To identify the top-grossing films of all time, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed gross domestic movie theater ticket sales for U.S. films from ticket tracking website Box Office Mojo. These movies are not ranked by inflation-adjusted ticket price.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is the No. 1 grossing movie in American history. In its opening weekend, the seventh installment of the “Star Wars” franchise raked in a record-breaking $248 million. Ticket sales have remained strong for the film, which has now grossed $936.2 million in the U.S. alone.
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When a movie wins big, producers are often tempted to make more related movies, and with good reason — 20 of the top 25 grossing movies are parts of a franchise. Three of the five exceptions — “Finding Nemo,” “Frozen,” and “Avatar” — will soon join the ranks of blockbuster franchises, with sequels in the works.
Click here to see the top grossing films of all time.
Most notable among the franchise movie industry, “Star Wars” has four movies on the list, including the 1977 original, “A New Hope,” which still ranks as the eighth highest grossing film of all time at the box office. In addition, movies based on comic books have done especially well. Both movies in the popular “Avengers” series, as well as the 2002 “Spider-Man” and the second and third films in Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy, rank in the top 10.
These are the top-grossing films of all time.
25. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Total sales: $380.3 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $463.7 million
Year released: 2005
Studio: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation
Parent corporation: Fox Entertainment Group
Following up on the success of the previous “Star Wars” films, “Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” is the fourth highest-grossing movie in the series and 25th highest-grossing film of all time.
24. Finding Nemo
Total sales: $380.8 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $492.8 million
Year released: 2003
Studio: Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
The product of a collaboration between Disney and Pixar, “Finding Nemo” attracted moviegoers young and old in 2003. By the time it left theaters, the animated feature had racked up $380.8 million in ticket sales.
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23. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Total sales: $381.0 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $403.3 million
Year released: 2011
Studio: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Parent corporation: Time Warner
The final installment of the “Harry Potter” film series is the only one to rank among the highest-grossing films of all time. “The Deathly Hallows: Part 2” is an adaptation of the second half of the eponymous novel by J.K. Rowling.
22. Frozen
Total sales: $400.7 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $409.6 million
Year released: 2013
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
“Frozen” is the most recent top-grossing animated film to come out of Disney’s studios. Ticket sales topped $400 million.
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21. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Total sales: $402.1 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $446.3 million
Year released: 2009
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Parent corporation: Viacom
One of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time, “Transformers” began as a line of toys. The brand expanded — becoming a comic book, an animated television series, and eventually, a top-grossing movie series.
20. Jurassic Park
Total sales: $402.5 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $663.3 million
Year released: 1993
Studio: Universal
Parent corporation: Comcast
Americans spent $402.5 million on tickets to see Steven Spielberg’s epic, “Jurassic Park.” A cultural phenomenon, the hit movie spawned several sequels and licensed its name to a myriad of merchandise, including video games, t-shirts, and toys.
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19. Spider-Man
Total sales: $403.7 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $534.3 million
Year released: 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Parent corporation: Sony Corporation
The oldest superhero blockbuster among the top-grossing movies, “Spider-Man” raked in $403.7 million in ticket sales nearly a decade and a half ago.
18. The Hunger Games
Total sales: $408.0 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $423.2 million
Year released: 2012
Studio: Lionsgate
Parent corporation: Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation
“The Hunger Games” marked the beginning of a series of films based on the popular book trilogy by Suzanne Collins. To date, it is the second highest-grossing film in the series and the 18th highest-grossing film of all time.
17. Iron Man 3
Total sales: $409.0 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $418.1 million
Year released: 2013
Studio: Marvel Studios
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
Robert Downey Jr. returned as Tony Stark once again, bringing in $409 million in ticket sales.
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16. Toy Story 3
Total sales: $415.0 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $453.2 million
Year released: 2010
Studio: Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
The most recent installment of the “Toy Story” series is also the highest grossing, bringing in $415 million in ticket sales. A fourth “Toy Story” feature is scheduled to be released in 2018.
15. The Lion King
Total sales: $422.8 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $679.4 million
Year released: 1994
Studio: Buena Vista
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
Bringing in $422.8 million in box office ticket sales, “The Lion King” is one of the highest-grossing films in history. Riding the success of the film, “The Lion King” went on to become a popular Broadway play.
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14. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Total sales: $423.3 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $500.0 million
Year released: 2006
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
“Dead Man’s Chest” is the second, and highest-grossing, installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom will come together again for the fifth film in the series, scheduled to be released in 2017.
13. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Total sales: $424.7 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $434.1 million
Year released: 2013
Studio: Lionsgate
Parent corporation: Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation
Based on the second book in the popular “Hunger Games” trilogy, “Catching Fire” has also been a huge success at the box office.
12. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
Total sales: $435.1 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $1.1 billion
Year released: 1982
Studio: Universal
Parent corporation: Comcast
By the time “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” hit theaters, director Steven Spielberg had already seen tremendous success with earlier efforts, including “Jaws” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” “E.T.” however, is his oldest film that remains one of the top 25 grossing movies of all time.
11. Shrek 2
Total sales: $441.2 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $556.2 million
Year released: 2004
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
Following up on the success of its immensely popular predecessor, “Shrek 2” is the highest-grossing fully animated feature of all time.
10. The Dark Knight Rises
Total sales: $448.1 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $464.8 million
Year released: 2012
Studio: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Parent corporation: Time Warner
American moviegoers shelled out a total $448.1 million to see Batman save Gotham City once again. “The Dark Knight Rises” brought in an additional $636.8 million in ticket sales overseas.
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9. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Total sales: $459.0 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $461.2 million
Year released: 2015
Studio: Marvel Studios
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
Intertwining the story lines of multiple Marvel comic superheroes, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” drew in comic book and action movie fans, ultimately grossing $459 million at the box office.
8. Star Wars
Total sales: $461.0 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $1.8 billion
Year released: 1977
Studio: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation
Parent corporation: Fox Entertainment Group
George Lucas’s “Star Wars” was the first film in a series that would go on to become the most popular in the history of American cinema.
7. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Total sales: $474.5 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $678.2 million
Year released: 1999
Studio: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation
Parent corporation: Fox Entertainment Group
“The Phantom Menace,” a prequel to the original “Star Wars” trilogy, hit theaters after the series took a more than decade and a half hiatus.
6. The Dark Knight
Total sales: $534.9 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $591.6 million
Year released: 2008
Studio: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Parent corporation: Time Warner
Christian Bale returned as Bruce Wayne for the second time in “The Dark Knight.” The film bought in more than a fifth of its total gross ticket sales in its opening weekend.
5. The Avengers
Total sales: $623.4 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $646.6 million
Year released: 2012
Studio: Marvel Studios
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
Topping the box office earnings of “The Dark Knight” from four years earlier, “The Avengers” is the highest-grossing superhero movie in history.
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4. Jurassic World
Total sales: $652.3 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $655.4 million
Year released: 2015
Studio: Universal
Parent corporation: Comcast
Bringing in $208.8 million in ticket sales the first weekend it hit theaters, “Jurassic World” holds the record for the second best opening weekend at the box office in the history of American cinema.
3. Titanic
Total sales: $658.7 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $977.3 million
Year released: 1997
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Parent corporation: Viacom
Until “Avatar” debuted in 2009, “Titanic” was the highest-grossing film in U.S. history. James Cameron’s epic love story raked in over $658 million at the U.S. box office.
2. Avatar
Total sales: $760.5 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $844.1 million
Year released: 2009
Studio: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation
Parent corporation: Fox Entertainment Group
Though it was not the first major motion picture to use 3D effects, “Avatar” cashed in big on the technology. “Avatar” is the second highest-grossing film in the U.S. and the highest-grossing film worldwide, bringing in an additional $2 billion in overseas ticket sales.
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1. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
Total sales: $936.2 million
Inflation-adjusted sales: $940.6 million
Year released: 2015
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Parent corporation: Walt Disney Co.
Hyped for more than a year before its release, “The Force Awakens” is the latest installment of the “Star Wars” series. With over $936 million in ticket sales, it is by far the highest-grossing film in American history.
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