The global box office has produced a small club of films that earned more than most companies, and the top of that list has been remarkably stable for over a decade. Just seven films in history have crossed $2 billion worldwide, and one director accounts for three of them.
The figures below are nominal worldwide grosses, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation or ticket-price increases, which matters enormously when comparing eras. Here are the ten highest-grossing movies of all time, with what each earned and why it got there.
Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time at a Glance
| Rank | Film | Year | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avatar | 2009 | $2,923,710,708 |
| 2 | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | $2,797,501,328 |
| 3 | Avatar: The Way of Water | 2022 | $2,334,484,620 |
| 4 | Titanic | 1997 | $2,257,906,828 |
| 5 | Ne Zha 2 | 2025 | $2,215,690,000 |
| 6 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | 2015 | $2,068,223,624 |
| 7 | Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | $2,048,359,754 |
| 8 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | 2021 | $1,922,598,800 |
| 9 | Zootopia 2 | 2025 | $1,866,647,950 |
| 10 | Inside Out 2 | 2024 | $1,698,863,816 |
The 10 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time, Ranked
1. Avatar (2009): The Undisputed Champion
Worldwide Gross: $2,923,710,708 | Year: 2009 | Director: James Cameron
Avatar has held the top spot for most of the past 15 years, earning just under $2.93 billion and briefly losing the crown to Avengers: Endgame before reclaiming it through re-releases. Its Pandora setting and groundbreaking 3D pushed audiences into premium-priced formats on a scale nobody had attempted.
The film’s success came from repeat viewing and an unusually long theatrical run rather than a record opening weekend. It effectively created the modern template for the event film built around a technological leap.
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019): The Superhero Peak
Worldwide Gross: $2,797,501,328 | Year: 2019 | Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
Avengers: Endgame earned nearly $2.8 billion as the payoff to 21 interconnected films built over 11 years, a storytelling structure no studio had ever attempted at that scale. It set the record for the biggest opening weekend in history.
Unlike Avatar, its money came fast, front-loaded into an opening that treated the release like a global cultural event. It remains the high-water mark for the shared-universe model that has since cooled considerably.
3. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022): The Sequel That Delivered
Worldwide Gross: $2,334,484,620 | Year: 2022 | Director: James Cameron
Arriving 13 years after the original, The Way of Water faced widespread skepticism about whether audiences still cared, then earned more than $2.33 billion to become the third-biggest film ever. Its underwater performance-capture work advanced the technology again.
Like its predecessor, it built its total through sustained attendance over months rather than a single explosive weekend. It also made James Cameron the only director with three films above $2 billion.
4. Titanic (1997): The Original Phenomenon
Worldwide Gross: $2,257,906,828 | Year: 1997 | Director: James Cameron
Titanic was the first film to pass $1 billion and held the all-time record for 12 years until Avatar overtook it. Its roughly $2.26 billion total is even more striking given 1997 ticket prices, which were a fraction of today’s.
The film played in theaters for nearly ten months, driven by extraordinary repeat viewing among younger audiences. Adjusted for inflation and ticket prices, it comfortably outperforms most films ranked above it.
5. Ne Zha 2 (2025): China’s Breakthrough
Worldwide Gross: $2,215,690,000 | Year: 2025 | Director: Jiaozi
Ne Zha 2 is the most significant new entry on this list, earning more than $2.21 billion largely from a single market. The Chinese animated fantasy proved a domestic release could reach the very top of the global chart without depending on Western box office.
Its performance signals a genuine shift in where blockbuster money comes from, since almost every other film here relied on broad international distribution. It is the highest-grossing animated film and the highest-grossing non-English film ever released.
6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015): The Revival
Worldwide Gross: $2,068,223,624 | Year: 2015 | Director: J.J. Abrams
The Force Awakens revived Star Wars a decade after the prequels ended, earning over $2.06 billion on a wave of nostalgia and pent-up demand. It set North American records that still stand for domestic gross.
Notably, it achieved this despite never releasing in China at the level its peers did, making its total almost entirely a Western achievement. No subsequent Star Wars film has come close to matching it.
7. Avengers: Infinity War (2018): The Setup
Worldwide Gross: $2,048,359,754 | Year: 2018 | Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
Infinity War crossed $2 billion as the first half of a two-part finale, ending on a cliffhanger that guaranteed enormous demand for its sequel. It was the fastest film to reach $1 billion at the time.
Its success is inseparable from Endgame’s, since the two functioned as a single event split across two years. Together they earned nearly $4.85 billion, the most for any two connected films.
8. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021): The Pandemic Comeback
Worldwide Gross: $1,922,598,800 | Year: 2021 | Director: Jon Watts
No Way Home earned more than $1.92 billion during a period when theatrical attendance had collapsed, making it arguably the most impressive commercial performance on this list. It proved audiences would still turn out in force for the right film.
Its hook was uniting three generations of Spider-Man actors, a nostalgia play that generated enormous word of mouth. The film effectively restarted the theatrical business after the pandemic shutdown.
9. Zootopia 2 (2025): Animation’s Global Reach
Worldwide Gross: $1,866,647,950 | Year: 2025 | Director: Disney Animation
Zootopia 2 earned over $1.86 billion, confirming that family animation remains one of the most reliable global draws. Its predecessor was a major hit in China, and the sequel converted that goodwill into enormous international returns.
Animated sequels benefit from repeat family attendance and long runs across school holidays. Alongside Ne Zha 2, its performance made 2025 a landmark year for animation at the global box office.
10. Inside Out 2 (2024): Pixar’s Return to Form
Worldwide Gross: $1,698,863,816 | Year: 2024 | Director: Kelsey Mann
Inside Out 2 earned nearly $1.7 billion and became the highest-grossing Pixar film ever, arriving after several years of the studio’s releases going straight to streaming. Its theatrical success reversed the assumption that family films no longer needed cinemas.
The film’s emotional premise, expanded to cover teenage anxiety, gave it unusually broad appeal beyond young children. It marked a decisive return to theatrical strength for Pixar.
Why Sequels and Franchises Dominate the List
Eight of the top ten are sequels or franchise entries, and the pattern is not accidental. Studios spend enormous sums on films with built-in audiences, because a known character or world lowers the marketing burden and guarantees opening-weekend attendance.
The two exceptions, Avatar and Titanic, share a director in James Cameron and a common strategy: both were technically ambitious original films that ran in theaters for months. That path is now rare, which is why original blockbusters almost never reach these numbers anymore.
The Inflation Problem With These Rankings
These figures are nominal, meaning they ignore inflation and rising ticket prices entirely. A ticket in 1997 cost a fraction of today’s price, and premium formats like IMAX and 3D now carry significant surcharges that inflate modern totals.
Adjusted for inflation, the picture changes dramatically, and older films such as Gone with the Wind from 1939 top most credible adjusted lists. Titanic also climbs well above several films ranked above it, so treat the raw box office numbers as a measure of revenue rather than of popularity.
How We Ranked the Highest-Grossing Movies
This ranking uses worldwide theatrical gross in nominal US dollars, the standard industry measure, including revenue from re-releases. Figures cover global box office only and exclude home video, streaming licensing, and merchandise, which for franchises like Star Wars can exceed ticket sales.
Totals shift as films re-release or continue playing internationally, so treat the list as a current snapshot. Films still in theaters, particularly recent entries, may climb further before their runs end.
What the List Says About the Modern Box Office
Two trends stand out. First, animation has become a dominant force, with three of the top ten released since 2024, reflecting how reliably families return to theaters for the right title.
Second, the global center of gravity is shifting, as Ne Zha 2 reached the top five primarily through one national market. For viewers, the more practical shift is how quickly these films reach home viewing, a landscape we cover in our guide to the best streaming services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-grossing movie of all time?
Avatar (2009) is the highest-grossing film ever with about $2.92 billion worldwide. It briefly lost the record to Avengers: Endgame before reclaiming it through theatrical re-releases.
How many films have earned over $2 billion?
Seven films have crossed $2 billion worldwide: Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, Titanic, Ne Zha 2, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Avengers: Infinity War.
Which director has the most films in the top 10?
James Cameron, with three: Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Titanic. He is the only director with three films above $2 billion worldwide.
Is Avatar really more popular than older classics?
Not necessarily. These rankings use nominal dollars and ignore inflation, so older films like Gone with the Wind sold far more tickets and top most inflation-adjusted lists despite lower raw grosses.
What is the highest-grossing animated film?
Ne Zha 2 (2025) is the highest-grossing animated film at roughly $2.21 billion, and it is also the highest-grossing non-English-language film ever released.