As movie theaters across the country begin reopening, Americans can once again enjoy one of the most celebrated Fourth of July traditions — going to see a blockbuster movie.
Throughout Hollywood history, some of the biggest blockbusters of all time have been released on or around the Fourth of July weekend. There are dozens of films that raked in over $10 million dollars that holiday weekend alone, and a handful have even earned over $100 million.
To determine the biggest Fourth of July weekend blockbusters of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed gross revenue figures adjusted for ticket price inflation from Box Office Mojo.
There is no exact recipe for what counts as an Independence Day blockbuster — some of the highest grossing films from the weekend have been action movies with superheroes and aliens, animated comedies for kids, disaster flicks, big budget comedies, and more.
For July 4th, 2021, a number of movies — like “A Quiet Place Part II” and “F9: The Fast Saga” — that were delayed by COVID-19 will be vying for the top spot at the box office. Still, going into the weekend, the U.S. box office is still lagging behind where it was at the same point in 2019, as studios are still scrambling to figure out how best to roll out the movies they held back for the last year or more. Here are 45 movies that were delayed by Coronavirus.
Click here to see the biggest Fourth of July blockbusters of all time
To determine the biggest Fourth of July weekend blockbusters of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed gross revenue figures adjusted for ticket price inflation from Box Office Mojo. All adjusted gross and ticket sales figures as well as the release date came from Box Office Mojo. While some of these films were released before, or after, July 4, Box Office Mojo only counted ticket sales for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of each respective holiday weekend.
50. White Chicks
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $11,544,456
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 1,859,011 (ticket price: $6.21)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $104,479,698
> Release date: June 23, 2004
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49. The Shadow
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $11,713,845
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,871,040 (ticket price: $4.08)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $71,985,555
> Release date: July 1, 1994
48. The House
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $11,905,080
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 1,327,211 (ticket price: $8.97)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $26,126,428
> Release date: June 30, 2017
47. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $12,038,626
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,821,786 (ticket price: $3.15)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $734,497,121
> Release date: May 25, 1983
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46. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $12,723,583
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 1,984,958 (ticket price: $6.41)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $266,277,740
> Release date: June 10, 2005
45. Ghostbusters II
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $13,072,728
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,276,373 (ticket price: $3.99)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $258,258,597
> Release date: June 16, 1989
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44. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $13,291,659
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,626,810 (ticket price: $5.06)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $780,389,087
> Release date: May 19, 1999
43. Knight and Day
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $14,151,734
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 1,793,629 (ticket price: $7.89)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $88,724,335
> Release date: June 23, 2010
42. Cars 3
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $14,160,696
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 1,578,673 (ticket price: $8.97)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $156,139,823
> Release date: June 16, 2017
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41. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $14,517,442
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,532,224 (ticket price: $4.11)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $348,687,034
> Release date: June 24, 1988
40. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $14,774,186
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,919,800 (ticket price: $5.06)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $94,202,459
> Release date: June 30, 1999
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39. Central Intelligence
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $15,405,059
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 1,780,932 (ticket price: $8.65)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $134,954,726
> Release date: June 17, 2016
38. Larry Crowne
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $16,098,795
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,030,113 (ticket price: $7.93)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $41,131,340
> Release date: July 1, 2011
37. Sleepless in Seattle
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $16,102,858
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,889,579 (ticket price: $4.14)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $280,289,106
> Release date: June 25, 1993
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36. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $16,706,592
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 5,682,514 (ticket price: $2.94)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $1,119,130,904
> Release date: June 11, 1982
35. Bad Teacher
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $17,261,534
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,176,738 (ticket price: $7.93)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $115,848,999
> Release date: June 24, 2011
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34. Batman Begins
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $19,339,432
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,017,072 (ticket price: $6.41)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $293,439,777
> Release date: June 15, 2005
33. Me, Myself & Irene
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $19,430,792
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,604,971 (ticket price: $5.39)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $153,920,288
> Release date: June 23, 2000
32. Coming to America
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $21,404,420
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 5,207,888 (ticket price: $4.11)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $285,614,374
> Release date: June 29, 1988
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31. Independence Day: Resurgence
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $21,681,926
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,506,581 (ticket price: $8.65)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $109,225,625
> Release date: June 24, 2016
30. Batman Forever
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $21,754,239
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 5,000,974 (ticket price: $4.35)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $387,522,985
> Release date: June 16, 1995
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29. Fahrenheit 9/11
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $22,027,125
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,547,041 (ticket price: $6.21)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $175,817,086
> Release date: June 25, 2004
28. Cars
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $22,484,325
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,432,721 (ticket price: $6.55)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $341,343,529
> Release date: June 9, 2006
27. The BFG
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $22,716,809
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,626,221 (ticket price: $8.65)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $58,755,067
> Release date: July 1, 2016
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26. Transformers: The Last Knight
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $24,054,844
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,681,699 (ticket price: $8.97)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $132,925,879
> Release date: June 21, 2017
25. Wonder Woman
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $24,072,825
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 2,683,704 (ticket price: $8.97)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $421,302,209
> Release date: June 2, 2017
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24. Jurassic Park
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $25,296,965
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 6,110,378 (ticket price: $4.14)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $790,034,395
> Release date: June 11, 1993
23. Grown Ups
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $26,052,792
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,302,002 (ticket price: $7.89)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $188,077,423
> Release date: June 25, 2010
22. Click
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $29,110,313
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 4,444,323 (ticket price: $6.55)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $192,088,183
> Release date: June 23, 2006
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21. Baby Driver
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $29,974,822
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,341,675 (ticket price: $8.97)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $110,109,799
> Release date: June 28, 2017
20. Cars 2
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $31,629,695
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 3,988,612 (ticket price: $7.93)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $221,148,039
> Release date: June 24, 2011
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19. The Firm
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $32,476,785
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 7,844,634 (ticket price: $4.14)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $350,355,324
> Release date: July 2, 1993
18. The Lion King
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $34,208,876
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 8,384,528 (ticket price: $4.08)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $702,391,407
> Release date: June 24, 1994
17. The Patriot
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $35,223,404
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 6,534,954 (ticket price: $5.39)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $192,598,503
> Release date: June 28, 2000
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16. The Purge: Election Year
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $36,139,295
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 4,177,953 (ticket price: $8.65)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $83,883,759
> Release date: July 1, 2016
15. Wild Wild West
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $36,434,750
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 7,200,543 (ticket price: $5.06)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $206,017,960
> Release date: June 30, 1999
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14. Apollo 13
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $38,469,470
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 8,843,556 (ticket price: $4.35)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $362,338,671
> Release date: June 30, 1995
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13. The Devil Wears Prada
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $40,135,062
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 6,127,490 (ticket price: $6.55)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $174,446,201
> Release date: June 30, 2006
12. Toy Story 3
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $43,057,129
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 5,457,177 (ticket price: $7.89)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $481,805,412
> Release date: June 18, 2010
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11. Batman
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $43,558,567
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 10,916,934 (ticket price: $3.99)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $576,664,297
> Release date: June 23, 1989
10. The Legend of Tarzan
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $46,582,405
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 5,385,249 (ticket price: $8.65)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $134,109,877
> Release date: July 1, 2016
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9. Finding Dory
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $51,436,383
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 5,946,403 (ticket price: $8.65)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $514,967,322
> Release date: June 17, 2016
8. The Last Airbender
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $51,804,232
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 6,565,809 (ticket price: $7.89)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $152,982,666
> Release date: July 1, 2010
7. The Perfect Storm
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $62,742,422
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 11,640,524 (ticket price: $5.39)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $310,349,695
> Release date: June 30, 2000
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6. Superman Returns
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $76,033,267
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 11,608,132 (ticket price: $6.55)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $279,808,201
> Release date: June 28, 2006
5. War of the Worlds
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $77,061,953
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 12,022,146 (ticket price: $6.41)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $334,790,646
> Release date: June 29, 2005
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4. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $83,637,242
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 10,600,411 (ticket price: $7.89)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $348,906,317
> Release date: June 30, 2010
3. Despicable Me 3
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $99,020,280
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 11,039,050 (ticket price: $8.97)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $270,229,497
> Release date: June 30, 2017
2. Spider-Man 2
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $115,817,364
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 18,650,139 (ticket price: $6.21)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $551,054,132
> Release date: June 30, 2004
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1. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
> Gross revenue during July 4 weekend: $115,886,050
> Est. ticket sales during July 4 weekend: 14,613,625 (ticket price: $7.93)
> Total lifetime revenue, inflation adjusted: $407,048,849
> Release date: June 29, 2011
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