na’vi community, repeating a friendly gesture he made when Endgame first topped Avatar in 2019.
- The margin between the two films is narrow and based on unadjusted studio totals, so future reissues or premium-format runs could flip the positions again, and both titles now sit under Disney’s ownership.
- Industry observers say the Encore strategy shows how low-cost re-releases and selective premium screenings can drive box-office gains while also serving as promotion for Avengers: Doomsday and bringing more customers back to theaters.