Summary
All but six movies in the top 100highest-grossing moviesever have the same thing in common. More than a hundred years of cinematic history have yielded legions of successful movies across all genres. The list of films that have brought in the most at the box office sheds light on the diverse interests of audiences and how they’ve changed over the decades.
Some of the top highest-grossing movies to date includeAvatar,Oppenheimer,Avengers: Endgame, andStar Wars: The Force Awakens.These movies are among the most popular in the world. But when looking further, it’s evident that despite the wide range of genres that have broken records at the box office, the vast majority of the highest-grossing films are similar in that they all represent wider franchises, whether when they debuted or afterward.
Disney’s 15 Biggest Animated Box Office Flops
Disney Animation has seen several major box office flops due to confusing premises or problems with a theatrical release in the age of streaming.
Only 6 Movies In The Top 100 Box Office Are Not Connected To Franchises Or IP
Standalone Movies Are Far And Few
There are only six movies in the top 100 lifetime grosses at the box office that are not connected to a franchise or IP (Intellectual Property).There are several big franchises that have had commercial success at box office, includingAvatar,Disney,DC,Star Wars,Jurassic Park/World,Pixar, andHarry Potter. These franchises have multiple films released as part of an ongoing series, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or have sequels currently in development. AlthoughBarbiehas no planned sequel, the movie is still part of a huge IP andMattel has announced plans for an upcoming movie franchise.
4
$2,264,750,694
56
$975,297,660
71
$910,813,521
93
$839,030,630
97
$822,009,764
100
Coco (2017)
$814,641,172
Therefore, the only films which are still standalone successes in the top 100 box office areTitanic, Oppenheimer, Bohemian Rhapsody, Inception, Hi Mom,andCoco. Thesuccess of Leonardo DiCaprio’s $1 billionTitanicis well documented and often used as a target for new films to reach, as was the case forAvengers: Endgame.The reasonTitanicis used as a box office target is because it remains the highest grossing standalone film, despite being 27 years old.Oppenheimeralso caused ripples in the film industry due to its star-studded cast, with veteran actor, Robert Downey Jr., winning his first Oscar.
Why It’s So Difficult For Original Movies To Be Among The Highest Grossing Movies Ever
Franchises Are Familiar To Audiences
It is difficult for original movies to find a place among the highest-grossing movies ever. In fact, manymovies are struggling at the box office in 2024due to streaming becoming the norm and movie budgets being so high. However,franchises tend to do well at the box office because audiences are familiar with them. Audiences watch movies to escape the complexities of everyday life and, by watching the next installment of a franchise instead of a new film, they don’t have to think too much about the plot or characters because they are already familiar with them.
The problem with standalone movies being box office hits is that they often want to release a sequel to jump on the success of the first movie.
Furthermore,the problem with standalone movies being box office hits is that they often want to release a sequelto jump on the success of the first movie. If a movie does well at box office, it means that the audience enjoyed the concept. Therefore, there is a demand for more of the same type of content, which is why sequels are made. However, a sequel is not always a good idea, as there are a lot ofmovie sequels which bombed at box officedue to gaps between releases or lack of new ideas, making them rely on nostalgia.
