Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time

Last year’s entry to the Star Wars franchise, “The Rise of Skywalker” has the lowest critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes of all movies in the series at 51%. Despite the somewhat negative reviews, the movie has sold more than 56 million tickets since its release.

The fourth and final installment of the Toy Story film series gives a warm-hearted sendoff to everyone’s favorite cowboy, as Woody leaves Buzz and the gang for Bo-Peep, with the two living in the world on their own, without a child to care for. The film also has an all-star cast, including Key and Peele, Keanu Reeves, Carl Weathers, and more.

Dan Brown’s bestselling novel inspired this blockbuster adaptation, starring Tom Hanks as American “symbologist” Robert Langdon. When a murder is committed in the Louvre Museum, Langdon and cryptographer Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) unlock a mystery over 2,000 years in the making. The film was followed by two sequels.

The third installment of this computer-animated franchise finds the titular ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) dealing with some new responsibilities. Not only is he tasked with becoming the next king of the land, but Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz) announces her pregnancy. While commercially successful, it was a critical disappointment.

With the recent release of “The Rings of Power” TV series, now is the perfect time to revisit Peter Jackson’s epic prequel trilogy. In the second installment, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his cohorts overcome various obstacles on their way to the Lonely Mountain. Once they arrive, they must contend with the powerful dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch).

The third installment of this computer-animated film series is the franchise’s highest-grossing entry to date. It sends a misfit gang of prehistoric creatures on a perilous rescue mission to an underground world. “The manic pace quickly grows tiresome, as does the influx of cloying baby animals,” wrote critic Andrea Gronvall for the Chicago Reader.

Michael Bay’s disaster film delivers melodrama and spectacle in near equal measure, putting Earth in the crosshairs of a deadly asteroid. It’s up to a ragtag team of deep-core drillers to save the planet. Boston Globe critic Jay Carr called it “big and noisy and stupid and shameless” before accurately predicting that it was “going to be huge at the box office.”

The sequel to “Finding Nemo” (2003) was a huge success, grossing more than half a billion dollars so far at the domestic box office when adjusted for inflation. The movie stars Ellen DeGeneres as the voice of absent-minded fish Dory on a mission to find her lost parents. Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes says the film is “Funny, poignant, and thought-provoking” and critics gave it a Freshness score of 94%.

Spielberg’s beloved film series went back to the basics in this third entry, teaming Indy (Harrison Ford) with his estranged father (Sean Connery). Against the backdrop of WWII, the pair must outwit Nazis in their search for the Holy Grail. This entry in the series was followed by “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and a fifth installment is slated to arrive in 2023.

Ex-villain turned doting father Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) is recruited for an important mission in this computer-animated sequel. On sites like Rotten Tomatoes, it scored about as well as its popular predecessor. A third installment followed, and “Despicable Me 4” is currently in development.

This fantasy adventure sends Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his peers on a quest to destroy the source of Lord Voldemort’s immortality (Ralph Fiennes plays the evil wizard). It paved the way for an epic Part II, which fared even better at the worldwide box office.

A diamond in the rough… it’s Aladdin of Agrabah. Filled with iconic songs and performances, most notably from the late Robin Williams as the Genie of the Lamp, this animated classic was adapted from the Arabic folktales collected in “One Thousand and One Nights.”

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is a standalone Star Wars film about a group of rebels attempting to steal the plans for the Death Star. The movie, which had a reported production budget of $200 million, grossed $155 million domestically in its opening weekend and remained the country’s top film at the box office for five weeks in a row.

James Cameron’s blockbuster sequel made groundbreaking use of CGI technology and blended elements from multiple genres. The result is a thrilling sci-fi adventure, which finds a once-deadly cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger) taking on the role of protector. On IMDb’s list of The Top 250 Movies, it currently lands at #29.

On the heels of an epochal sci-fi action masterpiece came this lucrative sequel, which didn’t quite pack the same philosophical punch. In their revolt against the machines, Neo (Keanu Reeves) and his fellow freedom fighters head back into the Matrix.

Blending elements of multiple genres, this romantic ghost story was a surprise hit both domestically and abroad. Following his brutal murder, a businessman (Patrick Swayze) tries to communicate with his still-living girlfriend (Demi Moore). Co-star Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar for her indelible performance as psychic Oda Mae Brown.

Set in 1995, this is the story of Carol Danvers, played by Brie Larson, who becomes Captain Marvel after Earth is caught up in a conflict between two alien civilizations.

Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, is recruited by Nick Fury and Mysterio to battle the Elementals — a group of characters based on the elements of water, earth, air, and fire — while he is on a school trip to Europe.

The sixth installment of the Harry Potter film series takes place during the titular wizard’s sixth year at Hogwarts. The discovery of a mysterious textbook brings new spells and some important revelations. “Director David Yates presides over some gorgeous CGI set pieces, but all the real magic comes from the scrum of ace British character actors,” wrote critic Cliff Doerksen for the Chicago Reader.

This DC comic book adaptation stars Jason Momoa as the chiseled superhero and rightful heir to the throne of an underwater kingdom. Within a tapestry of ubiquitous CGI, Aquaman embarks on a quest to fulfill his destiny. A sequel is scheduled to arrive on Christmas in 2023.

This classic dramedy extended the shelf-life of disco and turned John Travolta into a huge movie star. To escape from his bleak reality, Brooklyn native Tony Manero (Travolta) lives out his dreams on the dance floor. A box office smash, it also yielded one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time.

Director Alfonso Cuarón breathed new visual life into the Harry Potter franchise with this third installment. It puts the beloved wizard in the crosshairs of killer Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), who’s escaped from Azkaban prison.

Peter Jackson’s big-budget prequel trilogy kicked off with this fantasy epic, set 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings.” At the behest of Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) heads to the Lonely Mountain on an important mission.

Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy reached a critical peak with this second installment, in which the web-slinger (Tobey Maguire) takes on Doctor Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina). It won an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects and set an early benchmark for the modern superhero subgenre.

Loosely based on a comic of the same name, this sci-fi comedy pulls back the curtain on intergalactic relations. As the newest recruit in a secret organization, Agent J (Will Smith) helps track down a deadly alien bug (Vincent D’Onofrio). An animated series and multiple sequels would follow.

Long before the Marvel era came this groundbreaking superhero movie about the man of steel (Christopher Reeve). Balancing earnest dramedy with thrilling action, it follows Superman from birth to adulthood. Legendary composer John Williams provided the score.

Disney’s live-action update of this classic fantasy tale made a killing at the box office in spite of its lukewarm critical reception. While bursting with color and eccentricity, the execution feels slightly hollow at its core. “The movie badgers rather than charms, but it’s rescued by Helena Bonham Carter’s brisk performance as the Red Queen,” wrote critic​​ Anthony Lane for the New Yorker.

“Spider-Man 3” is the final installment in this trilogy, which stars Tobey Maguire. Spider-Man battles a trio of villains and faces a new challenge when he bonds with a strange entity from another world that increases his abilities but brings out his less-pleasant side.

Although it now includes many problematic sequences and illustrations, “Peter Pan” remains one of the more successful films out of Disney Animation Studios. Here’s a little-known fact: The character of Peter Pan originally appeared in J.M. Barrie’s adult novel “The Little White Bird” as a seven-day-old boy taught by fairies and birds to fly.

The fourth installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise broke an international box office record and became the third highest-grossing film of 2011. With the return of an old flame (Penélope Cruz) comes a new adventure for Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). Its production budget of $378.5 million is one of the highest in cinematic history.

Steven Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” introduced audiences to swashbuckling archeologist Indiana Jones. The film has a 95% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96% approval rating from audiences.

“Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” sees Anakin complete his journey to the Dark Side and transform into Darth Vader. As the Clone Wars rage on, Chancellor Palpatine strengthens his hold on power in the galaxy at the expense of the Jedi. Though many “Star Wars” fans lump all three prequels into the same box of disappointment, some might forget that “Revenge of the Sith” is generally well-regarded.

A young boy (Haley Joel Osment) sees dead people and communicates with them too in this Oscar-nominated thriller. While not the first film from director M. Night Shyamalan, it did establish his signature brand of classic twist endings.

In this sequel to “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011) and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014), the Avengers are divided into two factions, one led by Steve Rogers and the other by Tony Stark.

Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” is a 3 hour and 40 minute epic. While it was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, it won only for its special effects.

Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough return in this sequel to the runaway hit “Jurassic Park.” Chicago Tribune critic Gene Siskel said the film “lacked a staple of Steven Spielberg adventure films: exciting characters.”

Who knew that a toy line could turn into a movie — or movies? In this one, the fourth in the series, the original actors of the first three films were replaced by the stars Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci and Kelsey Grammar, among others. Some of the Transformers were new, too. The film, the first filmed on small digital IMAX cameras, bombed with critics but was a huge box office success.

The penultimate film in the Toy Story franchise, “Toy Story 3” tells the bittersweet tale of Andy’s departure to college and our favorite toys’ adventures from Andy’s house to a chaotic daycare to a new child. Did you know that Pixar teased “Cars 2” inside Andy’s room in this movie?

Director Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to “The Dark Knight” (2008) is the second most successful Batman movie to date at the domestic box office. It is also the second most critically acclaimed live-action Batman movie, behind only its predecessor.

Fourteen years passed between the original “The Incredibles” movie and this sequel about the family of superheroes. Fans were clearly eager to see it, as the follow-up grossed more than $617 million (in 2019 dollars) at the domestic box office. The first film grossed $393 million.

In the fifth installment in the saga of the boy who lived, Harry is introduced to the Order of the Phoenix. The order is a secret organization founded by Albus Dumbledore that is fighting to stop the return of Lord Voldemort. Meanwhile, Harry and friends begin creating a secret group of Hogwarts students to train in the struggle against Voldemort.

Minions are little yellow creatures which exist to serve Earth’s biggest evil-doers. In the film they foment a string of unwelcome actions due to their ineptitude — like crushing an Egyptian pharaoh under a pyramid and exposing Count Dracula to sunlight. Searching for a new master, three minions end up in London where they plot with villainess Scarlet Overkill to steal Queen Elizabeth’s crown. Among the voice talents were Jon Hamm, Sandra Bullock, and Michael Keaton.

By the time “The Fate of the Furious,” the eighth installment of the series came out in 2017, the franchise was well liked by most critics. In the film, a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron) forces Dominic (Vin Diesel) to betray the rest of his family and crew. They unite to save him and bring him home. Though it couldn’t match its $250 million budget domestically, the film grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide.

The heartwarming holiday favorite is about a department store Santa who insists he is the real St. Nicholas and is institutionalized as a result. The movie features the first starring role for Natalie Wood as the child who is the first to believe the man really is Santa Claus.

In the fourth installment in the series, the Triwizard Tournament has arrived at Hogwarts. In the tournament, a wizard from each of three different wizarding schools is selected to compete in a series of difficult and dangerous challenges to bring glory to their school. Harry Potter is too young to compete in the dangerous tournament, but fate has other plans for him.

Director Christopher Nolan’s second Batman movie is the top-grossing Batman film ever. The gritty superhero flick is notable in part due to the performance of Heath Ledger as Joker. Ledger died soon after completing filming and posthumously received an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.

“Skyfall” is the third James Bond film to feature actor Daniel Craig in the role of 007. The movie is innovative yet remains true to many of the James Bond franchise greatest strengths, including wild chase scenes. “Skyfall” was a financial success and is the third highest grossing Bond flick to date when adjusting for inflation.

The third installment of this popular franchise features a dangerous rescue mission along with other high-seas adventures. With a reported production budget of approximately $300 million, it’s one of the most expensive movies ever made. Writing for the Austin Chronicle, critic Marc Savlov called it “a knockabout, scattershot affair.”

Numerous versions of “Beauty and the Beast” have been released over the years, with Disney’s 2017 live action remake the most successful at the domestic box office. For comparison, Disney’s 1991 animated version grossed $630.9 million domestically, adjusted for inflation. The Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes appreciates the “faithful” retelling of the story.

Disney’s magical classic was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture. The film is an enchanting story about a young woman who is held captive by a monster whose mission is to make her fall in love with him in order to break a spell.

“Spider-Man,” starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, was both the top grossing film of 2002 and the most successful of the franchise. At the time, the movie was the most successful superhero movie ever, though that’s no longer the case. Director Sam Raimi followed the blockbuster with two Spider-Man sequels that both did well at the box office.

“Dark of the Moon” is the third installment in the Transformers franchise, and Shia LaBeouf is back to reprise his role. The plot harks back to America’s early space program: A Cybertronian spacecraft lands on the moon, carrying an invention that could end the war between the Autobots ( good guys) and the Decepticons (bad ones). NASA detects the crash and President John F. Kennedy calls for a mission to put a man on the moon as cover for investigating the spacecraft. Also starring are Josh Duhamel and Frances McDormand.

As the fifth installment of the Jurassic Park franchise, this film brings back actors Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard as Owen Grady and Claire Dearing, who arrive on Isla Nublar off the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Their mission: to rescue the remaining cloned dinosaurs on Earth before a volcanic eruption destroys the island and everything with it. The film received mixed reviews. But, interestingly, Jeff Goldblum, who dates back to the first “Jurassic” Park” in 1993, has a cameo role.

Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is the top grossing animated film of all time when adjusting for inflation. It is the first animated feature to include sound and be in color. In addition to its theatrical success, the movie sold the most VHS copies of any film. It holds a 98% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics.

“Black Panther” led the domestic box office in 2018, out-grossing blockbusters such as “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Incredibles 2.” The movie was the first from Marvel to feature a black superhero as the title character. It received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won three.

The first and as of now only Star Wars film from director Rian Johnson was a hit, bringing in more than all but five Star Wars films after adjusting for inflation. The movie was well received by critics, earning a 91% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, however, were less enthusiastic, giving it a 42% rating on the site.

In “Iron Man 3,” Tony Stark battles a terrorist called the Mandarin. It ends with his suits of armor being destroyed, but he knows he will always be Iron Man.

Of the five Shrek films released to date, including “Puss in Boots,” “Shrek 2” leads with the highest total domestic box office gross. The movie had the biggest opening weekend ever for an animated film, grossing more than $108 million. This record would later be topped by “Shrek the Third.”

The concluding chapter of George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy sold an estimated 94.1 million tickets since its release. The movie grossed over $200 million in 1983, about $100 million more than that year’s second-biggest earner, “Tootsie.”

In the “Chamber of Secrets,” Harry returns to wizarding school Hogwarts for his second year after an exciting and dangerous first one. The school is quickly set abuzz by a cryptic message on a corridor wall that claims the mysterious Chamber of Secrets has been opened and bloodshed is sure to follow. Some strange force begins to attack students and warns that the heir of Slytherin will purge the school of impure wizards. Harry and friends must race to stop whatever is threatening the school and its students.

Actor John Travolta followed up his successful role in “Saturday Night Fever” (1977) with another smash hit, “Grease,” in which he starred alongside Australian sensation Olivia Newton-John. The musical romance about a 1950s greaser and a goody-two-shoes outgrossed all movies in 1978, including “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

Steven Spielberg’s 1977 flick about a man’s experiences following an alien encounter wowed audiences. It currently has a 94% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85% approval rating from audiences. While nominated for eight Oscars, it only won one for cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond.

The Pixar-produced movie about a clownfish in search of his missing son topped the domestic box office in 2003. The movie, which took home the Oscar for Best Animated Film, is also the best-selling DVD of all time. Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes says the movie “adds another beautifully crafted gem to Pixar’s crown.”

“Frozen” was not only one of the biggest box office smashes of 2013, but also the highest grossing animated film of all time, raking in an eye-popping $1.3 billion worldwide at the time of its release. Kristin Bell lends her voice to the lead character, Princess Anna, who is joined by a motley crew on an adventure to save her frozen kingdom from her older sister Elsa (Idina Menzel).

The first entry to Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings franchise — based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic books — was a massive critical and financial success. The movie grossed more than $315 million at the domestic box office and currently has a 95% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were even more enamored, with 95% liking it.

The second film based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, set three years after the conclusion of the first one, managed to do even better at the box office. All is well until princess Elsa hears something in the woods and inadvertently awakens the four elemental spirits of the forest. “Frozen II” only ran in theaters from November 22, 2019, to March 19, 2020, its run cut short by the beginning of the pandemic.

Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” is the second film in the hugely successful Lord of the Rings franchise based on the fantasy book trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien. The Academy Award-winning movie’s balance of groundbreaking visuals and epic storytelling won over critics and audiences alike.

After numerous delays, this long-awaited sequel has become the biggest success story of 2022 (so far). Tom Cruise reprises the role of high-flying hotshot Maverick and trains a team of TOPGUN pilots for a new mission. More than a commercial smash, it holds an impressive critic score of 96% and audience score of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite scoring significantly lower ratings than its predecessor from both critics and audiences on sites like Rotten Tomatoes, this second entry in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is the top grossing of the series. “Dead Man’s Chest” was also the top-grossing movie of 2006 and only the third movie to ever gross more than $1 billion (unadjusted) worldwide out of 46 total.

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” is the fifth-highest grossing movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon, whose star power includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Mark Ruffalo. The Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes says the film was “Exuberant and eye-popping.”

“Part 2” is the final film in the adventures of Harry Potter and the second film based on the “Deathly Hallows” book. Harry continues his quest to destroy Lord Voldemort as the wizarding world spirals into chaos and violence. The series matures with the characters and suddenly death and terror are everywhere. The once peaceful society is transformed into open warfare as Voldemort seeks to take full control. The movie is the highest rated in the series and had the highest ticket sales by a large margin.

The movie about a mentally challenged, well-intentioned man whose life tracks significant moments in American history won six Oscars, including Best Picture. The movie grossed in 1994 more at the domestic box office than all other movies but one. Disney’s “The Lion King,” which was released two weeks before “Forrest Gump,” grossed slightly over $1 million more that year. Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes chides “Forrest Gump” for being over sentimental. However, audiences love the movie, which holds a 95% score from viewers on the site.

Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” is not only considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, but it is also one of the top grossing movies ever. The Best Picture-winner about a New York City crime family was the most financially successful movie of the year at the domestic box office and also grossed more than its two sequels combined.

There was plenty of hype around the book series, and when it finally launched on the big screen, it marked the beginning of an era. The wizarding world explodes to life as young wizard Harry Potter is thrown into a magical society and a secret war that began before he was born. He quickly becomes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, joins Gryffindor house, meets several other wizards, and develops a rivalry with Draco Malfoy. Along the way, we are introduced to all the quirks and intricacies that J.K. Rowling’s imagination unleashed on the world.

This Disney musical blends live-action and animation and tells various stories about Br’er Rabbit and his friends – stories based on African-American and Caribbean oral tradition. Due to its controversial racist depictions of life in the South during Reconstruction, it remains unavailable to rent or stream through major platforms.

“Furious 7” is the last movie in which Paul Walker, who died in a car crash in 2013, appeared. In the seventh installment of the franchise, the crew is retired and back to normal lives…until the brother (Jason Statham) of an old enemy seeks revenge. The movie was the second most expensive to make out of the nine in the series so far, with a production cost of $190 million. It turned a profit of more than $1.3 billion.

Released in July 2019, Disney’s computer-animated remake of “The Lion King” grossed $543.6 million at the domestic box office, becoming the second biggest movie of the year. While the visually impressive movie was popular with audiences, who gave it an 88% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, it was relatively poorly received by critics, who gave it a 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The production team behind “101 Dalmatians” used inexpensive animation methods to keep costs low. The movie had numerous theatrical re-releases — in 1969, 1979, 1985, and 1991 — each more lucrative than the previous one.

Aliens have landed just as America is celebrating 4th of July and that sparks another epic fight for independence. Director Roland Emmerich eschews complex drama in favor of breakneck pacing and copious spectacle, which was exactly what audiences were hoping for.

The final film in Peter Jackson’s exceedingly popular Lord of the Rings trilogy was the most successful at the domestic box office, grossing more than $500 million adjusted for inflation. The fantasy flick won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture.

“The Avengers” — the sixth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — was the top grossing movie of 2012, taking in $175 million more than the second highest grossing movie that year, “The Dark Knight Rises.”

“Jurassic World” was released 14 years after the previous film in the franchise, “Jurassic Park III.” The movie covered its nearly $160 million production budget already in its opening weekend, when it grossed more than $208 million. With a 78% Freshness rating, “Jurassic World” is the second best rated film in the franchise by critics on Rotten Tomatoes, behind the original “Jurassic Park.”

“Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” has relatively poor reviews online, winning over 53% of critics and 59% of audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Moviegoers were undoubtedly eager for a new Star Wars film, however, having waited 16 years since the release of “Return of the Jedi.” “The Phantom Menace” spent its first four weekends at No. 1 at the domestic box office.

The second film in the Star Wars saga has the highest rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes of all the movies in the saga, at 94%. The movie’s intricate plot and fleshed out characters made it a massive blockbuster and helped develop the Star Wars universe. The film won one Oscar for Best Sound and was also given a Special Achievement Award for its advanced special effects.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” exceeded expectations for its weekend debut for Sony Pictures, and this latest entry in the Marvel Comics Universe franchise went on to become the first post-pandemic film to exceed more than $1 billion at the box office. A spell gone awry kicks open the multiverse in this modern superhero movie. Spider-Man (Tom Holland) must contend with various villains from the franchise’s own past, with a little help from his interdimensional counterparts.

“The Lion King” combined innovative animation techniques with an unforgettable soundtrack — that earned two Oscars — to create an animated Disney classic. The movie had a higher gross at the domestic box office in 1994 than any other film, and then had a successful IMAX release in 2002 and a 3D release in 2011.

Based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, director William Friedkin’s film about a young girl who is possessed by an evil spirit frightened millions in theaters across the country. The movie is one of the few horror films nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Though it didn’t win that award, it took home two Oscars, including Best Writing – Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

The superhero blockbuster pits the Avengers and their allies in an epic battle against Thanos, who is set on destruction of the universe. The movie, which cost an estimated $325 million to make, grossed more than a quarter billion dollars over its opening weekend. The movie is the 19th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise.

“The Sound of Music” stars Julie Andrews as Austrian nun Maria, who leaves her convent to take a position as a governess for a large family in the lead-up to World War II. Andrews had already won an Academy Award for Best Actress in “Mary Poppins.” “The Sound of Music” won five Oscars, including Best Picture. It is an audience favorite on Rotten Tomatoes with 91% enjoying the film.

Released in 1975, “Jaws” is often considered to be the first summer blockbuster. The film, about a great white shark that is terrorizing a beach town, offers a master class in suspense and scared countless viewers away from the ocean.

Out of Steven Spielberg’s many blockbuster films, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” brought in the most money at the domestic box office. The movie, in which a young boy helps an alien return to his planet, grossed more than its production budget during its first wide release weekend and proceeded to spend a total of 17 weeks at the top of the box office. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 98% Freshness rating. It won four Oscars but lost Best Picture to “Gandhi.”

Director J.J. Abrams’ “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” takes place 30 years after the events portrayed in “Return of the Jedi.” For the first time, Star Wars creator George Lucas was not involved in the film, which was released a decade after “Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.” “The Force Awakens,” which cost an estimated $261 million to make, grossed $248 million its opening weekend.

“Jurassic Park,” about a dinosaur theme park that descends into chaos, was the highest grossing movie in 1993 at the domestic box office, bringing in nearly double the gross of its closest competitor, “The Fugitive.” In addition to the money grossed during its initial release, “Jurassic Park” made more than $45 million during a 2013 re-release.

Pinnochio was a box office monster in 1940, bringing in $2.47 billion when adjusted for inflation. Every cuckoo clock in Geppetto’s home was built to function in real life before the animators could properly animate them.

“Avengers: Endgame” is the top grossing film in the hugely popular Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. The movie, which runs for more than three hours, once again finds the Avengers teaming up to restore order to the universe in the wake of Thanos’s destructive actions.

Massive blockbuster “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,” originally released simply as “Star Wars,” launched one of cinema’s most beloved franchises. The inventive tale of good versus evil triggered a worldwide following, leading to its initial theatrical release running for 135 continuous weeks. The movie won a total of six Oscars.

Perhaps the most famous princess of all, Cinderella made her Disney movie debut in 1950, bringing an inflation-adjusted $5.5 billion at the box office. Walt Disney himself said that one of his favorite pieces of animation comes in this film – the moment when Cinderella spins, her torn dress turning into a beautiful white ball gown.

Filmmaker James Cameron’s movie about a Marine on a mission in a beautiful alien world is notable in part thanks to its cutting-edge visuals, for which it won an Oscar. The movie cost more than $276 million to produce, and it grossed more than triple that at the domestic box office.

Director James Cameron (“Avatar”) packed theaters across the country with this tale of an upper-class woman falling in love with a poor artist aboard the doomed Titanic. Part romance and part disaster film, the movie was No. 1 at the domestic box office for 14 weekends straight. “Titanic” is also tied for most Oscar wins (11) and nominations (14) in Academy Award history.

Historical epic “Gone With the Wind,” the most expensive Hollywood film ever produced at the time, has gone on to become the top grossing of all time. It is the only movie to sell more than 200 million tickets throughout its multiple domestic releases. It is often considered to be among the most definitive of Hollywood films, and is based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel about the antebellum South. It won eight Oscars, including Best Picture.

The most successful animated feature of all time, “Bambi” tells the tale of a young buck who loses his mother to hunters and explores the forest with his friends to discover the beauty and horror that the natural world has in store.