ALL-TIME TOP 100
BOX OFFICE FILMS


Introduction: Rankings of both US (Domestic) and Worldwide Box-Office blockbusters have been compiled from various recent sources. The domestic rankings, divided into unadjusted and adjusted for inflation*, are based upon theatrical box office receipts (including some theatrical re-release receipts) and do not include video rentals, TV rights, international box office figures, or other revenues. A few other sites post all-time box-office information, including the Internet Movie DataBase, Boxofficemojo.com, and Movieweb.com. The 100 Greatest Films that have been selected at this site are identified throughout by a yellow star .

The Top All-Time US Box Office Hits By Decade and Year of the most popular films (for each of the decades from the Pre-Sound Era to the decade of the 2000s) have also been compiled from various sources. See also Greatest Box-Office Bombs, Disasters, and Flops and Greatest Film Franchise Box-Office Results.


BOX-OFFICE TOP 100 FILMS
 OF ALL-TIME
(through to early February, 2010)
TOP 100 FILMS
OF ALL-TIME
(Domestic Gross)*
(Unadjusted for Inflation)
TOP 100 FILMS
OF ALL-TIME
(Domestic Gross)*
(Adjusted for Inflation)
TOP 100 FILMS
OF ALL-TIME
(Worldwide Gross)*
  1. Avatar (2009)
  2. Titanic (1997)
  3. The Dark Knight (2008)
  4. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
  5. Shrek 2 (2004)
  6. E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  7. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
  8. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
  9. Spider-Man (2002)
  10. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
  11. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  13. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  14. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
  15. Jurassic Park (1993)
  16. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  17. Finding Nemo (2003)
  18. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  19. Forrest Gump (1994)
  20. The Lion King (1994)
  21. Shrek the Third (2007)
  22. Transformers (2007)
  23. Iron Man (2008)
  24. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
  25. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
  26. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  27. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
  28. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
  29. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
  30. Independence Day (1996)
  31. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  32. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
  33. The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
  34. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  35. Up (2009)
  36. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
  37. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
  38. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  39. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
  40. Home Alone (1990)
  41. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
  42. Meet the Fockers (2004)
  43. The Hangover (2009)
  44. Shrek (2001)
  45. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
  46. The Incredibles (2004)
  47. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
  48. Jaws (1975)
  49. Star Trek (2009)
  50. I Am Legend (2007)
  51. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
  52. Batman (1989)
  53. Night at the Museum (2006)
  54. Men in Black (1997)
  55. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
  56. Toy Story 2 (1999)
  57. Cars (2006)
  58. Bruce Almighty (2003)
  59. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
  60. Twister (1996)
  61. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
  62. Ghostbusters (1984)
  63. The Blind Side (2009)
  64. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
  65. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
  66. War of the Worlds (2005)
  67. Cast Away (2000)
  68. The Exorcist (1973)
  69. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
  70. Signs (2002)
  71. Hancock (2008)
  72. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
  73. Rush Hour 2 (2001)
  74. WALL·E (2008)
  75. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
  76. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
  77. King Kong (2005)
  78. Ghost (1990)
  79. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
  80. Aladdin (1992)
  81. Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
  82. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  83. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
  84. Mission: Impossible II (2000)
  85. X2: X-Men United (2003)
  86. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
  87. 300 (2006)
  88. Back to the Future (1985)
  89. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
  90. Wedding Crashers (2005)
  91. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
  92. Ratatouille (2007)
  93. Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
  94. Batman Begins (2005)
  95. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  96. The Mummy Returns (2001)
  97. Armageddon (1998)
  98. Superman Returns (2006)
  99. Gone With the Wind (1939)
  100. Pearl Harbor (2001)
  1. Gone With the Wind (1939)
  2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
  3. The Sound of Music (1965)
  4. E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  5. The Ten Commandments (1956)
  6. Titanic (1997)
  7. Jaws (1975)
  8. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
  9. The Exorcist (1973)
  10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
  11. 101 Dalmatians (1961)
  12. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  13. Ben-Hur (1959)
  14. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
  15. The Sting (1973)
  16. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
  17. Jurassic Park (1993)
  18. The Graduate (1967)
  19. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
  20. Fantasia (1940)
  21. Avatar (2009)
  22. The Godfather (1972)
  23. Forrest Gump (1994)
  24. Mary Poppins (1964)
  25. The Lion King (1994)
  26. Grease (1978)
  27. Thunderball (1965)
  28. The Dark Knight (2008)
  29. The Jungle Book (1967)
  30. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
  31. Shrek 2 (2004)
  32. Ghostbusters (1984)
  33. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
  34. Love Story (1970)
  35. Spider-Man (2002)
  36. Independence Day (1996)
  37. Home Alone (1990)
  38. Pinocchio (1940)
  39. Cleopatra (1963)
  40. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
  41. Goldfinger (1964)
  42. Airport (1970)
  43. American Graffiti (1973)
  44. The Robe (1953)
  45. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
  46. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
  47. Bambi (1942)
  48. Blazing Saddles (1974)
  49. Batman (1989)
  50. The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
  51. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  52. The Towering Inferno (1974)
  53. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  54. My Fair Lady (1964)
  55. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
  56. National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
  57. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
  58. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  59. Back to the Future (1985)
  60. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  61. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  62. Superman (1978)
  63. Tootsie (1982)
  64. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
  65. Finding Nemo (2003)
  66. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
  67. West Side Story (1961)
  68. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
  69. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
  70. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977/1980)
  71. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  72. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
  73. Rocky (1976)
  74. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
  75. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
  76. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  77. Twister (1996)
  78. Men in Black (1997)
  79. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
  80. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
  81. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
  82. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
  83. M*A*S*H (1970)
  84. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
  85. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
  86. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
  87. Aladdin (1992)
  88. Ghost (1990)
  89. Duel in the Sun (1946)
  90. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  91. House of Wax (1953)
  92. Rear Window (1954)
  93. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
  94. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  95. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  96. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  97. Sergeant York (1941)
  98. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
  99. Toy Story 2 (1999)
  100. Top Gun (1986)
  1. Avatar (2009)
  2. Titanic (1997)
  3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
  5. The Dark Knight (2008)
  6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
  7. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
  8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
  9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
  10. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  11. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
  12. Shrek 2 (2004)
  13. Jurassic Park (1993)
  14. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
  15. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  16. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
  17. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
  18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  19. Finding Nemo (2003)
  20. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  21. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
  22. Spider-Man (2002)
  23. Independence Day (1996)
  24. Shrek the Third (2007)
  25. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
  26. E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  27. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
  28. The Lion King (1994)
  29. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  30. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
  31. 2012 (2009)
  32. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
  33. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
  34. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
  35. Up (2009)
  36. Transformers (2007)
  37. The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
  38. Forrest Gump (1994)
  39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  40. Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
  41. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  42. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
  43. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
  44. The Incredibles (2004)
  45. Hancock (2008)
  46. Ratatouille (2007)
  47. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
  48. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
  49. Mamma Mia! (2008)
  50. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
  51. Casino Royale (2006)
  52. War of the Worlds (2005)
  53. Men in Black (1997)
  54. Quantum of Solace (2008)
  55. I Am Legend (2007)
  56. Iron Man (2008)
  57. Night at the Museum (2006)
  58. Armageddon (1998)
  59. King Kong (2005)
  60. Mission: Impossible II (2000)
  61. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
  62. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  63. Madagascar (2005)
  64. The Simpsons Movie (2007)
  65. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
  66. WALL·E (2008)
  67. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  68. Meet the Fockers (2004)
  69. Ghost (1990)
  70. Aladdin (1992)
  71. Troy (2004)
  72. Twister (1996)
  73. Angels & Demons (2009)
  74. Toy Story 2 (1999)
  75. Bruce Almighty (2003)
  76. Shrek (2001)
  77. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  78. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
  79. Home Alone (1990)
  80. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
  81. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
  82. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  83. Jaws (1975)
  84. The Matrix (1999)
  85. Pretty Woman (1990)
  86. Cars (2006)
  87. The Hangover (2009)
  88. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
  89. Mission: Impossible (1996)
  90. Gladiator (2000)
  91. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
  92. The Last Samurai (2003)
  93. 300 (2006)
  94. Ocean's Eleven (2001)
  95. Pearl Harbor (2001)
  96. Tarzan (1999)
  97. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
  98. Men in Black II (2002)
  99. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
  100. The Exorcist (1973)

 

The Three Lists:

  • The Domestic, Unadjusted (for inflation) list of box-office champs is top heavy with recent films. Rankings may change daily with every new blockbuster release. There are few films that are classics or films from Hollywood's Golden Era in this list. Top-grossing, financially-successful films often rate lower in artistic achievement. Blockbusters, special effects wonders, films with sequels and expensive campaign and publicity ads fill many of the positions. (Notice that there are very few pre-1980 films in the unadjusted list.)
  • The Domestic, Adjusted (for inflation) list of box-office champs - with rankings that don't vary much from month to month (and therefore is not updated as regularly) - takes into account inflationary factors such as ticket prices and any re-issues or re-releases, and is more reflective of a film's actual appeal. [It is inflation-adjusted to the 2009 average ticket price of $7.18. Most pre-1980 pictures achieved their totals through multiple releases.] The escalating price of theatre tickets would otherwise bias a list of all-time blockbuster films to recent releases.
  • The Worldwide list of box-office-champs - in some cases, the gross earnings were made with multiple releases. Currently, about a quarter of the films were not in the decade of the 2000s.

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