Top 25 Highest Grossing Movies of All Times (2023)

The world of cinema has always been driven by a combination of artistic vision and financial success. For filmmakers and studios alike, box office success can mean the difference between a hit and a flop. In this article, we celebrate the biggest box office sensations in history by listing the highest grossing movies of all time. From timeless classics to modern-day blockbusters, these films have redefined what is possible in terms of financial success and cultural impact. In this comprehensive list, we take a closer look at each of the top films, analyzing the factors that contributed to their success and exploring the cultural and industry impact that they have had. Whether you’re a movie buff or just curious about the biggest box office hits of all time, this ranking is sure to provide an insightful look into the world of cinema and its impact on popular culture.

It is no surprise that the highest grossing movies of all time are all big-budget blockbusters with massive fan bases. From James Cameron’s “Avatar” to Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” these films have captivated audiences around the world and raked in billions of dollars at the box office.

 Avatar (2009)

Avatar Remains the Highest-Grossing Film of All Time with $2.8 Billion in Worldwide Box Office Earnings. James Cameron’s 2009 science fiction film starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver, utilized cutting-edge technology and stunning visuals to tell the story of a paraplegic marine sent to the planet Pandora.

The film’s success has also had a significant impact on the film industry, leading to an increase in the use of motion capture and 3D technology in films. The film’s use of Pandora, a completely created and believable alien world, has set a high standard for future films to live up to.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Avengers: Endgame (2019) directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, earned $2.05 billion in worldwide box office earnings. The film brings together all the characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to defeat the villain Thanos and save the universe.

Titanic (1997)

Titanic is a 1997 film directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The film tells the tragic love story of two young people, Jack and Rose, who meet aboard the ill-fated ship, the Titanic. The film is based on the true story of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and combines fictional and historical characters and events. The film was a critical and commercial success and won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was directed by J.J. Abrams and released on December 18, 2015. The movie was a huge success, grossing $936.7 million domestically and breaking records for the highest opening weekend ($247.9 million), and becoming the all-time domestic champion in under three weeks. It also joined the $2 billion club within 54 days.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War is a 2018 Marvel Cinematic Universe film directed by the Russo brothers. It has an 85% approval rating. The film grossed $678.8 million domestically and $2.048 billion worldwide. It was released on April 27, 2018, and broke the record for the highest opening weekend, earning $257.6 million. It took 48 days to reach the $2 billion mark. It was the first installment of the MCU’s Phase 3 and ended on a cliffhanger, with audiences having to wait a year to see how the story ends. Despite not being the highest-grossing domestic film in the MCU, it still ranked among the top grossing films of all time.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Spider-Man: No Way Home was a successful film released in December 2021, it was the highest-grossing Spider-Man movie ever made and also the most successful movie ever released by Sony Pictures. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the film was able to bring in $1.901 billion globally. The film was well-received by audiences and critics for its ambitious, multiverse-expanding story and the inclusion of beloved characters from the web-slinger’s big-screen history

Jurassic World (2015)

Jurassic World was a successful film released in June 2015, it is the fourth installment in the Jurassic Park series and the second-best reviewed film in the series (71% on the Tomatometer). The film was able to bring in $653.4 million domestically and $1.671 billion globally. It was released in a competitive summer and was able to surpass $600 million at the domestic box office, becoming only the third film since Titanic in 1998 to do so. The film’s success has helped secure a spot for the Jurassic Park franchise on the all-time box office list.

The Lion King (2019)

The Lion King is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic of the same name, released in July 2019. The film was directed by Jon Favreau and it was a commercial success, grossing $1.663 billion globally. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, it had a strong opening weekend of $191 million, becoming the eighth highest of all time. The film also became the 14th film to pass $500 million domestically and the ninth film to earn $1 billion overseas.

Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

Marvel’s The Avengers is a superhero film released in May 2012, it brings together characters from previous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, including Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. Directed by Joss Whedon, the film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $1.519 billion globally.

Furious 7(2015)

Furious 7 is the seventh film in the Fast and Furious franchise. It was released on April 3, 2015, and grossed over $1.515 billion worldwide. It is the most successful film in the franchise, earning $353 million domestically and a positive 81% rating on the Tomatometer. The film’s success is attributed to a combination of the series’ signature bombast, the addition of Dwayne Johnson to the cast, and the untimely death of Paul Walker, which brought both curiosity and tribute to the film

Frozen II (2019)

Frozen II is the sequel to the 2013 film Frozen, and was released on November 22, 2019. The film grossed over $1.450 billion worldwide and earned $477.4 million domestically. Despite not being as well-received as the first film critically, with a 77% rating on the Tomatometer compared to 90% for the first film, Frozen II was still highly successful at the box office. It had the third-highest opening weekend for an animated film and became the highest-grossing film over the five-day.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Avengers: Age of Ultron was a successful film, grossing over $1.4 billion worldwide. However, it did not perform as well as its predecessor, “The Avengers,” in terms of box office numbers and critical reception. Despite this, it still had a strong opening weekend and was one of the highest-grossing films of the year.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Top Gun: Maverick was a highly successful film, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide. The film was a sequel to the 1986 cult classic “Top Gun” directed by Tony Scott. The sequel was released in 2022 and was directed by Joesph Kosinski, and starred Tom Cruise reprising his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The film received positive critical reception and was a commercial success, earning more than its predecessor domestically and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time. The film was a crowd-pleaser, thanks to its action sequences and fan service.

Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The film was directed by Ryan Coogler and stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther, along with an ensemble cast that includes Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, and Letitia Wright. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1.348 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of all time by a black director and the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time. In North America, the film grossed over $700.4 million, becoming the fifth film in history to have a $200 million opening weekend and the third film ever to gross over $700 million in North America.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is a 2011 fantasy film directed by David Yates and the second of two cinematic parts based on the novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley. It is the eighth and final installment in the Harry Potter film series and the second of two films directed by Yates. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1.342 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of 2011 and the second highest-grossing film in the Harry Potter series.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a 2017 American epic space-opera film written and directed by Rian Johnson. It is the second film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015), and the eighth episode of the main Star Wars film franchise. The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, and Gwendoline Christie. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $1.333 billion worldwide.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a 2018 American science fiction adventure film and the sequel to Jurassic World (2015). Directed by J.A. Bayona, the film was written by Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly, and produced by Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley. The film stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, B. D. Wong, and Jeff Goldblum. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $1.311 billion worldwide.

Frozen (2013)

Frozen is a 2013 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. The film tells the story of two sisters, Elsa and Anna, who embark on a journey to find a way to save their kingdom from an eternal winter. The film features the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad. Frozen was a major commercial success, grossing over $1.282 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time at that time and the 17th highest-grossing film of all time.

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Beauty and the Beast (2017) is a live-action adaptation of the Disney animated film of the same name. It was directed by Bill Condon and starred Emma Watson. The film was released on March 17, 2017, and grossed $504.5 million domestically and $1.274 billion worldwide. It was a commercial success and became the seventh film to cross $500 million in North America and the 16th to pass $750 million overseas.

Incredibles 2 (2018)

Incredibles 2 is a 2018 American animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Brad Bird. The film is a sequel to the 2004 film The Incredibles and it was released on June 15, 2018. The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $608.6 million domestically and $1.243 billion worldwide. It is the highest-grossing animated film of all time in North America, the ninth film to cross the $600 million mark in North America and it remains in the top 10 all-time earners domestically.

The Fate of the Furious (2017)

The Fate of the Furious (2017) is an American action film directed by F. Gary Gray and the eighth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise. The film was released on April 14, 2017, and grossed $226 million domestically and $1.236 billion worldwide. It was a commercial success, but it did not perform as well as Furious 7 domestically and it was the lowest-scored Fast and Furious movie among critics since the fourth film. Despite this, it was the sixth film ever to make a billion dollars outside the U.S. and Canada alone.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Iron Man 3 (2013) is an American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010), and the seventh film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Shane Black and starred Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man. The film was released on May 3, 2013, and grossed $409 million domestically and $1.215 billion worldwide. It was a commercial success and the most successful of the individual Iron Man films, it was just the 13th film to reach $400 million domestic in its initial run, and is the highest-grossing non-Avengers film in the MCU overseas with over $805 million.

Minions (2015)

Minions (2015) is an American 3D computer-animated comedy film directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. It is a spin-off prequel to the Despicable Me franchise and stars the Minions as the main characters. The film was released on July 10, 2015, and grossed $336 million domestically and $1.159 billion worldwide. It was a commercial success and had the largest opening for Illumination Entertainment ever, earning $115.7 million on its first weekend.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Captain America: Civil War, released on May 6, 2016, is a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film that grossed $408.1 million domestically and $745 million internationally, for a total of $1.153 billion. The film received a 90% approval rating and had the fifth-highest opening weekend in history, earning $179.1 million. It also introduced new characters such as Spider-Man and Black Panther to the MCU, and is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who also directed other successful films in the MCU.

Aquaman (2018)

Aquaman, released on December 21, 2018, is a film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) that grossed $335.1 million domestically and $814 million internationally, for a total of $1.149 billion. The film received a 65% approval rating and while it had the second-smallest opening weekend of the DCEU, it had prolonged success through the holiday season and beyond, making nearly five times its opening weekend. It is the first DCEU film to reach $1 billion and James Wan, the director of Aquaman, also directed another film on this list that grossed over $1 billion.

Follow Doms2Cents for more updates.