By NIKKI FINKE

Given that the Walt Disney Co announced its $4 billion purchase of Marvel three years ago almost to the day, that price tag looks like a bargain after Summer 2012. Because Marvel’s The Avengers in its 19th week of global release has passed $1.5 billion in worldwide theatrical grosses through Sunday. It’s now the world’s 3rd biggest movie of all time (not adjusted for inflation or higher ticket prices or 3D premium sales) behind only #2 Titanic (1997) and #1 Avatar (2009).

After Disney re-released the superheroes assembly actioner into 1,705 locations this weekend, it took in another $1.7M in North America. Its 4-day Labor Day holiday domestic take is estimated at $2.2M. That puts its domestic cume through Sunday at $619.5M and through Monday at $620.1M. Its estimated international gross through Sunday is $882.3M. For a new global cume through Sunday of $1,501.8M.

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