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50 Most Profitable Action Movies Ever Made
Action movies cost a fortune to make, and once marketing and box office splits are factored in, the biggest hits aren't always the most profitable.
Take Avatar (2009) — despite record-breaking ticket sales, it ranks only 33. in profitability. Surprisingly, the most profitable action film ever was a low-budget underdog.
Franchises like James Bond fill the top ten with early entries, while Jackass: The Movie turned a $3.2 million budget into over $125 million worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, the most profitable action movies often come from smaller or older productions — though familiar names like Star Wars still make the list.
Here are the most profitable action movies ever made:
50. The Maze Runner (2014)
- Directed by: Wes Ball
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.24
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $390.5 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $38.1 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (465,719 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 65% (173 reviews)
49. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- Directed by: Peter R. Hunt
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.25
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $529.0 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $51.6 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (92,686 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 80% (56 reviews)
48. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
- Directed by: David Slade
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.38
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $819.8 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $78.9 million
- IMDb user rating: 5.0/10 (246,518 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 48% (254 reviews)
47. Hero (2002)
- Directed by: Yimou Zhang
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.44
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $280.4 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $26.8 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (181,729 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 94% (210 reviews)
46. The First Purge (2017)
- Directed by: Gerard McMurray
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.54
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $140.0 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $13.3 million
- IMDb user rating: 5.2/10 (64,432 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 56% (176 reviews)
45. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2016)
- Directed by: Jake Kasdan
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.68
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.0 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $95.3 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (378,318 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 76% (240 reviews)
44. Aliens (1986)
- Directed by: James Cameron
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.78
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $452.6 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $42.0 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (713,913 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 98% (81 reviews)
43. Independence Day (1996)
- Directed by: Roland Emmerich
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.90
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.7 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $155.4 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (574,769 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 67% (79 reviews)
42. The Karate Kid (1984)
- Directed by: John G. Avildsen
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.36
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $247.7 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $21.8 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (225,946 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 89% (44 reviews)
41. Earthquake (1974)
- Directed by: Mark Robson
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.39
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $386.3 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $33.9 million
- IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (16,373 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 47% (30 reviews)
40. Lucy (2014)
- Directed by: Luc Besson
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.44
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $512.9 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $44.8 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (495,243 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 67% (239 reviews)
39. You Only Live Twice (1967)
- Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.75
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $837.9 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $71.3 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (110,255 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 73% (52 reviews)
38. Batman (1989)
- Directed by: Tim Burton
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.75
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $944.3 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $80.4 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (377,200 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 73% (77 reviews)
37. The Purge: Election Year (2016)
- Directed by: James DeMonaco
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.85
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $125.5 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $10.6 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (101,958 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 55% (164 reviews)
36. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.90
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $908.0 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $76.3 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (486,711 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 84% (69 reviews)
35. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.92
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.7 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $142.8 million
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,829,628 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 93% (275 reviews)
34. The Terminator (1984)
- Directed by: James Cameron
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$12.19
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $212.7 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $17.4 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (860,344 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 100% (66 reviews)
33. Avatar (2009)
- Directed by: James Cameron
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$12.28
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $3.6 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $289.5 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (1,239,880 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 82% (320 reviews)
32. The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
- Directed by: James DeMonaco
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$12.39
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $125.1 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $10.1 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (152,857 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 57% (144 reviews)
31. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
- Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$13.24
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $761.6 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $57.5 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (109,504 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 81% (58 reviews)
30. Deadpool (2015)
- Directed by: Tim Miller
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$13.48
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $849.7 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $63.0 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (1,028,029 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 85% (348 reviews)
29. Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- Directed by: Tony Scott
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$13.83
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $648.1 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $46.9 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (120,477 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 47% (36 reviews)
28. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
- Directed by: Guy Hamilton
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$13.94
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $473.0 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $33.9 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (106,264 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 39% (51 reviews)
27. Liu Lang Di Qiu (2018)
- Directed by: Frant Gwo
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.03
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $705.6 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $50.3 million
- IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (30,729 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 69% (39 reviews)
26. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- Directed by: Ang Lee
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.23
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $362.9 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $25.5 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (269,574 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 97% (159 reviews)
25. Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
- Directed by: Tatsuya Nagamine
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.44
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $123.4 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $8.5 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (27,991 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 82% (56 reviews)
24. Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Directed by: Richard Marquand
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.62
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.4 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $94.5 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (1,046,826 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (98 reviews)
23. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
- Directed by: Steve Barron
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.96
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $438.5 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $29.3 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (94,819 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 41% (54 reviews)
22. Thunderball (1965)
- Directed by: Terence Young
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$15.69
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $67.6 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (119,137 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 87% (52 reviews)
21. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
- Directed by: Guy Hamilton
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$16.11
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $644.0 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $40.0 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (107,159 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 64% (50 reviews)
20. The Bodyguard (1992)
- Directed by: Mick Jackson
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$16.44
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $907.1 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $55.2 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (135,069 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 35% (48 reviews)
19. Jurassic Park (1993)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$16.60
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $2.3 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $139.4 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (981,994 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 92% (133 reviews)
18. Escape Room (2017)
- Directed by: Adam Robitel
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$17.29
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $158.9 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $9.2 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (122,673 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 51% (159 reviews)
17. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$18.37
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.2 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $65.9 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (960,289 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 96% (89 reviews)
16. The French Connection (1971)
- Directed by: William Friedkin
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$18.71
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $228.5 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $12.2 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (123,316 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 95% (88 reviews)
15. The Mask (1994)
- Directed by: Chuck Russell
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$19.53
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $789.4 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $40.4 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (385,499 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 80% (54 reviews)
14. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
- Directed by: Arthur Penn
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$20.28
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $380.7 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $18.8 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (113,469 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 89% (65 reviews)
13. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- Directed by: Martin Brest
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$21.09
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $862.3 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $40.9 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (184,449 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (54 reviews)
12. Live and Let Die (1973)
- Directed by: Guy Hamilton
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$23.11
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $870.1 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $37.6 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (108,422 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 65% (51 reviews)
11. Top Gun (1986)
- Directed by: Tony Scott
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$23.83
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $882.6 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $37.0 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (432,459 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 58% (74 reviews)
10. Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Directed by: Irvin Kershner
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$23.87
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.9 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $78.3 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,282,261 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 94% (108 reviews)
9. Dangal (2016)
- Directed by: Nitesh Tiwari
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$32.12
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $323.1 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $10.1 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (190,485 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 88% (17 reviews)
8. From Russia With Love (1964)
- Directed by: Terence Young
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$39.45
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $592.4 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $15.0 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (135,565 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 97% (61 reviews)
7. Jаckass: The Movie (2002)
- Directed by: Jeff Tremaine
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$39.64
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $125.2 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $3.2 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (95,665 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 49% (94 reviews)
6. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
- Directed by: Stuart Paton
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$40.00
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $447.8 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $11.2 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (1,823 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 100% (8 reviews)
5. Goldfinger (1964)
- Directed by: Guy Hamilton
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$41.63
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $937.8 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $22.5 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (191,024 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 0% (0 reviews)
4. Dr. No (1963)
- Directed by: Terence Young
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$59.57
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $634.5 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $10.7 million
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (168,025 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 95% (60 reviews)
3. Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Directed by: George Lucas
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$70.49
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $3.2 billion
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $45.2 million
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,354,898 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 93% (135 reviews)
2. Billy Jack (1971)
- Directed by: Tom Laughlin
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$122.50
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $544.0 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $4.4 million
- IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (6,159 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 63% (16 reviews)
1. Mad Max (1979)
- Directed by: George Miller
- Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$498.75
- Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $369.9 million
- Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $741,700
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (208,109 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 91% (64 reviews)