The list of highest grossing movies of all time may be surprising considering how many iconic films have come out over the years, but due to rising ticket prices, inflation, and population sizes in key areas, most movies that make up the list have come out this century. Prior to the mid-2000s, many movies didn't release in IMAX theaters, but that has certainly changed; now, every blockbuster film comes out in half-a-dozen formats, releases worldwide, and breaks box office records left and right.
It's astonishing how high some of the highest grossing movies have gone as well. Sometimes their grosses are owed almost entirely to their domestic runs, while others make up more than 70% from international markets. Then there are those phenomenons like Avengers: Endgame and Avatar: The Way of Water that turn the pop culture world upside-down for weeks and months. And given where things are doing, it's possible we're on the verge of yet another highest-grossing movie coming out in the near future.
The below list of highest grossing movies of all time is in order of worldwide box office totals, and it does not for inflation or changes in ticket prices.
25 Minions (2015)
Domestic: $336,045,770 | Worldwide: $1,159,444,662
The Despicable Me franchise was already hugely successful at the box office, but animation studio Illumination discovered a way to totally dominate at the box office, which was to make a movie completely focused on the biggest appeal of the film franchise. The Minions' look, their odd eccentricities, and their nonsensical gobbledegook print money, and Minions proved that in spades. While the movie lacked as much of a story as the mainline series, the vignette-like series of events in Minions that see the yellow lab workers getting themselves into one problem after another led to the creatures taking over the box office.
24 Iron Man 3 (2013)
Domestic: $409,013,994 | Worldwide: $1,215,577,205
It's hard to believe that an old movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that isn't an Avengers film is still one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, as it should have been edged out by its successors by now. However, Iron Man 3 was hot off the heels of 2012's The Avengers, and standing on the shoulders of the team-up movie undoubtedly helped the 2013 movie's box office success. However, Iron Man 3 also introduced the Mandarin, and while the Iron Man 3 Mandarin twist was polarizing, he's still one of the most interesting villains of the MCU, making it one of the most financially significant Marvel movies.
23 The Fate Of The Furious (2017)
Domestic: $226,008,385 | Worldwide: $1,236,005,118
The eighth Fast & Furious movie, The Fate of the Furious, grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide. Made on a budget of approximately $250 million, the sequel saw the franchise introduce new characters, such as Scott Eastwood's Little Nobody and Charlize Theron's Cipher. The ever-growing ensemble of stars, the franchise's high-octane format, and its propensity for larger-than-life set pieces all contributed to the success of The Fate of the Furious. It was also the first movie in the franchise made after the death of star Paul Walker, which likely pulled in more ticket buyers out of pure curiosity.
22 Incredibles 2 (2018)
Domestic: $608,581,744 | Worldwide: $1,243,225,667
Incredibles 2 was released 14 years after its predecessor, and in the intervening years, the boom in modern superhero movies made Incredibles 2 incredibly profitable. Incredibles 2 grossed over $1.24 billion worldwide, with approximately half of that being its domestic take. The success of Incredibles 2 becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of all time can most likely be attributed to the wait of over a decade, which ensured a more diverse demographic with regard to age. As Incredibles 2 is predominantly a family film, being able to appeal to a broad teenage and millennial audience, in addition to children and families, proved to be a marketing masterstroke.
21 Beauty And The Beast (2017)
Domestic: $504,481,165 | Worldwide: $1,266,115,964
The 2017 live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast also ranks among the highest-grossing movies of all time. Made on a budget of $160 million, Beauty and the Beast made over $1.27 billion worldwide at the box office. With A-list talent including Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, and Josh Gad in key live-action roles, and Dan Stevens, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Ian McKellen, and Emma Thompson delivering voice performances (and motion capture in Stevens's case), Beauty and the Beast boasted massive appeal. Disney's beloved 1991 animated version undoubtedly contributed to the financial success of the live-action adaptation as well.
20 Frozen (2013)
Domestic: $400,953,009 | Worldwide: $1,284,540,518
The 2013 animated feature Frozen flipped Disney's princess trope completely, serving as a story of love and empowerment that marked a shift in family animation towards more modern sensibilities. Made on a budget of $150 million, Frozen earned $1.28 billion at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. Interestingly, Frozen's domestic opening gross was just $243,390, but as it gained traction, it quickly became one of Disney's most profitable movies ever. Its story being focused almost entirely on female characters and the relationship between two sisters helped set Frozen apart, and that's ultimately what helped it make history.
19 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
Domestic: $417,719,760 | Worldwide: $1,310,466,296
The follow-up to Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, saw Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles as Owen Grady and Claire Dearing, respectively. In addition, the sequel saw Jeff Goldblum return to the Jurassic movies, which helped legitimize the revival with the franchise's long-time audience. With a budget of $170 million, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom saw the franchise reach its second-highest box office gross of $1.31 billion. The success of the first Jurassic World, as well as the spectacle of the franchise's dinosaur-based premise and the return of Goldblum, all helped secure Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom's box office success.
18 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Domestic: $620,181,382 | Worldwide: $1,334,407,706
Though the second installment of Disney's Star Wars sequel trilogy is not as highly regarded as other films in the franchise, it still secured a place among the highest-grossing movies of all time. Following the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi sees the full return of Luke Skywalker to the Star Wars franchise after his brief appearance in the previous movie. While The Last Jedi remains divisive, it still grossed over $1.33 billion worldwide against a budget of $317 million. This success is most commonly attributed to its franchise status and the way in which it was set up by its predecessor.
17 The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Domestic: $573,143,135 | Worldwide: $1,336,704,846
Despite being "rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes, the Super Mario video game franchise is universally loved, and a movie that's visually spectacular and full of fan service was undoubtedly going to the billion-dollar club. The Super Mario Bros. Movie might not have an Oscar-winning narrative, but when taken at face value, the exciting individual sequences, such as the fight with Donkey Kong and the kart racing, demand repeat viewings. As The Super Mario Bros. Movie's theatrical release still isn't over, the movie will still make more money, and who knows, there's a chance it can beat Frozen II to become the highest grossing animated movie of all time.
16 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Domestic: $381,447,587 | Worldwide: $1,342,359,942
One of the most popular multimedia franchises of all time, Harry Potter came to its epic cinematic conclusion in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. As a finale 10 years in the making, its anticipation alone was enough to secure an impressive audience. As the characters of Harry Potter had literally grown up in front of a global audience and made it one of the most iconic movie franchises in existence, the eighth movie proved to be its most financially successful. The film grossed over $1.34 billion against a budget of $250 million, which was shared with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
