Special Report

Highest-Grossing Movies That Never Hit No. 1 at Box Office

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

When filmmakers set out to craft a movie, many probably have two main goals — win awards and turn a profit. Reaching the top of the charts to become the highest grossing film of any given week is a welcome bonus, and a huge accomplishment.

It’s impossible for every movie to reach the top. But just because a film doesn’t hit No. 1 at the weekend box office doesn’t mean it can’t turn into a massive financial and critical success. Many movies that have been praised by fans and critics alike don’t stand a chance at being No. 1 at the box office because they are overshadowed by blockbuster films and franchises.

To determine the highest grossing films that were never No. 1 at the weekend box office, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on domestic annual and weekend box office grosses from film industry site The Numbers.

While they didn’t reach the coveted No. 1 spot, most of the movies on the list did, however, reach the still formidable second position at the weekend box office. Six of them never made it past the third position. Ranking as high as No. 4 at the weekend box office was as good as it got for three of the movies on the list. Still, even though they missed out on the top spot, most of the movies on the list were nominated for several prestigious awards, including Oscars.

Movies make money in several ways, including selling branded products and TV broadcast and streaming rights. But the largest source of revenue is still from theaters. Franchise films — especially in the superhero genre — have been among the highest-grossing movies of the 21st century. These are the biggest box office hits since 2000.

Methodology

To determine the highest grossing films that were never No. 1 at the weekend box office, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on domestic annual and weekend box office from film industry site The Numbers. We listed the films with the highest total domestic box office grosses that never reached the No. 1 position at the weekend box office. Additional data on domestic box office used to determine the year’s top top grossing movie also came from The Numbers. Data on IMDb audience score and Rotten Tomatoes audience score were collected March 2021.

Click here to see the highest-grossing movies that never hit No. 1 at box office

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

50. The King’s Speech (2010)
> Highest position at the box office in 2010: 4
> Domestic box office: $138,797,449
> Cast: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
> Director: Tom Hooper
> IMDb rating: 8.0 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92%
> Top grossing movie in 2010: Avatar (Domestic box office: $760,507,625)

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

49. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
> Highest position at the box office in 1991: 2
> Domestic box office: $138,800,774
> Cast: Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Jesse Corti
> Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
> IMDb rating: 8.0 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92%
> Top grossing movie in 1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Domestic box office: $203,464,105)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

48. Sister Act (1992)
> Highest position at the box office in 1992: 2
> Domestic box office: $139,605,150
> Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy
> Director: Emile Ardolino
> IMDb rating: 6.4 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65%
> Top grossing movie in 1992: Batman Returns (Domestic box office: $162,833,635)

Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment

47. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
> Highest position at the box office in 1999: 3
> Domestic box office: $140,539,099
> Cast: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard
> Director: Daniel Myrick
> IMDb rating: 6.5 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 56%
> Top grossing movie in 1999: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Domestic box office: $474,544,677)

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Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

46. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
> Highest position at the box office in 2008: 2
> Domestic box office: $141,330,703
> Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Saurabh Shukla
> Director: Danny Boyle
> IMDb rating: 8.0 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90%
> Top grossing movie in 2008: The Dark Knight (Domestic box office: $533,720,947)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

45. Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood (2019)
> Highest position at the box office in 2019: 2
> Domestic box office: $142,502,728
> Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie
> Director: Quentin Tarantino
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 70%
> Top grossing movie in 2019: Avengers: Endgame (Domestic box office: $858,373,000)

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Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

44. The Smurfs (2011)
> Highest position at the box office in 2011: 2
> Domestic box office: $142,614,158
> Cast: Hank Azaria, Katy Perry, Jonathan Winters
> Director: Raja Gosnell
> IMDb rating: 5.4 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 44%
> Top grossing movie in 2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Domestic box office: $381,193,157)

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

43. Juno (2007)
> Highest position at the box office in 2007: 2
> Domestic box office: $143,495,265
> Cast: Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner
> Director: Jason Reitman
> IMDb rating: 7.4 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88%
> Top grossing movie in 2007: Spider-Man 3 (Domestic box office: $336,530,303)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

42. Pokemon Detective Pikachu (2019)
> Highest position at the box office in 2019: 2
> Domestic box office: $144,105,346
> Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton
> Director: Rob Letterman
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79%
> Top grossing movie in 2019: Avengers: Endgame (Domestic box office: $858,373,000)

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

41. Mamma Mia! (2008)
> Highest position at the box office in 2008: 2
> Domestic box office: $144,130,063
> Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried
> Director: Phyllida Lloyd
> IMDb rating: 6.4 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66%
> Top grossing movie in 2008: The Dark Knight (Domestic box office: $533,720,947)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

40. The Great Gatsby (2013)
> Highest position at the box office in 2013: 2
> Domestic box office: $144,840,419
> Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton
> Director: Baz Luhrmann
> IMDb rating: 7.2 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 67%
> Top grossing movie in 2013: Iron Man 3 (Domestic box office: $408,992,272)

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

39. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
> Highest position at the box office in 2002: 2
> Domestic box office: $145,771,527
> Cast: Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere
> Director: Dean DeBlois
> IMDb rating: 7.2 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77%
> Top grossing movie in 2002: Spider-Man (Domestic box office: $403,706,375)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

38. Gremlins (1984)
> Highest position at the box office in 1984: 3
> Domestic box office: $148,168,459
> Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton
> Director: Joe Dante
> IMDb rating: 7.3 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78%
> Top grossing movie in 1984: Ghostbusters (Domestic box office: $242,212,467)

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

37. As Good as It Gets (1997)
> Highest position at the box office in 1997: 2
> Domestic box office: $148,478,011
> Cast: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear
> Director: James L. Brooks
> IMDb rating: 7.7 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86%
> Top grossing movie in 1997: Men in Black (Domestic box office: $250,690,539)

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

36. Knocked Up (2007)
> Highest position at the box office in 2007: 3
> Domestic box office: $148,761,765
> Cast: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd
> Director: Judd Apatow
> IMDb rating: 6.9 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83%
> Top grossing movie in 2007: Spider-Man 3 (Domestic box office: $336,530,303)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

35. Les Miserables (2012)
> Highest position at the box office in 2012: 4
> Domestic box office: $148,809,770
> Cast: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway
> Director: Tom Hooper
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79%
> Top grossing movie in 2012: The Avengers (Domestic box office: $623,357,910)

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Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

34. American Hustle (2013)
> Highest position at the box office in 2013: 2
> Domestic box office: $150,098,456
> Cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper
> Director: David O. Russell
> IMDb rating: 7.2 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74%
> Top grossing movie in 2013: Iron Man 3 (Domestic box office: $408,992,272)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

33. Daddy’s Home (2015)
> Highest position at the box office in 2015: 2
> Domestic box office: $150,357,137
> Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini
> Director: Sean Anders
> IMDb rating: 6.2 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49%
> Top grossing movie in 2015: Jurassic World (Domestic box office: $652,306,625)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

32. We’re the Millers (2013)
> Highest position at the box office in 2013: 2
> Domestic box office: $150,394,119
> Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts
> Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
> IMDb rating: 7.0 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72%
> Top grossing movie in 2013: Iron Man 3 (Domestic box office: $408,992,272)

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Courtesy of Lionsgate

31. La La Land (2016)
> Highest position at the box office in 2016: 2
> Domestic box office: $151,101,803
> Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt
> Director: Damien Chazelle
> IMDb rating: 8.0 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81%
> Top grossing movie in 2016: Finding Dory (Domestic box office: $486,295,561)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

30. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
> Highest position at the box office in 2015: 2
> Domestic box office: $153,636,354
> Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
> Director: George Miller
> IMDb rating: 8.1 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86%
> Top grossing movie in 2015: Jurassic World (Domestic box office: $652,306,625)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

29. Trolls (2016)
> Highest position at the box office in 2016: 2
> Domestic box office: $153,707,064
> Cast: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel
> Director: Mike Mitchell
> IMDb rating: 6.5 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 67%
> Top grossing movie in 2016: Finding Dory (Domestic box office: $486,295,561)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

28. Over the Hedge (2006)
> Highest position at the box office in 2006: 2
> Domestic box office: $155,019,340
> Cast: Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell
> Director: Tim Johnson
> IMDb rating: 6.7 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71%
> Top grossing movie in 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Domestic box office: $423,315,812)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

27. The Longest Yard (2005)
> Highest position at the box office in 2005: 2
> Domestic box office: $158,119,460
> Cast: Adam Sandler, Burt Reynolds, Chris Rock
> Director: Peter Segal
> IMDb rating: 6.4 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62%
> Top grossing movie in 2005: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (Domestic box office: $380,270,577)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

26. The Heat (2013)
> Highest position at the box office in 2013: 2
> Domestic box office: $159,581,587
> Cast: Sandra Bullock, Michael McDonald, Melissa McCarthy
> Director: Paul Feig
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71%
> Top grossing movie in 2013: Iron Man 3 (Domestic box office: $408,992,272)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

25. Grown Ups (2010)
> Highest position at the box office in 2010: 2
> Domestic box office: $162,001,186
> Cast: Adam Sandler, Salma Hayek, Kevin James
> Director: Dennis Dugan
> IMDb rating: 5.9 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62%
> Top grossing movie in 2010: Avatar (Domestic box office: $760,507,625)

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Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

24. Django Unchained (2012)
> Highest position at the box office in 2012: 2
> Domestic box office: $162,805,434
> Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio
> Director: Quentin Tarantino
> IMDb rating: 8.4 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91%
> Top grossing movie in 2012: The Avengers (Domestic box office: $623,357,910)

Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

23. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
> Highest position at the box office in 2002: 2
> Domestic box office: $164,606,800
> Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken
> Director: Steven Spielberg
> IMDb rating: 8.1 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89%
> Top grossing movie in 2002: Spider-Man (Domestic box office: $403,706,375)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

22. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
> Highest position at the box office in 2011: 2
> Domestic box office: $165,249,063
> Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan
> Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
> IMDb rating: 7.2 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74%
> Top grossing movie in 2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Domestic box office: $381,193,157)

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Courtesy of Lionsgate

21. Knives Out (2019)
> Highest position at the box office in 2019: 2
> Domestic box office: $165,364,060
> Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas
> Director: Rian Johnson
> IMDb rating: 7.9 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92%
> Top grossing movie in 2019: Avengers: Endgame (Domestic box office: $858,373,000)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

20. Casino Royale (2006)
> Highest position at the box office in 2006: 2
> Domestic box office: $167,365,000
> Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench
> Director: Martin Campbell
> IMDb rating: 8.0 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89%
> Top grossing movie in 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Domestic box office: $423,315,812)

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

19. Bridesmaids (2011)
> Highest position at the box office in 2011: 3
> Domestic box office: $169,211,718
> Cast: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
> Director: Paul Feig
> IMDb rating: 6.8 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76%
> Top grossing movie in 2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Domestic box office: $381,193,157)

Courtesy of Miramax

18. Chicago (2002)
> Highest position at the box office in 2002: 2
> Domestic box office: $170,687,518
> Cast: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere
> Director: Rob Marshall
> IMDb rating: 7.2 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83%
> Top grossing movie in 2002: Spider-Man (Domestic box office: $403,706,375)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

17. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
> Highest position at the box office in 2001: 2
> Domestic box office: $170,708,996
> Cast: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly
> Director: Ron Howard
> IMDb rating: 8.2 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93%
> Top grossing movie in 2001: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Domestic box office: $317,871,467)

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

16. Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
> Highest position at the box office in 2018: 4
> Domestic box office: $171,958,438
> Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw
> Director: Rob Marshall
> IMDb rating: 6.7 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65%
> Top grossing movie in 2018: Black Panther (Domestic box office: $700,059,566)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

15. The Greatest Showman (2017)
> Highest position at the box office in 2017: 2
> Domestic box office: $174,340,174
> Cast: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron
> Director: Michael Gracey
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86%
> Top grossing movie in 2017: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (Domestic box office: $620,181,382)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

14. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
> Highest position at the box office in 2014: 3
> Domestic box office: $177,002,924
> Cast: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler
> Director: Dean DeBlois
> IMDb rating: 7.8 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90%
> Top grossing movie in 2014: Guardians of the Galaxy (Domestic box office: $333,714,112)

Courtesy of Touchstone Pictures

13. Lincoln (2012)
> Highest position at the box office in 2012: 2
> Domestic box office: $182,207,973
> Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn
> Director: Steven Spielberg
> IMDb rating: 7.3 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81%
> Top grossing movie in 2012: The Avengers (Domestic box office: $623,357,910)

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

12. Dances with Wolves (1990)
> Highest position at the box office in 1990: 2
> Domestic box office: $184,208,842
> Cast: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene
> Director: Kevin Costner
> IMDb rating: 8.0 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87%
> Top grossing movie in 1990: Ghost (Domestic box office: $217,631,306)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

11. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
> Highest position at the box office in 2004: 2
> Domestic box office: $186,740,799
> Cast: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum
> Director: Roland Emmerich
> IMDb rating: 6.4 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 50%
> Top grossing movie in 2004: Shrek 2 (Domestic box office: $441,226,247)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

10. Interstellar (2014)
> Highest position at the box office in 2014: 2
> Domestic box office: $188,017,894
> Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain
> Director: Christopher Nolan
> IMDb rating: 8.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86%
> Top grossing movie in 2014: Guardians of the Galaxy (Domestic box office: $333,714,112)

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Courtesy of Warner Bros.

9. The Polar Express (2004)
> Highest position at the box office in 2004: 2
> Domestic box office: $188,578,855
> Cast: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter
> Director: Robert Zemeckis
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63%
> Top grossing movie in 2004: Shrek 2 (Domestic box office: $441,226,247)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

8. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
> Highest position at the box office in 2009: 2
> Domestic box office: $196,573,705
> Cast: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary
> Director: Carlos Saldanha
> IMDb rating: 6.9 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62%
> Top grossing movie in 2009: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Domestic box office: $402,111,870)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

7. World War Z (2013)
> Highest position at the box office in 2013: 2
> Domestic box office: $202,359,711
> Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz
> Director: Marc Forster
> IMDb rating: 7.0 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72%
> Top grossing movie in 2013: Iron Man 3 (Domestic box office: $408,992,272)

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Courtesy of Warner Bros.

6. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
> Highest position at the box office in 2009: 2
> Domestic box office: $209,028,679
> Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
> Director: Guy Ritchie
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77%
> Top grossing movie in 2009: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Domestic box office: $402,111,870)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

5. A Star Is Born (2018)
> Highest position at the box office in 2018: 2
> Domestic box office: $215,288,866
> Cast: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott
> Director: Bradley Cooper
> IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79%
> Top grossing movie in 2018: Black Panther (Domestic box office: $700,059,566)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

4. Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
> Highest position at the box office in 2007: 2
> Domestic box office: $217,326,974
> Cast: Jason Lee, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., Janice Karman
> Director: Tim Hill
> IMDb rating: 5.2 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 64%
> Top grossing movie in 2007: Spider-Man 3 (Domestic box office: $336,530,303)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
> Highest position at the box office in 2009: 3
> Domestic box office: $219,614,612
> Cast: Jason Lee, Zachary Levi, David Cross
> Director: Betty Thomas
> IMDb rating: 4.5 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49%
> Top grossing movie in 2009: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Domestic box office: $402,111,870)

Courtesy of IFC Films

2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
> Highest position at the box office in 2002: 2
> Domestic box office: $241,438,208
> Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine
> Director: Joel Zwick
> IMDb rating: 6.6 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73%
> Top grossing movie in 2002: Spider-Man (Domestic box office: $403,706,375)

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

1. Sing (2016)
> Highest position at the box office in 2016: 2
> Domestic box office: $270,329,045
> Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane
> Director: Garth Jennings
> IMDb rating: 7.1 out of 10
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72%
> Top grossing movie in 2016: Finding Dory (Domestic box office: $486,295,561)

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