Marvel and Disney’s superhero epic opened to $1.2 billion globally, but the competition for highest-grossing movie ever is tough.
Can “Avengers: Endgame” beat “Avatar’s” all-time record?
After smashing box office records across the globe, Avengers: Endgame is certain to become only the fifth movie to clear $2 billion at the worldwide box office, not adjusted for inflation.
Yet the question is whether the Disney and Marvel superhero pic can dethrone Avatar‘s $2.78 billion and becoming the top-grossing movie of all-time. It would be a tremendous feat, yet after opening to a record-shattering $1.2 billion globally, including an unheard-of $350 million and $330.5 million in China, nobody should rule it out.
At the very least, Endgame could surpass Titanic to become the No. 2 film globally with between $2.3 billion and $2.5 million.
Timing plays a key role at the box office. Avatar, Titanic ($2.19 billion) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($2.07 billion) all opened in December of their respective years and remained in theaters well past January. Endgame’s prequel, Avengers: Infinity War—which opened in April 2018 to a then-record $257.7 million in North America and $640 million globally—topped out at $2.06 billion.
Unlike those other films, both Infinity War and Endgame kicked off the summer box office season, a far more crowded field.
Endgame, a direct sequel to Infinity War and a culmination of the previous 21 titles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will benefit from strong reviews, including a coveted A+ CinemaScore from audiences and an 82% recommend on PostTrak. Furthermore, it doesn’t face much in the way of competition for two more weeks until Detective Pikachu opens May 10.
The top earners to date domestically in North America are Force Awakens ($936.7 million), Avatar ($760.5 million), Black Panther ($700.1 million) and Infinity War ($678.8 million) and Titanic ($659.4 million), not adjusted for inflation.
