I’d actually give Avengers: Endgame more credit if they just blatantly called this weekend “The ‘Beat Avatar’ Campaign.” Because we all know that’s the real reason for this re-release of Endgame back into theaters with an Anthony Russo introduction, an unfinished Hulk deleted scene, and a Spider-Man: Far From Home tease (even though that movie opens in less than a week).
But you know what? I’m OK with it. Hell, I support it, and I plan to head back to theaters to see Avengers: Endgame for a fifth time, paying for a ticket out of my own pocket, because I, too, want this incredible superhero ensemble to be the highest-grossing film of all time.
Isn’t that stupid?
Nothing changes in my life if Avatar remains the high-grossing film on the global charts. Avengers: Endgame can be very proud of the its $2.4 billion worldwide haul. The world will continue to spin, though it will spin around James Cameron’s orbit.
But as Avengers: Endgame barreled through box office records left and right, I’ll admit I became personally invested in the blockbuster’s quest to finally dethrone Avatar, for two reasons. First, I love Avengers: Endgame. It has become my all-time favorite movie, knocking John McTiernan’s original Die Hard out of the spot that used to be known as my personal favorite movie of all time. I grew up as a Marvel kid. Seeing all of these heroes on screen in a movie that, narratively, justified their team up? It was Geek Heaven.
Professionally, I also just consider the construction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to be the most incredible, borderline-impossible achievement in terms of production, storytelling, continuity, marketing… all of it. It’s a delicate house of cards that should have toppled at some point over the course of 11 years. All credit to Kevin Feige and his miraculous team for pulling off the magic trick that has been the MCU. And no matter where it all goes from here, they will be able to point at the Infinity Saga and say, “For 23 movies, we did it. Here it is. No one can touch that.”
And I want that effort to be rewarded with the top slot on the worldwide box office charts.
Secondly, there aren’t a lot of movies that will have a legitimate shot at selling enough tickets to dethrone Avatar, which was a phenomenon in its day (and benefitted greatly from the increased price of a 3D movie ticket). If not Avengers: Endgame, then what? Possibly Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but after the performances of Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Last Jedi, that franchise isn’t a sure-fire bet.
Avatar 2? I mean, possible, and wouldn’t that be ironic?
No, I actively root for Avengers: Endgame because it feels like the only real shot we have at seeing the champ dethroned, and there’s something exciting about that. It’s also a golden opportunity for a movie I personally like to be in that top slot, so I’m invested.
And that’s why I’ll be going out this next weekend to drop down some ticket money to throw a little more support behind Avengers: Endgame. As support for the Russo Brothers, and their miraculous accomplishment. As support for Marvel Studios, and the world that they have created on screen. A world I have grown to love 3,000 And yes, to get my hands on this beautiful poster.
Excelsior!
