Yahoo Movies James Cameron congratulates 'Avengers: Endgame' for smashing 'Avatar' box office record
Avatar director James Cameron has publicly congratulated Marvel for breaking his film’s global box office record with Avengers: Endgame.
The superhero blockbuster passed the 2009 sci-fi epic over the weekend, with its $2.9bn (£2.3bn) gross out-stripping the $2.79bn (£2.2bn) record set by Cameron’s movie.
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The official Twitter account for Avatar and its upcoming sequels posted a message signed “Jim Cameron”, using the greeting “Oel ngati kameie” from the Na’vi language, which translates as “I see you” in English.
He added: “Congraulations to Avengers Endgame on becoming the new box-office king."
Congratulations, @MarvelStudios! pic.twitter.com/DWZDX0uDVi
— Avatar (@officialavatar) July 22, 2019
The message is part of a long-standing tradition dating back more than 40 years in which filmmakers congratulate each other for breaking box office records.
Steven Spielberg started the trend when he publicly honoured pal George Lucas after Star Wars overtook Jaws for domestic video rentals in 1977.
Cameron has already congratulated Endgame once, when its global total surpassed his other box office behemoth Titanic in May.
Avengers: Endgame directors the Russo Brothers also took to their own Twitter page, showing their appreciation for Cameron’s cinematic legacy.
To @JimCameron- you're a monumental reason why we fell in love with film in the first place. Thank you for always inspiring us and opening the world’s eyes to what’s possible. We can’t wait to see where you take us next... pic.twitter.com/nrOqKVjGFa
— Russo Brothers (@Russo_Brothers) July 22, 2019
Endgame has finally pushed itself over the finishing line in surpassing Avatar’s box office dominance, following the release of a special edition including extra footage and a tribute to the late Marvel boss Stan Lee.
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Avatar itself had a re-release in 2010, with an additional seven minutes of material added to the running time.
Marvel announced the achievement at their Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, during which Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige unveiled the studio’s slate for the next few years.
Cameron, meanwhile, will be hoping to regain his box office crown with his return to Pandora, due to begin with Avatar 2 in December 2021.
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Three additional sequels are planned, stretching all of the way through until 2027.
Maybe Feige will be crafting his own message of congratulations to Cameron in the near future.
