Avatar

Avengers: Endgame is on the verge of overtaking Avatar as the highest-grossing film of all time, following strong returns from its encore theatrical re-release. The Marvel blockbuster's rerelease box office numbers have closed the gap with James Cameron's Avatar, which has held the top spot since 2009. The record could change hands within days.

Forbes reports that the profits of the first Avatar film exceeded the combined profits of Avatar: The Way of Water and the upcoming third installment. The claim highlights how, despite the sequels' enormous box-office grosses, the original 2009 film remains the franchise's financial high point, prompting discussion about rising production and marketing costs in big-budget filmmaking.