15 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time: When discussing the all-time highest-grossing films, multiple factors should be considered, including revenue sources, inflation adjustments, and the impact of animated movies. For instance, if we account for inflation, “Gone with the Wind” would still reign as the highest-grossing film. Furthermore, when considering revenue from home video sales, broadcast rights, and merchandise, both “Avatar” and “Titanic” exceeded the $3 billion mark. Additionally, animated films have raked in billions through retail merchandise sales.
This compilation excludes animated movies and disregards inflation adjustments. There are various avenues for films to generate income, such as home video sales, broadcasting rights, and merchandise, but the predominant yardstick for evaluating a film’s success today is its box office earnings, which is the metric we’ll adhere to.
“Avatar” (2009) held the top spot for an extended period until “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) eventually overtook it as the highest-grossing film of all time. Remarkably, all four of the “Avengers” movies secure places within the top 10 of the highest-grossing films.
Regarding genre, contemporary high-earning films predominantly belong to the sci-fi action category. Superhero movies, particularly over the last decade, have seen remarkable popularity.
In total, only five films have managed to surpass the $2 billion mark in global earnings.
Here are the 30 highest-grossing movies of all time:
1. Avatar (2009) – $2.92 billion
Avatar was the highest-grossing movie for the whole decade (2009-2019) until surpassed by Avengers: Endgame. It was the first movie to gross $700 million domestically and also the first movie to gross more than $2 billion worldwide. When adjusted for inflation, Avatar is the second highest-grossing movie of all time, after Gone with the Wind. It won 3 Oscars (Cinematography, Visual Effects, and Art Direction).
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019) – $2.799 billion
Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame is the fourth and last movie in the Avengers series and the grand conclusion to twenty-two films in the Infinity Saga. It cost over $350 to produce and is the first movie that reached over a billion dollars in the opening weekend in theaters. It is also the first highest-grossing movie that did not win an Academy Award.
3. Avatar: The Way of Water (200) — $2.32 billion
The sequel to 2009’s Avatar was originally aiming to be released in 2014 but, as we all know, it didn’t make its way to theaters until the end of 2022. It started to feel like these so-called Avatar sequels may never happen with delay after delay, but Avatar: The Way of Water landed with such a resounding slam that it reminded us all to never underestimate James Cameron and the power of Pandora. Sure, it didn’t quite soar to the heights of the original Avatar, but $2.31 billion in global box office revenue isn’t the worst consolation prize. Avatar: The Way of Water had an estimated budget of $350 million to $460 million and even James Cameron said the film would need to be the third or fourth highest-grossing film of all time to turn a profit. As you can see here, it did.
4. Titanic (1997) – $2.264 billion
In the top ten highest-grossing movies of all time, Titanic is the only one that is not a sci-fi or action movie. This is the first movie ever to reach $1 billion worldwide. It remained the highest-grossing movie for 12 years (1997-2009) until surpassed by Avatar. The movie won 11 Oscars.
5. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) – $2.071 billion
This is the seventh movie in the Star Wars series and the first movie in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. It’s the highest-grossing movie in the Star Wars franchise and one of the only five movies that earned more than $2 billion worldwide.
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – $2.052 billion
Infinity War is probably the best movie in the Avengers series and possibly the best in the whole Infinity Saga. It’s one of the highest-rated movies on the list and the last one to have passed the $2 billion mark.
7. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) — $1.921 billion
Spider-Man: No Way Home may not have been an Avengers movie, but it sure felt like one as it brought together so many characters from the Spider-Man universe that it became nearly as big of an event as any other film. While it wasn’t confirmed until the film’s release, fans around the world had a feeling it would be bringing back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield to join Tom Holland and a spectacular adventure, and that got people in those seats. There were some issues with the story as a whole, but it delivered on nostalgia and caused some pretty special cheers in the theaters. No Way Home is obviously the highest-grossing Spider-Man film was the top earner in 2021 and was the first film since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to cross $1 billion at the global box office and to do so since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
8. Jurassic World (2015) – $1.671 billion
Jurassic World is the fourth movie in the Jurassic Park film series and the highest-grossing in the franchise. It is also the highest-grossing movie released by Universal Pictures.
9. The Lion King (2019) — $1.663 billion
The original The Lion King from 1994 is considered by many to be one of Disney’s greatest films, and it was also one of its most successful with worldwide earnings of $968.51 million. I’m sure the House of Mouse would have loved it to cross the $1 billion mark, so it’s a good thing they decided to give it a live-action remake because it blew past that goal on its way to a $1.66 billion run. The Lion King is the first Disney proper film on the list at #9, and the next closest is Frozen 2’s $1.40 billion at #13. We enjoyed the film, but it did have a mixed reception overall. Despite that, the power of Simba’s tale was enough to skyrocket its ticket sales.
10. The Avengers (2012) – $1.520 billion
It’s the first movie in the Avengers series and the sixth movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the time, it was the highest-grossing comic book film (surpassed The Dark Knight in 2008). The Avengers is also the first Marvel Cinematic Universe film to earn $1 billion.
11. Furious 7 (2015) – $1.515 billion
As the number said, this is the seventh installment in the Fast & Furious franchise and the highest-grossing movie in the series. It is also the first movie in the series that reached $1 billion at the box office in only 17 days.
12. Top Gun: Maverick (2022) — $1.495 billion
A lot of people figured Top Gun: Maverick was going to be a big deal, but I don’t think many figured just exactly how big it would end up being. The sequel to 1986’s Top Gun brought back Tom Cruise and the team behind the film built a story with new and returning characters that were universally praised. Not only was there a ton of heart in the story, but the high-speed scenes with fighter jets that were achieved using unprecedented practical effects all created the perfect storm of a film that kept bringing in ticket sales weeks after its release. At $1.49 billion, it is now proudly sitting near the top of the highest-grossing films of all time.
13. Frozen II (2019) — $1.453 billion
Frozen’s Let It Go may be one of the most iconic Disney songs of all time after it was played millions of times over when the film was first released in 2013, but its sequel is the one that ran ahead of it to a spot in the top 15. Don’t get us wrong, Frozen’s worldwide tally of $1.28 million is still quite impressive, but it helped boost up the sequel to reach $1.45 billion and pass the likes of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Black Panther. While The Incredibles 2, the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, and Finding Dory all passed Frozen 2 at the domestic box office, only the live-action remake of The Lion King could do so on the worldwide stage in the Disney-verse.
14. Barbie (2023) —- $ 1.441 billion\
As of today, the Barbie movie has generated over $1.3 billion worldwide—now that’s impressive. The Great Gerwig-directed film—which was released on July 21st—boasts a cast filled with big Hollywood names like Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Issa Rae, and Simu Liu. Its incredible sets, witty dialogue, and funny musical moments also delighted audiences. Need we say more? If you still haven’t seen it, you’re missing out.
15. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – $1.405 billion
Age of Ultron is the 11th movie in the MCU and the sequel to The Avengers (2012). At the year of release, it was the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time.
Highest Grossing Movies of All Time Rated According to IMDb
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – 8.4 with 787,000 votes
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – 8.4 with 739,000 votes
- The Avengers (2012) – 8.0 with 1,236,000 votes
- Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) – 7.9 with 842,000 votes
- Avatar (2009) – 7.8 with 1,097,000 votes
- Titanic (1997) – 7.8 with 1,018,000 votes
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – 7.3 with 718,000 votes
- Black Panther (2018) – 7.3 with 588,000 votes
- Furious 7 (2015) – 7.1 with 352,000 votes
- Jurassic World (2015) – 7.0 with 567,000 votes
Other Highest Grossing Movies (16-30)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) – $1.342 billion
- Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) – $1.342 billion
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) – $1.309 billion
- Beauty and the Beast (2017) – $1.264 billion
- The Fate of the Furious (2017) – $1.236 billion
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – $1.215 billion
- Captain America: Civil War (2016) – $1.153 billion
- Aquaman (2018) – $1.148 billion
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) – $1.142 billion
- Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) – $1.132 billion
- Captain Marvel (2019) – $1.128 billion
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) – $1.124 billion
- Skyfall (2012) – $1.109 billion
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) – $1.104 billion
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – $1.084 billion