James Cameron Welcomes Iron Man to Pandora After ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Steals the Box Office Crown Back

Hollywood’s longest-running rivalry has produced another classy chapter. James Cameron’s tribute to ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is a reminder that even the biggest box office battles can end with a handshake.

The two films at the center of it have traded the all-time title before. ‘Avatar‘ held the worldwide record for about a decade after its 2009 release, until ‘Endgame’ passed it in July 2019 after 89 days in theaters. ‘Avatar’ then reclaimed the crown in March 2021 thanks to a re-release in China.

Now the pendulum has swung again. Cameron has shared official crossover artwork congratulating Marvel, and it shows Iron Man standing in the middle of a circle of Na’vi, with Jake and Neytiri among them placing their hands on him in a gesture of welcome.

James Cameron has released official artwork celebrating ‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’ becoming the highest grossing film of all time, passing ‘AVATAR’. https://t.co/YsVEP0jdR0

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 16, 2026

The message on the image borrows the ritual phrase the Na’vi use to accept an outsider into the clan. That phrase appeared in the original ‘Avatar’ and again in ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, so it carries real weight in Cameron’s world. Beneath it, the text congratulates Marvel and the #1 ‘Avengers: Endgame: Encore’ for bringing moviegoers to cinemas, and it’s signed Jim Cameron.

It’s a warm gesture, and arguably a step beyond his last note. When ‘Endgame’ first passed ‘Avatar’ in 2019, the post showed Iron Man surrounded by woodsprite seeds with an “I see you” message. This time, he’s gone from acknowledging the rival to welcoming him in.

The crown changed hands because of ‘Avengers: Endgame: Encore’, a re-release that arrived on September 25. It runs 185 minutes, about 4 minutes longer than the original, and includes new footage designed to build excitement for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. Some critics have joked that it’s essentially a very long advertisement for the December sequel.

The strategy worked. The re-release opened to $86 million worldwide, including $26 million in North America and $60 million internationally, which made it the 2nd-biggest global opening for a re-release, behind only the 2012 3D return of ‘Titanic’. By its 2nd weekend, Encore had reached roughly $126 million worldwide.

That haul pushed ‘Endgame’ to about $2.925 billion globally, just ahead of ‘Avatar’ at $2.923 billion, a gap of only around $2 million at first. The total has since climbed to roughly $2.93 billion, giving Marvel a bit more breathing room. Those figures are not adjusted for inflation, which is worth remembering whenever fans argue about who really owns the title.

It’s also notable that ‘Avatar’ reached its total after 5 re-releases of its own. That means the ‘Endgame’ comeback required a real push from Disney, which owns both films since its 2019 merger with 20th Century Fox. Some fans have already predicted that Cameron will try to win the record back with another ‘Avatar’ re-release.

The record also sets the stage for what comes next. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ sits in 3rd place on the all-time chart with around $2.5 billion, so Marvel now occupies 2 of the top 3 spots. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives on December 18, where it will face ‘Dune: Part Three’ in a big year-end box office clash.

Industry watchers see the re-release as more than a stunt. It put ‘Endgame’ back in front of audiences just before the next big crossover, and it gave the MCU a headline-friendly milestone after a mixed few years. For theaters, a re-release that tops the weekend chart is a reminder that audiences still show up for events.

Relive the experience. Avengers Endgame: Encore returns September 25. Additional tickets are now available. Get yours now: https://t.co/YUDHH3cQPP https://t.co/wZhv2MzMgm

— Avengers (@Avengers) September 1, 2026

Rivalry is usually the story with these two films, but the tone here is gracious. The Russo brothers responded to Cameron’s earlier note with admiration, and Marvel playfully tipped its hat to ‘Avatar’ when the crown moved the other way in 2021. This latest post continues that tradition of mutual respect.

It also frames the achievement in a way that benefits everyone. Cameron’s message credits Marvel for getting people into cinemas, which is the real prize for a business that depends on audiences showing up. Whether ‘Avatar’ returns for another run or not, the friendly back-and-forth keeps both franchises in the spotlight.

For now, Iron Man has earned his place among the Na’vi, and the Avengers can enjoy the view from the top. How long that lasts is anyone’s guess.

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