Blockbuster Hits That Are Actually Critically Acclaimed

Studio filmmaking is a massive undertaking that involves hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of people and moving parts, making it all the more impressive when Hollywood gets it right. One might even say the true magic of cinema reveals itself with the release of an acclaimed blockbuster. Enrapturing crowds and critics alike, these efforts deliver the best of style and substance to remind us all of why we go to the movies in the first place. (These are the top stars whose movies have performed best at the box office.)

To determine the highest grossing movies with the best ratings, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on worldwide box office data from The Numbers, an online movie database owned by Nash Information Services, and audience and critic ratings from IMDb, an online movie and TV database owned by Amazon, and Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator.

The 350 movies with the highest global box office, adjusted for inflation using historical ticket prices from the National Association for Theatre Owners, were ranked based on a composite index consisting of IMDb user rating, Rotten Tomatoes audience score, and Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score. All index measures were rated equally. Data is current as of September 2022.

A list of the highest-grossing movies with the best ratings tell us more than first meets the eye. Successful in its own right perhaps, each title also reveals broader trends about the era during which it was released. Take “Iron Man” or “The Dark Knight,” for example, two classics from 2008 that pulled double-duty by further popularizing the superhero subgenre and simultaneously redefining our expectations of mainstream action fare.

Click here to see blockbuster hits that are actually critically acclaimed

Or consider David Fincher’s 1995 thriller “Se7en,” a film so grim and relentless that its box office success feels like an anomaly. However, it came out in the wake of similarly uncompromising releases like “Pulp Fiction,” “Reservoir Dogs,” and “Schindler’s List.” Major studios were suddenly willing to take bold creative risks on tentpole releases, as they had been in the 1970s – a decade that yielded some of the most iconic and acclaimed blockbusters of all time. (These were the 30 biggest box office hits of the ‘70s.)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

50. Casino Royale (2006)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $831.3 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (601,654 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (703,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (259 reviews)

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

49. Ratatouille (2007)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $834.2 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (669,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (251 reviews)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

48. Gone with the Wind (1939)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $7.3 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (301,469 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (293,900 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (102 reviews)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

47. Iron Man (2008)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $746.5 million
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (983,992 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (281 reviews)

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Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

46. American Beauty (1999)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $644.9 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (660,797 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (190 reviews)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

45. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $864.3 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (256,497 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (333 reviews)

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Courtesy of United Artists

44. Goldfinger (1964)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $937.8 million
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (176,275 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (100,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (68 reviews)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

43. Logan (2017)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $627.2 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (688,052 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (93,272 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (423 reviews)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

42. Jurassic Park (1993)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $2.3 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (909,321 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (130 reviews)

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Courtesy of New Line Cinema

41. Se7en (1995)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $690.9 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1.5 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (468,879 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (82 reviews)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

40. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (717,370 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (768,808 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (73 reviews)

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

39. Toy Story 2 (1999)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $925.7 million
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (548,385 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (1.0 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (169 reviews)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

38. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $829.2 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (428,336 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (760,213 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (118 reviews)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

37. Finding Nemo (2003)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.4 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (984,204 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (33.4 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (268 reviews)

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Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

36. Notorious (1946)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $769.5 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (97,303 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (35,835 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (48 reviews)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

35. Aladdin (1992)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (386,940 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (939,996 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (74 reviews)

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

34. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $908.7 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (850,959 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (1.3 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (197 reviews)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

33. Toy Story 4 (2019)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (222,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (53,157 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (452 reviews)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

32. Inception (2010)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $845.9 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (2.2 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (571,783 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (361 reviews)

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Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

31. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $963.2 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (379,622 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (876,535 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (145 reviews)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

30. Jaws (1975)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $2.1 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (565,147 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (945,011 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (93 reviews)

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

29. Inside Out (2015)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $929.1 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (653,819 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (137,195 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (375 reviews)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

28. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $2.8 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (939,893 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (72,727 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (546 reviews)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

27. WALL·E (2008)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $679.4 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1.0 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (598,663 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (260 reviews)

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

26. Zootopia (2016)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (458,551 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (101,803 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (297 reviews)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

25. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.7 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (1.7 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (34.7 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (275 reviews)

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

24. Up (2009)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $893.4 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (975,977 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (1.2 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (298 reviews)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

23. Toy Story 3 (2010)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.2 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (786,394 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (607,826 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (309 reviews)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

22. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $886.5 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (292,513 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (50,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (132 reviews)

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Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

21. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $741.4 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (60,985 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (10,855 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (91 reviews)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

20. The Lion King (1994)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $2.0 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (983,962 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (1.3 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (130 reviews)

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

19. The Sting (1973)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $858.4 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (250,672 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (61,793 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (63 reviews)

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

18. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1.0 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (749,360 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (84 reviews)

Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

17. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $947.3 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1.3 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (993,591 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (143 reviews)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

16. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $2.5 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1.3 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (863,326 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (132 reviews)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

15. Toy Story (1995)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $769.2 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (927,161 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (91 reviews)

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

14. Coco (2017)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $815.1 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (432,055 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (28,505 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (352 reviews)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

13. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.2 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (917,143 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (827,087 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (84 reviews)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

12. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.4 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1.7 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1.4 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (235 reviews)

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

11. Back to the Future (1985)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $994.7 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (83 reviews)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

10. Alien (1979)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $685.0 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (823,459 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (460,436 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (126 reviews)

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Courtesy of Orion Pictures

9. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $599.9 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1.3 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (847,443 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (104 reviews)

Courtesy of United Artists

8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $736.8 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (954,220 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (279,963 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (83 reviews)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

7. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.5 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1.5 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1.3 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (255 reviews)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

6. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.7 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1.2 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (105 reviews)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

5. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.5 billion
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (381,212 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 99% (50,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (447 reviews)

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Courtesy of Warner Bros.

4. The Dark Knight (2008)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.3 billion
> IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (2.4 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1.8 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (345 reviews)

Courtesy of Intercontinental Film Distributors

3. Spirited Away (2001)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $621.6 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (693,872 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (337,321 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (191 reviews)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

2. Schindler’s List (1993)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $712.9 million
> IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (1.3 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (411,879 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (128 reviews)

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Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

1. The Godfather (1972)
> Worldwide box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.5 billion
> IMDb user rating: 9.2/10 (1.7 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (734,439 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (133 reviews)

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