The Highest-Grossing Films Of All Time, Ranked In Order
When a film turns into millions or billions of dollars at the box office, it tends to secure its place in cinematic history. For every movie that rakes in millions or even billions of dollars, there are thousands that barely make back their production budget.
These are the top-grossing films that made over one billion, ranked in order. Keep reading to learn more!
Avatar: $2.923 Billion
Released in 2009, Avatar was unlike anything else on the silver screen. The groundbreaking visual effects, the interesting culture of the Na’vi, and the storyline had people flocking to theaters.
Avatar became the highest-grossing film of all time, earning $2.923 billion at the box office after its re-release in 2021, officially overtaking Endgame for the title.
Avengers: Endgame: $2.799 Billion
In one of the most epic finales ever, Avengers: Endgame had people talking for months after its release. The film’s epic conclusion of the Infinity War against Thanos had people in tears as they watched one of their beloved heroes die protecting the world.
Endgame managed to boot Avatar out of the highest-grossing-film slot at the box office, earning $2.799 at the box office against a $356 million budget. That is, until Avatar‘s re-release in 2021.
Avatar: The Way Of Water: $2.320 Billion
Avatar fans waited over a decade for the sequel to James Cameron’s sci-fi saga. While some worried that the long wait in between installments would negatively impact the film’s success, it earned almost as much as the first Avatar, becoming the third highest-grossing movie of all time.
Titanic: $2.264 Billion
The 1997 epic romance Titanic was the first film ever to reach the billion-dollar mark at the box office. People couldn’t get enough of Rose and Jack’s forbidden and doomed romance as the famous ship sank to the bottom of the ocean.
Grossing $2.264 billion at the box office against a $200 million budget, Titanic was the highest-grossing film of all time until Avatar came around.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens: $2.071 Billion
In 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens brought new life into the Skywalker saga, becoming the seventh film in the franchise. Bringing in a new character, Rey, fans were curious how the film would tie into the original trilogy.
The curiosity and sheer love of the space opera helped the film gross $2.071 billion at the box office against a $259 – 306 million budget, making it the highest-grossing movie in the franchise.
Avengers: Infinity War: $2.052 Billion
After a 10-year build-up of MCU films, everything came down to what the team of heroes would do when faced with a threat like no other — Thanos and the Infinity Stones.
The film became a cultural phenomenon, leaving fans wanting the next film immediately after watching their favorite characters disappear with the infamous snap. Upon its release, Infinity War became the first superhero film to gross over two billion dollars, earning $2.052 billion at the box office against a $325 – 400 million budget.
Spider-Man: No Way Home: $1.952 Billion
Marvel found a way to delight fans even after Endgame closed the door on a number of beloved characters. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, a multiverse plotline saw the return of Toby Macguire and Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker and… Peter Parker. Together the three Spider-Men swung into action to save their respective universes.
Inside Out 2: $1.698 Billion
After a slew of unenthusiastic releases and still struggling from the impact of the COVID pandemic on the box office, Pixar needed a hit. It came in the form of Inside Out 2, which saw Joy, Sadness, Fear, and Disgust navigate Riley’s emotions through puberty. The film was a critical and financial success.
Jurassic World: $1.671 Billion
Set 22 years after the original Jurassic Park film, Jurassic World brought new life into the franchise and became the highest-grossing movie in the franchise. With new stakes and characters, both fans of the original trilogy and newcomers were excited to see Chris Pratt star in the film.
It wound up being a huge success, grossing $1.671 billion at the box office against a $150 million budget.
The Lion King: $1.662 Billion
The animated movie The Lion King is one of the most beloved Disney classics. So, when it was announced the film would be adapted into a “live-action” CGI version, adults and kids alike couldn’t wait!
Grossing $1.662 billion at the box office against a $250 – 260 million budget, The Lion King became the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
The Avengers: $1.520 Billion
In 2012, the world’s mightiest heroes were brought together for the first time to defeat Loki and the Chitauri who attacked New York. It was a highly anticipated film, as it was the first time an MCU film revolved around an ensemble cast.
With fans gearing up for the first phase of the MCU, they were more than eager to purchase theater tickets, helping the movie gross $1.520 billion at the box office against a $220 million budget. It was the highest-grossing film of the year.
Furious 7: $1.515 Billion
The crew split up after the events of Fast & Furious 6, making the events of Furious 7 very intriguing to fans of the franchise. It’s most likely what got people to buy tickets and see the film on the silver screen—and having action star Jason Statham as the villain helped matters!
Furious 7 became the third-highest-grossing film of 2017, earning $1.515 billion against a $190 million budget at the box office.
Top Gun: Maverick: $1.495 Billion
Tom Cruise once again took to the skies, reviving his iconic role from the ’80s hit, Top Gun. The mixture of thrilling stunts, nostalgia, and an up-and-coming cast, made this film a huge hit at the box office.
Frozen II: $1.450 Billion
After Frozen’s music, story, and lessons, it was only a matter of time before Frozen II was in the works. Released in 2019, Elsa and Ana were back on another adventure “into the unknown,” learning more about their family.
Having the highest all-time worldwide opening for an animated film, the sequel film earned more than the original at the box office, grossing $1.450 billion against its $150 million budget.
Barbie $1.446 Billion
The summer of 2023 had everyone wearing and saying, “Hi, Barbie!” to all their friends. The much-anticipated live-action movie about the world’s most popular doll became a cultural revolution. The film dominated the box office and went on to win an Oscar for Best Original Song.
Avengers: Age Of Ultron: $1.405 Billion
After the smashing success of the first Avengers film, MCU fans were hyped up to see Age of Ultron. Finally, the heroes were back together, battling Ultron while bringing on some new members of the team, including Wanda and Vision.
While the film wasn’t nearly as popular as the original, Age of Ultron still made a boatload of cash at the box office, grossing $1.405 billion on a $365 million net budget.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie: $1.362 Billion
Even though Mario and his crew have been a part of pop culture for decades, the attempts to bring him to the big screen were… strange to say the least. Thankfully, in 2023, fans finally got a faithful adaptation that saw Mario teaming up with Princess Peach, Donkey Kong, and Luigi to save the Mushroom Kingdom.
Black Panther: $1.349 Billion
MCU fans traveled to the city of Wakanda in the 2018 film Black Panther. A highly-anticipated Marvel film, the movie followed the life of T’Challa, the prince of Wakanda who takes on the role of Black Panther after his father’s death.
Grossing $1.349 billion at the box office against a $200 million budget, Black Panther became the second-highest-grossing film of the year.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows — Part 2: $1.342 Billion
The final Battle of Hogwarts came to the silver screen in 2011. Fans couldn’t wait to view Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, seeing how the movie adaptation of the beloved franchise would come to an end.
Upon its release, the final Potter film became the fourth highest-grossing movie of all time, earning $1.342 billion at the box office against a $250 million budget that was shared with the first part of The Deathly Hallows.
Deadpool & Wolverine: $1.337 Billion
The final Deadpool movie saw Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman team up to give fans the satisfying conclusion they craved. While many were excited to see a comic-accurate Wolverine costume for the first time on screen, numerous celebrity cameos surprised and delighted movie-goers, too.
