When you’re looking to escape reality, a trip to the cinema allows you to do just that. How well a storyline, visuals, and sound are executed are a few of the many factors that contribute to a film’s success.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2017 domestic gross for 156 wide-release films — shown in at least 600 theaters in the United States and Canada. The percentage of the audience that enjoyed the movie is based on online review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score.
This year, many kinds of movies achieved box office success. The top 50 grossing films fall within a variety of genres including anything from fantasy and science fiction, to comedies, to thrillers. Superhero movies including “Wonder Woman,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” and “Thor: Ragnarok” — just to name a few — dominate the top 10 movies with the highest domestic gross sales in 2017.
Remakes and sequels of well-liked films also appear on this list, namely “Beauty and the Beast” and “Despicable Me 3.” Also making the list is femme-centric comedy “Girls Trip,” which had the strongest opening night for a comedy this year.
Click here to see the biggest box office winners of the year.
Click here to read our detailed findings and methodology.
50. Snatched
> 2017 domestic gross: $45,852,178
> U.S. opening weekend: $19,542,248
> Production budget: $42,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 30%
[in-text-ad]
49. Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
> 2017 domestic gross: $47,164,878
> U.S. opening weekend: $21,226,953
> Production budget: $20,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 42%
48. The Dark Tower
> 2017 domestic gross: $50,701,325
> U.S. opening weekend: $19,153,698
> Production budget: $60,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 48%
47. American Made
> 2017 domestic gross: $51,271,725
> U.S. opening weekend: $16,776,390
> Production budget: $50,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 79%
[in-text-ad-2]
46. Atomic Blonde
> 2017 domestic gross: $51,573,925
> U.S. opening weekend: $18,286,420
> Production budget: $30,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 65%
45. Lion
> 2017 domestic gross: $51,728,731
> U.S. opening weekend: $123,360
> Production budget: $12,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 92%
[in-text-ad]
44. Happy Death Day
> 2017 domestic gross: $55,628,750
> U.S. opening weekend: $26,039,025
> Production budget: $5,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 66%
43. The Shack
> 2017 domestic gross: $57,386,418
> U.S. opening weekend: $16,172,119
> Production budget: N/A
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 78%
42. Baywatch
> 2017 domestic gross: $58,060,186
> U.S. opening weekend: $18,503,871
> Production budget: $60,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 56%
[in-text-ad-2]
41. The LEGO Ninjago Movie
> 2017 domestic gross: $59,281,555
> U.S. opening weekend: $20,433,071
> Production budget: N/A
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 49%
40. A Dog’s Purpose
> 2017 domestic gross: $64,321,890
> U.S. opening weekend: $18,222,810
> Production budget: $25,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 73%
[in-text-ad]
39. A Bad Moms Christmas
> 2017 domestic gross: $64,831,823
> U.S. opening weekend: $16,759,161
> Production budget: $28,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 51%
24/7 Wall St.
38. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
> 2017 domestic gross: $73,921,000
> U.S. opening weekend: $23,851,539
> Production budget: $38,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 61%
37. Alien: Covenant
> 2017 domestic gross: $74,262,031
> U.S. opening weekend: $36,160,621
> Production budget: $97,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 56%
[in-text-ad-2]
36. The Hitman’s Bodyguard
> 2017 domestic gross: $75,468,583
> U.S. opening weekend: $21,384,504
> Production budget: $30,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 69%
35. The Mummy (2017)
> 2017 domestic gross: $80,101,125
> U.S. opening weekend: $31,688,375
> Production budget: $195,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 36%
[in-text-ad]
34. Daddy’s Home 2
> 2017 domestic gross: $82,814,446
> U.S. opening weekend: $29,651,193
> Production budget: $70,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 61%
33. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
> 2017 domestic gross: $84,772,513
> U.S. opening weekend: $28,681,472
> Production budget: $55,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 59%
32. Power Rangers (2017)
> 2017 domestic gross: $85,364,450
> U.S. opening weekend: $40,300,288
> Production budget: $120,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 66%
[in-text-ad-2]
31. The Emoji Movie
> 2017 domestic gross: $86,089,513
> U.S. opening weekend: $24,531,923
> Production budget: $50,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 40%
30. Wonder
> 2017 domestic gross: $88,032,623
> U.S. opening weekend: $27,547,866
> Production budget: $20,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 92%
[in-text-ad]
29. Blade Runner 2049
> 2017 domestic gross: $90,383,762
> U.S. opening weekend: $32,753,122
> Production budget: $185,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 81%
28. John Wick: Chapter Two
> 2017 domestic gross: $92,029,184
> U.S. opening weekend: $30,436,123
> Production budget: $40,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 85%
27. Kingsman: The Golden Circle
> 2017 domestic gross: $100,050,714
> U.S. opening weekend: $39,023,010
> Production budget: $104,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 68%
[in-text-ad-2]
26. Annabelle: Creation
> 2017 domestic gross: $102,092,201
> U.S. opening weekend: $35,006,404
> Production budget: $15,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 68%
25. Baby Driver
> 2017 domestic gross: $107,825,862
> U.S. opening weekend: $20,553,320
> Production budget: $34,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 87%
[in-text-ad]
24. Coco
> 2017 domestic gross: $108,689,404
> U.S. opening weekend: $50,802,605
> Production budget: N/A
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 96%
23. Fifty Shades Darker
> 2017 domestic gross: $114,434,010
> U.S. opening weekend: $46,607,250
> Production budget: $55,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 49%
22. Girls Trip
> 2017 domestic gross: $115,108,515
> U.S. opening weekend: $31,201,920
> Production budget: $28,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 81%
[in-text-ad-2]
21. Transformers: The Last Knight
> 2017 domestic gross: $130,168,683
> U.S. opening weekend: $44,680,073
> Production budget: $217,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 45%
20. Split
> 2017 domestic gross: $138,141,585
> U.S. opening weekend: $40,010,975
> Production budget: $5,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 79%
[in-text-ad]
19. War for the Planet of the Apes
> 2017 domestic gross: $146,880,162
> U.S. opening weekend: $56,262,929
> Production budget: $152,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 84%
24/7 Wall St.
18. Cars 3
> 2017 domestic gross: $152,901,115
> U.S. opening weekend: $53,688,680
> Production budget: N/A
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 71%
17. Kong: Skull Island
> 2017 domestic gross: $168,052,812
> U.S. opening weekend: $61,025,472
> Production budget: $185,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 70%
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Hidden Figures
> 2017 domestic gross: $169,387,004
> U.S. opening weekend: $515,499
> Production budget: $25,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 93%
15. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
> 2017 domestic gross: $172,558,876
> U.S. opening weekend: $62,983,253
> Production budget: $230,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 62%
[in-text-ad]
14. The Boss Baby
> 2017 domestic gross: $175,003,033
> U.S. opening weekend: $50,198,902
> Production budget: $125,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 52%
13. Get Out
> 2017 domestic gross: $175,484,140
> U.S. opening weekend: $33,377,060
> Production budget: $5,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 87%
12. The LEGO Batman Movie
> 2017 domestic gross: $175,750,384
> U.S. opening weekend: $53,003,468
> Production budget: $80,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 80%
[in-text-ad-2]
11. Dunkirk
> 2017 domestic gross: $188,045,546
> U.S. opening weekend: $50,513,488
> Production budget: $150,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 82%
10. Justice League
> 2017 domestic gross: $197,335,921
> U.S. opening weekend: $93,842,239
> Production budget: $300,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 81%
[in-text-ad]
9. The Fate of the Furious
> 2017 domestic gross: $225,764,765
> U.S. opening weekend: $98,786,705
> Production budget: $250,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 73%
24/7 Wall St.
8. Logan
> 2017 domestic gross: $226,277,068
> U.S. opening weekend: $88,411,916
> Production budget: $127,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 90%
7. Despicable Me 3
> 2017 domestic gross: $264,477,440
> U.S. opening weekend: $72,434,025
> Production budget: $75,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 55%
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Thor: Ragnarok
> 2017 domestic gross: $291,406,599
> U.S. opening weekend: $122,744,989
> Production budget: $180,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 88%
5. It
> 2017 domestic gross: $327,235,912
> U.S. opening weekend: $123,403,419
> Production budget: $35,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 85%
[in-text-ad]
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming
> 2017 domestic gross: $334,201,140
> U.S. opening weekend: $117,027,503
> Production budget: $175,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 88%
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
> 2017 domestic gross: $389,813,101
> U.S. opening weekend: $146,510,104
> Production budget: $200,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 88%
2. Wonder Woman
> 2017 domestic gross: $412,563,408
> U.S. opening weekend: $103,251,471
> Production budget: $150,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 89%
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
> 2017 domestic gross: $504,014,165
> U.S. opening weekend: $174,750,616
> Production budget: $160,000,000
> Share of audience that liked the movie: 81%
Detailed Findings & Methodology
Opening night is crucial for a film’s immediate success, especially when it’s shown in many theaters. Forty-four of the top 50 movies with the highest total gross were shown on opening night in more than 3,000 theaters nationwide. Of the top 50 movies, nine made more than the movie budget in the opening weekend alone. The average opening weekend ticket sales among the top 50 films was $43.2 million.
The average budget among the top 50 grossing films was $93.3 million with the exception of two outliers. “Get Out” and “Happy Death Day” both had production budgets of just $5 million. For perspective, the film with the largest production budget on this list is “Justice League” at $300 million.
Two films among the top 50 — “Hidden Figures” and “Lion” — actually premiered in 2016 but with limited theatrical releases. This year, after initial success and international film festival appearances in 2016, the movies were wide released. While both had weak initial opening weekends, due primarily to the small number of theaters in which they were screened, they did very well upon wide release.
Several sequels and series made the list, including “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “The Fate of the Furious,” and “Fifty Shades Darker” — all of which ranked among the top 25 grossing films.
It’s important to note that some of these movies are still playing, so the list is subject to change. For example, the animated children’s movie “Coco” brought in $28.2 million this weekend alone, raising its 2017 domestic gross by 35%. The domestic gross of “Coco” increased from $80.5 million on December 1, ranking 31st on the list, to $108.7 million by Monday, December 4. The movie also jumped the ranks to snag the 24th spot.
To identify the 50 biggest box office winners of the year, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the domestic gross for 156 films that were wide released in 2017. Movies are considered wide releases if they are played in at least 600 theaters nationwide. Each film’s 2017 domestic gross came from online box office database, Box Office Mojo. The production budget for each film came from film industry research service The Numbers. Production budgets were not listed for four films. The percentage of the audience that enjoyed the movie is based on online review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score.
Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
