The Highest-Grossing Movie Each Year Since 1977

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.

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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

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

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%

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%

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%

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

Laura Woods

Laura Woods is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of experience. She specializes in a variety of topics, including marketing, personal finance, entertainment and lifestyle.

Her work has been featured on dozens of sites, including HuffPost, CNBC, Business Insider, Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo, Fortune, Inc., Entrepreneur and POPSUGAR. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Robert Morris University.

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