TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In an era where box office milestones constantly shift and global audiences flock to theaters in record numbers, the race for the highest grossing films of all time has taken exciting new turns in 2025.
While legacy titans like Avatar and Avengers: Endgame still dominate the all-time charts, recent releases have reshaped the landscape, with animated features making unprecedented gains alongside live-action blockbusters.
Notably, Disney’s Zootopia 2 has emerged as a major contender, joining the ranks of cinema’s top earners with an extraordinary worldwide gross of approximately $1.7 billion.
Citing Deadline, Statista, and various trusted sources, here are the billion-dollar grossing movies ever:
1. Avatar (2009) – $2.92 billion
For almost a decade, Avatar (2009) remained the highest grossing film of all time, running an average of 14.8 weeks per theater across more than 3,450 locations.
Released with groundbreaking visual effects and immersive world-building, the film opened to a strong $77 million during its opening weekend, accounting for just 9.8% of its total gross. Produced on a $237 million budget, the film’s worldwide earnings reportedly amounted to more than 12 times its production cost.
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019) – $2.79 billion
Claiming its place as the second-top grossing film, Avengers: Endgame (2019) marked a historic climax to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. The film shattered records upon release, debuting with a staggering $357.1 million opening weekend, which accounted for 41.6% of its total gross.
Unlike long-legged releases, Endgame thrived on massive upfront demand, reflected in its 2.40 box office legs ratio and an unprecedented wide release across 4,662 theaters nationwide.
3. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – $2.34 billion
Avatar: The Way of Water continued James Cameron’s box office legacy with remarkable global success. Produced on a $400 million budget, the sequel earned worldwide box office revenue 5.8 times its production cost. Notably, nearly 30% of its total gross came from domestic markets.
4. Titanic (1997) – $2.27 billion
As one of the most enduring successes in film history, James Cameron’s Titanic dominated the global box office and became the highest grossing film of its time. It opened modestly with $28.6 million during its first weekend, contributing just 4.2% of its total gross. With a production budget of $200 million, the film earned worldwide box office returns more than eleven times its cost.
5. Ne Zha 2 (2025) – $2.25 billion
Opened with $7.2 million, accounting for 31% of its total gross, Nezha 2 is a surprising force in the global box office landscape. Produced on a modest $80 million budget, the film achieved exceptional profitability. While only 1.2% of revenue came from domestic markets, the film’s international success was decisive.
6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) – $2.07 billion
Reigniting the iconic franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens quickly earned its title among highest grossing films of all time. The movie generated worldwide box office returns nearly four times its production cost, which stood at $533.2 million budget. In retrospect, domestic markets played a major role, accounting for 45.6% of total revenue.
7. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – $2.05 billion
Avengers: Infinity War redefined blockbuster scale for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a massive $257.7 million opening weekend, accounting for 38% of its total gross. Released across 4,474 theaters, the film followed a front-loaded run with a 2.63 legs ratio and averaged 7.7 weeks per theater.
8. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – $1.9 billion
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) solidified its status as a box office phenomenon, delivering a massive $260.1 million opening weekend and rise into the ranking of the highest grossing films ever. The film demonstrated strong box office legs with a 3.13 ratio, maintaining long-term momentum across 4,336 theaters and averaging a remarkable 14.8-week theatrical run.
9. Zootopia 2 (2025) – $1.7 billion
Just months after its release, Zootopia 2 has vaulted to the top of the global box office for animated films. The Disney sequel earned $1.7 billion worldwide, surpassing Inside Out 2 to become Hollywood’s highest-grossing animated movie of all time. It set the record for the biggest animated opening weekend in the U.S., earning $559.5 million in just five days over Thanksgiving.
10. Inside Out 2 (2024) – $1.6 billion
Inside Out 2 delivered a strong box office performance, opening with $154.2 million and capturing nearly a quarter of its total gross in its debut weekend. The film showcased important longevity with a 4.23 legs ratio, playing in 4,440 theaters and averaging a 9.1-week run per location.
From front-loaded blockbusters to long-legged theatrical performers, the highest grossing film list reflects how shifting audience demand and global reach continue to redefine commercial success in the movie industry.
To explore how these individual blockbusters connect to even bigger cinematic universes, be sure to read our breakdown of the highest grossing film franchises of all time.
Read: Avatar: Fire and Ash Hits US$1 Billion in Global Box Office
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