The Top 25+ Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time

Release Date: October 4, 2019
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $335 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $1 billion*

Joaquin Phoenix is the kind of character actor that directors swoon over. He’s eccentric, dedicated, and will stop at nothing to deliver the goods. His efforts in 2019’s highly-anticipated Joker have paid off tenfold. Joker managed to secure over $1 billion worldwide. 

Joker @prachiarya13/Twitter

Phoenix’s portrayal comes hot off the tail of Jared Leto’s version of the character in Suicide Squad but couldn’t be more different. Critics called it a masterpiece, “chillingly plausible,” and “a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema.” With five stars almost across the board, the Joker certainly has the last laugh.

Release Date: June 11, 1982
Est. Total Domestic Gross: (Adjusted for Inflation): $1.34 billion*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: (Adjusted for Inflation): $1.8 billion*

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, directed by Steven Spielberg, touched the hearts of audiences worldwide when it was released on June 11, 1982. This heartwarming sci-fi fantasy follows the endearing friendship between a young boy named Elliott, played by Henry Thomas, and a friendly alien stranded on Earth, E.T. 

ET ©Sunset Boulevard/Getty Images

The film’s emotional storytelling and remarkable special effects captured the imagination of viewers, making it an instant classic. It soon became the highest-grossing film of its time and retained that title for over a decade. With its universal appeal and enduring charm, E.T. remains one of the most beloved and financially successful movies in cinema history.

Release Date: December 18, 2009
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $760.5 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $2.790 billion* 

James Cameron was already established as one of the world’s most prolific directors thanks to his work on 1997’s Titanic. The hit feature was so huge that it remained the undefeated champion for 12 years, proudly wearing the crown of the highest-grossing movie of all time like it was the Heart of the Ocean. Then, in a game of solitary one-upmanship, Cameron did it again.

Avatar @r/movies/Reddit

Avatar tells the story of Sam Worthington’s paraplegic marine that falls in love with the culture of an alien planet. The success of the movie was thanks in part to its capitalization on the new era of 3D cinema. Audiences couldn’t get enough, and the box office proved it. Avatar brought in a stunning $2.790 billion worldwide.

Release Date: December 19, 1997
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $659.4 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $2.188 billion* 

It’s hard to imagine a world in which Kate Winslet isn’t at the top of Hollywood’s A-list, but back in 1997, the young Brit was still searching for her big break. When she tried out for the part of Rose for Cameron’s big-budget caper, she lobbied him consistently for the role. Eventually, he relented. She didn’t disappoint.

Titanic @ladyinfilm /Twitter

At the time, Titanic was the most expensive movie ever made, but it paid for itself many times over. The epic story spoke to audiences in a way that other biopics could only dream of. $2.188 billion dollars and 11 Oscar wins later, the story of Jack and Rose continues to live on – just ask Celine Dion.

Release Date: June 12, 2015
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $652.3 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $1.672 billion*

Fans of the original Jurassic Park series were dubious when a continuation of the story was announced. Spielberg’s hit 90s outing introduced us to the thrill and suspense that we had all been craving, in the form of towering gargantuan dinosaurs in the modern era. It was nothing short of genius. 

Jurassic World @UnCinefago /Twitter

Taking a franchise so beloved and letting it loose on a new generation was always going to be a risk…but it paid off. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard steered the action-packed thrill-fest to box office stardom. It was the third movie since Titanic to gross over $600 million, garnering critical praise as well as commercial success.

Release Date: December 15, 1939
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $1.8 billion (adj. for inflation)*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $3.7 billion (adj. for inflation)*

Gone with the Wind, released in 1939, is a timeless cinematic masterpiece set against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. Directed by Victor Fleming, the film is an adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The story revolves around Scarlett O’Hara, portrayed brilliantly by Vivien Leigh, a strong-willed Southern belle, and her tumultuous love affair with Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable. 

Gone with the Wind ©spatuletail/shutterstock.com

The movie quickly became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of the highest-grossing films in cinema history. At the time of its release, it earned approximately $390 million worldwide, a staggering sum even by modern standards. When adjusted for inflation, this figure soars to over $3.7 billion.

Release Date: June 2, 2017
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $415.5 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $821.847 million*

Diana Prince has been featured on screen before, but that was decades prior to her big-screen DCEU debut. Gal Gadot stunned audiences as the supremely powerful, highly moral Wonder Woman. DC was trying to find a way to get in on the superhero action and take a corner of the market from Marvel. This 2017 was the beginning.

Wonder Woman @Itssan17 /Twitter

It was the sixth most profitable release of the year, and critics applauded it for its “thrilling” and “earnest” style. Chris Pine starred alongside Gadot as Steve Trevor, which also went down a storm. The on-screen chemistry between the stars helped the box office takings exceed $821 million worldwide.

Release Date: August 1, 2014
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $371 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $773.328 million*

Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the more off-beat offerings from Disney’s MCU and is a slight departure from the characters we had seen up until its release. Featuring an all-star cast, including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Bradley Cooper, this intergalactic adventure had it all.

Guardians of the Galaxy @Alpha Coders/Pinterest

The superhero team of space travelers is now an integral part of the Avengers, but when the debut movie was released, it could have gone either way. GOTG soon became the third highest-grossing movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, coming in close behind Iron Man 3 and The Avengers.

Release Date: October 5, 1956
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $1.1 billion (adj. for inflation)*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $2.6 billion (adj. for inflation)*

The Ten Commandments, an epic biblical film, was released on October 5, 1956, and directed by Cecil B. DeMille. This grand cinematic spectacle starred Charlton Heston as Moses, leading an ensemble cast that included Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, and Edward G. Robinson.

The Ten Commandments ©Movie Poster Image Art/Getty Images

The movie depicted the life of Moses, his journey from an Egyptian prince to the leader of the Israelites, and the delivery of the Ten Commandments. It became a monumental success, earning significant box office revenue in its time, and remains a classic in film history.

Release Date: May 3, 2017
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $409 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $1.215 billion*

There was a time, not so long ago, when Robert Downey Jr. was sinking further down the Hollywood food chain by the minute. Then along came Iron Man and gave the ailing star the break he so desperately needed. Iron Man 3 was the first Marvel movie to appear after Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, which helped it along nicely. 

Iron Man 3 @Iron Man III/Facebook

While some die-hard comic book fans weren’t overly impressed by Shane Black’s offering, it didn’t matter when it came to the figures. The third and final installment in the Iron Man trilogy grossed over $400 million domestically and an impressive $1.215 billion worldwide.

Release Date: November 9, 1990
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $184 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $424.2 million*

Dances with Wolves, released on November 9, 1990, is an epic Western film directed by and starring Kevin Costner. This captivating masterpiece tells the story of Lieutenant John J. Dunbar, a Civil War soldier who befriends and assimilates into a Sioux tribe. The film powerfully explores themes of cultural understanding, friendship, and environmental preservation. 

Dances With Wolves ©Archive Photos/Getty Images

Kevin Costner’s stellar performance earned him critical acclaim, and the movie’s breathtaking cinematography and portrayal of Native American culture garnered widespread praise. Dances with Wolves became a commercial and critical success, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, further solidifying its place as a cinematic classic.

Release Date: December 18, 2015
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $936.7 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $2.068 billion*

Star Wars has been around for so long it’s hard to imagine a world without it. George Lucas’ creation hit like a bolt from the blue when the first movie was released in the late 70s. Ever since then, fans around the world have rushed to see each new installment, although some have been more successful than others. 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens @TheFirstOkiro /Twitter

In 2015, J.J. Abrams was hired to revive the franchise, 12 years after the prequel trilogy was wrapped up. With so much at stake, everyone waited with bated breath to see what the outcome would be. The result was a spectacular mix of old and new. The force awoke the box office to the tune of $2.068 billion worldwide.

Release Date: July 15, 2011
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $381.2 million*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $1.342 billion*

When Harry Potter made his way to the big screen, J.K Rowling’s books already had a solid fanbase. While that certainly helped it along, the movies reached an entirely new audience and reeled them in. For the next decade, Harry, Ron, and Hermione ruled supreme. Audiences grew with them – and so did the box office figures.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 2 @_anettt_ /Twitter

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was the end of Harry’s battle against He Who Shall Not Be Named. Even before its release, there was no denying that it was going to be a huge hit. The final movie scored over $1.3 billion worldwide, leaving the grand total Harry Potter revenue for the seven films at $7.72 billion. Merchandise for the movie series is also incredibly profitable, with retailers from Target to Amazon still saying wares to this day. 

Release Date: June 20, 1975
Est. Total Domestic Gross: $1.23 billion (adj. for inflation)*
Est. Total Worldwide Gross: $2.22 billion (adj. for inflation)*

Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg and released on June 20, 1975, is a pioneering thriller that redefined the summer blockbuster genre. Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss, the film tells the gripping tale of a small coastal town terrorized by a gigantic man-eating great white shark. 

Jaws ©Sunset Boulevard/Getty Images

With its suspenseful storytelling and groundbreaking special effects, Jaws captivated audiences and became a massive box-office success. It held the record for the highest-grossing film of all time until the release of Star Wars in 1977. Decades later, Jaws continues to be celebrated as a classic and iconic piece of cinema, leaving a lasting impact on the industry and popular culture.