Every year, the film industry rakes in billions at the box office. In 2019, the global movie ticket sales amounted to $42.2 billion, according to a report by the Motion Picture Association. In the United States, Hollywood studios including Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and 20th Century Fox are responsible for some of the biggest box office hits (as well as, it must be said, some of the biggest box office bombs of all time.)
To identify the 100 top-grossing movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed gross box office revenue and estimated ticket sales for major motion pictures released in the United States as reported by The Numbers, an online movie database owned by Nash Information Services. Revenue is adjusted for inflation based on the value of the dollar in 2020.
Click here to see the 100 top-grossing movies of all time.
Action and adventure films — including superhero movies — dominate the list, with 10 movies from the Star Wars franchise and three Lord of the Rings titles appearing in the top 100. Also represented are a number of animated children’s films — many from Disney — such as “The Lion King” and “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.” Here are the biggest Disney box office hits of all time.
Romances, musicals, dramas, and comedies are equally represented in the mix. Films date back to the 1930s, with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) being the earliest top-grossing movie on the list, having brought in over $1 billion when adjusted for inflation. Although “Avatar” is often referred to as the highest-grossing film ever, it comes in at only No. 15 when ticket sales are adjusted for inflation.
100. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $501 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.5 million
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99. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $501.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.5 million
98. MASH (1970)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $503 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.7 million
97. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $503 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.7 million
96. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $504.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.8 million
95. It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $504.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.9 million
94. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $505.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.9 million
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93. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $509.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.4 million
92. Men in Black (1997)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $511.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.6 million
91. Twister (1996)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $512.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.7 million
90. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $513.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.8 million
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89. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $514.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.9 million
88. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $515.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55 million
87. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $515.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55 million
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86. Rocky (1976)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $515.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55 million
85. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $516 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55.1 million
84. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $519.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55.4 million
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83. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $522.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55.7 million
82. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $524 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55.9 million
81. West Side Story (1961)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $524.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56 million
80. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $526.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.1 million
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79. Finding Dory (2016)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $526.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.2 million
78. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $532.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.8 million
77. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $532.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.8 million
76. Tootsie (1982)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $533.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.9 million
75. Superman (1978)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $537.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 57.4 million
74. The Sixth Sense (1999)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $539.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 57.6 million
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73. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $539.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 57.6 million
72. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $540.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 57.7 million
71. Back to the Future (1985)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $555.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 59.3 million
70. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $555.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 59.3 million
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69. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $559.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 59.7 million
68. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $561.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 59.9 million
67. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $562.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60 million
66. My Fair Lady (1964)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $562.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.1 million
65. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $563.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.2 million
64. Cinderella (1950)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $565 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.3 million
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63. The Lion King (2019)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $565.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.3 million
62. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $566.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.4 million
61. The Towering Inferno (1974)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $575.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 61.4 million
60. Finding Nemo (2003)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $577.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 61.6 million
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59. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $577.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 61.6 million
58. The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $587.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 62.7 million
57. Batman (1989)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $590.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 63 million
56. Blazing Saddles (1974)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $592.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 63.2 million
55. Bambi (1942)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $597 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 63.7 million
54. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $605.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 64.6 million
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53. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $605.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 64.6 million
52. The Robe (1953)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $613.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 65.5 million
51. American Graffiti (1973)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $615.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 65.7 million
50. Airport (1970)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $619.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 66.1 million
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49. Incredibles 2 (2018)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $621.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 66.3 million
48. Goldfinger (1964)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $621.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 66.3 million
47. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $629.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.2 million
46. Cleopatra (1963)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $629.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.2 million
45. Pinocchio (1940)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $631.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.4 million
44. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $633.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.6 million
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43. Home Alone (1990)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $634.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.7 million
42. Independence Day (1996)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $649 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 69.3 million
41. Love Story (1970)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $656 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 70 million
40. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $661.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 70.6 million
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39. Spider-Man (2002)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $661.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 70.6 million
38. Shrek 2 (2004)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $665.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 71.1 million
37. Ghostbusters (1984)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $667.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 71.3 million
36. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $678.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 72.4 million
35. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $681 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 72.7 million
34. The Jungle Book (1967)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $690.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 73.7 million
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33. The Dark Knight (2008)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $697.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 74.5 million
32. Thunderball (1965)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $700.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 74.8 million
31. Black Panther (2018)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $715 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 76.3 million
30. Jurassic World (2015)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $719.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 76.8 million
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29. The Avengers (2012)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $720.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 76.9 million
28. Grease (1978)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $722.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 77.1 million
27. Mary Poppins (1964)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $732.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 78.2 million
26. Forrest Gump (1994)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $736.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 78.6 million
25. The Godfather (1972)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $739.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 78.9 million
24. Fantasia (1941)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $778.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 83 million
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23. The Graduate (1967)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $801.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 85.6 million
22. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $829.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 88.5 million
21. The Sting (1973)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $835.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 89.1 million
20. The Lion King (1994)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $835.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 89.1 million
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19. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $846.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 90.3 million
18. Jurassic Park (1993)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $860.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 91.8 million
17. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $881.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 94.1 million
16. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $892.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 95.3 million
15. Avatar (2009)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $911.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 97.3 million
14. Ben-Hur (1959)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $918.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 98 million
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13. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $920.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 98.3 million
12. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $936.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 99.9 million
11. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 108.1 million
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 109 million
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9. The Exorcist (1973)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 110.6 million
8. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.2 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 124.1 million
7. Jaws (1975)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.2 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 128.2 million
6. The Ten Commandments (1956)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.2 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 131 million
5. Titanic (1997)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.3 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 135.5 million
4. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.3 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 141.9 million
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3. The Sound of Music (1965)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.3 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 142.5 million
2. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.7 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 178.1 million
1. Gone with the Wind (1939)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.9 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 202.3 million
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