So, I guess I was wrong. Kevin Feige and his gang over at Marvel Studios actually did it. After crawling inch by inch by inch, Avengers: Endgame has finally (though, not “officially” yet) beaten James Cameron’s Sci-Fi epic Avatar to become the highest-grossing film of all time at the global box office. Marvel and Walt Disney announced the news at San Diego Comic-Con, saying that Avengers: Endgame has indeed passed Avatar’s $US 2.788 billion global gross.
According to THR, Disney Studios co-chairman and chief creative officer Alan Horn said:
“A huge congratulations to the Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios teams, and thank you to the fans around the world who lifted Avengers: Endgame to these historic heights.”
However, do note that as of this writing and that historic announcement, Avengers: Endgame‘s global cume is around $US 2789.2 billion, which is still $US 500 000 less than Avatar‘s $US 2789.7 billion. The folks at Disney and Marvel are sure that the gap will be closed by the end of the weekend once the weekend box office numbers are calculated.
Three weeks ago, I confidently mentioned that Avengers: Endgame will not beat Avatar at the global box office despite its re-release. The 22nd entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe did otherworldly numbers in its opening weekend of its initial run. Endgame is the first movie in history to gross more than $US 1 billion in its opening weekend. After just 12 days, it became the fastest film in history to make $US 2 billion, smashing Avatar‘s 47-day record.
But because of the crowded summer period jam-packed with other “must-see” event films, Endgame started to (relatively) slow down at the box office. By the end of its first run, it has broken about every single record out there, except one — it was still $US 40 million short of becoming the highest-grossing film in the history of cinema, sans inflation.
Even with the re-release, it didn’t look too likely that the Marvel film would go on to defeat the Na’vi of Pandora… until last week when the film found itself merely $US 7 million away. I still had my doubts, though.
But hey! Whaddaya know? Captain America and his band of superheroes actually did it. As of Monday morning (MYT), Avengers: Endgame will be the highest-grossing film of all time.
