Artistic aspirations and cinematic innovations may be the driving force behind many Hollywood films, but at the end of the day, the industry is driven by profit – much more so than international cinema. Yet at the end of the day, the industry is driven by profit, much more so than international cinema. As a result, Hollywood has led the world in producing high-earning, high-appeal blockbusters.
Movies today make more money than ever before. It is not uncommon for blockbuster films to now gross over $100 million at the domestic box office. Some films have grossed nearly $1 billion. 2018 has already delivered two major box office winners with “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Black Panther,” which had the most successful opening weekend ever at the domestic box office.
24/7 Wall St. has identified the top 100 grossing movies of all time based on domestic box office data provided by movie business site The Numbers. All dollar amounts have been adjusted for inflation to provide a fairer comparison.
Click here to see the top 100 grossing movies of all time.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: Courtesy of Fathom Events
100. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
> Domestic box office gross: $270.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.01B
> Production budget: $261.9M
> Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
99. Batman Forever (1995)
> Domestic box office gross: $271.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.50B
> Production budget: $147.5M
> Starring: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
98. Sing (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $274.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.65B
> Production budget: $76.3M
> Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
97. The Hangover Part II (2011)
> Domestic box office gross: $275.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.63B
> Production budget: $86.5M
> Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms
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Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
96. X2 (2003)
> Domestic box office gross: $276.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.52B
> Production budget: $160.8M
> Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
95. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
> Domestic box office gross: $278.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.80B
> Production budget: $233.5M
> Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
94. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
> Domestic box office gross: $278.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.55B
> Production budget: $249.7M
> Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
93. Monsters University (2013)
> Domestic box office gross: $281.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.78B
> Production budget: $209.5M
> Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
92. Armageddon (1998)
> Domestic box office gross: $284.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.78B
> Production budget: $197.3M
> Starring: Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
91. War of the Worlds (2005)
> Domestic box office gross: $286.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.74B
> Production budget: $161.2M
> Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
90. Gravity (2013)
> Domestic box office gross: $287.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.73B
> Production budget: $115.2M
> Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris
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Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
89. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)
> Domestic box office gross: $289.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.67B
> Production budget: $164.6M
> Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
88. Star Trek (2009)
> Domestic box office gross: $290.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.43B
> Production budget: $157.7M
> Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
87. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
> Domestic box office gross: $291.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.74B
> Production budget: $162.6M
> Starring: Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
86. I am Legend (2007)
> Domestic box office gross: $297.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.68B
> Production budget: $174.0M
> Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
85. Night at the Museum (2006)
> Domestic box office gross: $298.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.69B
> Production budget: $130.8M
> Starring: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Ricky Gervais
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
84. Rush Hour 2 (2001)
> Domestic box office gross: $300.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.46B
> Production budget: $119.7M
> Starring: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, John Lone
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Source: Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
83. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 (2011)
> Domestic box office gross: $304.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.75B
> Production budget: $137.9M
> Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
82. Man of Steel (2013)
> Domestic box office gross: $304.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.70B
> Production budget: $235.7M
> Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon
Source: Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
81. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (2012)
> Domestic box office gross: $310.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.88B
> Production budget: $144.6M
> Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
80. Bruce Almighty (2003)
> Domestic box office gross: $312.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.62B
> Production budget: $104.2M
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
79. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
> Domestic box office gross: $313.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.00B
> Production budget: $163.3M
> Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
78. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
> Domestic box office gross: $315.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.85B
> Production budget: $180.0M
> Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
77. Cast Away (2000)
> Domestic box office gross: $316.6M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.58B
> Production budget: $115.2M
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Paul Sanchez
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Fathom Events
76. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
> Domestic box office gross: $321.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.08B
> Production budget: $265.4M
> Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
75. Skyfall (2012)
> Domestic box office gross: $323.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.18B
> Production budget: $212.3M
> Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
74. Inception (2010)
> Domestic box office gross: $324.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.92B
> Production budget: $177.3M
> Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
73. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
> Domestic box office gross: $325.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.88B
> Production budget: $106.5M
> Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
72. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)
> Domestic box office gross: $328.0M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.06B
> Production budget: $138.5M
> Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
71. The Incredibles (2004)
> Domestic box office gross: $328.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.77B
> Production budget: $115.5M
> Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Samuel L. Jackson, Holly Hunter
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
70. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
> Domestic box office gross: $329.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.83B
> Production budget: $161.7M
> Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
69. Up (2009)
> Domestic box office gross: $330.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.82B
> Production budget: $197.1M
> Starring: Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenberger
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
68. Suicide Squad (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $330.6M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.76B
> Production budget: $178.0M
> Starring: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
67. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
> Domestic box office gross: $334.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.88B
> Production budget: $175.0M
> Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr.
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
66. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $335.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.88B
> Production budget: $254.2M
> Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
65. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
> Domestic box office gross: $338.8M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.09B
> Production budget: $174.0M
> Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
64. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
> Domestic box office gross: $340.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.05B
> Production budget: $281.6M
> Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
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Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
63. Toy Story 2 (1999)
> Domestic box office gross: $341.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.71B
> Production budget: $125.0M
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
62. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
> Domestic box office gross: $343.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.15B
> Production budget: $131.2M
> Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
61. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
> Domestic box office gross: $343.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.80B
> Production budget: $175.5M
> Starring: Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
60. Iron Man 2 (2010)
> Domestic box office gross: $346.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.69B
> Production budget: $188.4M
> Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
59. Zootopia (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $347.0M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.04B
> Production budget: $152.5M
> Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
58. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
> Domestic box office gross: $347.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.79B
> Production budget: $129.0M
> Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
57. Twister (1996)
> Domestic box office gross: $349.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.72B
> Production budget: $127.1M
> Starring: Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
56. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
> Domestic box office gross: $352.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.47B
> Production budget: $166.7M
> Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Kelley
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
55. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
> Domestic box office gross: $354.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.10B
> Production budget: $183.2M
> Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
54. Men in Black (1997)
> Domestic box office gross: $356.0M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.83B
> Production budget: $127.8M
> Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
53. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
> Domestic box office gross: $357.0M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.89B
> Production budget: $208.3M
> Starring: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
52. Iron Man (2008)
> Domestic box office gross: $358.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.66B
> Production budget: $209.4M
> Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
51. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
> Domestic box office gross: $359.0M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.12B
> Production budget: $348.1M
> Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
50. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
> Domestic box office gross: $362.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.95B
> Production budget: $193.0M
> Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
49. Furious 7 (2015)
> Domestic box office gross: $363.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.56B
> Production budget: $195.5M
> Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
48. Inside Out (2015)
> Domestic box office gross: $366.8M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.88B
> Production budget: $180.1M
> Starring: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
47. The Jungle Book (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $370.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.98B
> Production budget: $178.0M
> Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
46. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
> Domestic box office gross: $370.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.14B
> Production budget: $221.7M
> Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures
45. Transformers (2007)
> Domestic box office gross: $370.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.82B
> Production budget: $175.2M
> Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
44. Shrek the Third (2007)
> Domestic box office gross: $374.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.94B
> Production budget: $185.6M
> Starring: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
43. The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $374.6M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.90B
> Production budget: $76.3M
> Starring: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
42. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
> Domestic box office gross: $381.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.22B
> Production budget: $210.9M
> Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
41. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
> Domestic box office gross: $384.8M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.74B
> Production budget: $152.9M
> Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Mary Gibbs
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
40. Despicable Me 2 (2013)
> Domestic box office gross: $385.6M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.02B
> Production budget: $79.6M
> Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
39. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (2017)
> Domestic box office gross: $389.8M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.86B
> Production budget: $200.0M
> Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
38. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
> Domestic box office gross: $390.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.04B
> Production budget: $299.3M
> Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Topher Grace
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
37. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
> Domestic box office gross: $392.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.82B
> Production budget: $180.1M
> Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
36. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
> Domestic box office gross: $404.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.96B
> Production budget: $90.0M
> Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
35. Star Wars Ep. II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
> Domestic box office gross: $407.6M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.86B
> Production budget: $150.9M
> Starring: Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
34. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011)
> Domestic box office gross: $412.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.45B
> Production budget: $135.2M
> Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
33. Wonder Woman (2017)
> Domestic box office gross: $412.6M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.82B
> Production budget: $150.0M
> Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
32. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $415.0M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.17B
> Production budget: $254.2M
> Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
31. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
> Domestic box office gross: $419.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.18B
> Production budget: $144.9M
> Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
30. Frozen (2013)
> Domestic box office gross: $419.8M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.33B
> Production budget: $157.1M
> Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
29. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
> Domestic box office gross: $422.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.30B
> Production budget: $166.2M
> Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
28. Iron Man 3 (2013)
> Domestic box office gross: $428.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.27B
> Production budget: $209.5M
> Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
27. The Hunger Games (2012)
> Domestic box office gross: $433.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.72B
> Production budget: $84.9M
> Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
26. Independence Day (1996)
> Domestic box office gross: $442.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.18B
> Production budget: $108.4M
> Starring: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
25. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
> Domestic box office gross: $444.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.91B
> Production budget: $136.2M
> Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
24. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
> Domestic box office gross: $449.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.23B
> Production budget: $123.3M
> Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
23. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
> Domestic box office gross: $453.0M
> Worldwide box office gross: $0.94B
> Production budget: $236.6M
> Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
22. Toy Story 3 (2010)
> Domestic box office gross: $459.9M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.19B
> Production budget: $221.7M
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
21. Star Wars Ep. III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
> Domestic box office gross: $464.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.04B
> Production budget: $140.4M
> Starring: Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
20. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
> Domestic box office gross: $469.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.00B
> Production budget: $251.2M
> Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
19. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
> Domestic box office gross: $472.3M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.45B
> Production budget: $340.2M
> Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
18. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
> Domestic box office gross: $475.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.15B
> Production budget: $291.9M
> Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
> Domestic box office gross: $486.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.47B
> Production budget: $120.9M
> Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
16. Finding Nemo (2003)
> Domestic box office gross: $489.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.20B
> Production budget: $120.9M
> Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
15. Finding Dory (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $494.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.04B
> Production budget: $203.4M
> Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
14. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
> Domestic box office gross: $503.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.27B
> Production budget: $267.6M
> Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
13. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
> Domestic box office gross: $504.0M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.26B
> Production budget: $160.0M
> Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
12. Spider-Man (2002)
> Domestic box office gross: $529.6M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.08B
> Production budget: $182.4M
> Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
11. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
> Domestic box office gross: $541.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.07B
> Production budget: $203.4M
> Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
10. The Dark Knight (2008)
> Domestic box office gross: $600.5M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.13B
> Production budget: $208.3M
> Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
9. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
> Domestic box office gross: $627.6M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.91B
> Production budget: $300.0M
> Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
8. The Lion King (1994)
> Domestic box office gross: $636.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.49B
> Production budget: $119.4M
> Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
7. Star Wars Ep. I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
> Domestic box office gross: $659.1M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.43B
> Production budget: $159.7M
> Starring: Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
6. The Avengers (2012)
> Domestic box office gross: $661.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.61B
> Production budget: $238.9M
> Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
5. Jurassic World (2015)
> Domestic box office gross: $671.2M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.72B
> Production budget: $221.2M
> Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
4. Black Panther (2018)
> Domestic box office gross: $698.7M
> Worldwide box office gross: $1.35B
> Production budget: $200.0M
> Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
3. Avatar (2009)
> Domestic box office gross: $856.8M
> Worldwide box office gross: $3.14B
> Production budget: $478.8M
> Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
2. Titanic (1997)
> Domestic box office gross: $936.4M
> Worldwide box office gross: $3.14B
> Production budget: $284.0M
> Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
1. Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
> Domestic box office gross: $963.8M
> Worldwide box office gross: $2.12B
> Production budget: $314.9M
> Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac
Detailed findings and methodology:
The vast majority of top grossing films were released in recent years, with only 11 of the 100 released prior to 2000 – the earliest being “Terminator 2,” released in 1991. Because of a more globalized film market, as well as a growing global population, major studio films are reaching more people than ever before.
Films are also costing more to produce than ever before. All but six of the top grossing films had production budgets of more than $100 million. Costly wages for talent and unionized labor, expensive movie equipment, and use of costly new technology contribute to the ever increasing movie budgets. 2009’s “Avatar” set a record for largest production budget, clocking in at nearly $480 million once adjusted for inflation.
The James Cameron film was a major success and there are already four more motion pictures planned for the Avatar series. When spending such extravagant amounts of money, it’s clear that studios prefer to deliver a proven product rather than take major risks. Therefore, the list of top grossing films includes many franchise movies in series such as Star Wars, Twilight, The Hunger Games, The Lord of the Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Animated children’s films – including multiple films from both the Toy Story and Finding Nemo franchises – also do very well.
Studios generally entrust these larger projects to directors who have already been successful in their careers. Twenty-two of the directors behind the 100 top grossing films have more than one film on the list. Peter Jackson has five – three Lord of the Rings films and two Hobbits – making him the most represented director on the list. David Yates and Francis Lawrence – best known for their work on the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series, respectively – both have four films on the list.
To determine the top 100 grossing movies of all time, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed the lifetime domestic gross of all films with data from movie data site The Numbers, adjusted for inflation using the personal consumption expenditure price index (PCEPI) annual averages from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Data on production budgets also came from the film industry website The Numbers and were adjusted for inflation.
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