From the dawn of cinema, horror films have ensnared audiences with their unique fusion of fear, suspense, and fascination. Some of these chilling tales have not only shocked but also raked in massive box office fortunes over the decades.
Here are the top highest-grossing movies of all time – masterpieces that have both haunted and spellbound audiences across the globe.
Avatar ($2.92 billion globally, $785.22 million domestically)
When Avatar first hit theaters in 2009, it made a big impression with its breakthrough visual effects and motion capture technology, breathtaking 3D visuals, the introduction of a planet called Pandora that would create its own corner of Disney’s universe, and a plan for at least four sequels.
Moviegoers couldn’t get enough of the film, and ticket sales poured in from the start, reaching nearly $3 billion from a $237 million budget. Even after nearly 14 years, Avatar’s position atop the list of highest-grossing films of all time has rarely been challenged.
Avengers: Endgame ($2.79 billion worldwide, $858.37 million domestically)
The only movie that came close to dethroning Avatar was Avengers: Endgame, the culmination of the roughly 21-year journey known as the Infinity Saga, which began with Iron Man in 2008 and was built up through stories from the previous 21 films.
Fans had to wait a year to learn the full ramifications of Thanos’ Snap, and the anticipation was unprecedented. While it may not seem like much when compared to its box office revenues, Avengers: Endgame had one of the highest reported budgets, ranging from $356 million to $400 million.
Avatar: The Way of Water ($2.31 billion worldwide, $683.66 million domestically)
The sequel to 2009’s Avatar was originally intended for release in 2014, but, as we all know, it didn’t make its way to theaters until the end of 2022. With delay after delay, it seemed as though these so-called Avatar sequels would never materialize. Yet, Avatar: The Way of Water arrived with a tremendous impact.
It reminded us all to never underestimate James Cameron’s power or Pandora’s allure. Sure, it didn’t quite reach the heights of the original Avatar, but $2.31 billion in global box office revenue isn’t bad. Avatar: The Way of Water had an estimated budget of $350 million to $460 million, and even James Cameron stated that the movie would need to be the third or fourth highest-grossing film of all time to break even. As you can see, it worked.
Titanic ($2.26 billion worldwide, $674.29 million domestically)
Titanic is not only the sole non-IP film among the top five highest-grossing movies of all time but also in the top 40! James Cameron isn’t content with having two movies placed among the top five highest-grossing films of all time. No, he had to secure a third spot with his sorrowful portrayal of the Titanic’s fateful voyage across the sea, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Titanic was the first film to gross $1 billion worldwide, and it remained the highest-grossing film of all time until James Cameron’s Avatar arrived on the scene in 2009. Titanic resurfaced in theaters in 3D in 2012, becoming only the second film after Avatar to earn $2 billion.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens ($2.07 billion worldwide, $936.66 million domestically)
The Force Awakens was a massive success. With a combined audience of nostalgic fans and a new generation raised on Star Wars, the film had a wide appeal. Aside from being the first film in the franchise since Revenge of the Sith and the polarizing prequel trilogy, it was also the inaugural major project following The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of Lucasfilm.
Without George Lucas, The Force Awakens blazed a new trail in that galaxy far, far away, aiming to honor the past while also unveiling the future of the Star Wars universe. With a budget ranging from $300 million to $450 million, that promise culminated in enormous ticket sales of over $2 billion.
It marked the zenith of Star Wars’ box office success, while The Last Jedi’s $1.03 billion and The Rise of Skywalker’s $1.07 billion, though impressive when compared to other films, pale in comparison.