![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/couple-watching-movie-e1462561500873.jpg)
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/couple-watching-movie-e1462561500873.jpg)
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.
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Duel-in-the-Sun-1946.jpg)
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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ghost-1990.jpg)
98. Ghost
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $455.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $41.2 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1990
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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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96. Aladdin
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $463.6 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $48.8 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Release year: 1992
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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
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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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/indiana-jones-and-the-temple-of-doom.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/M.A.S.H.-1970.jpg)
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
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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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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
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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
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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/the-bridge-on-the-river-kwai.jpg)
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
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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
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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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/imageforentry14-gyl.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/the-best-years-of-our-lives.jpg)
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
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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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/lawrence-of-arabia.jpg)
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
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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/lady-and-the-tramp.jpg)
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
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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
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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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/smokey-and-the-bandit.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tootsie.jpg)
71. Tootsie
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $503.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38.0 million
> Studio: Columbia Pictures
> Release year: 1982
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beauty-and-the-beast-2017.jpg)
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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69. Superman
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $507.0 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $206.4 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 1978
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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
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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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/back-to-the-future.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/imageforentry31-ym3.jpg)
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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/imageforentry33-8k6.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/the-greatest-show-on-earth.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/my-fair-lady.jpg)
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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cinderella.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/imageforentry88.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/imageforentry40-d6j.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/imageforentry12-siu.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/imageforentry84.jpg)
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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/jack-nicholson-batman.jpg)
52. Batman
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $556.5 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $69.1 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Release year: 1989
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/blazing-saddles.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/bambi.jpg)
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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dead-mans-chest-e1452283138272.jpeg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Robe-1953.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/imageforentry50-84z.jpg)
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
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45. Airport
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $584.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $63.1 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1970
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sean-connery-goldfinger.jpg)
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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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
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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/pinocchio.jpg)
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
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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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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
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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/lovestory.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/butch.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/imageforentry30-a7v.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ghostbusters-1984.jpg)
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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/the-jungle-book-1967.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/imageforentry26-6qt.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/imageforentry19-77d.jpg)
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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/grease.jpg)
28. Grease
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $680.4 million
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $22.5 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1978
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/mary-poppins.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/imageforentry1920.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-godfather.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/imageforentry20-kwe.jpg)
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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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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/the-graduate-e1452287471699.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-e1452287644519.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/the-sting-e1452287749121.jpg)
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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![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/imageforentry22-ycg.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/imageforentry25-elr.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/imageforentry9-qyf.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/return-of-the-jedi.jpeg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/avatarjakeneytiri.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ben-hur-e1452288080158.png)
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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![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/the-empire-strikes-back.jpeg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/101-dalmatians-e1452288574247.png)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/starwarsviilogo-e1452280140820.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs-e1452288816630.png)
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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![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/imageforentry17-rlq.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/imageforentry18-6xv.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/jaws-e1452289458888.png)
7. Jaws
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.1 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $54.6 million
> Studio: Universal Pictures
> Release year: 1975
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/the-ten-commandments-e1452289639865.png)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/titanic-e1452279838990.jpg)
5. Titanic
> Domestic box office gross (inflation-adjusted): $1.2 billion
> Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $305.0 million
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
> Release year: 1997
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/et-e1462548192346.jpg)
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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![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/the-sound-of-music-e1452286240476.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/star-wars-a-new-hope.jpg)
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
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/imageforentry46-gua.jpg)
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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