Avengers: Endgame returned to theaters last month as Avengers Endgame: Encore. To set the stage for this December's Avengers: Doomsday, it was given a new scene at the end and multiple post-credits scenes.
That and the chance to experience the 2019 blockbuster on the big screen again was enough to get fans to buy a ticket. As a result, it managed to retake the top spot from Avatar at the worldwide box office by the time its second weekend ended.
Avengers: Endgame beat Avatar when it was originally released, but that didn't last long, as James Cameron's sci-fi epic retook the crown when it returned to theaters to build hype for 2022's Avatar: The Way of Water.
Now, Cameron has broken his silence on Avengers: Endgame becoming the world's biggest movie again, writing, "'You are one of the people.' Congratulations to Marvel and the #1 Avengers Endgame: Encore for bringing moviegoers to the cinemas!"
That was accompanied by a new piece of artwork showing Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man being embraced by Pandora's Na'vi. Another Avatar re-release could help it regain the top spot, though it doesn't seem likely. The last Avatar movie, Fire and Ash, didn't even crack $2 billion, so the franchise breaking any more records is doubtful.
Asked recently whether Encore's post-credits scene mentioning that 3000 Incursions was a nod to Tony Stark's iconic "I love you 3000 line," Joe Russo teased, "I mean, could be? There are a lot of really experienced brains working on Doomsday, and we try to think through everything. We love Easter eggs, and we love connectivity."
"So, I will say that there are... You're definitely lighting on a concept, which is outside of the new footage," he added. "There are other clues in Endgame that will lead you to Doomsday."
The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, Avengers: Endgame.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the movie features an epic ensemble which includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin.
"Avengers: Endgame is a masterpiece which not only delivers on every expectation you had but exceeds ones you didn't even think about," we wrote in our review of the re-release. "This isn't just a movie; it's an experience and one that only gets better for its Encore."
Avengers Endgame: Encore is now playing in theaters.