'Avengers: Endgame' reclaims all-time box office crown from 'Avatar'

"Avengers: Endgame" has overtaken "Avatar" to reclaim the title of the highest-grossing movie of all time, with its latest theatrical re-release taking its worldwide box office haul to USD 2.925 billion.

The 2019 Marvel superhero film now sits just ahead of James Cameron's 2009 blockbuster "Avatar", which has a worldwide gross of USD 2.923 billion, Variety reported.

The two films have repeatedly traded places at the top of the all-time box office rankings, helped by theatrical re-releases and continued audience interest in both franchises.

"Avatar" had held the top position for about a decade before "Avengers: Endgame" surpassed it following its 2019 release.

The Marvel film later slipped to second place in 2021 when "Avatar" returned to cinemas ahead of the release of its sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water".

Disney has now brought "Avengers: Endgame" back to theatres ahead of the release of "Avengers: Doomsday", the next major instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, "Avengers: Doomsday" is scheduled for release in December.

The upcoming film is expected to reunite several familiar Marvel characters and will feature Robert Downey Jr in a new role as the villain Doctor Doom.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen mixed performances at the box office in the post-pandemic period, making the upcoming "Doomsday" an important release for the franchise as it moves into its next phase.

The film's return to the top of the global box office charts comes as audiences await the next chapter of the "Avengers" saga.