Question Asked: What’s The Highest Grossing Movie of all Time?
|
May 22nd, 2008 |
This answer should actually get broken up into two subquestions; what’s the highest grossing movie of all time & what’s the most profitable movie of all time. Two very different questions.
By the way the question was formed, I’m assuming that we’re talking box office numbers only, not DVD and Blu-Ray (and HD-DVD, if applicable) sales, as well.
According to a number of different sources, 1997’s Titanic grossed 1.845 billion US dollars worldwide. That’s billion, with a b, as in boy. If I remember correctly, back 11 years ago, it was re-released a year later. Presumably to get everyone to see it again, or pay to see it a first time after it left theaters.
Strictly from a money-made perspective, here’s the top ten movies (as of this writing):
- Titanic – $1, 845, 000, 000
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $1, 119, 000, 000
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $1, 066, 000, 000
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $976, 000, 000
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $961, 000, 000
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – $938, 500, 000
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $ 926, 300, 000
- Star Wars: Episode I – the Phantom Menace – $924, 300, 000
- Shrek 2 – $919, 800, 000
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – $896, 000, 000
Looks like the Harry Potter franchise has done quite well over the years.
As for most profitable movie ever made, this isn’t quite as clear cut. Some movies’ budgets aren’t made publicly available, so this may not be entirely accurate.
Profit, in the movie industry, needs to factor in the cost of a movie. Keeping that in mind, none of the top ten grossing (tickets sold) movies, are the most profitable. Based on information I found available on a number of different sites, the top three most profitable movies of all time are as follows:
- The Blair Witch Project- Budget: $60,000, Revenue: $248, 600, 000
- ET – Budget: $10, 000, 000, Revenue: $792, 000, 000
- Star Wars: Episide IV – A New Hope: Budget: $11, 000, 000, Revenue: $775, 000, 000
So while a movie may have made a lot of money, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s all profit. Something to keep in mind. Some movies just cost more to make. For example, Titanic cost roughly $200, 000, 000 to make. Ten times what ET cost, and only made two and a half times as much at the box office.
Hope that answers your question. Do you have a question? Fill out the form to the right, and submit yours today.
Other answers you may find useful:
- What is the Most Successful Superhero Movie of all Time?
- How Much Did The Titanic Cost To Build?
- What Movie Has Played In The Most Theaters?
- Which of the Three Bourne Movies Was the Most Successful?
- When Will Lord of the Rings Be Released On Blu-ray?
Previous Post |
Next Post |
| « What’s The Difference Between High Definition and Standard? | What is the Greatest Invention of the 20th Century? » |
Comment On This Post