Let’s talk box office budget. We’re at a record-breaking time in history where film production costs are higher than they’ve ever been. The more money spent on a movie, the more money needs to be brought in at the box office in order for the production to make a positive revenue.
Domestically, no film has raked in over a billion dollars at the U.S. box office, but some contenders have come relatively close (I’m looking at you, Marvel and Star Wars). Here are the top ten highest grossing domestic films of all time, in order. Note that older movies have been adjusted for inflation costs, so everything is being calculated in the current value of the U.S. dollar.
10. Batman: The Dark Knight – $600.5 million
9. Avengers: Infinity War – $627.6 million
8. The Lion King – $636.7 million
7. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace – $659.1
6. The Avengers – $661.7 million
5. Jurassic World – $671.2 million
4. Black Panther – $698.7 million
3. Avatar – $856.8 million
2. Titanic – $936.4 million
1. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens – $963.8 million
The most surprising part of this list? Some of these movies that grossed so high on the domestic charts didn’t make it onto the worldwide highest grossing films list. The Lion King and The Phantom Menace are nowhere to be seen! Other contenders on the 20 highest grossing worldwide films include Disney’s live action remake of Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson and Captain America: Civil War.
