What a year for directors Joe and Anthony Russo. Actually, what a past five years with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It all culminated in 2019 with Avengers: Endgame. After three months in theaters, Endgame managed to defeat James Cameron's Avatar as the highest-grossing movie of all time.
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige announced the big news last night during the jam-packed MCU panel at San Diego Comic-Con. But it took until this morning for the actual box office numbers to be official.
Here are the numbers as of Sunday, July 21, per Box Office Mojo (not adjusted for inflation):
Avengers: Endgame worldwide - $2,790,216,193Avatar worldwide - $2,789,700,000
Amazing.
The Russo Brothers screen-shot an article announcing the big Avengers/Avatar news, adding this praise on social media for the people who really made it possible:
To the greatest fans in the universe, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you…
(Side note: It looks like Tom Brady, who knows from victories, replied to that with "Amazing. Congrats. Hard earned and well deserved!!!")
Chris Hemsworth, who is far from done as Thor in the MCU, did something similar by screen-shotting another news story with his own praise for fans:
Thank you to all the fans around the world that lifted Avengers Endgame to historic heights making it the top grossing film of all time!!
Yes, the sweet rabbits of the world came through for Thor and friends. Teamwork made the dream work.
Chris Hemsworth was on the Comic-Con stage last night for Thor 4, which was revealed to be titled Thor: Love and Thunder. The movie will also bring back the new Asgard ruler Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and even Jane Foster herself (Natalie Portman).
Chris Hemsworth also reunited with the Russo Brothers for Dhaka, which was produced by the brothers and written by Joe Russo. We'll see that one on Netflix at some point. The Russos also recently announced a bunch of other post-Endgame projects, including some with more MCU heroes.
The Russo Brothers entered the MCU after directing Welcome to Collinwood and You, Me and Dupree, along with producing and directing episodes of Community and directing other TV shows like Arrested Development. It took some pretty inspired vision to see them as the right choices for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but damn did they knock that 2014 film out of the park. The Russos continued for Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War before Avengers: Endgame. A perfect track record. After so much time with Cap, it's no wonder he had their favorite character arc.
It's going to be hard for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to top Avengers: Endgame, especially now that it's the new king of the world. (James Cameron has yet to weigh in on Avengers 4 defeating Avatar, like he did for Titanic, but stay tuned.) Keep up with everything ahead in the MCU with our handy guide. You're going to need it.
