List of highest-grossing films

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A screencap of the title card from the trailer of Gone with the Wind.
Gone with the Wind held the record of highest-grossing film for 25 years, and at contemporary prices has earned more than any other film.

Films generate income from several revenue streams including public exhibition in theaters, home video, television broadcast rights and merchandising. However, theatrical box office earnings are the primary metric for trade publications (such as Variety and Box Office Mojo) in assessing the success of a film, mostly due to the availability of the data compared to sales figures for home video and broadcast rights, and also due to historical practice. Included on the list are a chart of the top box-office earners, a chart of high-grossing films by calendar year, a timeline showing the transition of the highest-grossing film record, and a chart of the highest-grossing film franchises and series. All charts are ranked by international theatrical box office performance where possible, excluding income derived from home video, broadcasting rights and merchandise.

Franchise films have been the best performers in recent times, with films from the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean series dominating the top end of the list. Since Superman (1978) there has been new interest in the superhero genre; Batman from DC Comics has been the most successful exponent of the genre, with films based on the Marvel Comics brand such as Spider-Man, X-Men and Iron Man all doing particularly well. The only two films in the top ten that do not form a franchise are the top two, Avatar and Titanic, both directed by James Cameron. Animated family films have performed consistently well down the years, with Disney films enjoying lucrative re-releases prior to the home video era. Disney has enjoyed more recent success with its Pixar brand, of which the Toy Story films have been the best performers; beyond the Pixar films, the Shrek and Ice Age series have met with the most success.

While inflation has eroded away the achievements of most films from the 1960s and 1970s, there are franchises originating from that period that are still active: James Bond films are still being released periodically, and the Star Wars saga was reprised after a lengthy hiatus; Indiana Jones also saw a successful comeback after lying dormant for nearly twenty years. All three are still among the highest-grossing franchises, despite starting over thirty years ago. Some of the older films that held the record of highest-grossing film still have respectable grosses even by today's standards, but do not really compete against today's top-earners: Gone with the Wind for instance—which was the highest-grossing film for 25 years—does not even make the top fifty in the modern market, but at contemporary prices it would still be the highest-grossing film. Due to the lack of available data, it is not possible to provide a list that would adequately place the achievements of these older films into an appropriate context, so all grosses on the list are expressed in US dollars at their nominal value.

Contents

Issues with calculation

Due to the long-term effects of inflation, notably the significant increase of movie theater ticket prices, the list unadjusted for inflation gives far more weight to more recent films.[1] The unadjusted list, while commonly found in the press, is therefore largely meaningless for comparing films widely separated in time, as many films from earlier eras will never appear on a modern unadjusted list, despite achieving higher commercial success when adjusted for price increases.[2] Another complication is releases in multiple formats for which different ticket prices are charged. One notable example of this phenomenon is Avatar, which was released in 3D and IMAX: almost two-thirds of tickets for that film were for 3D showings with an average price of $10, and about one-sixth were for IMAX showings with an average price over $14.50, compared to a 2010 average price of $7.61 for 2D films.[3] The audience demographic for a particular film can also impact on profits, with some films selling a much higher proportion of discounted children's tickets, or perform better in big cities where tickets cost more.[2]

A map of the world with different regions colored in correlating to inflation rates.
World map showing inflation rates in 2009

To compensate for the devaluation of the currency, some charts make adjustments for inflation, but not even this practise fully addresses the issue since movie ticket prices and inflation do not necessarily parallel one another. For example, in 1970 movie tickets cost $1.55 or about $6.68 in inflation-adjusted 2004 dollars; by 1980, movie ticket prices had risen to about $2.69, a drop to $5.50 in inflation-adjusted 2004 dollars.[4] Added to that, ticket prices have risen at different rates of inflation around the world, making it a complicated process to adjust worldwide grosses.[1] Social and economic factors such as population changes[5] and the growth of international markets[6][7][8] also impact on the number of people purchasing theater tickets. Even if these could be accounted for, any system that is purely based on measuring theatrical performance is still inherently flawed in that it does not take account of home entertainment revenue.[2]

The measuring system for gauging a film's success is based on unadjusted grosses, mainly because historically this is the way it has always been done due to the practices of the film industry: the box office receipts are compiled by theaters and relayed to the distributor, which in turn releases them to the media.[9] Converting to a more representative system that counts ticket sales rather than gross is also fraught with problems due to the fact that the only data available for older films are the sale totals.[5] As the motion picture industry is highly oriented towards marketing currently released films, unadjusted figures are always used in marketing campaigns so that new blockbuster films can much more easily achieve a high sales ranking, and thus be promoted as a "top film of all time",[4] so there is little incentive to switch to a more economically robust system from a marketing or even newsworthy point of view.[9]

Highest-grossing films

Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all-time, with a global gross of almost $2.8 billion, and eleven films have grossed in excess of $1 billion. All the films presented here have had a theatrical run in the last twenty years, and films that have not played during this period do not appear in the chart due to ticket-price inflation, population size and ticket purchasing trends not being considered. Gone with the Wind—first released in 1939—has earned $3.3 billion globally when adjusted to contemporary prices, making it the best all-time performer at the box office.[10] The most represented year on the chart is 2009 with seven films, while 2011 currently stands at five with some films still playing.

  film currently playing Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing 24 February 2012 in theaters around the world.
Worldwide highest-grossing films[11]
Rank Title Worldwide gross Year Ref
1 Avatar $2,782,275,172 2009 [# 1]
2 Titanic $1,843,201,268 1997 [# 2]
3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 $1,328,111,219 2011 [# 3]
4 Transformers: Dark of the Moon $1,123,746,996 2011 [# 4]
5 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King $1,119,929,521 2003 [# 5]
6 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $1,066,179,725 2006 [# 6]
7 Toy Story 3 $1,063,171,911 2010 [# 7]
8 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides $1,043,871,802 2011 [# 8]
9 Alice in Wonderland $1,024,299,904 2010 [# 9]
10 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace film currently playing $1,010,658,295 1999 [# 10]
11 The Dark Knight $1,001,921,825 2008 [# 11]
12 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone $974,755,371 2001 [# 12]
13 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End $963,420,425 2007 [# 13]
14 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 $956,399,711 2010 [# 14]
15 The Lion King $951,583,777 1994 [# 15]
16 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $939,885,929 2007 [# 16]
17 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince $934,416,487 2009 [# 17]
18 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers $925,282,504 2002 [# 18]
19 Shrek 2 $919,838,758 2004 [# 19]
20 Jurassic Park $914,691,118 1993 [# 20]
21 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire $896,911,078 2005 [# 21]
22 Spider-Man 3 $890,871,626 2007 [# 22]
23 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs $886,686,817 2009 [# 23]
24 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $878,979,634 2002 [# 24]
25 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring $870,761,744 2001 [# 25]
26 Finding Nemo $867,893,978 2003 [# 26]
27 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $848,754,768 2005 [# 27]
28 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen $836,303,693 2009 [# 28]
29 Inception $823,576,195 2010 [# 29]
30 Spider-Man $821,708,551 2002 [# 30]
31 Independence Day $817,400,891 1996 [# 31]
32 Shrek the Third $798,958,162 2007 [# 32]
33 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban $796,688,549 2004 [# 33]
34 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial $792,910,554 1982 [# 34]
35 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull $786,636,033 2008 [# 35]
36 Spider-Man 2 $783,766,341 2004 [# 36]
37 Star Wars $775,398,007 1977 [# 37]
38 2012 $769,304,749 2009 [# 38]
39 The Da Vinci Code $758,239,851 2006 [# 39]
40 Shrek Forever After $752,600,867 2010 [# 40]
41 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe $745,011,272 2005 [# 41]
42 The Matrix Reloaded $742,128,461 2003 [# 42]
43 Up $731,342,744 2009 [# 43]
44 The Twilight Saga: New Moon $709,827,462 2009 [# 44]
45 Transformers $709,709,780 2007 [# 45]
46 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 film currently playing $702,287,133 2011 [# 46]
47 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse $698,491,347 2010 [# 47]
48 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol film currently playing $679,266,000 2011 [# 48]
49 Forrest Gump $677,387,716 1994 [# 49]
50 The Sixth Sense $672,806,292 1999 [# 50]

High-grossing films by year

A portrait of a bespectacled middle aged man.
Films directed by Steven Spielberg have been the highest-grossing film of the year on six occasions.

Due to release schedules—especially in the case of films released towards the end of the year—and different release patterns across the world, many films can do business in two or more calendar years; therefore the grosses documented here are not confined to just the year of release. Grosses are not limited to original theatrical runs either, with many older films often being re-released periodically so the figures represent all the business a film has done since its original release; a film's first-run gross is included in brackets after the total if known. In the cases where estimates conflict both films are recorded, and in cases where a film has moved into first place due to being re-released the previous record-holder is also retained. Due to incomplete data it cannot be known for sure how much money some films have made and when they made it, but generally the chart chronicles the films from each year that went on to earn the most.

Steven Spielberg is the most represented director with six films to his credit, occupying the top spot in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1989 and 1993. William Wyler (1942, 1946, 1959 and 1968) and Cecil B. DeMille (1947, 1949, 1952 and 1956) are in second place each with four films, while both Frank Lloyd (1924, 1933 and 1935) and James Cameron (1991, 1997 and 2009) feature heavily with three films apiece. The following directors have all directed two films on the chart: D. W. Griffith, King Vidor, Frank Capra, Victor Fleming, Jack Conway, Alfred Hitchcock, Leo McCarey, Mervyn LeRoy, David Lean, Stanley Kubrick, Robert Wise, Guy Hamilton, Mike Nichols, George Roy Hill, Peter Jackson and Gore Verbinski. George Lucas directed two chart-toppers in 1977 and 1999, but also served in a strong creative capacity as a producer and writer in 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1989 as well. Disney films are usually co-directed and some directors have served on several winning teams: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Wolfgang Reitherman, David Hand, Ben Sharpsteen and Bill Roberts have all co-directed at least two films on the list. Only five directors have topped the chart in consecutive years: McCarey (1944 and 1945), Nichols (1966 and 1967), Spielberg (1981 and 1982), Jackson (2002 and 2003) and Verbinski (2006 and 2007).

Every highest-grossing film of the year since 1918 has earned a million dollars in gross rental, and since 1949 every chart-topper has taken over $10 million in rentals. At least one film every year has generated $100 million in gross revenue at the box office since 1967, and from 2008 each year has succeeded in producing a billion dollar grossing film.

  film currently playing Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing 24 February 2012 in theaters around the world.
High-grossing films by year of release[12][13][14]
Year Title Worldwide gross Budget Ref(s)
1915 The Birth of a Nation &10000000050000000000000$50,000,000R (&10000000010000000000000$10,000,000)R &10000000000110000000000$110,000 [# 51][# 52]
1916 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea &10000000008000000000000$8,000,000* &10000000000200000000000$200,000–&10000000000500000000000$500,000 [# 53][# 54]
1918 Mickey &10000000008000000000000$8,000,000R &10000000000250000000000$250,000 [# 55]
1919 The Miracle Man &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000R &10000000000120000000000$120,000 [# 56]
1920 Way Down East &10000000005000000000000$5,000,000R &10000000000175000000000$175,000 [# 57][# 58]
1921 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse &10000000004000000000000$4,000,000R &10000000001000000000000$1,000,000 [# 57][# 59]
1922 Robin Hood &10000000002500000000000$2,500,000R &10000000000986000000000$986,000 [# 60]
1923 The Covered Wagon &10000000005000000000000$5,000,000R &10000000000800000000000$800,000 [# 61]
1924 The Sea Hawk &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000R &10000000000700000000000$700,000 [# 61]
1925 The Big Parade &10000000018000000000000$18,000,000–&10000000022000000000000$22,000,000R
(&10000000006131000000000$6,131,000)R		 &10000000000382000000000$382,000 [# 62][# 63]
Ben-Hur &10000000009386000000000$9,386,000R &10000000003967000000000$3,967,000 [# 64]
1926 Aloma of the South Seas &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000* TBA [# 65]
For Heaven's Sake &10000000002600000000000$2,600,000R &10000000000150000000000$150,000 [# 57][# 66]
1927 Wings &10000000003600000000000$3,600,000R TBA [# 57]
The Jazz Singer &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000–&10000000003500000000000$3,500,000R &10000000000500000000000$500,000 [# 57][# 67]
1928 The Singing Fool &10000000005900000000000$5,900,000R TBA [# 68]
1929 The Broadway Melody &10000000004000000000000$4,000,000R &10000000000350000000000$350,000 [# 69]
Gold Diggers of Broadway &10000000004000000000000$4,000,000R TBA [# 57]
1930 Tom Sawyer &10000000011000000000000$11,000,000* TBA [# 70]
All Quiet on the Western Front &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000R &10000000001250000000000$1,250,000 [# 57][# 71]
1931 Frankenstein &10000000012000000000000$12,000,000R (&10000000001400000000000$1,400,000)R &10000000000250000000000$250,000 [# 72][# 57]
City Lights &10000000004250000000000$4,250,000R &10000000001500000000000$1,500,000 [# 57][# 73]
1932 Shanghai Express &10000000003700000000000$3,700,000R TBA [# 74]
1933 King Kong &10000000004861002000000$4,861,002R (&10000000002361002000000$2,361,002)R &10000000000672255000000$672,255 [# 75]
Cavalcade &10000000003500000000000$3,500,000R &10000000001300000000000$1,300,000 [# 76]
I'm No Angel &10000000003250000000000$3,250,000R TBA [# 77]
1934 It Happened One Night &10000000001000000000000$1,000,000R &10000000000325000000000$325,000 [# 78]
Viva Villa! &10000000001100000000000$1,100,000* TBA [# 79]
1935 Mutiny on the Bounty &10000000004460000000000$4,460,000R &10000000002000000000000$2,000,000 [# 80]
Top Hat &10000000003202000000000$3,202,000R &10000000000500000000000$500,000–&10000000000750000000000$750,000 [# 81]
1936 How to Be a Detective &10000000006000000000000$6,000,000* TBA [# 82]
San Francisco &10000000005273000000000$5,273,000R &10000000001300000000000$1,300,000 [# 83]
1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs &10000000371316184000000$371,316,184 (&10000000008500000000000$8,500,000)R &10000000001488423000000$1,488,423 [# 84][# 85]
1938 You Can't Take It With You &10000000002137000000000$2,137,000R &10000000001644000000000$1,644,000 [# 86]
Alexander's Ragtime Band &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000R &10000000001200000000000$1,200,000–&10000000002275000000000$2,275,000 [# 87]
1939 Gone with the Wind &10000000390525192000000$390,525,192 (&10000000032000000000000$32,000,000)R &10000000003850000000000$3,850,000 [# 88][# 89][# 90]
1940 Pinocchio &10000000084300000000000$84,300,000* (&10000000001300000000000$1,300,000)R &10000000002289000000000$2,289,000 [# 91][# 92]
Boom Town &10000000004586000000000$4,586,000* R &10000000002000000000000$2,000,000 [# 93]
Rebecca &10000000002500000000000$2,500,000R &10000000001288000000000$1,288,000 [# 94]
1941 Sergeant York &10000000006100000000000$6,100,000* R &10000000002000000000000$2,000,000 [# 95][# 96]
1942 Bambi &10000000268000000000000$268,000,000 (&10000000002000000000000< $2,000,000)R &10000000002000000000000$2,000,000 [# 97][# 98]
Mrs. Miniver &10000000005000000000000$5,000,000* R &10000000001344000000000$1,344,000 [# 99][# 100]
1943 This Is the Army &10000000008500000000000$8,500,000* R &10000000001400000000000$1,400,000 [# 101][# 102]
1944 Going My Way &10000000017000000000000$17,000,000R TBA [# 103][# 104]
1945 Mom and Dad &10000000040000000000000$40,000,000–&10000000100000000000000$100,000,000 &10000000000062000000000$62,000 [# 105]
The Bells of St. Mary's &10000000008500000000000$8,500,000* R TBA [# 106]
1946 Song of the South &10000000065000000000000$65,000,000* (&10000000003300000000000$3,300,000)R &10000000002125000000000$2,125,000 [# 107][# 108][# 109]
Duel in the Sun &10000000021000000000000$21,000,000R &10000000005000000000000$5,000,000 [# 110]
The Best Years of Our Lives &10000000019300000000000$19,300,000+ R &10000000002100000000000$2,100,000 [# 111][# 112][# 113]
1947 Forever Amber &10000000008000000000000$8,000,000R &10000000006375000000000$6,375,000 [# 114][# 115]
Unconquered &10000000005300000000000$5,300,000* R &10000000004200000000000$4,200,000 [# 116][# 117]
1948 The Red Shoes &10000000005000000000000$5,000,000* R TBA [# 118]
The Snake Pit &10000000004100000000000$4,100,000* R TBA [# 119]
1949 Samson and Delilah &10000000012000000000000$12,000,000R &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000 [# 120]
1950 Cinderella &10000000085000000000000$85,000,000* (&10000000004300000000000$4,300,000)* R &10000000002900000000000$2,900,000 [# 121][# 122]
King Solomon's Mines &10000000005600000000000$5,600,000* R &10000000003500000000000$3,500,000 [# 122][# 123]
1951 Quo Vadis &10000000010500000000000$10,500,000* R &10000000007000000000000$7,000,000 [# 124][# 125]
1952 The Greatest Show on Earth &10000000018350000000000$18,350,000R &10000000004000000000000$4,000,000 [# 126]
1953 Peter Pan &10000000145000000000000$145,000,000 &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000–&10000000004000000000000$4,000,000 [# 127]
The Robe &10000000025000000000000$25,000,000R &10000000004500000000000$4,500,000 [# 128]
1954 White Christmas &10000000012000000000000$12,000,000R TBA [# 129]
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea &10000000011000000000000$11,000,000* R (&10000000006800000000000$6,800,000)R &10000000005000000000000$5,000,000–&10000000009000000000000$9,000,000 [# 130][# 131]
1955 Lady and the Tramp &10000000093600000000000$93,600,000* &10000000004000000000000$4,000,000 [# 132][# 133]
Mister Roberts &10000000021200000000000$21,200,000* TBA [# 134]
1956 The Ten Commandments &10000000060000000000000$60,000,000R &10000000013500000000000$13,500,000 [# 135]
1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai &10000000030000000000000$30,000,000R &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000 [# 136]
1958 South Pacific &10000000017000000000000$17,000,000* R &10000000006000000000000$6,000,000 [# 137]
1959 Ben-Hur &10000000066000000000000$66,000,000R (&10000000046996984000000$46,996,984)R &10000000015000000000000$15,000,000 [# 138]
1960 Spartacus &10000000060000000000000$60,000,000 &10000000012000000000000$12,000,000 [# 139]
Psycho &10000000050000000000000$50,000,000+ (&10000000014000000000000$14,000,000)R &10000000000800000000000$800,000 [# 140]
Swiss Family Robinson &10000000040400000000000$40,400,000* &10000000004500000000000$4,500,000 [# 141][# 142]
1961 One Hundred and One Dalmatians &10000000215880014000000$215,880,014 (&10000000014000000000000$14,000,000)* &10000000004000000000000$4,000,000 [# 143][# 144]
West Side Story &10000000043700000000000$43,700,000* &10000000006000000000000$6,000,000 [# 145]
1962 Lawrence of Arabia &10000000069995385000000$69,995,385 &10000000015000000000000$15,000,000 [# 146]
1963 From Russia with Love &10000000078900000000000$78,900,000 &10000000002000000000000$2,000,000 [# 147]
1964 Goldfinger &10000000124900000000000$124,900,000 &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000 [# 148]
Mary Poppins &10000000102300000000000$102,300,000* &10000000006000000000000$6,000,000 [# 149]
1965 The Sound of Music &10000000286214286000000$286,214,286 (&10000000112481000000000$112,481,000)R &10000000008100000000000$8,100,000 [# 150][# 151]
1966 The Bible: In the Beginning &10000000034900023000000$34,900,023* TBA [# 152]
Hawaii &10000000034562222000000$34,562,222* &10000000015000000000000$15,000,000 [# 153]
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? &10000000033736689000000$33,736,689* &10000000007500000000000$7,500,000 [# 154][# 155]
1967 The Jungle Book &10000000205843612000000$205,843,612 &10000000004000000000000$4,000,000 [# 156][# 157]
The Graduate &10000000100000000000000$100,000,000+ (&10000000040000000000000$40,000,000)R &10000000003000000000000$3,000,000 [# 158]
1968 2001: A Space Odyssey &10000000190000000000000$190,000,000 (&10000000015000000000000$15,000,000)* R &10000000010500000000000$10,500,000 [# 159]
Funny Girl &10000000058500000000000$58,500,000* TBA [# 160]
1969 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid &10000000102308900000000$102,308,900* &10000000006000000000000$6,000,000 [# 161]
1970 Love Story &10000000136397186000000$136,397,186 &10000000002200000000000$2,200,000 [# 162][# 163]
1971 Diamonds Are Forever &10000000116000000000000$116,000,000 &10000000007200000000000$7,200,000 [# 164]
Billy Jack &10000000098000000000000$98,000,000* TBA [# 165]
Fiddler on the Roof &10000000080500000000000$80,500,000* &10000000009000000000000$9,000,000 [# 166]
1972 The Godfather &10000000268500000000000$268,500,000 &10000000006000000000000$6,000,000–&10000000007000000000000$7,000,000 [# 167][# 168]
1973 The Exorcist &10000000402735134000000$402,735,134 &10000000012000000000000$12,000,000 [# 169]
1974 The Towering Inferno &10000000139700000000000$139,700,000 &10000000014000000000000$14,000,000 [# 170]
Blazing Saddles &10000000119500000000000$119,500,000* &10000000002600000000000$2,600,000 [# 171]
1975 Jaws &10000000470700000000000$470,700,000 (&10000000400000000000000$400,000,000) &10000000012000000000000$12,000,000 [# 172][# 173]
1976 Rocky &10000000225000000000000$225,000,000 &10000000001000000000000$1,000,000 [# 174]
1977 Star Wars &10000000775398007000000$775,398,007 (&10000000518492134000000$518,492,134)SW &10000000011000000000000$11,000,000 [# 37]
1978 Grease &10000000387513770000000$387,513,770 &10000000006000000000000$6,000,000 [# 175]
1979 Moonraker &10000000210300000000000$210,300,000 &10000000031000000000000$31,000,000 [# 176]
Kramer vs. Kramer &10000000106260000000000$106,260,000* TBA [# 177]
1980 The Empire Strikes Back &10000000538375067000000$538,375,067 (&10000000413562607000000$413,562,607)SW &10000000023000000000000$23,000,000 [# 178]
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark &10000000384140454000000$384,140,454 (&10000000351328121000000$351,328,121) &10000000020000000000000$20,000,000 [# 179]
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial &10000000792910554000000$792,910,554 (&10000000640096498000000$640,096,498) &10000000010500000000000$10,500,000 [# 34]
1983 Return of the Jedi &10000000475106177000000$475,106,177 (&10000000385845197000000$385,845,197)SW &10000000032500000000000$32,500,000 [# 180]
1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom &10000000333080271000000$333,080,271 &10000000028000000000000$28,000,000 [# 181]
1985 Back to the Future &10000000383874862000000$383,874,862 &10000000019000000000000$19,000,000 [# 182]
1986 Top Gun &10000000353786701000000$353,786,701 &10000000015000000000000$15,000,000 [# 183]
1987 Fatal Attraction &10000000320100000000000$320,100,000 &10000000014000000000000$14,000,000 [# 184][# 185]
1988 Rain Man &10000000412800000000000$412,800,000 &10000000025000000000000$25,000,000 [# 186]
1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade &10000000474171806000000$474,171,806 &10000000048000000000000$48,000,000 [# 187]
1990 Ghost &10000000517600000000000$517,600,000 &10000000022000000000000$22,000,000 [# 188]
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day &10000000516816151000000$516,816,151 &10000000100000000000000$100,000,000 [# 189]
1992 Aladdin &10000000504050219000000$504,050,219 &10000000028000000000000$28,000,000 [# 190]
1993 Jurassic Park &10000000914691118000000$914,691,118 &10000000063000000000000$63,000,000 [# 20]
1994 The Lion King &10000000951583777000000$951,583,777 (&10000000767355561000000$767,355,561) &10000000045000000000000$45,000,000 [# 15]
1995 Die Hard with a Vengeance &10000000364480746000000$364,480,746 &10000000090000000000000$90,000,000 [# 191]
1996 Independence Day &10000000817400891000000$817,400,891 &10000000075000000000000$75,000,000 [# 31]
1997 Titanic &10000001843201268000000$1,843,201,268 &10000000200000000000000$200,000,000 [# 2]
1998 Armageddon &10000000554600000000000$554,600,000 &10000000140000000000000$140,000,000 [# 192]
1999 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace film currently playing &10000001010658295000000$1,010,658,295 (&10000000924317558000000$924,317,558) &10000000115000000000000$115,000,000 [# 10]
2000 Mission: Impossible II &10000000546388105000000$546,388,105 &10000000125000000000000$125,000,000 [# 193]
2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone &10000000974755371000000$974,755,371 &10000000125000000000000$125,000,000 [# 12]
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers &10000000925282504000000$925,282,504 &10000000094000000000000$94,000,000 [# 18]
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King &10000001119929521000000$1,119,929,521 &10000000094000000000000$94,000,000 [# 5]
2004 Shrek 2 &10000000919838758000000$919,838,758 &10000000150000000000000$150,000,000 [# 19]
2005 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire &10000000896911078000000$896,911,078 &10000000150000000000000$150,000,000 [# 21]
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest &10000001066179725000000$1,066,179,725 &10000000225000000000000$225,000,000 [# 6]
2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End &10000000963420425000000$963,420,425 &10000000300000000000000$300,000,000 [# 13]
2008 The Dark Knight &10000001001921825000000$1,001,921,825 (&10000000999615879000000$999,615,879) &10000000185000000000000$185,000,000 [# 11]
2009 Avatar &10000002782275172000000$2,782,275,172 (&10000002749064328000000$2,749,064,328) &10000000237000000000000$237,000,000 [# 1][# 194]
2010 Toy Story 3 &10000001063171911000000$1,063,171,911 &10000000200000000000000$200,000,000 [# 7]
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 &10000001328111219000000$1,328,111,219 &10000000250000000000000$250,000,000HP [# 3]

( ... ) Since grosses are not limited to original theatrical runs, a film's first-run gross is included in brackets after the total if known.
* Canada and U.S. gross only.
R Gross rental. The 'rentals' are the distributor's share of the film's theatrical revenue i.e. the box office gross less the exhibitor's cut.[15] In the case of older films it was standard practice to report the rentals instead of the box office gross. Historically, the rental price averaged at 35–40% when the distributors owned the theater chains, equating to just over a third of the gross being paid to the distributor of the film.[16] After the studios were compelled to sell their theaters following the Hollywood Anti-trust Case of 1948 the rental fees were steadily increased, and in the modern marketplace they average out at about 40–60%.[17]
TBA To be ascertained.
SW The 'first run' Star Wars grosses do not include revenue from the 1997 special edition releases; however, the figure does include revenue from the re-releases prior to the special editions.
HP Production costs were shared with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.

Timeline of highest-grossing films

The theatrical poster for The Birth of a Nation depicting a hooded man carrying a burning cross on horse back.
The Birth of a Nation pioneered many of the techniques used in film-making today, becoming the most successful film ever made at the time of its release.

At least ten films have held the record of 'highest-grossing film'. The Birth of a Nation and Gone with the Wind spent 25 consecutive years apiece as the highest-grosser, with Steven Spielberg holding the record on three occasions and James Cameron—the current holder—twice. Spielberg became the first director to break his own record when Jurassic Park overtook E.T., and Cameron emulated the feat when Avatar broke the record set by Titanic.

Some sources claim that The Big Parade superseded The Birth of a Nation as highest-grossing film, eventually being replaced by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which in turn was quickly usurped by Gone with the Wind.[18] As of 1932, Variety still had The Birth of a Nation ($10,000,000) ahead of The Big Parade ($6,400,000) on gross rentals,[19] and even though exact figures are not known, it is unlikely The Birth of a Nation was ever overtaken by a silent-era film.[20] If the estimate for The Birth of a Nation is correct, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ($8,500,000)[21] would not have earned enough on its first theatrical run to take the record, although it would have been the highest-grossing talkie.[22] In any case, if The Birth of a Nation earned significantly less than its estimated gross, the record would fall to Ben-Hur (1925), which grossed $9,386,000 in rentals on its original theatrical run.[23] In addition to its gross rentals earned through public exhibition, The Birth of a Nation played at a large number of private, club and organizational engagements which are not accounted for by its rental gross.[24] It was hugely popular with the Ku Klux Klan who used it to drive recruitment,[25] and in total it is estimated to have earned at least $50–60 million by the 1950s.[26] While it is generally accepted that Gone with the Wind took over the record of highest-grossing film on its initial release—which is true in terms of public exhibition—it is likely it did not overtake The Birth of a Nation in total revenue until a much later date, with it still being reported as the highest earner up until the 1960s.[24]

Another film purported to have been the highest-grosser is the 1972 pornographic film, Deep Throat. In 1984, Linda Lovelace testified to a United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on juvenile justice that the film had earned $600 million;[27] this figure has been the subject of much speculation, since if it is accurate then the film would have made more money than Star Wars, and finished the 1970s as the highest-grossing film. The main argument against this figure is that it simply did not have a wide enough release to sustain the sort of sums that would be required for it to ultimately gross this amount.[28] Exact figures are not known, but testimony in a federal trial in 1976—about four years into the film's release—showed the film had grossed over $25 million.[29] Roger Ebert has reasoned it possibly did earn this much on paper, since mobsters owned most of the adult movie theaters during this period and would launder income from drugs and prostitution through them, so probably inflated the box office receipts for the film.[30]

Gone with the Wind, Star Wars, E.T. and Avatar all added to their record grosses with reissues. Their grosses from their original theatrical runs are included here along with totals from re-releases up to the point that they lost the record; therefore the total for E.T. incorporates revenue from the 1985 reissue but not from 2002; the total for Star Wars includes revenue from the late 1970s and early 1980s reissues but not from the 1997 Special Edition; the total for Avatar—as the current record-holder—includes all its income at the present time. Gone with the Wind is represented twice on the chart: the 1940 entry includes its gross from its initial theatrical run along with all its revenue up to its 1961 reissue (before it lost the record to The Sound of Music in 1966), and its 1971 entry—after it took back the record—includes income from the 1967 and 1971 reissues along with its earlier grosses, omitting later reissues. The Godfather was re-released in 1973 after its success at the 45th Academy Awards, and its gross here possibly includes earnings from that release; similarly, The Birth of a Nation was re-released a couple of times prior to 1932, so it is not clear if Variety's figure includes revenue from just the original theatrical run or all releases up to that point. The Sound of Music and Jaws both earned more money from reissues, but it is not included in their totals here since they had already conceded the record prior to being re-released. Jurassic Park and Titanic have each had just one theatrical run, so their totals represent their full earnings.

The Sound of Music was the first film to earn $100 million in rentals, but Gone with the Wind would have been the first to generate $100 million in box office receipts through its reissues, while Titanic was the first $1 billion grossing film.

Timeline of the highest-grossing film record
Established Title Record setting gross Ref
1915[18] The Birth of a Nation $10,000,000R [# 51]
1940[31] Gone with the Wind $32,000,000R [# 89]
1961 $75,000,000R ‡ [# 195]
1966[18] The Sound of Music $112,481,000R [# 151]
1971[18] Gone with the Wind $114,000,000R ‡ [# 196]
1972[18] The Godfather $145,000,000R [# 197]
1975[18] Jaws $400,000,000
($193,700,000)R		 [# 173]
1978[32][33] Star Wars $410,000,000 [# 37]
1982 $518,492,134 ‡
1983[18] E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial $640,096,498 [# 34]
1985 $701,000,000 ‡
1993[18] Jurassic Park $914,691,118 [# 20]
1998[34] Titanic $1,843,201,268 [# 2]
2010[35][36] Avatar $2,749,064,328 [# 1]
$2,782,275,172 ‡

R Gross rental.
Includes re-releases Includes revenue from re-releases.
YYYY Years in italics represent dates where a film increased its record gross with a reissue.

Highest-grossing franchises and film series

Prior to 2000, only seven franchises had grossed over $1 billion at the box office: James Bond,[37] Star Wars,[38] Indiana Jones,[39] Rocky,[40][41][42] Batman,[43] Jurassic Park[44] and Star Trek.[45] Since the turn of the century that number has increased to over thirty franchises;[46] this is partly due to inflation and market growth, but also to Hollywood's adoption of the franchise model: films that have built-in brand recognition, such as being based on a well known literary source (The Lord of the Rings) or an established character (Indiana Jones). The methodology is based on the idea that films associated with things audiences are already familiar with can be more effectively marketed to them, and as such are known as "pre-sold" films within the industry.[47] The Harry Potter series has grossed the most, amassing nearly $8 billion over eight films at the box office, although the EON James Bond series is the highest grossing when adjusted for inflation, with a total of over $12 billion at 2011 prices.[47] Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the most consistent series, averaging at about $970 million per film with each film earning in excess of $870 million.

  film currently playing Background shading indicates that at least one film in the series is playing in the week commencing 24 February 2012 in theaters around the world.
Highest-grossing franchises and film series[§]
Rank Series Total worldwide
box office		 No. of films Average of films Highest-grossing film

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  58. ^ Dirks, Tim. "Way Down East (1920)". Filmsite.org. American Movie Classics. http://www.filmsite.org/wayd.html. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
  59. ^ Quin, Eleanor. "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3234/The-Four-Horsemen-of-the-Apocalypse/articles.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  60. ^ Brownlow, Kevin (1968). The parade's gone by .... University of California Press. p. 255. ISBN 9780520030688. 
  61. ^ a b "Business: Film Exports". Time. July 6, 1925. Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20101105030518/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,728553,00.html. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  62. ^ May, Richard P. (Fall 2005), "Restoring The Big Parade", The Moving Image 5 (2): 140–146, doi:10.1353/mov.2005.0033, ISSN 1532-3978, "...earning somewhere between $18 and $22 million, depending on the figures consulted" 
  63. ^ Hall & Neale 2010, The Big Parade at Google Books
  64. ^ Hall & Neale 2010, p. 163 (Online copy at Google Books)
  65. ^ "Alamo (sic) of the South Seas". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1926/0AOSS.php. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  66. ^ Miller, Frank. "For Heaven's Sake (1926) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/410794/For-Heaven-s-Sake/articles.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  67. ^ Fristoe, Roger. "The Jazz Singer (1927) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3140/The-Jazz-Singer/articles.html. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  68. ^ Bradley, Edwin M. (1996). The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 Through 1932. McFarland & Company. pp. 10–12. 
  69. ^ Looney, Deborah. "The Broadway Melody (1929) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/12482/The-Broadway-Melody/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  70. ^ "Tom Sawyer". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1930/0TOMS.php. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  71. ^ Feaster, Felicia. "All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/67079/All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front/articles.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  72. ^ Feaster, Felicia. "Frankenstein (1931)". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/373967%7C18617/Frankenstein.html. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  73. ^ "City Lights (1931) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/324720/City-Lights/notes.html. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  74. ^ Baxter, John (2010). Von Sternberg. University Press of Kentucky. p. 152. ISBN 9780813126012. 
  75. ^ "King Kong (1933) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2690/King-Kong/notes.html. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  76. ^ "Cavalcade (1933) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/70523/Cavalcade/notes.html. Retrieved July 17, 2011. 
  77. ^ "I'm No Angel (1933) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/79021/I-m-No-Angel/notes.html. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  78. ^ "It Happened One Night". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1934/0THNN.php. Retrieved July 17, 2011. 
  79. ^ "Viva Villa!". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1934/00297.php. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  80. ^ Toole, Michael. "Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/15288/Mutiny-on-the-Bounty/articles.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  81. ^ "Top Hat (1935)". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2293/Top-Hat/notes.html. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  82. ^ "How to Become (sic) a Detective". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1936/0HTBD.php. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  83. ^ Turk, Edward Baron (1998). Hollywood Diva: A Biography of Jeanette MacDonald. University of California Press. 
  84. ^ "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1931) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/90631/Snow-White-and-the-Seven-Dwarfs/notes.html. Retrieved July 9, 2011. "Modern sources add that as of 1987, the picture had grossed $330,000,000" 
  85. ^ "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1937/0SWSD.php. Retrieved July 5, 2011. "1993 release: $41,316,184" 
  86. ^ "You Can't Take It With You". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1938/0YCWY.php. Retrieved July 13, 2011. 
  87. ^ "Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/66978/Alexander-s-Ragtime-Band/notes.html. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  88. ^ "Gone with the Wind". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1939/0GWTW.php. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
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  90. ^ "Cinema: G With the W". Time: p. 2. December 25, 1939. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,762137,00.html. Retrieved July 6, 2011. 
  91. ^ "Pinocchio". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1940/0PINO.php. Retrieved July 7, 2011. 
  92. ^ Barrier, Michael (2003). Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 602. ISBN 0-19-516729-5. 
  93. ^ "Boom Town". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1940/0BMTW.php. Retrieved January 8, 2012. 
  94. ^ Miller, Frank. "Rebecca (1940) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/87781/Rebecca/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
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  97. ^ "Bambi". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1942/0BAMB.php. Retrieved July 7, 2011. 
  98. ^ "Bambi (1942) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68039/Bambi/notes.html. Retrieved July 9, 2011. "Modern sources report that the film, which cost over $2,000,000 to produce, did not turn a profit during its initial release, largely because the European market was inaccessible during World War II" 
  99. ^ Reid 2006, p. 26 (Online copy at Google Books)
  100. ^ "Mrs. Miniver (1942) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/329/Mrs-Miniver/notes.html. Retrieved January 8, 2012. 
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  103. ^ "Going My Way (1944) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/76588/Going-My-Way/notes.html. Retrieved July 13, 2011. 
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  105. ^ "Mom and Dad (1945) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/496972/Mom-and-Dad/notes.html. Retrieved July 13, 2011. 
  106. ^ Reid 2006, p. 30 (Online copy at Google Books)
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  108. ^ Gabler, Neal (October 31, 2006). Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 432–9, 456, 463, 486, 511, 599. ISBN 067943822X. 
  109. ^ Solomon, Charles (1989). Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation. Alfred A. Knopf. p. 186. ISBN ISBN 0-394-54684-9. 
  110. ^ "Hollywood Pioneer, David Griffith, Dies". Sun Journal: p. 11. July 24, 1948. 
  111. ^ "The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68507/The-Best-Years-of-Our-Lives/notes.html. Retrieved January 8, 2012. "US:$11.3 million; UK:$8 million" 
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  113. ^ Miller, Frank. "Duel in the Sun (1946) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/73733/Duel-in-the-Sun/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. "Despite pretty awfulreviews, the picture grossed $10 million, making it the second-highest-grossingfilm of the year (behind The Best Years of OurLives) [sic]" 
  114. ^ "Forever Amber". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1947/0FOAM.php. Retrieved January 7, 2012. 
  115. ^ Hall & Neale 2010, (note 6.56) Online copy at Google Books
  116. ^ Reid 2006, p. 31 (Online copy at Google Books)
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  118. ^ Reid 2006, p. 32 (Online copy at Google Books)
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  120. ^ Wood, Bret. "Samson and Delilah (1950) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/88977/Samson-and-Delilah/articles.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
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  122. ^ a b Reid 2006, p. 34 (Online copy at Google Books)
  123. ^ Arnold, Jeremy. "King Solomon's Mines (1950) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3254/King-Solomon-s-Mines/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  124. ^ Reid 2006, p. 36 (Online copy at Google Books)
  125. ^ Reid, John (2006). Films Famous, Fanciful, Frolicsome & Fantastic. Lulu. pp. 165–166. ISBN 9781411689152. 
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  127. ^ "Peter Pan (1953) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86554/Peter-Pan/notes.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
  128. ^ "The Robe (1953) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/88469/The-Robe/notes.html. Retrieved January 10, 2011. 
  129. ^ Arnold, Jeremy. "White Christmas (1954) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/95631/White-Christmas/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  130. ^ "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1954/020LE.php. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  131. ^ Miller, John M. "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/20642/20-000-Leagues-Under-the-Sea/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  132. ^ "Lady and the Tramp". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1955/0LDTR.php. Retrieved July 27, 2011. 
  133. ^ "Lady and the Tramp (1955) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/80607/Lady-and-the-Tramp/notes.html. Retrieved July 27, 2011. 
  134. ^ "Mister Roberts". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1955/00219.php. Retrieved January 10, 2011. 
  135. ^ "The Ten Commandments (1956) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/92507/The-Ten-Commandments/notes.html. Retrieved July 27, 2011. 
  136. ^ Nixon, Rob. "The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/69690/The-Bridge-on-the-River-Kwai/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  137. ^ Miller, Frank. "South Pacific (1958) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/90961/South-Pacific/articles.html. Retrieved July 31, 2011. 
  138. ^ "Ben-Hur (1959) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/415095/Ben-Hur/notes.html. Retrieved August 9, 2011. 
  139. ^ "Spartacus". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1960/0SCUS.php. Retrieved August 10, 2011. 
  140. ^ Nixon, Rob. "Psycho (1960) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/24944/Psycho/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  141. ^ "Swiss Family Robinson". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1960/0SWFR.php. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  142. ^ Passafiume, Andrea. "Swiss Family Robinson (1960) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/25093/Swiss-Family-Robinson/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  143. ^ "101 Dalmatians (1961)". Box Office Mojo. http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=101dalmations.htm. Retrieved August 11, 2011. 
  144. ^ "One Hundred and One Dalmatians". Variety. December 31, 1960. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117793715. Retrieved August 23, 2011. 
  145. ^ "West Side Story". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1961/0WSSY.php. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  146. ^ "Lawrence of Arabia". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1962/0LWRN.php. Retrieved August 15, 2011. 
  147. ^ "From Russia With Love". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1964/0FRLW.php. Retrieved August 16, 2011. 
  148. ^ "Goldfinger". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1964/0GOFI.php. Retrieved August 17, 2011. 
  149. ^ "Mary Poppins". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1964/0MAPO.php. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  150. ^ "The Sound of Music". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1965/0SOMU.php. Retrieved April 26, 2011. 
  151. ^ a b Thomas, Bob (November 23, 1969). "'Sound of Music' Sound Finance". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: p. 22. 
  152. ^ "The Bible". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1966/0BBLE.php. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  153. ^ "Hawaii". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1966/0HWII.php. Retrieved August 18, 2011. 
  154. ^ "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1966/0WAVW.php. Retrieved August 18, 2011. 
  155. ^ Landazuri, Margarita. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/95743/Who-s-Afraid-of-Virginia-Woolf-/articles.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  156. ^ "The Jungle Book (1967)". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=junglebook.htm. Retrieved August 11, 2011. 
  157. ^ "The Jungle Book". Variety. December 31, 1966. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117792229. Retrieved August 23, 2011. 
  158. ^ Nixon, Rob. "The Graduate (1967) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/18530/The-Graduate/articles.html. Retrieved January 10, 2012. "For a time, it was ranked third, after Gone with the Wind (1939) and The Sound of Music (1965) on Variety's list of all-time box office champions." 
  159. ^ Miller, Frank. "2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – Articles". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/628/2001-A-Space-Odyssey/articles.html. Retrieved August 24, 2011. 
  160. ^ "Funny Girl". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1968/0FG68.php. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  161. ^ "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1969/0BCSK.php. Retrieved August 24, 2011. 
  162. ^ "Love Story". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1970/0LOST.php. Retrieved August 24, 2011. 
  163. ^ "Love Story". Variety. December 31, 1969. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117792794. Retrieved August 24, 2011. 
  164. ^ "Diamonds Are Forever". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1971/0DAFE.php. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  165. ^ "Billy Jack". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1971/0BJAC.php. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  166. ^ "Fiddler on the Roof". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1971/0FOTR.php. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  167. ^ "The Godfather". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1972/0GDFT.php. Retrieved August 26, 2011. 
  168. ^ "The Godfather (1972) – Notes". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/443184/The-Godfather/notes.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  169. ^ "The Exorcist". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1973/0XRCS.php. Retrieved August 26, 2011. "Total: $402,735,134; North America re-release gross: $39,632,868" 
  170. ^ "The Towering Inferno". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1974/0TWRN.php. Retrieved August 28, 2011. 
  171. ^ "Blazing Saddles". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1974/0BSAD.php. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  172. ^ "Jaws". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1975/0JWS.php. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  173. ^ a b Kilday, Gregg (July 5, 1977). "Director of 'Jaws II' Abandons His 'Ship'". The Victoria Advocate: p. 6B. 
  174. ^ "Rocky". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1976/0RKY1.php. Retrieved September 1, 2010. 
  175. ^ "Grease". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1978/GREAS.php. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 
  176. ^ "Moonraker". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1979/0MORA.php. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
  177. ^ "Kramer vs. Kramer". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1979/0KRKR.php. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  178. ^ The Empire Strikes Back
  179. ^ "Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=raidersofthelostark.htm. Retrieved January 29, 2012. "Total: $384,140,454; North America: $209,562,121 (original run); Overseas: $141,766,000" 
  180. ^ Return of the Jedi
  181. ^ "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1984/0NDN2.php. Retrieved October 10, 2011. 
  182. ^ "Back to the Future". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1985/0BCK1.php. Retrieved October 10, 2011. 
  183. ^ "Top Gun". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1986/0TGUN.php. Retrieved October 10, 2011. 
  184. ^ "Fatal Attraction". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1987/0FAAT.php. Retrieved October 11, 2011. 
  185. ^ Green, Tom (January 31, 1989). "Selleck: A new `Alibi,' lullaby;Career proceeds at magnum speed". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=607&tbs=ar%3A1&tbm=nws&q=%22three+men+and+a+baby%22+worldwide+%24238+million. Retrieved January 31, 2012. "Since Three Men and a Baby became a megahit ($238 million worldwide) and Magnum, PI retired to top ratings last spring, he can hardly catch his breath." 
  186. ^ "Top Gun". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1988/0RNMN.php. Retrieved October 11, 2011. 
  187. ^ "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1989/0NDN3.php. Retrieved October 11, 2011. 
  188. ^ "Ghost". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1990/0GHOS.php. Retrieved July 11, 2011. 
  189. ^ "Terminator 2: Judgment Day". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1991/0TRM2.php. Retrieved October 12, 2011. 
  190. ^ "Aladdin". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1992/0LDDN.php. Retrieved October 12, 2011. 
  191. ^ "Die Hard: With a Vengeance". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1995/0DH3.php. Retrieved October 17, 2011. 
  192. ^ "Armageddon". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1998/ARMAG.php. Retrieved October 21, 2011. 
  193. ^ "Mission: Impossible II". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mi2.htm. Retrieved January 6, 2012. 
  194. ^ Patten, D. (December 3, 2009). "'Avatar's' True Cost – and Consequences". The Wrap. Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5m4EySibe. Retrieved December 12, 2009. 
  195. ^ Bacon, James (September 13, 1961). "'Gone With The Wind' Grosses Most This Year". The Ledger: p. 1. 
  196. ^ Thomas, Bob (August 3, 1972). "The Godfather Rides Again". The Gazette, Montreal: p. 23. 
  197. ^ Weiler, A. H. (April 14, 1975). "Evans Quits as Executive at Paramount". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbs=ar%3A1&tbm=nws&q=the+godfather+rentals+%24145+million+evans. Retrieved January 27, 2012. "Robert Evans, executive vice president in charge of worldwide production for ... " The Godfather," with $145-million In film rentals to Paramount" 
§ Franchise and series sources

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