The Highest-Grossing Movie Each Year Since 1977

Add these films to your watch list.

By Jennifer Taylor Mar 22, 2021 Net Worth 101

Plenty of new movies hit theaters each year, but there’s always one that stands out from the crowd. People of all ages flock to their local cinemas en masse to see this film, because it has such a broad appeal.

Read: Most Expensive Movies Debuting on Streaming in 2021

GOBankingRates conducted a study to find the highest-grossing movie of each year since 1977. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but the winning film was typically part of a major franchise.

Not just any movie — fans often spend years anticipating the arrival of the latest chapter in a saga, creating a great deal of anticipation. Therefore, when the film is finally released, it causes such a buzz that even people only moderately interested in the franchise opt to catch it in theaters.

Want to know which films have earned the most at the box office for each of the past 44 years? Keep reading to find out which titles made the list.

Last updated: March 19, 2021

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1977: ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $307.26 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.33 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $307.26 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

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1978: ‘Grease’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $159.98 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $641.83 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $159.98 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

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1979: ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $106.30 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $382.86 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $106.30 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

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1980: ‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $209.40 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $664.74 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $209.40 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

1981: ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $212.22 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $610.71 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $212.22 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

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1982: ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $359.20 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $973.67 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $359.20 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

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1983: ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $252.58 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $663.40 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $252.58 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

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1984: ‘Beverly Hills Cop’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $234.80 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $591.04 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $234.80 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

1985: ‘Out of Africa’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $225.53 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $548.27 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $87.10 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 38.61%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $138.46 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 61.39%

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1986: ‘Top Gun’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $176.78 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $421.92 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $176.78 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

1987: ‘Three Men and a Baby’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $167.78 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $386.34 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $167.78 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

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1988: ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $238.10 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $526.46 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $156.45 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 65.71%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $81.64 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 34.29%

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1989: ‘Batman’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $251.19 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $529.89 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $251.19 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

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1990: ‘Home Alone’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $285.76 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $571.92 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $285.76 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

1991: ‘Beauty and the Beast’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $248.80 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $477.84 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $145.86 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 58.63%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $102.94 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 41.37%

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1992: ‘Aladdin’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $346.48 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $645.99 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $217.35 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 62.73%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $129.13 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 37.27%

1993: ‘Jurassic Park’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $912.67 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.65 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $357.10 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 39.12%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $555.60 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 60.88%

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1994: ‘The Lion King’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $858.56 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.52 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $312.86 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 36.44%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $545.70 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 63.56%

1995: ‘Toy Story’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $244.65 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $419.92 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $191.80 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 78.40%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $52.86 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 21.60%

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1996: ‘Independence Day’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $306.20 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $510.44 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $306.20 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 100%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: N/A
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): N/A

1997: ‘Titanic’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $2.13 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $3.50 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $600.80 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 28.24%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $1.53 billion
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 71.76%

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1998: ‘Armageddon’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $553.71 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $888.60 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $201.60 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 36.41%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $352.13 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 63.59%

1999: ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $924.31 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.45 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $431.10 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 46.64%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $493.22 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 53.36%

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2000: ‘Mission: Impossible II’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $546.40 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $830 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $215.41 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 39.42%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $331 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 60.58%

2001: ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $974.80 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.44 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $317.60 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 32.58%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $657.20 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 67.42%

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2002: ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $936.70 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.40 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $339.80 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 36.28%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $596.90 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 63.72%

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2003: ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.14 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.62 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $377 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 33.05%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $763.65 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 66.95%

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2004: ‘Shrek 2’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $928.80 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.30 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $441.23 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 47.51%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $487.53 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 52.49%

2005: ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $895.92 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.20 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $290.01 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 32.37%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $605.91 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 67.63%

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2006: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.10 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.40 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $423.32 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 39.70%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $642.86 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 60.30%

2007: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $961 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.21 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $309.42 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 32.20%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $651.58 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 67.80%

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2008: ‘The Dark Knight’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.22 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $533.35 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 53.17%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $469.70 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 46.83%

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2009: ‘Avatar’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $2.74 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $3.35 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $749.77 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 27.32%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $2 billion
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 72.68%

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2010: ‘Toy Story 3’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.10 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.30 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $415 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 38.90%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $652 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 61.10%

2011: ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.34 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.56 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $381.01 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 28.40%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $960.50 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 71.60%

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2012: ‘The Avengers’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.52 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.73 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $623.36 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 41.04%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $895.46 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 58.96%

2013: ‘Frozen’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.28 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.44 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $400.74 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 31.29%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $880.10 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 68.71%

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2014: ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.10 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.22 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $245.44 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 22.23%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $858.61 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 77.77%

2015: ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $2.10 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $2.30 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $936.66 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 45.29%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $1.13 billion
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 54.71%

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2016: ‘Captain America: Civil War’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.20 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.30 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $408.10 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 35.38%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $745.21 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 64.62%

2017: ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $1.33 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $1.42 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $620.20 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 46.54%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $712.36 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 53.46%

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2018: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $2.05 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $2.13 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $678.82 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 33.14%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $1.40 billion
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 66.86%

2019: ‘Avengers: Endgame’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $2.80 billion
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $2.86 billion
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $858.40 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 30.68%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $1.94 billion
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 69.32%

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2020: ‘The Eight Hundred’

Worldwide Original Run Gross: $461.34 million
Worldwide Original Run Gross (adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars): $466.28 million
Original Run Domestic Box Office: $372,755
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Domestic): 0.08%
Original Run Foreign Box Office: $461 million
% of Worldwide Original Run Gross (Foreign): 99.92%

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Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used yearly worldwide box office data from Box Office Mojo to find the highest-grossing movie of each year since 1977 — based on original runs. For each year, GOBankingRates found (1) worldwide original run box office; (2) original run domestic box office; (3) original run foreign box office; and (4) worldwide original run box office adjusted for inflation to 2021 dollars.

All data is from the original run for each release. This means the figures in this piece are only from its initial run in theatres, no re-release or special edition box office figures are included. All data was collected on and up to date as of March 8, 2021.

About the Author

Jennifer Taylor

Jennifer Taylor is a West Coast-based freelance writer with more than a decade of experience writing about anything and everything. Since earning her MBA, personal finance has been her favorite topic, as she’s passionate about writing stories that educate, inform and empower. Specifically, she specializes in budgeting, debt repayment, savings and retirement.