Top Grossing Films of All Time
I love watching films, and for my money I would more readily watch a pure comedy or even a romantic comedy (think movie version of Friends) rather than anything with too much blood and gore or a thriller with too many twists and turns. After a bit I get a bit dizzy and can’t keep up with all the twisty turns you see. However the economics of films interest me, even if the films themselves may not.
So when a began a quest for the top grossing films of all time, I found that only three films so far had grossed over $1 billion till date.
The top grossing film of all time and in the entire world is Titanic - the tragic love story revolving around the rich girl and the poor boy unfolding against the back drop of that most ill-fated and famous of all ships. Made back in 1997, it remains the top grosser to this day with $1,848,813,795.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, part of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the fantasy extravaganza has a cult following around the world and this is reflected in the box office earnings of the film which is the second highest in history, at $1,119,263,306.
The third film to cross the 1 billion dollar mark and the third top earning film of all time is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest with $1,066,179,725.
Next on the list is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (released in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) with $976,475,550 and then is another Pirates of the Caribbean film: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End with $960,996,492. The Pirates series of films is quite an effective marketing gimmick; the films don’t really end in the sense that they have any closure and they kind of leave you thirsting for more, thereby ensuring that you watch the next episode to find out what happened next.
I have to confess, I have watched all of these films but I liked only the Titanic from among them and there is only one film among the top ten grossers of all time that I can claim to have truly and really enjoyed: Shrek 2 (which grossed $919,838,758).
Finding Nemo, The Da Vinci Code (the book was way, way better though) The Sixth Sense and Forrest Gump, I was very pleased to find in the list of top 50 films of all time.
Any of your fave films that you think should be in the top ten, or top twenty or top whatever which never achieved the success that you thought they should have?
Those numbers are hard to grasp, 1 billion?
And I would have never thought Pirates would be up there, twice. I didn’t think they were THAT good of movies.
Nicole Price reply on July 1st, 2008 2:34 pm:
Oh they were whopping successes. Don’t underestimate the popularity of Johnny Depp.
Oh, so much to say, so little time!
I’m not a fan of gratuitous tear-jerkers, so Titanic never did anything for me. A friend had my hubby and I watch her LotR trilogy set, and he and I agree that it’s 9 hours of our lives we’ll never get back. We did enjoy the Pirates movies, but seeing each one once was enough.
My son does like the Harry Potter movies (he’s 9), but is far more into the James Bond movies right now and would choose any one of those over any modern-day flick.
I’d have to say that my favorite movie of all time is Blade Runner. I’m not sure if it’s on the Top 50 list, because I think that perhaps it has done better in the years *after* it left the theater than the time of its release. I’d love to be wrong, though!
Nicole Price reply on July 1st, 2008 2:38 pm:
Didn’t know about blade runner. Was barely crawling at the time of its release. Read about it now. Will surely try to catch it soon. Thanks.
Im shocked that Pirates movie made in top 3. Ive never even wanted to see that stupid movie.
Nicole Price reply on July 1st, 2008 2:40 pm:
Obviously, most people don’t agree with you.
I have only seen -titanic - and that was master peice no doubt - pirate is really a surprise to see in this list
I will be happy to see this post, because I’m the big fan of Titanic.
I would have watched that movie for of about 10 times in theater itself.
Next is that Pirates of the Caribbean -Dead Man’s Chest.
I watch that movie thats all.
Thanks for remaining my favorite movie…
What I feel is that ” $1,848,813,795 ” is the one which will remain unbeaten…
I’m surprised to hear “$1,066,179,725″ from Pirates of the Caribbean .
Nice to see the listings…
I’ve seen Titanic many times and our family really likes it. It is really a master piece.
im also a bit surprised that pirates of the caribbean took the 3rd place as well, i liked it and the kids love it but i never thought that it would take that spot… i watched titanic several times, and i used to love the movie but somehow it got corny for me… lord of the rings! i love the books, and i love how peter jackson put it to life… my favorite movie of all time though, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind.. period..
Those numbers are unbelievable indeed! I too have watched all the movies and quite rightly the movie “Titanic” deserves the first spot. Leanardo is certainly one of my favourites indeed so is “Jack Sparrow”. Thanks a lot
You have only seen Titanic???
Personally, being the Pink Floyd freak that I am, I would put Pink Floyd The Wall up there. But that’s just me.
I’m surprised not to see any Star Wars up there.
You should link to the complete list so that I can see if some of my favorites made it!
I did enjoy both the Lord of the Rings series and the Pirates of the Carribean series, but don’t remember if I saw any of them at the theater. I also don’t think I saw Titantic at the theater but am pretty sure that I own it, I would have to check to be sure.