Everyone has their favorite films that they will watch over and over to capture every nuance and last little bit of enjoyment, but sometimes it’s hard to understand how some of the best movies of all time don’t seem to capture the same type of attention that others do. The highest grossing films of all time don’t always have the biggest following, as the list below will show. While a great many of these films are remembered fondly by millions it’s very likely that some people might scratch their heads as to why their favorite films didn’t make it any higher on the list. With that being said, here are the twenty highest grossing movies of all time.
20, Toy Story 3 – $1,066,969,703
It’s been said when you have a classic that it’s difficult if not impossible to improve upon it. “Toy Story” actually took this a little farther than most people were willing to believe when the sequel came out, but when the third installment hit a lot of people were just about done listening. Despite this however the movie touched on several notes that resonated with many people considering that many people know what it’s like to have a favorite toy that you eventually need to give up. All in all this movie had a pleasing ending that essentially wrapped up the franchise and gave people the happy ending they were wanting.
19. The Dark Knight Rises- $1,084,939,099
One of the main problems with creating a trilogy of any film is that by the second installment fans are already divided upon whether or not the sequel was needed. By the third installment the margin for error is so very little that filmmakers have to be on point with every scene or critics and fans alike will be waiting to tear the film apart. While “The Dark Knight Rises” wasn’t a terrible film by any means it kind of detracted from the tale of Batman simply because it took away from the overall character that level of “awesome” that fans had attributed to Batman for so long. Plus, considering the bar that was set by Heath Ledger’s portraayal of the Joker, there was little hope that even a star such as Tom Hardy could put up a performance that could top him.
18. Transformers: Age of Extinction – $1,104,054,072
This franchise has earned a great deal of flack for the directions it has taken and the distance it has put between itself and the patchwork canon that it has had to work with. While the favorite characters are all represented, the manner in which the story has progressed has turned a lot of diehard fans off even as it’s gained a great deal more for its special effects and stunning visuals. While it’s not among the favorite of many, it has still been seen as interesting enough to propel into the highest grossing movies of all time.
17. Skyfall – $1,108,561,013
You had to expect 007 James Bond to pop into this list eventually. Despite his many different appearances, the swaggering British agent has almost never failed to surprise people in his many different films. From old school to new Bond is just simply, Bond. No matter the actor the character of James Bond has always sold tickets and “Skyfall” is no different. With the dynamic action sequences to the customary attitude to the gadgets and mass destruction, Bond is always likely to capture the attention of any audience.
16. The Lord of the Rings- Return of The King – $1,120,237,002
As it was said above the problem with a trilogy is that people are generally getting tired of the film’s ongoing plot by the time the third movie rolls around. But given that “The Lord of The Rings” is an epic tale that spans three books and is a collection of sequences all moving towards the same conclusion, most fans of this story were more than willing to wait the three years it took for the third movie to finally make it to the screen. It was the long-awaited conclusion to an epic tale that had people gripping their armrests with sheer anticipation of what the director was going to do next and how the overall vision would look once it was concluded. Suffice to say there weren’t really that many people that suffered from disappointment.
15. Transformers: Dark of The Moon – $1,123,794,079
One name made this film rise as far as it did, or at least that’s an argument that can be made. The inclusion of Leonard Nimoy as Sentinel Prime was, some argued, a rather disjointed addition to the Transformer’s franchise. However, even with the limited appearance of such an important figure, fans got to see another dimension to the heavy favorite, Optimus Prime, as he was forced to choose between someone he truly respected and those that truly needed his help. The fact that this movie reached this level is not too hard to believe, but the fact that it didn’t rise any higher likely has a lot to do with the general disinterest that was starting to set in. Fans still love Transformers, but it is swiftly turning into more of a curiosity than a full fledged adoration.
14. Captain America: Civil War – $1,153,304,495
This was the movie that many Marvel fans were clamoring for when Iron Man was first hitting the screen. They wanted to see the earth’s mightiest heroes go toe to toe with one another, and they wanted to see who would come out on top. It’s common knowledge by now that movies based on comic books don’t always adhere to the same canon, and it was worth the price of admission just to see what the director had done to make this particular story come to life. While it might not have been able to include absolutely everything fans wanted, it was still a knock-down, drag out fight that thrilled the fans and set up a great deal of conjecture for future films.
13. Minions – $1,159,398,397
Like it or not, these little yellow buggers have become a worldwide phenomenon. The movie itself wasn’t too complicated, nor was it all that terrible, but to kids, who are a target market for many filmmakers, it was a nonstop laugh riot as well as a marketing gimmick that has gone over huge with both children and adults. Why a race of small, yellow humanoids that can’t speak more than a few understandable words of English have become so popular is a little hard for some people to imagine, but the reality is that they have stolen the show more than once.
12. The Fate of the Furious – $1,165,922,004
Still in theaters, this film has the chance to keep rising up the list if it continues to draw in the numbers it needs. Where it sits is no surprise considering that since it’s first installment hit the theaters it’s been an iconic franchise that has drawn worldwide attention and inspired thousands of people in many different ways. Despite the film being about a bunch of crooks that live life by their own rules and no one else’s, the average viewer can’t help but idolize these characters for their inherent sense of freedom. It’s a dangerous life for these on-screen icons, but it’s one that many people are willing to pay to watch.
11. Beauty and The Beast – $1,186,864,733
Despite being banned in several theaters for a supposed LGBTQ scene, or scenes, this timeless classic has drawn a wide number of people to see if it lives up to its own hype. Thankfully it seems to be doing just that as its box office numbers have continued to climb and its popularity shows no sign of waning. While it’s not necessarily a kids-only type of film, it is still a wonder to behold and a very smartly-executed film that is quite charming.
10. Iron Man 3- $1,214,811,252
This one is a bit of a surprise. The first two installments of Iron Man seemed to be showing a downward movement in popularity as the story line became a little erratic and the characters started to slip just a bit from their original, intended glory. In “Iron Man 3” the figure of the Mandarin, a notoriously tough and crafty individual in the comics, was seriously downplayed and even mocked when it turned out that the “mandarin” was just a face for the real big bad that was working behind the scenes. This was kind of a slap in the face to all Iron Man fans as anyone worth their comic knowledge recalls how Iron Man and the Mandarin had some truly epic battles throughout many panels. At any rate the reason for this movie’s success could possibly be that it showed yet another side of Tony Stark, which, as usual, was expertly portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.
9. Frozen – $1,287,000,000
No surprise here. Despite dropping on the list “Frozen” is still a heavy favorite among little girls and adult women everywhere. The songs, the characters, and the underlying message that go with the movie are strong enough that this little gem picked up by Disney has shown no signs of being forgotten any time soon. While the classic Disney films are always likely to be remembered, the newer films coming out are those that are more likely to be watched simply because of the new style princesses that have been depicted as strong and independent.
8. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 – $1,341,511,219
Much like “The Return of The King”, this final installment in the Harry Potter series is one that fans were anxiously waiting for with baited breath. Ever since the first movie hit fans were ready to flock to the theater to see if J.K. Rowlings’ vision would be conveyed to the big screen in all its glory. While a great many were disappointed at what was left out, even more were impressed with what made it in and what direction was taken with so many different characters. This final film was the culmination of a journey that inspired many and will likely cause Harry Potter to be remembered for generations to come.
7. Avengers: Age of Ultron – $1,405,403,694
Each Avengers movie is just a little better than the last, but there was something quite special about this one. For one it didn’t pit the Avengers against one another, and it also gave them an enemy that was considered to be one of their more insidious foes. In the comics Ultron was a major bad guy that didn’t talk quite as much as the James Spader version, but the movie Ultron did come off as quite an interesting character. Also in this film it was seen that the characters are developing just a bit more, and are starting to fracture just a bit. It’s an interesting turn to the franchise that was no doubt meant to alert fans that all hell was about to break loose.
6. Furious 7 – $1,516,045,911
Cars, guns, attractive women, high speed chases, and of course, the Rock. These are all elements for one of the greatest franchises in history, and with the inclusion of new and exciting characters the franchise was only seen to get better. Plus this film tied in perfectly with the ubiquitous “Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift”, a film that many fans thought was a simple throwaway film that the franchise could have done without. Fortunately it actually explained itself in this film.
5. The Avengers – $1,518,812,988
You couldn’t have the blockbuster films that came after without the original film that started them off. Fans everywhere were raving about this movie when it came out, and were crowding the theaters to get a glimpse of their favorite comic book heroes in action. Despite the alteration of the original team most fans were forgiving enough considering that the action sequences, special effects, and even the story line were on point.
4. Jurassic World – $1,671,713,208
Just when you thought a franchise was headed to its final resting place, Chris Pratt comes and breathes new life into it. A lot of fans of the older Jurassic Park movies had no doubt thought that this franchise was headed the same direction as its many different inhabitants, straight to the extinction zone. But lo and behold a new talent arises, a new park is created, and mankind is back to their old tricks making up dinosaurs that never existed before and that are at the absolute top of the food chain. While the story was actually kind of textbook for this franchise, the effects and the acting more than made up for it, as its place on the list would indicate.
3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – $2,068,223,624
No movie list would be complete without at least mentioning Star Wars. Regardless of the rabid fans that pick apart every little detail and regardless of those that actively search for plot holes, this movie was a shot in the arm to the franchise that was desperately needed. Those that simply love Star Wars and are dedicated to the story are a large part of why this film did not tank the way some think it should have. It takes the number three spot for now simply because episode 8 has not come out yet.
2. Titanic – $2,186,772,302
There is something about a love story that draws people in to watching a film over, and over, and over, and over again. Titanic boasted some of the greatest ticket sales in its time and has yet to be topped by a great many movies that are decidedly more interesting and don’t involve Leonardo DiCaprio. While it was indeed an epic film, “Titanic” was also the Swan Song for several of its actors, as its specter has hung over them for many years now without any sign of fading.
1. Avatar – $2,787,965,087
When you look at this film objectively you can see a great many faults in its logic, but when you look at it from one side or the other you fall immediately into the weft and weave of the story to such a degree that you might walk away thinking that corporations are the root of all evil. Be that as it may, this film created a huge amount of attention despite the fact that many people had absolutely no idea what it was about before walking into the theater. Whether the sequel will ever come out is hard to tell, but some might almost think that it’s best to just let the story of Jake and his new life on Pandora remain the happy ending that everyone wants.
Follow Us
