Moviegoers in the U.S. and Canada bought 1.3 billion movie tickets in 2018, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners. While this is higher than in 2017, it is still well below Hollywood’s best year. After peaking at 1.57 billion in 2002, ticket sales have steadily declined throughout the 21st century.
Despite the declining attendance, Hollywood has never made more money — 2018 had a record-breaking box office haul of $11.8 billion. This is largely because movie tickets have never been more expensive. The national average cost of a movie ticket in 2018 was $9.11, marking the first time the average price has eclipsed $9.00. For most of the 1990s, tickets sold for an average of less than $5 apiece, and dating back to the 1960s, many Americans could go to the movies for less than a buck.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the National Association of Theatre Owners to determine the cost of a movie ticket the year you were born. The personal consumption expenditure price index was used to estimate the cost in the years for which there was no data. The year’s top grossing movie is the film released during that year with the highest domestic box office gross for its entire theatrical run, according to movie industry data site The Numbers.
The domestic box office has been dominated by superhero films in recent years. Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Avengers franchise, and various recent takes on the X-Men and DC universes have all earned billions. These films have maintained a grip on Hollywood for a decade, largely because they tend to be financial successes. These are the best superhero movies of all time.
Box office success is not limited to superhero movies, though those films tend to have a key ingredient to selling lots of tickets — franchising. Hollywood is often criticized for not making original films, but the reality is that a new story featuring familiar concepts and characters stands the best chance of being a box office smash. Star Wars, Jurassic Park, James Bond, and other extended cinematic universes are rewriting box office history with each new release. These are the top grossing franchises of all time.
Click here to see the cost of a movie ticket the year you were born
Source: Courtesy of Marvel Studios
2018
> Avg. ticket price: $9.11
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.11
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Black Panther
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures
2017
> Avg. ticket price: $8.97
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.16
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. VIII: The Last Jedi
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2016
> Avg. ticket price: $8.65
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.94
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Source: Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2015
> Avg. ticket price: $8.43
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.84
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
2014
> Avg. ticket price: $8.17
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.56
> Top-grossing movie of the year: American Sniper
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2013
> Avg. ticket price: $8.13
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.65
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2012
> Avg. ticket price: $7.96
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.60
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Avengers
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
2011
> Avg. ticket price: $7.93
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.82
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2010
> Avg. ticket price: $7.89
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.92
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Toy Story 3
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
2009
> Avg. ticket price: $7.50
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.70
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Avatar
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
2008
> Avg. ticket price: $7.18
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.33
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Dark Knight
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
2007
> Avg. ticket price: $6.88
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.33
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Spider-Man 3
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures
2006
> Avg. ticket price: $6.55
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.09
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Source: Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
2005
> Avg. ticket price: $6.41
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.23
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. III: Revenge of the Sith
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Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures
2004
> Avg. ticket price: $6.21
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.21
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Shrek 2
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Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
2003
> Avg. ticket price: $6.03
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.13
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Finding Nemo
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
2002
> Avg. ticket price: $5.81
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.04
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Spider-Man
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
2001
> Avg. ticket price: $5.66
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.92
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
2000
> Avg. ticket price: $5.39
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.82
> Top-grossing movie of the year: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1999
> Avg. ticket price: $5.08
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.57
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. I: The Phantom Menace
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures
1998
> Avg. ticket price: $4.69
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.11
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Saving Private Ryan
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1997
> Avg. ticket price: $4.59
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.07
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Titanic
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1996
> Avg. ticket price: $4.42
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.01
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Independence Day
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
1995
> Avg. ticket price: $4.35
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.09
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Toy Story
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
1994
> Avg. ticket price: $4.18
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.00
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Lion King
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
1993
> Avg. ticket price: $4.14
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.11
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Jurassic Park
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
1992
> Avg. ticket price: $4.15
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.36
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Aladdin
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
1991
> Avg. ticket price: $4.21
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.66
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Beauty and the Beast
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1990
> Avg. ticket price: $4.22
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.11
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Home Alone
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
1989
> Avg. ticket price: $3.99
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.07
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Batman
Source: Courtesy of MGM / UA Communications Company
1988
> Avg. ticket price: $4.11
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.70
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Rain Man
Source: Courtesy of Interscope Communications
1987
> Avg. ticket price: $3.91
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.61
> Top-grossing movie of the year: 3 Men and a Baby
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1986
> Avg. ticket price: $3.71
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.29
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Top Gun
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
1985
> Avg. ticket price: $3.55
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.24
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Back to the Future
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1984
> Avg. ticket price: $3.36
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.08
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Ghostbusters
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1983
> Avg. ticket price: $3.15
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.89
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
1982
> Avg. ticket price: $2.94
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.64
> Top-grossing movie of the year: ET: The Extra-Terrestrial
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1981
> Avg. ticket price: $2.78
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.83
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1980
> Avg. ticket price: $2.69
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.47
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
1979
> Avg. ticket price: $2.52
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.04
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Kramer vs. Kramer
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1978
> Avg. ticket price: $2.34
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.17
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Grease
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1977
> Avg. ticket price: $2.23
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.34
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists
1976
> Avg. ticket price: $2.13
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.38
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Rocky
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
1975
> Avg. ticket price: $2.05
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.64
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Jaws
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
1974
> Avg. ticket price: $1.89
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.93
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Blazing Saddles
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
1973
> Avg. ticket price: $1.76
> Price adjusted for inflation: $10.12
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Exorcist
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1972
> Avg. ticket price: $1.70
> Price adjusted for inflation: $10.13
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Godfather
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
1971
> Avg. ticket price: $1.65
> Price adjusted for inflation: $10.16
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Billy Jack
1970
> Avg. ticket price: $1.55
> Price adjusted for inflation: $10.04
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Love Story
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1969
> Avg. ticket price: $1.42
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.77
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
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Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1968
> Avg. ticket price: $1.31
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.41
> Top-grossing movie of the year: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
1967
> Avg. ticket price: $1.20
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.93
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Jungle Book
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1966
> Avg. ticket price: $1.10
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.47
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Bible
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1965
> Avg. ticket price: $1.01
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.93
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Sound of Music
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
1964
> Avg. ticket price: $0.93
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.37
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Mary Poppins
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century-Fox
1963
> Avg. ticket price: $0.85
> Price adjusted for inflation: $6.85
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Cleopatra
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1962
> Avg. ticket price: $0.81
> Price adjusted for inflation: $6.61
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Longest Day
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
1961
> Avg. ticket price: $0.77
> Price adjusted for inflation: $6.33
> Top-grossing movie of the year: 101 Dalmatians
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
1960
> Avg. ticket price: $0.75
> Price adjusted for inflation: $6.27
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Swiss Family Robinson
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Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1959
> Avg. ticket price: $0.68
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.74
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Ben-Hur
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1958
> Avg. ticket price: $0.65
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.57
> Top-grossing movie of the year: South Pacific
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
1957
> Avg. ticket price: $0.62
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.50
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Bridge on the River Kwai
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Source: Courtesy of Motion Picture Associates
1956
> Avg. ticket price: $0.59
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.39
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Ten Commandments
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
1955
> Avg. ticket price: $0.58
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.32
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Lady and the Tramp
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1954
> Avg. ticket price: $0.55
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.01
> Top-grossing movie of the year: White Christmas
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
1953
> Avg. ticket price: $0.51
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.70
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Peter Pan
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1952
> Avg. ticket price: $0.48
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.44
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Greatest Show on Earth
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Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1951
> Avg. ticket price: $0.47
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.53
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Quo Vadis?
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
1950
> Avg. ticket price: $0.46
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.79
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Cinderella
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1949
> Avg. ticket price: $0.46
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.69
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Samson and Delilah
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1948
> Avg. ticket price: $0.44
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.55
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Snake Pit
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
1947
> Avg. ticket price: $0.44
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.01
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Forever Amber
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions
1946
> Avg. ticket price: $0.42
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.65
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Song of the South
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