Two films released in 2015 broke the record for largest box office weekend of all time. Thanks to their strong openings, the two films — “Jurassic World” followed by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — respectively occupy the fourth and first positions on the list of the highest grossing films of all time.
Neither film breaches the top 10, however, after adjusting for inflation. Classic, older films such as “Doctor Zhivago” and “The Sound of Music” dominate the top films when inflation is taken into account.
Franchise films were not the highest earners until fairly recently. Before the 21st century, war movies, musicals, and sword-and-sandals epics were typically the highest earners. Adjusted for inflation, the 1965 musical drama “The Sound of Music” is the third highest grossing film of all time, and the 1956 biblical epic “The Ten Commandments” is the sixth.
Today, franchises and reboots tend to have the most commercial success. Of the top 20 highest grossing films released after 2000, only three — “Avatar”, “Finding Nemo”, and “The Passion of the Christ” — are neither sequels nor adapted from a pre-existing property.
Click here to see the 100 top grossing films of all time.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: Courtesy of Selznick International Pictures
100. Duel in the Sun
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $451.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $75.3 million
> Studio: Selznick International Pictures
> Release year: 1946
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Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
99. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $451.9 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $136.6 million
> Studio: Lionsgate Films
> Release year: 2013
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
98. Ghost
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $455.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $41.2 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1990
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
97. Toy Story 3
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $461.5 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $224.5 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2010
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
96. Aladdin
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $463.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $48.8 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 1992
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
95. Mrs. Doubtfire
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $465.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $42.3 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1993
Source: Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
94. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $472.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $156.4 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 2002
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
93. Avengers: Age of Ultron
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $473.2 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $258.1 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2015
Source: Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
92. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $473.2 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $66.0 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1984
Source: Courtesy of Aspen Productions
91. M.A.S.H.
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $474.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $22.1 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1970
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
90. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $474.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $20.0 million
> Studio: United Artists
> Release year: 1975
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Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company
89. Swiss Family Robinson
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $475.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $41.3 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1960
Source: Wikimedia Commons
88. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $476.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $75.2 million
> Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Release year: 1963
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
87. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $476.5 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $239.6 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures
> Release year: 2009
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
86. The Bridge on the River Kwai
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $480.9 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26.1 million
> Studio: Columbia Pictures
> Release year: 1957
Source: Courtesy of Amblin Entertainment
85. Men in Black
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $482.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $137.2 million
> Studio: Sony Pictures
> Release year: 1997
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
84. Twister
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $483.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $137.3 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 1996
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Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
83. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $484.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $150.6 million
> Studio: New Line Cinema
> Release year: 2001
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
82. The Poseidon Adventure
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $485.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $29.3 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1972
Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Productions
81. The Best Years of Our Lives
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $486.2 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26.4 million
> Studio: RKO Pictures
> Release year: 1946
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
80. Rocky
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $486.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $4.3 million
> Studio: United Artists
> Release year: 1976
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Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
79. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $486.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5.5 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1975
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
78. Lawrence of Arabia
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $489.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $121.6 million
> Studio: Columbia Pictures
> Release year: 1962
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
77. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $491.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $80.8 million
> Studio: Columbia Pictures
> Release year: 1977
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
76. Lady and the Tramp
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $492.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $36.5 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1955
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
75. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $494.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $172.7 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 2001
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
74. West Side Story
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $494.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $49.1 million
> Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Release year: 1961
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
73. Finding Dory
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $496.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $203.9 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2016
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
72. Smokey and the Bandit
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $502.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17.4 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1977
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
71. Tootsie
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $503.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38.0 million
> Studio: Columbia Pictures
> Release year: 1982
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista
70. Beauty and the Beast
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $504.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $160.6 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2017
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
69. Superman
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $507.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $206.4 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 1978
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
68. The Sixth Sense
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $509.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $58.8 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 1999
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
67. The Dark Knight Rises
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $509.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $293.1 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 2012
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Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
66. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $510.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $127.9 million
> Studio: New Line Cinema
> Release year: 2002
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
65. Back to the Future
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $522.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $43.2 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1985
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
64. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $524.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $144.1 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 2005
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Source: Courtesy of Newmarket Films
63. The Passion of the Christ
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $527.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $32.4 million
> Studio: Newmarket Films
> Release year: 2004
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
62. National Lampoon’s Animal House
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $529.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $11.3 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1978
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
61. The Greatest Show on Earth
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $530.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $36.9 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1952
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
60. My Fair Lady
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $530.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $134.2 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 1964
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures Corporation
59. Spider-Man 2
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $531.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $259.1 million
> Studio: Sony Pictures
> Release year: 2004
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
58. Cinderella
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $533.1 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $29.4 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1950
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
57. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $534.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $203.9 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2016
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Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
56. The Towering Inferno
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $542.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $69.5 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1974
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
55. Finding Nemo
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $544.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $125.0 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2003
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
54. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $544.9 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $125.0 million
> Studio: New Line Cinema
> Release year: 2003
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
53. The Bells of St. Mary’s
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $554.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17.7 million
> Studio: RKO Pictures
> Release year: 1945
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
52. Batman
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $556.5 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $69.1 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 1989
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
51. Blazing Saddles
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $559.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $12.9 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 1974
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
50. Bambi
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $563.2 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $12.9 million
> Studio: RKO Pictures
> Release year: 1942
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists
49. Around the World in 80 Days
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $571.2 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $54.0 million
> Studio: United Artists
> Release year: 1956
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
48. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $571.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $273.1 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2006
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
47. The Robe
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $578.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $45.8 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1953
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
46. American Graffiti
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $580.9 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $4.3 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1973
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
45. Airport
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $584.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $63.1 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1970
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
44. Goldfinger
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $586.1 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $23.7 million
> Studio: United Artists
> Release year: 1964
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
43. Beverly Hills Cop
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $593.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $35.3 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1984
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
42. Cleopatra
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $593.9 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $335.9 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1963
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
41. Pinocchio
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $595.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $43.7 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1940
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
40. Home Alone
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $598.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $28.1 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1990
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
39. Independence Day
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $612.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $117.0 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1996
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
38. Spider-Man
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $614.2 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $189.1 million
> Studio: Sony Pictures
> Release year: 2002
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
37. Love Story
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $618.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $13.9 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1970
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
36. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $623.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $40.0 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1969
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
35. Shrek 2
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $628.1 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $90.7 million
> Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
> Release year: 2004
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
34. Ghostbusters
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $629.2 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $70.7 million
> Studio: Columbia Pictures
> Release year: 1984
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
33. Sleeping Beauty
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $642.5 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $50.5 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1959
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
32. The Jungle Book
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $651.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $29.3 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1967
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
31. The Dark Knight
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $658.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $210.3 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 2008
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
30. Thunderball
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $661.2 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $69.9 million
> Studio: United Artists
> Release year: 1965
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
29. The Avengers
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $679.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $239.8 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2012
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
28. Grease
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $680.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $22.5 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1978
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
27. Mary Poppins
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $691.1 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $47.4 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1964
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
26. Forrest Gump
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $695.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $90.8 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1994
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
25. The Godfather
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $697.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $41.0 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1972
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
24. Jurassic World
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $698.8 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $222.0 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 2015
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
23. Fantasia
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $734.1 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38.0 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1940
Source: Wikimedia Commons
22. The Graduate
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $756.5 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $22.0 million
> Studio: AVCO Embassy Pictures
> Release year: 1967
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
21. Raiders of the Lost Ark
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $782.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $53.8 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1981
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
20. The Sting
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $788.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $30.3 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1973
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Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
19. The Lion King
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $788.1 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $131.0 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 1994
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
18. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $798.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $168.9 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1999
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
17. Jurassic Park
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $812.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $106.7 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1993
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
16. Return of the Jedi
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $831.5 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $79.9 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1983
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
15. Avatar
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $859.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $484.8 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 2009
Source: Wikimedia Commons
14. Ben-Hur
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $866.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $126.2 million
> Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Release year: 1959
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
13. The Empire Strikes Back
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $867.9 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $68.3 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1980
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
12. 101 Dalmatians
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $883.3 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $32.7 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1961
Source: Wikimedia Commons
11. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $955.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $316.0 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 2015
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $963.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $25.3 million
> Studio: Walt Disney Studios
> Release year: 1937
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
9. The Exorcist
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $977.7 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $66.1 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 1973
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
8. Doctor Zhivago
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.1 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $85.5 million
> Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Release year: 1965
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
7. Jaws
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.1 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $54.6 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1975
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
6. The Ten Commandments
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.2 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $121.5 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1956
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
5. Titanic
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.2 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $305.0 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1997
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
4. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.3 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26.6 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1982
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
3. The Sound of Music
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.3 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $63.7 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1965
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
2. Star Wars
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.6 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $44.4 million
> Studio: 20th Century Fox
> Release year: 1977
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1. Gone with the Wind
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.8 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $68.7 million
> Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Release year: 1939
Detailed Findings
New technology has likely helped more recent films achieve greater commercial success. IMAX and 3D showings are more expensive than traditional formats and are rising as the preferred format for both filmmakers and moviegoers. The number of 3D screens worldwide has nearly doubled from 45,546 in 2012 to 87,176 in 2016, and the portion of 3D screens as a share of all digital screens rose from 51% to 56%.
While the number of total annual ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada fell by roughly 1.1 billion between 2009 and 2016, the total box office revenue in the region rose by $800 million due to added revenue from 3D tickets.
Increased revenue from 3D ticket sales helped “Avatar” smash box office records upon its release. In 2010, “Avatar” surpassed “Titanic” as the highest grossing movie at the time despite selling less than half the tickets. The reason? Roughly three in every four tickets sold for “Avatar” were for 3D presentations, which at the time were $2 to $4 more expensive than 2D tickets.
Despite the boost recent releases get from 3D and IMAX, when adjusted for inflation, the very highest grossing films are older movies. All of the 10 highest-grossing films were released before 2000.
Many of the highest grossing films of all time made before 1980 earned a bulk of their box office totals through multiple theatrical re-releases. This is particularly true for Disney animated features, many of which earned most of their box office totals over the past several decades. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, for example, earned 64% of its total box office since 1983, 46 years after its original theatrical release. With this in mind, it’s not hard to guess which American classic is the highest motion picture of all time.
Methodology
To determine the top 100 grossing movies of all time, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed the lifetime domestic gross of all films that received a theatrical release after 1920 with data from Box Office Mojo, adjusted for ticket price inflation. Data on production budgets came from film industry website The Numbers and were adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index annual averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For films that were not represented on The Numbers, data on production budgets were gathered from outside sources.
These are the 100 highest grossing movies of all time.
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