A movie’s success can be measured in many ways - the reception of critics, the reception of the audience, the prizes and statuettes it has won, and plenty more. However, nothing beats this one metric to prove a flick’s success, and it is to be included (or to be on top of!) the highest-grossing movies of all time list! After all, if so many people have watched these famous movies, it might just mean it’s worth your while, too. And if you’ve opened this list on purpose other than choosing which of these blockbusters to dedicate your evening to, then you’re as curious as we are to purely see the statistics (and the numbers that are absolutely incomprehensible to a regular human being).
Anyway, we bet that you’ve already seen some of these highest-grossing movies, but judge not when your writer confesses to not having watched any of the Avatar movies. Guess she’s just all backward and that. However, most of these highest-grossing movies are absolutely worth watching, if not for their value as cinema art, then at the very least for the pure pleasure of it. After all, if so many viewers found a movie to be worthy of and generating, say, two billion nine hundred twenty-two million nine hundred seventeen thousand nine hundred fourteen dollars in revenue, then it is sure proof it’s at the very least simply breathtaking to look at. Worth trying, huh?
So, ready to check which popular movies have made it to the list of the highest-grossing movies ever? And yes, there are both of the Avatars, of course. This time, the list is in a particular order from the highest bidders to the lowers, but you can still give your vote to the iconic movies that you think should’ve deserved a better position on this list. We always care about your opinion!
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Avatar - $2,923,706,026
Avatar gave us some deep ideas on colonization, presented some groundbreaking filming techniques, and made the Papyrus font unusable in the future for all intents and purposes. James Cameron’s masterpiece made $2,923,706,026 at the box office — twelve times more than its original filming budget of only $237,000,000.
I thought they intentionally re-released it so that they could keep their highest ranking slot? From what I read in several articles the original box office gross was $2.49 billion and it was specifically released in theaters again after Avengers: Endgame so that it could keep its top spot.
Avengers: Endgame - $2,799,439,100
What was it for you that turned Avengers: Endgame into an undying epic? Cap catching Thor’s hammer? His very quiet and yet so powerful, “Avengers, assemble”? Iron Man owning his identity one last time in the face of mortal danger? This installment into the Marvel universe made its original budget in the opening week at the domestic box office and went on to accumulate $2,799,439,100 worldwide.
Avatar: The Way Of Water - $2,217,479,262
Whether you are a fan of sequels or not, you have to admit James Cameron managed to do it once again. With this sequel to the 2009 original still running in some cinemas around the world, Avatar: The Way of Water, which tells the “happily ever after” part of the story, has already made $2,217,479,262 worldwide.
Titanic - $2,218,715,176
Interestingly, in its opening week at the domestic box office, Titanic only made 13% of its budget. Nevertheless, it went on to become a huge success and make $2,218,715,176 worldwide. With James Cameron having recently admitted that Jack could have indeed fitted on that board with Rose, it remains to be seen how the 25th anniversary release will fare at the box office.
My eye still twitches to this day if I have to hear My Heart Will Go On, they played it on the radio so much when the movie came out
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - $2,071,310,218
Few movies start as many fan feuds as the Star Wars series. And Episode VII - The Force Awakens was no exception. But whether you went to see it to know exactly what to criticize or because you were genuinely interested in the new generation of rebels, the fact remains that in the opening week alone, the first part of the third Star Wars trilogy made its original budget at the domestic box office, and it later went on to collect $2,071,310,218 worldwide.
Avengers: Infinity War - $2,052,415,039
Admit it, you wiped your tears at least once during the final scenes of Avengers: Infinity War. It was very heartbreaking to see half of your favorite heroes gone in a snap, even though you very well knew they were coming back. The movie went on to make $2,052,415,039 at the box office around the world.
Spider-Man: No Way Home - $1,921,847,111
There may be different arguments for and against it, but the latest reboot of the Spider-Man series has definitely got a lot going for it, as proved by Spider-Man: No Way Home, which made $1,921,847,111 worldwide.
Jurassic World - $1,671,537,444
Some people never learn from mistakes. And until wealthy entrepreneurs stop trying to rebuild the dinosaur-themed amusement park on that one island, we will continue getting new movies about them. Even though Jurassic World was the fourth film in the franchise, it doubled its budget in the opening week at the domestic box office and made $1,671,537,444 overall.
The Lion King - $1,663,075,401
There might have been tons of arguments about whether everyone’s favorite animated classic needed a live-action remake or not, but the fact remains that a lot of people went to see it. It could have been due to nostalgia or out of curiosity, but even though The Lion King came around $70 million shy of its original budget in its opening week at the domestic box office, it went on to make $1,663,075,401 at the box office.
The Avengers - $1,520,538,536
Technically, it was not the one that started it all, but The Avengers was the first MCU movie that brought all your favorite superheroes together and showed how awesome they are when fighting evil with their powers combined. It almost made its original budget in the opening week at the domestic box office and later went on to make $1,520,538,536 worldwide.
Furious 7 - $1,520,538,536
While the Fast & Furious franchise is not exactly intellectual cinema, it does provide some spectacular scenes. Furious 7 almost made its original budget in the opening week at the domestic box office, but later went on to collect $1,520,538,536. It seems like the scene where a race car flew through a skyscraper left a huge impression on audiences.
Top Gun: Maverick - $1,488,732,821
Top Gun: Maverick is one sequel we didn’t know we needed or wanted, but once it hit the screens, it became a huge hit. It went on to make $1,488,732,821 worldwide, proving once again that Tom Cruise has still got it in him.
When they say Tom Cruise has still got it in him, are they talking about the Scientology alien?
Frozen II - $1,453,683,476
Every “happily ever after” has a twist, and even kids’ animation stories are not exempt from it. And just as you were beginning to forget Let It Go, Frozen II hit the theaters. Interestingly, it went on to make even more than the first movie, with an overall box office of $1,453,683,476 worldwide.
Avengers: Age Of Ultron - $1,405,018,048
By the time Avengers: Age of Ultron hit theaters, most of us were into the MCU up to our eyebrows. That’s why it is not surprising that even though in the opening week at the domestic box office it didn’t quite make the original budget, it eventually brought in $1,405,018,048.
Rubbish film, but James Spader is great in it. Especially Ultron's earliest iteration, which is very creepy. "I'm just a puppet without any strings..."
Black Panther - $1,349,926,083
While still hitting all the superhero movie staples, Black Panther was surprisingly fresh and a welcome addition to the MCU. With quite an impressive result in the opening week at the domestic box office, it also went on to make a breathtaking $1,349,926,083 worldwide.
lovely film. am not much into superhero film but went with a friend who was visiting the country after some time. had a great time watching the film with my BFF
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - $1,342,359,942
A lot has been said and written about the Harry Potter movie adaptations. And whatever the overall public opinion on this issue may be, there is no denying that each of these movies made quite an impressive amount at the box office, with The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 taking the cake with $1,342,359,942.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi - $1,334,407,706
Yes, the one where Luke throws his lightsaber away. Apparently, lots of people went to see how he did it, even if to scoff at it later. While the opening week at the domestic box office couldn’t make the original budget by approximately one-third, The Last Jedi made $1,334,407,706 overall worldwide.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - $1,310,466,296
It seems like by the time Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom hit the screens, the audience had started growing weary of the same mistake every entrepreneur in that universe makes around the theme park, as the fifth installment in the franchise didn’t quite make as much as its predecessor. Yet, it still collected an impressive amount of $1,310,466,296.
Frozen - $1,284,540,518
Can you believe that in its opening week at the domestic box office, Frozen only made 0.16% of its original budget? However, what followed later can only be described as a box office takeover. Given the mind-blowing popularity of this animation, we should probably stop wondering how a kids’ movie managed to make $1,284,540,518 worldwide.
Beauty And The Beast - $1,266,115,964
When the news of Disney making a live-action of their tale as old as time became known to the wider audience, it caused a lot of arguments as to whether it was called for. Yet, with an overall box office collection of $1,266,115,964, Beauty and the Beast proved once again that we will watch this story in any form and shape.
Incredibles 2 - $1,243,089,244
The Fate Of The Furious - $1,236,005,118
Iron Man 3 - $1,214,811,252
Minions - $1,159,444,662
Aquaman - $1,148,528,393
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King - $1,146,457,748
Spider-Man: Far From Home - $1,131,927,996
Captain Marvel - $1,128,462,972
I don't know why someone downvoted this one. In fact, I don't understand why people hate Captain Marvel so much. Just because you hate Brie Larson for some reason doesn't mean the character sucks
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon - $1,123,794,079
Skyfall - $1,108,569,499
Good film. Probably Craig's second best - for me he never topped Casino Royale
Transformers: Age Of Extinction - $1,104,054,072
The Dark Knight Rises - $1,081,169,825
Joker - $1,074,458,282
Toy Story 3 - $1,066,970,811
The Dark Knight - $1,006,234,167
Jurassic Park - $1,109,802,321
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker - $1,074,149,279
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - $1,058,682,142
Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - $1,045,713,802
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone - $1,023,842,938
Toy Story 4 - $1,073,394,593
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - $1,066,179,747
Aladdin - $1,050,693,953
Alice In Wonderland - $1,025,468,216
Zootopia - $1,024,121,104
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - $1,017,030,651
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle - $995,339,117
Despicable Me 2 - $970,766,005
The Lion King - $968,511,805
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End - $960,996,492
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness - $955,775,804
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers - $947,944,270
My personal favourite of the three. Bernard Hill is so good throughout Helm's Deep.
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix - $942,278,045
Finding Nemo - $940,352,645
Shrek 2 - $928,760,770
Bohemian Rhapsody - $910,809,311
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring - $898,204,420
Spider-Man 3 - $894,983,373
How did this do better than the vastly superior second outing? Fred Molina is so good as Doc Ock.
Spectre - $880,705,312
Spider-Man: Homecoming - $880,166,924
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith - $868,390,560
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 - $863,756,051
Inside Out - $858,848,019
Thor: Ragnarok - $853,983,879
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - $837,510,597
Inception - $836,848,102
Spider-Man - $825,025,036
Wonder Woman - $822,854,286
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them - $814,044,001
Shrek The Third - $813,367,380
Coco - $807,817,888
Jumanji: The Next Level - $801,693,929
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban - $797,660,766
Despicable Me 3 - $1,034,800,131
Finding Dory - $1,028,570,942
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - $1,027,082,707
Jurassic World: Dominion - $1,001,978,080
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - $977,070,383
The Jungle Book - $966,554,929
The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies - $962,201,338
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - $959,027,992
Minions: The Rise Of Gru - $939,628,210
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - $934,504,700
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets - $925,054,421
The Battle At Lake Changjin - $902,548,476
I'm Chinese, so my mother encouraged me to watch this. It was a good movie and was quite the emotional rollercoaster, though, I'll admit, it's a bit biased towards China.
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire - $896,815,106
The Secret Life Of Pets - $894,328,469
Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs - $886,686,817
Ice Age: Continental Drift - $877,244,782
Wolf Warrior 2 - $870,325,439
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - $865,011,746
Venom - $856,085,151
Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen - $836,303,693
Hi, Mom - $822,009,764
Independence Day - $817,400,891
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales - $794,881,442
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - $792,910,554
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice - $873,637,528
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 - $848,853,382
I've seen 23 of these, but I saw all of the Harry Potter movies and the LOTR ones, so not as surprising to me.
I've seen 23 of these, but I saw all of the Harry Potter movies and the LOTR ones, so not as surprising to me.