Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer SFX
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The world's number one sci-fi, fantasy and horror magazine
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
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
Trending
  • Disney Plus bundles
  • Best Sci Fi Movies
  • New Marvel TV Shows
  • New TV Shows
Don't miss these
James Franco in Oz the Great and Powerful
Movies The 32 box office hits you've probably forgotten about
Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in F1
Sport Movies In a summer filled with box office surprises, here's another: F1 becomes Brad Pitt's highest-grossing film as a lead
The Smashing Machine trailer
Drama Movies Despite critical acclaim, The Smashing Machine breaks an unwanted record for The Rock after going up against Taylor Swift at the box office
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four_ First Steps
Marvel Movies The Fantastic Four: First Steps has finally crossed a major box office milestone over 1 month after release, but only just
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four
Superhero Movies Fantastic Four: First Steps is now the highest-grossing Marvel movie of the year, but still falls short of the $500 million mark
David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Skyler Gisondo in Superman
DC Movies James Gunn's Superman just beat a domestic DC box office record set by Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman in 2016
Yu Shu Lien from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Movies The 32 greatest action films ever made
Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine
Drama Movies 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
Horror Movies The Conjuring: Last Rites becomes the highest grossing horror movie of 2025, beating Final Destination Bloodlines and Sinners
David Corenswet as Superman
Superhero Movies James Gun's Superman just passed Man of Steel at the US box office, becoming the highest grossing solo Superman film ever
Demon Slayer Infinity Castle
Anime Movies Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle beats Superman at the box office, a seismic achievement that also guarantees Marvel won't have a top 10 grossing movie for the first time since 2011
Fantastic Four First Steps ending
Marvel Movies Despite positive reviews and a great Rotten Tomatoes score, Fantastic Four: First Steps had a massive second weekend drop at the global box office
Demon Slayer
Anime Movies Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has broken even more box office records than was originally projected and it might surpass Mugen Train as the highest-grossing anime movie ever
Demon Slayer
Anime Movies Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle beats Fantastic Four and closes in on Superman after becoming the highest-grossing anime movie of all time
Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Movies The 32 greatest movie trilogies of all time
  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
See more Movies News
Read more
James Franco in Oz the Great and Powerful
The 32 box office hits you've probably forgotten about
 
 
Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in F1
In a summer filled with box office surprises, here's another: F1 becomes Brad Pitt's highest-grossing film as a lead
 
 
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
 
 
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four_ First Steps
The Fantastic Four: First Steps has finally crossed a major box office milestone over 1 month after release, but only just
 
 
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four: First Steps is now the highest-grossing Marvel movie of the year, but still falls short of the $500 million mark
 
 
David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Skyler Gisondo in Superman
James Gunn's Superman just beat a domestic DC box office record set by Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman in 2016
 
 
Latest in Movies
Baraka in Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat III confirmed by writer as well as new footage of Baraka in Mortal Kombat II
 
 
Diane Keaton smiling in Father of the Bride Part II
The Godfather and Oscar-winning Annie Hall star, Diane Keaton, dies at 79
 
 
Glen Powell as Ben Richards in The Running Man stood in front of two guards
Running Man star Glen Powell got told last-minute he needed Stephen King's nod after taking the role
 
 
Alien 5
Sigourney Weaver could return for another Alien movie after reading a 50-page script
 
 
Superman
James Gunn plans to direct "a couple more" DCU movies, unless he gets "so f***ing tired I can't do it"
 
 
Victor and Emily in Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
20 years after its release, watching Tim Burton's Corpse Bride as an adult hits so much harder in a world obsessed with relationships
 
 
Latest in News
Aerith and Cloud in Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Square Enix announces the first new Dissidia Final Fantasy in 8 years, but fighting game fans are dismayed it's only on mobile: "I have little faith this will be anywhere near as good"
 
 
Screenshot from Blue Protocol: Star Resonance, showing some anime characters riding hovering balls with different skins.
Left for dead by Amazon and revived by Tencent, free anime MMO Blue Protocol: Star Resonance launches to over 90,000 Steam players but only 48% positive user reviews
 
 
007: First Light
007 First Light might have its own James Bond, but the Hitman studio is borrowing from "the Daniel Craig era" in one major way: his physicality
 
 
Blood sprays across a snowy backdrop as Atsu cleaves an enemy's stomach open with a swift, wide blow of her katana in Ghost of Yotei's Gamescom trailer
Ghost of Yotei creative director says "the cognitive overload of all of the systems and all the buttons on the controller can be quite intense"
 
 
Pennywise in It: Welcome to Derry
We saw new IT: Welcome to Derry footage behind closed doors and we can't wait to float again
 
 
Jessica Jones and Matt Murdock walking down a street together
Daredevil: Born Again season 2 release date confirmed after NYCC trailer shows the return of Jessica Jones
 
 
  1. Digital storefront key art for Little Nightmares 3 showing the two masked kids holding hands among a clutter of household items as a large figure with a glowing eye menacingly watches them from the background
    1
    Little Nightmares 3 review: "An overly safe, uneven, and half-baked follow-up where co-op is a hindrance instead of the evolution it should've been"
  2. 2
    With a new season on the way, is Blood Bowl's second edition still worth a look?
  3. 3
    Battlefield 6 review: "More refined than innovative, this FPS is on target with multiplayer even if its campaign is just a big shrug"
  4. 4
    Absolum review: "Classic beat 'em up systems pair beautifully with a run-based structure in this fleet-footed, wonderfully varied Hades-like"
  5. 5
    Digimon Story: Time Stranger review: "Finally in competition with Pokemon and Persona, this monster raising RPG is showing rapid evolution"
  1. Tron: Ares
    1
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  2. 2
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  3. 3
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  4. 4
    Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle review: "Roars past Mugen Train as Demon Slayer's best adventure yet"
  5. 5
    The Long Walk review: "One of the best Stephen King adaptations ever made"
  1. Yelena Belova, Kamala Khan and Blade Knight in Marvel Zombies
    1
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"
  2. 2
    Gen V season 2 review: "As strong as the first season, if not stronger"
  3. 3
    Wednesday season 2 part 2 review: "Ortega shines, but it's a zombie who steals the entire show"
  4. 4
    Peacemaker season 2 review: "Darker and sadder than the first year, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids."
  5. 5
    Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: "Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots"

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

  • 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...