Movies: All-Time Global Box Office Revenue, by film
Movie (year)Revenue,
in billion USD
Avatar (2009)2.92
Avengers: Endgame (2019)2.80
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)2.32
Titanic (1997)2.26
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)2.07
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)2.05
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)1.90
Jurassic World (2015)1.67
The Lion King (2019)1.66
The Avengers (2012)1.52
Furious 7 (2015)1.52
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)1.50
Frozen II (2019)1.45
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)1.40
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2022)1.35
Black Panther (2018)1.35
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)1.34
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)1.33
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)1.31
Frozen (2013)1.28
  • Region: Worldwide
  • Time period: as of Jul 31, 2023
  • Published: Jul 2023

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Apr 13, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Avatar series dominates with highest revenues

Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) collectively generated over $5.24 billion in global box office revenue, showcasing the franchise's unparalleled financial success.

Marvel Cinematic Universe's significant impact

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) stands out with four films in the top list, accumulating a total revenue of approximately $7.7 billion, highlighting its massive appeal and profitability.

Top three films surpassing $2 billion mark

Avatar (2009), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) are the only movies to exceed $2 billion in global revenue, illustrating their exceptional worldwide performance.

2015 and 2018 as standout years for blockbuster releases

2015 and 2018 are remarkable, each featuring four films on the list, indicating these years as peak periods for high-grossing cinema releases.

Sequels and franchises dominate the list

Out of the top 20 movies, 17 are either sequels or part of a franchise, underscoring the significant box office draw of established series.

Animated films' impressive box office performance

Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019), along with The Lion King (2019) and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2022), highlight the strong financial performance of animated features, contributing over $4.74 billion to the total revenue.

James Cameron's films among the highest earners

Films directed by James Cameron, specifically Avatar (2009) and Titanic (1997), collectively amassed $5.18 billion, marking him as one of the most successful filmmakers in box office history.

Diverse genres represented in top-grossing films

The list includes a wide range of genres, from science fiction and superheroes to animation and drama, indicating varied audience preferences and the broad appeal of different storytelling styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much revenue did the Avatar series generate?

The Avatar series, including Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), generated over $5.24 billion in global box office revenue.

How successful has the Marvel Cinematic Universe been in terms of revenue?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) generated approximately $7.7 billion in total revenue from four films.

Which movies have made over $2 billion in global revenue?

Avatar (2009), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) are the only movies to exceed $2 billion in global revenue.

Terms and Definitions

Movies, also known as films or cinema, are a type of visual communication that uses moving pictures and sound to tell stories. They are usually created by teams including a director, actors, and crew members and are a popular form of entertainment consumed by audiences worldwide.

The global box office is a term referring to the financial gross or revenue generated by a movie's ticket sales worldwide. It includes all the ticket sales from movie theaters across different countries and regions. This revenue is commonly used as a metric of a film's commercial success.

In the context of movies, revenue refers to the money generated from various sources related to a film's distribution and consumption. These sources may include but are not limited to box office sales, streaming services, DVD and Blu-ray sales, syndication rights, and merchandise.

Film distribution is the process of making a movie available for viewing by the audience. It involves the marketing and release of the movie in theaters, TV, DVD, or online platforms. Distributors are responsible for ensuring the movie reaches its target audience and are also involved in the calculation of revenue.

Ticket sales refer to the purchase of admission tickets to watch a movie in a theater or cinema. The revenue from ticket sales contributes to a substantial part of a film's total earning and represent a major factor in determining a film's box office success.

Commercial success of a film is determined by the amount of revenue it generates relative to its production and marketing costs. Films that generate significant profits are considered to be commercially successful. The global box office revenue is a key indicator of this success.

Production costs refer to the total expenses incurred in making a movie. These costs include pre-production (scripting, casting), production (filming), and post-production (editing, visual effects) expenses. High production costs may increase the revenue a movie needs to generate to be considered commercially successful.

Marketing costs are the costs associated with promoting a film. This includes expenses for advertising, publicity events, promotional materials like posters and trailers, and social media campaigns. Marketing can significantly influence a movie's box office performance.

Streaming services are digital platforms that allow users to view movies and other forms of media over the internet. Some popular streaming services include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Multiple films are released or made available exclusively on these platforms, which contributes to their revenue.
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Movie Revenue
Movie revenue refers to the total earnings generated from the distribution and screening of feature films, which encompasses box office sales, DVD and Blu-Ray sales, digital downloads, TV broadcasting licensing fees, and merchandise. Read more »
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