Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
The Wolf of Wall Street
Musicals Quentin Tarantino begins his best movies of the 21st Century list with a nuclear hot take: "I don't think Scorsese has made a film this exciting [this century]"
Avatar Fire and Ash
Sci-Fi Movies Avatar: Fire and Ash is tracking for a massive domestic opening, but below Way of Water
Jay Kelly George Clooney Adam Sandler
Movies The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch this week
Josh O'Connor and Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Movies Upcoming movies: The most exciting new movies coming in 2025 and beyond
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Movies Movie release dates 2025 and beyond: every major film coming out in cinemas and on streaming services
A Na'vi draws a bow in Avatar: Fire and Ash
Sci-Fi Movies James Cameron says if Avatar: Fire and Ash doesn't make money, he's "absolutely" ready to walk away – but he might write a book to wrap up the plot
Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Movies The 30 best movies on Disney Plus to watch right now
Taron Egerton in Carry-On
Action Movies The 25 best Netflix action movies to watch right now
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Marvel Movies Just 1 week after joining Disney Plus, The Fantastic Four: First Steps loses the number 1 spot as the service's most-watched movie to surprise 2025 film
Avatar Fire and Ash
Animated Movies New Disney movies 2025 and beyond: release dates of every upcoming Disney movie announced so far
Next James Bond
Action Movies Next James Bond: The 27 actors who could replace Daniel Craig as the new 007
A House of Dynamite
Streaming Services 6 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (October 24-26)
Tom Cruise as Pete Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick.
Streaming Services The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Dwayne Johnson stares down with Dominic Toretto in Fast Five
Action Movies Vin Diesel buries the hatchet with Fast and Furious co-star Dwayne Johnson for good in emotional post: "[We] created something unforgettable"
A House of Dynamite
Thriller Movies The 25 best Netflix thrillers to watch right now
Trending
  • Fallout Season 2
  • New Games for 2025
  • Gift Guides
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

Movie Box Office Record Breakers

News
By GamesRadar published 23 June 2015

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Jurassic World Records

Jurassic World Records

Since being released two weeks ago Jurassic World has been smashing records like an I-Rex in a china shop. It kicked off with the biggest opening weekend in the US ever and since then has has set records for biggest three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and 10 day grosses as well as becoming the fastest film to reach $250M, $300M, $350M and $400M (all based on US box office). It is currently the 16th most lucrative movie ever made (in terms of worldwide box office) and racing up the chart.

But it hasnt broken every box office record. Over the next few pages we look at some records it could still set its sights on, as well as some it hasnt a hope of toppling.

Figures courtesy of Box Office Mojo, Box Office Guru and The Numbers.

Page 1 of 14
Page 1 of 14
The Biggest Box Office Money-Spinners Worldwide

The Biggest Box Office Money-Spinners Worldwide

1 Avatar (2009) $2.8 billion
2 Titanic (1997) $2.2 billion
3 Marvel's Avengers Assemble (2012) $1.52 billion
4 Furious 7 (2015) $1.51 billion*
5 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) $1.4 billion*
6 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) $1.3billion
7 Frozen (2013) $1.3 billion
8 Iron Man 3 (2013) $1.2 billion
9 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) $1.12 billion
10 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.11 billion
* Still on release, final totals will be higher

Page 2 of 14
Page 2 of 14
US Biggest Box Office Money-Spinners Adjusted For Inflation

US Biggest Box Office Money-Spinners Adjusted For Inflation

1 Gone with the Wind (1939)
2 Star Wars (1977)
3 The Sound of Music (1965)
4 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
5 Titanic (1997)
6 The Ten Commandments (1956)
7 Jaws (1975)
8 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
9 The Exorcist (1973)
10 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)


This is based on US box office only, and were only giving relative positions.

Page 3 of 14
Page 3 of 14
Worldwide Box Office Number Ones Of All Time Since 1939

Worldwide Box Office Number Ones Of All Time Since 1939

The films since 1939 that have been able to claim theyre the most lucrative film of all time (until they were beaten)

Gone With The Wind (1939)
The Godfather (1972)
Jaws (1975)
Star Wars (1977)
ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Titanic (1997)
Avatar (2009)

Page 4 of 14
Page 4 of 14
Biggest Grossing UK Film Worldwide

Biggest Grossing UK Film Worldwide

Skyfall (2010) $1.1 billion

These days its tricky defining exactly what makes a British film but the Bond blockbuster is generally regarded as a Britflick notwithstanding the geographical origins of the production and distribution companies behind it. If you stretch the definition even more you could say Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) with $1.3 billion deserves the accolade. If you hone the definition down further, then you could argue that The Kings Speech (2010) is the winner at $414,211,549. Or taking the definition right down to no overseas investment at all then you get The Inbetweeners Movie (2012) with $87,989,781.

Page 5 of 14
Page 5 of 14
Biggest Grossing Independent Movie Worldwide

Biggest Grossing Independent Movie Worldwide

The Passion Of The Christ (2004) $622 million

Again, definitions of what makes an indie film vary wildly but in this case theres no disputing the winner, either in terms of its indie-ness or box office numbers*. Financed by director Mel Gibson himself before hed even secured a distributor, Passion went on to become a massive world wide hit and is still the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever in the States as well.

(*Unless youre George Lucas, who claimed that Star Wars Episodes I, II, III, V and VI were all essentially very, very big independent movies he certainly ploughed a lot of his own money into them.)

Page 6 of 14
Page 6 of 14
Biggest Grossing Film Never To Make Number One At The US Box Office

Biggest Grossing Film Never To Make Number One At The US Box Office

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) $368.7 million worldwide

The Joel Zwick-directed romantic comedy, which allegedly cost just $6 million to make, became one of the most profitable films of all time and the second-highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time despite never making number one at the US box office. Though this may all change imminently see the next page.

Page 7 of 14
Page 7 of 14
Biggest US Opening For A Movie Not At Number One

Biggest US Opening For A Movie Not At Number One

Inside Out (2015) $91.1 million first weekend

Normally $91.1 million would be more than enough to secure number one at the US box office but Pixars latest, the highly acclaimed Inside Out was released against the second weekend for box office juggernaut Jurassic World which remained at number one with a colossal $106.6 million in takings.

Page 8 of 14
Page 8 of 14
Biggest Opening Weekend Worldwide

Biggest Opening Weekend Worldwide

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) $483.2 million
Films being released on the same date around the world is now more common than it used to be so this looks like a record waiting to be toppled.

Page 9 of 14
Page 9 of 14
Most Weeks At Number One At The US Box Office

Most Weeks At Number One At The US Box Office

ET The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) 16 weeks

Gandhi may have beaten Spielbergs film at the Oscars for Best Picture, but even Gandhi director Richard Attenborough, admitted, "I was certain that not only would ET win, but that it should win." ET won the battle at the box office, though.

Page 10 of 14
Page 10 of 14
Biggest Grossing Animated Movie

Biggest Grossing Animated Movie

Frozen (2013) $1.3 billion

For many years The Lion King (1994) held this title. Then in 2010 Toy Story 3 took the honours for just a few short years until Disneys earworm-filled twist on The Snow Queen shot to number one.

Page 11 of 14
Page 11 of 14
Biggest Grossing Non-English Language Film Worldwide

Biggest Grossing Non-English Language Film Worldwide

The Intouchables (2011) $427 million

The critically-hammered French comedy drama about the friendship between a handicap millionaire and his street smart ex-con caretaker became an unlikely international sensation beating more familiar title Life Is Beautiful ($229 million) into second place and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ($214 million) into third.

Page 12 of 14
Page 12 of 14
The Winners On Those Special Days

The Winners On Those Special Days

The Americans love comparing box office taking on key days during the years. So here are a few of the winners so far:

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
Third Monday of January
American Sniper (2014) $107,211,457

SUPER BOWL
A sunday in late January/early February
Hannah Montana (2009) $31,117,834

PRESIDENT'S DAY
Third Monday of February
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) $93,010,350

EASTER
Spring, varies according to arcane theological determination
Furious 7 (2015) $147,187,040

MEMORIAL DAY
Last Monday in May
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (2007) $139,802,190

INDEPENDENCE DAY
4 July
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (2011) $97,852,865

LABOR DAY
First Monday in September
Halloween (2007) $30,591,759

HALLOWEEN
31 October
Saw III (2006) $33,610,391

THANKSGIVING
Fourth Thursday of November (and stretching out over the subsequent weekend)
3-DAY OPENINGS
Frozen (2013)
$67,391,326
THANKSGIVING 3-DAY - ALL MOVIES
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
$74,179,601
THANKSGIVING 5-DAY OPENINGS
Frozen (2013)
$93,590,387
THANKSGIVING 5-DAY - ALL MOVIES
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire(2013)
$109,939,340

Page 13 of 14
Page 13 of 14
Monthly Champs

Monthly Champs

And here are the current champions for each month at the US box office:

JANUARY
American Sniper (2014)
$89,269,066

FEBRUARY
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
$85,171,450

MARCH
The Hunger Games (2012)
$152,535,747

APRIL
Furious 7 (2015)
$147,187,040

MAY
Avengers Assemble (2012)
$207,438,708

JUNE
Jurassic World (2015)
$208,806,270

JULY
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
$169,189,427

AUGUST
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
$94,320,883

SEPTEMBER
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
$42,522,194

OCTOBER
Gravity (2013)
$55,785,112

NOVEMBER
The Hunger Ganes: Catching Fire (2013)
$158,074,286

DECEMBER
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
$84,617,303

Page 14 of 14
Page 14 of 14
GamesRadar
Read more
The Smashing Machine trailer
Despite critical acclaim, The Smashing Machine breaks an unwanted record for The Rock after going up against Taylor Swift at the box office
 
 
Yu Shu Lien from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The 32 greatest action films ever made
 
 
Jared Leto as Ares in Tron: Ares
This year's October box office was the lowest in 28 years – and Halloween was the worst weekend of the year
 
 
Ethan Hawke in The Black Phone 2
Black Phone 2 beats out flagging Tron: Ares at the box office in much-needed box office win for Blumhouse
 
 
Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine
Dwayne Johnson addresses The Smashing Machine debuting to a career-worst $5.9 million over its opening weekend: "In our storytelling world, you can't control box office results"
 
 
A demon in The Conjuring: Last Rites
The Conjuring: Last Rites becomes the highest grossing horror movie of 2025, beating Final Destination Bloodlines and Sinners
 
 
Latest in Movies
Paranormal Activity
After 4 years, there's a new Paranormal Activity movie in the works, it's a "rebirth" for the series, and The Conjuring and Insidious creator James Wan is producing: "Do not see it alone"
 
 
Superman 2 concept art by Jim Lee showing Superman holding a screwdriver and buddying up to Lex Luthor, who is clad in his purple and green battle armor
James Gunn can't share his whole Spotify Wrapped because "ALL" the top songs are in Man of Tomorrow
 
 
Kathryn Newton as Faith and Samara Weaving as Grace in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Gory, tongue-in-cheek Ready or Not 2 trailer sees Samara Weaving face off against a scheming Elijah Wood and a killer Sarah Michelle Gellar
 
 
A still from Curry Barker's new horror movie Obsession
First teaser for new horror movie with 97% Rotten Tomatoes score sees a music store employee get more than he bargained for after making a mysterious wish
 
 
Look Back
The Chainsaw Man author's manga one-shot that broke my heart is getting a surprise live-action adaptation
 
 
Alfie Williams as Spike in 28 Years Later The Bone Temple
Ralph Fiennes is experimenting on the infected and Jack O'Connell is wreaking havoc in new trailer for horror sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
 
 
Latest in News
Nex Playground
A machine you've almost certainly never heard of just spent a week beating the PS5 as the second best-selling games console in the US behind the Switch 2
 
 
Horses
Banned horror game Horses now topping GOG's best-seller charts amid censorship controversy, and it's back on Humble even as Steam and Epic refuse to carry it
 
 
Splatterworld
This NES horror JRPG spent 32 years as lost media, but once it was preserved it only took 33 days to get a complete fan translation
 
 
Laurana points to the moon in the sky in Octopath Traveler 0, cropped for a header image
As Octopath Traveler 0 launches to great reviews, the JRPG's producer says "we may have truly delivered what we set out to create" and "it feels as though I've finally returned to my hometown"
 
 
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2
GTA is "not as good as Dickens," former Rockstar boss says, but he "binged on Victorian novels" so Red Dead Redemption 2's writing would "capture that 19th-century feeling of life and death"
 
 
Lucy in Fallout season 2
Fallout season 1 will soon be free to watch on Prime – but only if you have the right TV
 
 
  1. Art from Octopath Traveler 0 showing the hero being haunted by the images of those who burned his hometown, with ghostly images of the three surrounding an image of a town on fire behind him as he walks forward
    1
    Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"
  2. 2
    Sleep Awake review: "An all-timer horror premise is let down by tired stealth that I feel like I'm sleepwalking through"
  3. 3
    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review: "The series' atmosphere has never been better, while being dragged down by a boring overworld and clunky psychic powers"
  4. 4
    Routine review: "This imperfect but wonderfully atmospheric moon-based horror leaves a strong impression"
  5. 5
    Marvel Cosmic Invasion review: "Excellent '90s-tinged superhero brawling across a punchy campaign falls just short of arcade bliss"
  1. Josh O'Connor and Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
    1
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  2. 2
    Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
  3. 3
    The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
  4. 4
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  5. 5
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  1. Noah Schnapp as Will Byers and Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna in Stranger Things season 5
    1
    Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
  2. 2
    Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
  3. 3
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  4. 4
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  5. 5
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...