Home

 › 

Entertainment

 › 

Movies

 › 

This Is the Top Grossing Movie of All Time

This Is the Top Grossing Movie of All Time

The movie industry has changed radically in the past few decades, yet the top-grossing movie of all time is “Gone With the Wind,” released in 1939, more than 80 years ago.

When the industry began, people had to go to movie theaters to watch films. However, with the advent of TV, people could watch movies in their homes. The next evolution was the home video player, then DVD players, and rental stores like Blockbuster, the 9,000-location chain, where people could rent movies to watch at home.

That gave way to mailed DVDs, which was the original foundation of Netflix — which pioneered streaming. Today, with more broadband connections at home, streaming is commonplace. Here are the best comedy movies available to stream right now.)

Movie success is still based on theater ticket sales, though that may no longer be a good yardstick. The COVID-19 pandemic nearly shut down the industry, and streaming became the primary way people watched films. Still, ticket sales continue to be the way that the highest-grossing films are determined.

To identify the top-grossing movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed gross box office revenue and estimated ticket sales for major motion pictures released in the United States as reported by The Numbers, an online movie database owned by Nash Information Services. Revenue figures are inflation adjusted based on the value of the dollar in 2020.

Action and adventure films (including superhero movies) dominate the list of finalists. Romances, musicals, dramas, and comedies are also represented in the mix. Films date back to the 1930s, with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) among the early high-grossing movies, having brought in over $1 billion when adjusted for inflation.

Although “Avatar” (2009) is often referred to as the highest-grossing film ever, it is not at the top of the list when ticket sales are adjusted for inflation. (Find out if the top-grossing movies are also among the 100 greatest movies ever made.)

The highest-grossing movie of all time is the controversial Civil War movie “Gone With the Wind,” released in 1939. It is based on a novel, and today some of its content is considered racist. It starred among the greatest movie actors of all time, led by Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh. The film’s inflation-adjusted box office gross is $1.9 billion, on estimated ticket sales of 202.3 million.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

100. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $501 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.5 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

99. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $501.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.5 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

98. MASH (1970)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $503 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.7 million

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

97. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $503 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company

96. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $504.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.8 million

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

95. It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $504.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

94. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $505.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 53.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

93. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $509.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.4 million

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

92. Men in Black (1997)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $511.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

91. Twister (1996)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $512.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.7 million

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

90. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $513.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.8 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

89. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $514.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 54.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

88. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $515.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55 million

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

87. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $515.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55 million

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

86. Rocky (1976)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $515.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

85. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $516 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

84. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $519.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55.4 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Film Distribution Company

83. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $522.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

82. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $524 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 55.9 million

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

81. West Side Story (1961)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $524.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

80. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $526.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

79. Finding Dory (2016)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $526.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.2 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

78. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $532.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.8 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

77. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $532.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.8 million

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

76. Tootsie (1982)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $533.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 56.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

75. Superman (1978)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $537.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 57.4 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

74. The Sixth Sense (1999)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $539.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 57.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

73. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $539.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 57.6 million

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

72. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $540.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 57.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

71. Back to the Future (1985)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $555.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 59.3 million

Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

70. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $555.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 59.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Newmarket Films

69. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $559.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 59.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

68. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $561.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 59.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

67. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $562.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

66. My Fair Lady (1964)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $562.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

65. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $563.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.2 million

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

64. Cinderella (1950)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $565 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

63. The Lion King (2019)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $565.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

62. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $566.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 60.4 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

61. The Towering Inferno (1974)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $575.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 61.4 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

60. Finding Nemo (2003)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $577.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 61.6 million

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

59. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $577.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 61.6 million

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

58. The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $587.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 62.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

57. Batman (1989)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $590.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 63 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

56. Blazing Saddles (1974)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $592.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 63.2 million

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

55. Bambi (1942)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $597 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 63.7 million

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

54. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $605.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 64.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

53. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $605.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 64.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

52. The Robe (1953)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $613.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 65.5 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

51. American Graffiti (1973)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $615.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 65.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

50. Airport (1970)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $619.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 66.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

49. Incredibles 2 (2018)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $621.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 66.3 million

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

48. Goldfinger (1964)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $621.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 66.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

47. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $629.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.2 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

46. Cleopatra (1963)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $629.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.2 million

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

45. Pinocchio (1940)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $631.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.4 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

44. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $633.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

43. Home Alone (1990)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $634.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 67.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

42. Independence Day (1996)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $649 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 69.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

41. Love Story (1970)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $656 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 70 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

40. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $661.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 70.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

39. Spider-Man (2002)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $661.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 70.6 million

Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

38. Shrek 2 (2004)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $665.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 71.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

37. Ghostbusters (1984)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $667.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 71.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

36. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $678.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 72.4 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Film Distribution Company

35. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $681 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 72.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company

34. The Jungle Book (1967)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $690.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 73.7 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

33. The Dark Knight (2008)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $697.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 74.5 million

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

32. Thunderball (1965)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $700.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 74.8 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

31. Black Panther (2018)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $715 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 76.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

30. Jurassic World (2015)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $719.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 76.8 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

29. The Avengers (2012)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $720.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 76.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

28. Grease (1978)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $722.4 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 77.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company

27. Mary Poppins (1964)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $732.6 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 78.2 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

26. Forrest Gump (1994)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $736.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 78.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

25. The Godfather (1972)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $739.5 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 78.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions

24. Fantasia (1941)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $778.1 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 83 million

Source: Courtesy of Embassy Pictures

23. The Graduate (1967)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $801.9 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 85.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

22. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $829.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 88.5 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

21. The Sting (1973)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $835.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 89.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

20. The Lion King (1994)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $835.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 89.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

19. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $846.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 90.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

18. Jurassic Park (1993)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $860.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 91.8 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

17. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $881.3 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 94.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

16. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $892.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 95.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

15. Avatar (2009)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $911.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 97.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

14. Ben-Hur (1959)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $918.7 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 98 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

13. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $920.8 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 98.3 million

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company

12. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $936.2 million
> Estimated ticket sales: 99.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

11. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 108.1 million

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 109 million

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

9. The Exorcist (1973)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 110.6 million

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

8. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.2 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 124.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

7. Jaws (1975)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.2 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 128.2 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

6. The Ten Commandments (1956)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.2 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 131 million

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

5. Titanic (1997)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.3 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 135.5 million

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

4. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.3 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 141.9 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

3. The Sound of Music (1965)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.3 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 142.5 million

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

2. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.7 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 178.1 million

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

1. Gone with the Wind (1939)
> Inflation-adjusted box office gross: $1.9 billion
> Estimated ticket sales: 202.3 million

To top