Less than two weeks after its release, “Avengers: Endgame” is one of the most popular films ever released. The most recent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe surpassed “Titanic” this past weekend to become the second highest grossing film of all time at the worldwide box office. The movie has grossed about $2.19 billion as of May 5, 2019, and is quickly approaching the record gross of $2.79 billion held by “Avatar.”
While the domestic box office remains a huge market for movies, most blockbuster films generate the majority of their theatrical grosses overseas. In some cases, the international box office accounts for more than 75% of a film’s total gross. “Avengers: Endgame” has made nearly 72% of its total box office gross outside of North America, so far.
While “Endgame” has not beat “Avatar’s” total gross, it has trumped it in at least one metric. It took 47 days for “Avatar” to pass the $2 billion mark after its release. “Endgame” accomplished this in a mere 11 days. The movie also had the best opening weekend of all time.
The Avengers film does have the advantage of belonging to the hugely popular Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. The movie had an established fanbase upon its release, which “Avatar” did not. Of the 25 movies with the highest worldwide grosses, seven are Marvel series films. Many of these are also among the highest grossing movies domestically.
Click here to see the world’s highest grossing movies of all time
To identify the top grossing films worldwide, 24/7 Tempo reviewed all time worldwide gross movie theater ticket sales from movie ticket tracking website Box Office Mojo. Ticket prices are not adjusted for inflation.
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
25. Skyfall (2012)
> Worldwide gross: $1.11 billion
> Domestic gross: $304.4 million (27.5% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
24. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
> Worldwide gross: $1.12 billion
> Domestic gross: $377.8 million (33.7% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
23. Captain Marvel (2019)
> Worldwide gross: $1.12 billion
> Domestic gross: $420.8 million (37.6% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
22. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
> Worldwide gross: $1.12 billion
> Domestic gross: $352.4 million (31.4% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
21. Aquaman (2018)
> Worldwide gross: $1.15 billion
> Domestic gross: $335.1 million (29.2% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
20. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
> Worldwide gross: $1.15 billion
> Domestic gross: $408.1 million (35.4% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
19. Minions (2015)
> Worldwide gross: $1.16 billion
> Domestic gross: $336.0 million (29.0% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
18. Iron Man 3 (2013)
> Worldwide gross: $1.21 billion
> Domestic gross: $409.0 million (33.7% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
17. The Fate of the Furious (2017)
> Worldwide gross: $1.24 billion
> Domestic gross: $226.0 million (18.3% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
16. Incredibles 2 (2018)
> Worldwide gross: $1.24 billion
> Domestic gross: $608.6 million (49.0% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
15. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
> Worldwide gross: $1.26 billion
> Domestic gross: $504.0 million (39.9% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
14. Frozen (2013)
> Worldwide gross: $1.28 billion
> Domestic gross: $400.7 million (31.4% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
13. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
> Worldwide gross: $1.31 billion
> Domestic gross: $417.7 million (31.9% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
12. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
> Worldwide gross: $1.33 billion
> Domestic gross: $620.2 million (46.5% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
> Worldwide gross: $1.34 billion
> Domestic gross: $381.2 million (28.4% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
10. Black Panther (2018)
> Worldwide gross: $1.35 billion
> Domestic gross: $700.1 million (52.0% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
9. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
> Worldwide gross: $1.41 billion
> Domestic gross: $459.0 million (32.7% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
8. Furious 7 (2015)
> Worldwide gross: $1.52 billion
> Domestic gross: $353.0 million (23.3% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
7. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
> Worldwide gross: $1.52 billion
> Domestic gross: $623.4 million (41.0% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
6. Jurassic World (2015)
> Worldwide gross: $1.67 billion
> Domestic gross: $652.3 million (39.0% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
5. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
> Worldwide gross: $2.05 billion
> Domestic gross: $678.8 million (33.1% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
> Worldwide gross: $2.07 billion
> Domestic gross: $936.7 million (45.3% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
3. Titanic (1997)
> Worldwide gross: $2.19 billion
> Domestic gross: $659.4 million (30.1% of total gross)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Worldwide gross: $2.19 billion
> Domestic gross: $619.7 million (28.3% of total gross)
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Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
1. Avatar (2009)
> Worldwide gross: $2.79 billion
> Domestic gross: $760.5 million (27.3% of total gross)
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