Avengers: Endgame returned to theaters on September 25, 2026, as Avengers: Endgame Encore, and the re-release is doing something few industry watchers expected. Seven years after its original run, the film is back at No. 1 at the box office and is now within striking distance of two records that once looked out of reach. The Encore version adds new footage tied to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, and its box office earnings are being added to the film’s original total. That decision puts Endgame on a path to possibly retake the all-time global box office crown from Avatar. It also puts the film in position to set a new high for a re-release opening weekend.
The Two Records Endgame Encore Is Chasing
Avengers: Endgame currently sits at $2.88 billion worldwide after the Encore weekend, according to studio estimates. Avatar remains at the top with $2.9 billion. The gap is now about $39 million, which is a small number for a film that just made $86 million globally in three days.
The first record is the all-time global box office title. Endgame first took that crown in 2019, but a 2021 re-release of Avatar in China pushed the James Cameron film back to the top. The Encore release is designed to close that gap. If the re-release holds up in the coming weeks, Endgame can pass Avatar again and become the highest-grossing film in history, not adjusted for inflation.
The second record is the biggest opening weekend for a re-release in North America. The current mark belongs to the 1997 special edition of Star Wars: A New Hope, which opened to $35.9 million domestically. The 2011 re-release of The Lion King is second with $30.2 million. Endgame Encore is tracking to land around $26 million domestically for the weekend, which would put it third on that list, but the overseas numbers are strong enough that the global total for a re-release is already in record territory.
How Much Endgame Encore Made in Its Opening Weekend
Endgame Encore opened on Friday, September 25, 2026, and made $11.2 million from 3,060 North American screens on its first day. That figure includes $3.8 million from Thursday preview screenings. By Sunday, September 27, the domestic total for the weekend is expected to reach about $26 million.
Overseas markets added another $60 million, bringing the global opening weekend to $86 million. That is a strong result for a re-release, especially one arriving seven years after the original film first hit theaters.
In India, the film opened to ₹7.25 crore nett on day one from 3,635 screens. Day two brought in ₹7.65 crore from 3,700 screens, pushing the two-day gross to ₹17.83 crore and the nett total to ₹14.90 crore. The English version led the way with ₹5.60 crore on Saturday, followed by the Hindi version at ₹1.35 crore. The Tamil and Telugu versions each added ₹35 lakh.
What Is Different in the Encore Version
Avengers: Endgame Encore is not the same cut that audiences saw in 2019. The original film ran 181 minutes. The Encore version runs 183 minutes in standard theaters and 186 minutes in Infinity Vision, a new premium large format from Marvel.
The added footage includes an introduction from Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans thanking fans. There are also new end-credits scenes that connect the film to Avengers: Doomsday, which opens on December 18, 2026. Three of the new scenes play in all theaters. A fourth scene is only available in IMAX or Infinity Vision screenings.
Director Joe Russo has said the Encore version is essential viewing before Doomsday. The new footage is meant to set up the story that will continue in the next Avengers film.
Why the Box Office Numbers Are Being Combined
Disney and Marvel confirmed that the box office earnings from Endgame Encore will be added to the original Endgame total. That decision is what makes the run at the all-time record possible. Without combining the totals, the re-release would be counted as a separate entry and would not affect the film’s place on the all-time chart.
Combining the totals is not a new practice. Re-releases have been counted alongside original runs for years, which is how Avatar reclaimed the top spot in 2021. The same rule now applies to Endgame Encore.
The re-release also serves a marketing purpose. It keeps Avengers in the public conversation ahead of Doomsday, which brings back Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom rather than Iron Man. The Encore release gives fans a reason to return to theaters and a look at what is coming next.
Where Endgame Encore Stands in the All-Time Chart
As of September 27, 2026, the all-time global box office chart looks like this:
- Avatar (2009) — $2.923 billion
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) — $2.88 billion after Encore
- Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) — $2.32 billion
- Titanic (1997) — $2.25 billion
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) — $2.33 billion
Endgame is the only film on the list that has a chance to move up without a new release. The Encore run is the final push to close the gap with Avatar. A weekend total of $86 million globally puts the film within $39 million of the record. If the re-release continues to draw audiences in the coming weeks, Endgame can pass Avatar and take back the top spot.
The Domestic Record Within Reach
The domestic opening weekend for a re-release is a smaller prize, but it is still a record that has stood for nearly 30 years. Star Wars: A New Hope set the mark in 1997 with $35.9 million. The Lion King came close in 2011 with $30.2 million. Endgame Encore is projected to open to about $26 million domestically, which would place it third on that list.
The global opening for a re-release is a different story. No re-release has ever opened to $86 million worldwide. Endgame Encore has already set that mark. The film’s performance overseas is what makes the all-time record chase possible. Without the $60 million from international markets, the domestic total alone would not be enough to close the gap with Avatar.
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A Victory Lap Before Doomsday
Avengers: Endgame Encore is more than a re-release. It is a bridge between the end of the Infinity Saga and the start of the next phase of Avengers films. The new footage, the Infinity Vision format, and the combined box office totals all point to one goal: putting Endgame back on top before Doomsday arrives.
The film is playing in theaters across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and other markets. Tickets are available through standard theater chains and premium formats including IMAX and Infinity Vision. Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, 2026.
Also Read: Avengers Endgame Encore: 4 New Scenes Explained and What They Mean for Doomsday
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