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

• 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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• 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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• 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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• 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

• 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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• 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

• 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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• 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

• 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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• 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

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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%

• 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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• 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.