Over the weekend, Avatar regained the title of the world's highest-grossing film. Avengers: Endgame was #1 for a good eighteen months or so, but James Cameron's film has already gained a significant lead.
Despite only receiving official clearance from China's regulators just three days before it arrived in theaters, the 3D film (which was originally released in 2009) still earned $21.1 million from Friday to Sunday. Another $2.8 million was added yesterday, and The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Chinese ticketing company Maoyan expects Avatar's run to end with a $54.2 million haul.
That means Avatar would sit atop the box office with $2.844 billion compared to $2.797 billion for Avengers: Endgame. With a lead of $47 million, Cameron's film is likely to hold the top spot for a while.
However, before you get too upset about the Infinity Saga's grand finale being knocked down to #2, the trade is quick to explain that, "Someday, the Russo brothers' Avengers: Endgame, the prior record holder, will probably have a shot at a rerelease too, potentially tipping the scales of box-office history back in its favor."
With at least two more Avatar sequels on the way, and an Avengers 5 no doubt likely to break box office records at some point, this battle is far from over. If Disney does choose to put Avengers: Endgame back in theaters, however, then the world of Pandora could soon have the MCU nipping at its heels again.
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