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Box Office Hits

here on page 1: the list of hit films, 1-50 more hit films, 51-100 'also rans', 101-200 books links on page 2: top foreign-language films, 1-50 top films of China, 1-20 top films of Bollywood top films of Japan, 1-50

The domestic box office fell to a 20-year low of $55.3 million over the March 13-15, 2020 weekend due to the coronavirus pandemic, as some movie theaters shut down and others saw a sharp decline in attendance as customers stayed home. On Sunday night, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered all movie theaters, as well as nightclubs and other entertainment venues, to close as of Tuesday; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a similar order.
As of early Sunday, all cinemas were closed in 32 countries, including China and many nations in Europe.

The original two pages here were coded in late 2011, reporting data at that point in time; that work took almost a week. Since keeping
a rolling update every time a new worldwide box-office hit appears is overkill, discovery of the Wikipedia list of top box-office earners
was a major solution: the 2011 domestic data stands, while new members of the More Than A Billion Dollars Club can be tweaked
in a few minutes (whenever a new megahit is released).

The  Billion  Dollars  Club

Billion Dollars Club, per IMDb in late 2013

#1 "Avatar" [2009] $2,782,275,172 {still #1 in 2018}
#2 "Titanic" [1997] $2,185,372,302 {still #2 in 2018}
#3 "Marvel's The Avengers" [April 2012] $1,511,757,910 {became #5 in 2018}
#4 "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2" [2011] $1,341,511,219
#5 "Transformers: Dark of The Moon" [2011] $1,123,746,996
#6 "The Lord of The Rings III: The Return of The King" [2003] $1,119,929,521
#7 "James Bond: Skyfall" [Oct 2012] $1,108,561,013
#8 "The Dark Knight Rises" [July 2012] $1,084,439,099
#9 "Pirates of The Caribbean II: Dead Man's Chest" [2006] $1,066,179,725
#10 "Toy Story 3" [2010] $1,063,171,911

#11 "Pirates of The Caribbean IV: On Stranger Tides" [2011] $1,043,871,802
#12 "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" [1999] $1,027,044,677
#13 Tim Burton's "Alice In Wonderland" [2010] $1,024,299,904
#14 "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" [Dec 2012] $1,017,003,568
#15 "The Dark Knight" [2008] $1,004,558,444
#16 "Iron Man 3" [May 2013] $980,362,000
#17 "Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone" [2001] $974,755,371 {dropped off list in 2018}
#18 "Jurassic Park" [1993] $969,333,202
#19 "Pirates of The Caribbean: At World's End" [2007] $963,420,425 {dropped off list in 2018}
#20 "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 1" [2010] $960,283,305 {dropped off list in 2018}

Analysis: three "Harry Potter" films films, three PoTC films; many CGI but only one animated {latest section update May 2013}

ADDED 2016: Disney's "Zootopia" [2016] is on the cusp of crossing the $1 billion mark; with $991 million worldwide, it is
the fourth-biggest animated film ever - behind "Toy Story 3" ($1.063B), "Minions" ($1.159B), and "Frozen" ($1.276B).

Billion Dollars Club, per IMDb in March 2018
#33. "The Dark Knight" [2008] {was #15 in 2013}
#32. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" [2012] {was #14 in 2013}
#31. "Zootopia" animated film [2016]
#30. Tim Burton's "Alice In Wonderland" [2010] {was #13 in 2013}
#29. "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace" [1999] {was #12 in 2013}
#28. "Finding Dory" animated film [2016]
#27. "Jurassic Park" [1993] {was #18 in 2013}
#26. "Despicable Me 3" [2017]   
#25. "Pirates of The Caribbean IV: On Stranger Tides" [2011] {was #11 in 2013}
#24. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" [2016]
#23. "Pirates of The Caribbean II: Dead Man's Chest" [2006] {was #9 in 2013}
#22. "Toy Story 3" animated film [2010] {was #10 in 2013}
#21. "The Dark Knight Rises" [2012] {was #8 in 2013}
#20. "Transformers: Age of Extinction" [2014]
#19. "James Bond: Skyfall" [2012] {was #7 in 2013}
#18. "The Lord of The Rings III: The Return of the King" [2003] {was #6 in 2013}
#17. "Transformers: Dark of The Moon" [2011] {was #5 in 2013}
#16. "Captain America: Civil War" [2016]
#15. "Minions" animated film [2015]
#14. "Iron Man 3" [2013] {was #16 in 2013}
#13. "The Fate of The Furious" [2016]
#12. "Black Panther" [2018] already worldwide gross: $1,241,058,312   
#11. "Beauty and The Beast" animated film [2017]   

#10. "Frozen" animated film [2013]
#9. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" [2017]   
#8. "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2" [2011] {was #4 in 2013}
#7. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" [2015]
#6. "Furious 7" [2015]
#5. "Marvel's The Avengers" [2012] Worldwide Gross: $1,518,812,988 {was #3 in 2013}
#4. "Jurassic World" [2015] Worldwide Gross: $1,671,713,208
#3. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" [2015] Worldwide Gross: $2,068,223,624
#2. "Titanic" [1997] Worldwide Gross: $2,187,463,944 {was #2 in 2013}
#1. "Avatar" [2009] Worldwide Gross: $2,787,965,087 {was #1 in 2013}

April 2018: "Avengers: Infinity War" made the biggest debut in movie history

Analysis of the Top 100 Films: years run from 1938 to 2011; 13 are animated feature films; 18 are from
20th Century-Fox; 18 are from Walt Disney Pictures; 14 are from Paramount Pictures; 11 are from Universal Pictures;
11 are from Warner. Bros.; 9 are from Sony/Columbia; 6 are from United Artists; 4 are from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer;
3 are from New Line Cinema; 2 each from DreamWorks SKG, Pixar Animation, and R.K.O. Radio Pictures;
and 1 each from Avco Embassy, Carolco, New Market, and Selznick. There are 8 movies by Steven Spielberg,
7 movies by George Lucas, 3 movies by James Cameron, 6 'Star Wars' movies, 4 musical features,
3 Western movies, 3 'Batman' movies, 2 James Bond movies, and 2 (of 8) Harry Potter movies.
(And notice that there is not one foreign film in the top 100.)

The Top 25 Films

"Gone  With  The  Wind"
[Selznick/M.G.M. Dec 1939]
  holds the current #1 box office record, at 202,044,600 tickets

                

Beautiful and selfish Scarlett O'Hara loses her first love, and takes up with renegade Rhett Butler at the start of the War Between The States; she refuses to admit her love for Rhett and eventually loses him and her beloved Tara plantation. Produced by David O. Selznick; directed by Victor Fleming; starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Evelyn Keyes, Hattie McDaniel, Butterfly McQueen, Victor Jory, Jane Darwell, Ward Bond & Yakima Canutt; won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screen-play, Best Color Cinematography, Best Actress [VL], Best Supporting Actress [HM], Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Honorary Oscar for "outstanding achievement in the use of color for the enhancement of dramatic mood"; Oscar nominations for Best Actor [Gable], Best Supporting Actress [OdH], Best Special Effects, Best Music Score [Max Steiner] & Best Sound; listed on National Film Registry (1989) Warner 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition color Blu-ray [11/2009] for $41.99 Warner 70th Anniversary Limited Edition color DVD [11/2009] for $43.49 Warner Collector's Edition color DVD set [11/2004] 4 disks - out of prodn/many used Warner Special Edition color DVD [1/2006] 2 disks - out of prodn/many used Warner color VHS [3/2000] 2 tapes - out of prodn/many used Rhino/WEA soundtrack CD [6/97] for $10.83 full credits from IMDb • official movie site

based on Margaret Mitchell's novel [Scribner Sept 1936] awarded the Pulitzer Prize for The Novel in 1937; listed on Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Novels (10/2005) Warner Books mass pb [8/93] out of print/dozens used Warner Books 8¼x5½ pb [4/99] out of print/many used Scribner 8½x6 hardcover [facsimile] for $17.39 Margaret Mitchell [1900-49] section on the "G.W.T.W." Page

more "G.W.T.W." stuff (books, posters, sequels, links) on the
Magic Lantern's "Gone With The Wind" 1939 Movie Page

  "Star Wars" [Lucasfilm/Fox May 1977] 178,119,600 tickets

  "The Sound of Music" musical feature [Fox March 1965] 142,415,400 tickets

  "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" by Steven Spielberg
[Amblin/Universal June 1982] 141,854,300 tickets

"The Ten Commandments" [M.P.A./Paramount Oct 1956]   at end of 2011, holds #5 box office ranking, at 131,000,000 tickets

The infant Moses escapes the mass murder of baby Hebrew slaves by Pharoah Rameses I, and is raised in the court of Pharoah Seti; when his Hebrew origins are revealed he is exiled from Egypt. But a vision from God commands Moses to return to Egypt and free the Hebrews from their slavery. Five percent of the film was shot in Egypt; DeMille's only widescreen film, using VistaVision cameras • Co-produced, directed & narrated by Cecil B. DeMille; based on the Bible & three modern books; music by Elmer Bernstein; starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget, John Derek, Cedric Hardwicke, Nina Foch, Martha Scott, Judith Anderson, Vincent Price, John Carradine, Olive Deering, Douglass Dumbrille, Frank DeKova, Henry Wilcoxon, Eduard Franz, Lawrence Dobkin, H.B. Warner, Julia Faye, Woody Strode, Michael Ansara, Richard Farnsworth & George Baxter; won Oscar for Best Special Effects; Oscar noms for Best Picture, Best Color Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Recording, Best Art Direction, Color & Best Color Costume Design; listed on National Film Registry (1999) full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

Paramount restored widescreen color Blu-ray / DVD combo set [3/2011] 6 disks for $69.59
Paramount restored widescreen color Blu-ray [3/2011] 2 disks for $19.99
Paramount restored widescreen color DVD [3/2011] 2 disks for $14.99
Paramount widescreen color/b&w DVD set [3/2006] 3 disks (with 1923 version) for $48.49
Paramount letterboxed color VHS [1/97] 2 tapes for $9.99
Paramount color VHS [12/92] 2 tapes for $4.96

  James Cameron's "Titanic" [Fox & Paramount Nov 1997] 128,345,900 tickets

  "Jaws" by Steven Spielberg [Universal June 1975] 128,078,800 tickets

  "Doctor Zhivago" [M.G.M. Dec 1965] 124,135,500 tickets

  "The Exorcist" [Warner Bros. Dec 1973] 110,568,700 tickets

"Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs" animated feature [Disney/R.K.O. Dec 1937]   at end of 2011, holds #10 box office ranking, at 109,000,000 tickets

Princess Snow White survives an assassination attempt by her jealous stepmother, the Queen, by fleeing into the forest. Snow White finds refuge there with seven dwarfs, who work in a jewel mine. But the Queen is relentless and locates and tricks Snow White with an enchanted 'poison' apple. Supervising director David Hand; Honorary Oscar to Walt Disney for 'significant screen innova-tion' (1939) in the form of one statuette and seven miniatures; listed on National Film Registry (1989); 'Snow White' has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame • full credits at IMDb Disney Studios Home Ent. Limited Edition on Blu-ray [10/2009] 3 disks + memorabilia for $277.20 Disney Studios Home Ent. color Blue-ray/DVD combo [10/2009] 2 disks for $38.80 The Blue-ray editions include newly-discovered storyboards for animated sequel "Snow White Returns"; "Heigh-Ho" karaoke sing-along; and featurettes "Hyperion Studios", "The One That Started It All", and "Disney Through The Decades", plus more Disney Studios Home Ent. color DVD [11/2009] 2 disks for $47.95 Walt Disney Home Video color VHS [10/94] for $12.48 {or hundreds used}

11 "101 Dalmatians" animated feature [Walt Disney Jan 1961] 99,917,300 tickets

12 "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back"
[Lucasfilm/Fox May 1980] 98,180,600 tickets

13 "Ben-Hur" [M.G.M./Loew's Nov 1959] 98,000,000 tickets

14 James Cameron's "Avatar" [Fox Dec 2009] 97,255,300 tickets

15 "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of The Jedi"
[Lucasfilm/Fox May 1983] 94,059,400 tickets

16 "The Sting" [Universal Dec 1973]
starring Paul Newman & Robert Redford 89,142,900 tickets

17 "The Lion King" animated feature [Disney June 1994] 89,086,300 tickets

18 "Raiders of The Lost Ark" by Steven Spielberg
[Paramount June 1981] 88,141,900 tickets

19 "Jurassic Park" by Steven Spielberg
[Amblin/Universal June 1993] 86,205,800 tickets

20 "The Graduate" [Avco Embassy Dec 1967] 85,571,400 tickets

21 "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"
[Lucasfilm/Fox May 1999] 84,825,800 tickets

"Walt  Disney's  Fantasia"  animated feature [Disney/R.K.O. Nov 1940; restored in 1990 & 2000]   at end of 2011, holds #22 box office ranking, at 83,043,500 tickets

Animated musical sequences include abstract images set to J.S. Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor"; Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" ballet; Paul Dukas's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" with Mickey Mouse; dinosaurs & volcanoes in Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring"; Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony"; "Dance of the Hours" by Ponchielli with delightful dancing hippos, crocodiles, ostriches & elephants; and Mussorgsky's darkly apocalyptic "Night On Bald Mountain" which morphs into "Ave Maria" in the rain. Narration by Deems Taylor (restoration narration by actor Corey Burton); Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski; won Honorary Oscars to Walt Disney & Leopold Stokowski in 1942; listed on National Film Registry (1990) Disney Video color DVD [11/2000] out of prodn/many used Disney Video color VHS [9/92] out of prodn/many, many used full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

more details (synopses, Blu-ray & DVDs, trailers, docufilms, posters, books, links) on
Magic Lantern's "Walt Disney's Fantasia" Movies Page

"The Godfather" [Paramount March 1972]   at end of 2011, holds #23 box office ranking, at 78,922,600 tickets

Co-written & directed by Francis Ford Coppola; starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Sterling Hayden, Talia Shire, John Marley, Richard Conte, Al Lettieri, Abe Vigoda, Gianni Russo & John Cazale; won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Script/Adapatation, Best Actor (Brando), 8 other nominations; also won BAFTA (music), DGA, WGA awards; listed National Film Registry 1990; listed on Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Movies (10/2005) Paramount widescreen color DVD [6/2004] for $9.99 Paramount color VHS [5/2002] out of prodn/many used Paramount widescreen VHS [5/97] out of prodn/used MCA soundtrack CD [3/91] for $12.99 Part I credits from IMDb

more details (synopses, sequels, docufilms, posters, books, links) on
Magic Lantern's "Godfather Saga" Movies Page

24 "Forrest Gump" [Paramount June 1994] starring Tom Hanks 78,545,600 tickets

25 "Mary Poppins" musical feature [Walt Disney Aug 1964] 78,181,800 tickets

Films 26 to 50

26 "Grease" musical feature [Paramount June 1978] 76,921,800 tickets

27 James Bond in "Thunderball" [Eon/United Artists Dec 1965] 74,800,000 tickets

28 "Batman: The Dark Knight" [Warner Bros. July 2008] 74,282,100 tickets

29 "The Jungle Book" animated feature [Walt Disney Oct 1967] 73,679,900 tickets

30 "Sleeping Beauty" animated feature [Walt Disney Jan 1959] 72,676,100 tickets

31 "Shrek 2" [DreamWorks May 2004] 71,050,900 tickets

32 "Ghostbusters" [Columbia Pictures June 1984] 70,730,600 tickets

"Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" [Fox Sept 1969]   at end of 2011, holds #33 box office ranking, at 70,557,900 tickets

Directed by George Roy Hill; starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross & Strother Martin; won Oscars for Best Script (William Goldman), Best Cinematography, Best Music, Best Song, nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound; also won W.G.A. Award, 9 BAFTA awards, Grammy Award, 2 Laurel Awards; listed at National Film Registry (2003) Fox widescreen color Blu-ray [5/2008] for $16.99 Fox Collector's Edition widescreen color DVD [6/2006] two disks for $14.99 Fox Special Edition widescreen color DVD [5/2000] out of prodn/many used Fox Special Edition color VHS [5/2000] for $4.00 Fox Special Edition color VHS [5/2003] for $4.09 A&M soundtrack CD [7/87] for $8.95 full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

34 "Love Story" [Paramount Dec 1970] 69,998,100 tickets

35 "Spider-Man" [Marvel Studios/Sony May 2002] 69,484,700 tickets

36 "Independence Day" [Fox July 1996] 69,268,900 tickets

37 "Home Alone" [Fox Nov 1990] 67,734,200 tickets

38 "Pinocchio" animated feature [Walt Disney/R.K.O. Feb 1940] 67,403,300 tickets

39 "Cleopatra" [Fox June 1963] starring Liz Taylor & Richard Burton 67,183,500 tickets

40 "Beverly Hills Cop" [Paramount Dec 1984] 67,150,000 tickets

41 James Bond in "Goldfinger" [Eon/United Artists Sept 1964] 66,300,000 tickets

42 "Airport" [Universal March 1970] 66,111,300 tickets

43 "American Graffiti" [Lucasfilm/Universal Aug 1973] 65,714,300 tickets

44 "The Robe" [Fox Sept 1953] 65,454,500 tickets

"Pirates of The Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest"
[Bruckheimer/Disney July 2006]
  at end of 2011, holds #45 box office ranking, at 64,628,400 tickets

Capt. Jack's long-ago debt to Davey Jones is coming due, so he must rescue Will & Eliza- beth and somehow undo the blood oath that could place Jack in eternal servitude in the hereafter. Directed by Gore Verbinski; starring starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgๅrd, Tom Hollander & Jonathan Pryce; won Academy Award for Best Visual Effects Walt Disney widescreen color Blu-ray [5/2007] 2 disks for $19.49 Disney widescreen color DVD [12/2006] for $14.99 Disney Special Edition widescreen DVD [12/2006] 2 disks for $19.99 Walt Disney Records soundtrack CD [7/2006] for $9.47 full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

more details (synopses, prequel & sequels, docufilms, posters, books, links) on
Magic Lantern's "Pirates of The Caribbean" Movie Series Page

46 "Around The World In 80 Days" [United Artists Oct 1956] 64,615,400 tickets

47 "Bambi" animated feature [Walt Disney/R.K.O. Aug 1942] 63,712,400 tickets

"Blazing Saddles" [Warner Bros. Feb 1974]
  at end of 2011, holds #48 box office ranking, at 63,227,500 tickets

Co-written & directed by Mel Brooks; starring Cleavon Little & Gene Wilder; Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Madeline Kahn), Best Editing, Best Song; won W.G.A. Award for Best Comedy; listed at National Film Registry (2006 Warner Home Video widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2006] for $9.99 Warner Home Video Special Edition widescreen color DVD [6/2004] for $4.99 Warner widescreen color DVD [8/97] out of prodn/used Creative Design Ltd Edition Collectors Set DVD [6/2000] out of prodn/used Warner Special Edition color VHS [4/2001] for $2.95 Warner Special Edition widescreen color VHS [4/2001] for $19.95 full credits from IMDb • theme music [1min:55sec] • movie entry at Wikipedia

49 Tim Burton's "Batman" [Warner Bros. June 1989] 62,954,600 tickets

50 "The Bells of St. Mary's" [R.K.O. Radio Pictures Dec 1945]
62,745,100 tickets; starring Bing Crosby & Ingrid Bergman

Films 51 to 75

"Lord of The Rings III: Return of The King"
[New Line Cinema/Wingnut Films Dec 2003]
  at end of 2011, holds #51 box office ranking, at 61,639,700 tickets

                             

Co-written & directed by Peter Jackson; starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Liv Tyler, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin & Cate Blanchett; won eleven Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay (Adaptation), Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Art Direction, Best Costumes, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Visual Effects; also won ACE Best Film, DGA, PGA, SAG (ensemble), 4 VES & 5 BAFTA awards; nominated for DGGB, WGA & USC Scripter awards; listed on Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Movies (10/2005) New Line Home Video widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2010] 2 disks for $7.99 New Line widescreen DVD [5/2004] for $4.69 New Line extended edition DVD [12/2004] out of prodn/hundreds used New Line Collector's Gift Set [12/2004] orig $71.99 - out of prodn/used New Line full screen DVD [5/2004] for $4.97 full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

more details (synopses, prequel & sequels, J.R.R. Tolkein, docufilms, posters, books, links) on
Magic Lantern's 'Lord of The Rings' & 'The Hobbit' Movies Page

52 "The Towering Inferno" [Fox 1974] 61,375,700

53 "Spider-Man 2" [Marvel Studios/Columbia 2004] 60,158,700

54 "My Fair Lady" musical feature [Warner Bros. 1964] 60,000,000

55 Cecil B. DeMille's "The Greatest Show On Earth" [Paramount 1952] 60,000,000

56 "National Lampoon's Animal House" [Universal 1978] 59,890,300

57 "The Passion of The Christ" [Icon/New Market 2/2004] by Mel Gibson 59,704,800

58 "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of The Sith" [Lucasfilm/Fox 2005] 59,324,600

59 "Back To The Future" [Universal 1985] 59,050,700
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future_trilogy

"Lord of The Rings II: The Two Towers"
[New Line Cinema/Wingnut Films Dec 2002]
  at end of 2011, holds #60 box office ranking, at 57,725,300 tickets

Co-written & directed by Peter Jackson; starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Liv Tyler, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin & Cate Blanchett; nominated for Oscars for Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects, Best Art Direction; nominated for DGA, USC Scripter, & 9 BAFTA awards; listed on Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Movies (10/2005) New Line Home Video widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2010] for $9.49 Warner widescreen color DVD [8/2003] 2 disks for $4.99 NewLine color DVD [8/2003] 2 disks for $13.46 NewLine widescreen color VHS Extended Edition [11/2003] 2 tapes for $4.25 Warner color VHS [8/2003] 2 tapes for $1.44 {sic} Warner color VHS w/Spanish subtitles [8/2003] 2 tapes for $1.94 {sic} Warner Limited Edition soundtrack CD [12/2002] out of stock/used Warner soundtrack CD [12/2002] for $13.08 Hwd Studio Orch audio CD [3/2003] for $19.21 full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

more details (synopses, prequel & sequels, J.R.R. Tolkein, docufilms, posters, books, links) on
Magic Lantern's 'Lord of The Rings' & 'The Hobbit' Movies Page

61 "The Sixth Sense" [Hollywood Pictures 1999] 57,579,100

62 "Superman: The Movie" [Warner Bros. 1978]
starring Christopher Reeve 57,358,100 $134,218,018

63 "Tootsie" [Columbia Pictures 1978] 56,903,900

64 "Smokey and The Bandit" [Universal 1977] 56,832,900

65 "Finding Nemo" animated feature [Pixar/Disney 2003] 56,337,500

"West Side Story" musical feature [United Artists 1961] Starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn & Rita Moreno; won 10 Oscars including Best Picture; at end of 2011, holds #66 box office ranking, at 55,970,300 tickets full credits from IMDb • theme music [4min : 26sec]

67 "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone" [Warner Bros. 2001] 55,913,000
details on Magic Lantern's 'Harry Potter' Movies Page

68 "Lady and The Tramp" animated feature [Walt Disney Pictures 1955] 55,734,900

69 "Close Encounters of The Third Kind" [Columbia Pictures 1977]
by Steven Spielberg 55,575,500

70 "Lawrence of Arabia" [Columbia Pictures 1962] 55,383,600

71 "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" [Fox 1975] 55,069,400

72 "Rocky" [United Artists 1976] 55,040,000
Magic Lantern's 'Rocky' Movies Page

73 "The Best Years of Our Lives" [Samuel Goldwyn/R.K.O. 1946] 55,000,000

74 "The Poseidon Adventure" [Fox 1972] 54,902,000

"Lord of The Rings I: The Fellowship of The Ring" [New Line Cinema/Wingnut Films Dec 2001]   at end of 2011, holds #75 box office ranking, at 54,799,300 tickets

Co-written & directed by Peter Jackson; starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Liv Tyler, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin & Cate Blanchett; won Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score, Best Makeup; nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Script/Adaptation & 6 more; also won A.F.I. Movie of the Year, five BAFTA awards, Saturn Award, ACE Eddie, Grammy Award, Hugo Award, 2 MTV Movie Awards, Golden Reel Award, 2 People's Choice Awards, 4 Golden Satellite Awards, S.A.G. Award (IM); listed on Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Movies (10/2005) New Line Home Video widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2010] 2 disks for $9.49 New Line Platinum Gift Set color DVD [11/2002] 4 disks for $69.99 New Line Extended Edition color DVD [11/2002] 4 disks for $19.99 New Line widescreen color DVD [8/2002] for $4.49 New Line Extended Edition color VHS [11/2002] for $6.62 New Line color VHS [8/2002] for $1.00 {sic} Warner soundtrack CD [11/2001] for $14.55 Hwd Studio Orch audio CD [5/2002] for $18.56 full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

more details (synopses, prequel & sequels, J.R.R. Tolkein, docufilms, posters, books, links) on
Magic Lantern's 'Lord of The Rings' & 'The Hobbit' Movies Page

Films 76 to 100

76 "Twister" [Warner Bros. 1996] 54,688,100

77 "Men In Black" [Amblin/Columbia Pictures 1997] 54,616,700

78 "The Bridge On The River Kwai" [Columbia Pictures 1957] 54,400,000

79 "Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen" [DreamWorks/Paramount 2009] 53,900,900

80 "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" [United Artists 1963] 53,875,400

81 "Swiss Family Robinson" [Walt Disney Pictures 1960] 53,808,000 $40,356,000

82 "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" [United Artists 1975]
based on the book by Ken Kesey 53,685,400

83 "M.A.S.H." [Fox 1970] by Robert Altman 53,684,200

84 "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom" [Paramount 1984]
by Steven Spielberg 53,532,800

85 "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of The Clones" [Lucasfilm/Fox 2002] 53,468,500

86 "Mrs. Doubtfire" [Fox 1993] 52,684,400

87 "Aladdin" animated feature [Walt Disney Pictures 1992] 52,442,300

88 "Toy Story 3" animated feature [Pixar/Disney 2010] 52,201,900

89 "Ghost" [Paramount 1990] 51,465,200

90 "Duel In The Sun" [Selznick 1946] 51,020,400

"Pirates of The Caribbean I: The Curse of The Black Pearl"
[Bruckheimer/Disney July 2003]
  at end of 2011, holds #91 box office ranking, at 50,648,900 tickets

A blacksmith enlists the help of rogue pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow in rescuing a kidnapped beauty, recovering a lost treasure, and saving the British Navy. Directed by Gore Verbinski; starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport & Jonathan Pryce; Best Actor nominations for Depp for Oscar & BAFTA & Golden Globe & S.A.G. awards Walt Disney Video widescreen color Blu-ray-DVD combo [3/2011] 3 disks for $15.49 Walt Disney widescreen color Blu-ray [5/2007] 2 disks for $16.00 Buena Vista color DVD [12/2003] out of prodn/several hundred used Buena Vista color VHS [12/2003] for $17.95 Disney soundtrack CD [7/2003] for $10.22 full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

more details (synopses, prequel & sequels, docufilms, posters, books, links) on
Magic Lantern's "Pirates of The Caribbean" Movie Series Page

"House of Wax" in 3-D [Warner Bros. April 1953]
  at end of 2011, holds #92 box office ranking, at 50,531,900 tickets

The first major motion picture with stereophonic sound was "This Is Cinerama" [Sept 1952]; it was still playing only in New York City when "House of Wax" opened, and thus for most moviegoers across America this horror film in 3-D was their first experience of stereo sound at the movies. A sculptor of figures for an unsuccessful wax museum is horrified when his partner proposes setting the place on fire to collect the insurance money; the two men fight and the sculptor is knocked out and left to perish in the blaze. He turns up some years later, with a new wax museum, but the sculptor's behavior is making his new assistant suspicious. Directed by Andr้ De Toth; starring Vincent Price, Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones, Paul Picerni, Roy Roberts, Angela Clarke, Paul Cavanagh, Dabbs Greer & Charles Bronson Warner Home Video widescreen color on Blu-ray [9/2006] for $8.49 Warner Home Video widescreen color DVD [10/2005] for $4.48 Warner Home Video color DVD [8/2003] for $8.67 Warner Home Video color VHS [7/98] for $4.25 white 11"x17" poster (at left, above) from Amazon third party for $8.49 blue 27"x40" poster (at left, below) from Amazon third party for $17.99 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

93 Hitchcock's "Rear Window" [Paramount 1954] 50,354,700

94 "Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World" [Universal 1997]
by Steven Spielberg 49,910,000

95 "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade" [Paramount 1989]
by Steven Spielberg 49,416,500

96 "Spider-Man 3" [Marvel Studios/Columbia 2007] 48,914,300

97 James Cameron's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"
[Carolco/TriStar 1991] 48,656,400

98 "Sergeant York" [Warner Bros. 1941] by Howard Hawks 48,123,200

Dr. Seuss's "How The Grinch Stole Christmas"
live action feature [Universal/Imagine Nov 2000]
  at end of 2011, holds #99 box office ranking, at 48,106,800 tickets

Directed by Ron Howard; based on the classic children's book by Dr. Seuss [1904-91]; starring Jim Carrey; won Oscar & BAFTA awards for Best Makeup Universal widescreen color color Blu-ray/DVD combo [10/2009] 2 disks for $20.99 Universal Deluxe Edition widescreen color DVD [11/2002] for $15.99 Universal widescreen color DVD [10/2003] for $16.64 Universal color DVD [10/2003] for $13.99 Universal color VHS [10/2003] for $5.48 Universal VHS dubbed in Spanish [11/2001] out of prodn/many used Interscope soundtrack CD [11/2000] for $11.43 full credits from IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia

100 "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Part 2" [Warner Bros. 2011] 47,986,300
details on Magic Lantern's 'Harry Potter' Movies Page

Selected 'Also Ran' Box Office Hit Films from 101 to 200

101 "Toy Story 2" animated feature [Pixar/Disnay 1999] 47,836,500

102 "Top Gun" [Paramount 1986] 47,651,400

103 "Shrek" animated feature [DreamWorks 2001] 47,290,600

104 "Shrek The Third" animated feature [DreamWorks/Paramount 2007] 46,907,000

105 "The Matrix Reloaded" [Warner Bros. 2003] 46,695,900

114 "Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire" [Warner Bros. 2005] 45,175,300
details on Magic Lantern's 'Harry Potter' Movies Page

"Pirates of The Caribbean III: At World's End"
[Bruckheimer/Disney May 2007]
at end of 2011, holds #116 box office ranking, at 44,973,900 tickets

After being rescued by his allies, Capt. Jack is faced with an alliance of dastardly Davey Jones and Lord Beckett, and he calls on fellow pirates from around the world to assist in the battle. Directed by Gore Verbinski; starring starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgๅrd, Tom Hollander, Jonathan Pryce & Yun-Fat Chow; won Mainichi Film Concours Readers' Choice Award, MTV Movie Award, People's Choice Award, Rembrandt Award Walt Disney Video widescreen color Blu-ray/DVD combo [3/2011] 3 disks for $15.49 Walt Disney widescreen color Blu-ray [12/2007] 2 disks for $23.22 Disney widescreen color DVD [12/2007] for $24.49 Disney widescreen color DVD [12/2007] 2 disks for $24.49 Walt Disney Records soundtrack CD [5/2007] for $9.99 full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

more details (synopses, prequel & sequels, docufilms, posters, books, links) on
Magic Lantern's "Pirates of The Caribbean" Movie Series Page

117 "Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets" [Warner Bros. 2002] 44,915,900
details on Magic Lantern's 'Harry Potter' Movies Page

123 "Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull" [Paramount 2008]
by Steven Spielberg 44,164,500

124 "Toy Story" animated feature [Pixar/Disney 1995] 43,868,300

Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" [M.G.M. 1968]
at end of 2011, holds #127 box office ranking, at 43,336,500 tickets

Magic Lantern's "2001: A Space Odyssey" [1968] Movie Page
Magic Lantern's Stanley Kubrick [1928-99] Page

133 "Rocky III" [United Artists 1982] 42,513,300
Magic Lantern's 'Rocky' Movies Page

134 "Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix" [Warner Bros. 2007] 42,442,500
details on Magic Lantern's 'Harry Potter' Movies Page

136 "Batman Forever" [Warner Bros. 1995] 42,306,000

149 "Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince" [Warner Bros. 2009] 40,471,100
details on Magic Lantern's 'Harry Potter' Movies Page

151 "Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban" [Warner Bros. 2004] 40,183,700
details on Magic Lantern's 'Harry Potter' Movies Page

161 "Beverly Hills Cop II" [Paramount 1987] 39,300,500

164 "Batman Returns" [Warner Bros. 1992] 39,236,600

182 "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Part 1" [Warner Bros. 2010] 36,867,300
details on Magic Lantern's 'Harry Potter' Movies Page

189 James Bond in "You Only Live Twice" [United Artists 1967] 35,904,000

194 "Rocky IV" [United Artists 1985] 35,387,300
Magic Lantern's 'Rocky' Movies Page

B o o k s

	"All Time Box Office Hits" [1985] by Joel Finler Columbus Books, Ltd. pb [11/85] out of print/used Gallery Books 11½x9 hardcover [11/85] out of print/many used
	"The Hollywood Reporter Book of Box Office Hits: A Year-By-Year, Behind-The-Camera Look At Hollywood's Most Successful Movies, 1939 To Present" [1996] by Susan Sackett 1939-1995: Watson-Guptill 9x6¾ pb [5/96] out of print/used 1939-1988: Watson-Guptill 9x7 pb [3/90] out of print/many used
	"Open Wide: How Hollywood Box Office Became A National Obsession" [2004] by Dade Hayes & Jonathan Bing Miramax Books bargain price 7¾x5 pb [5/2006] for $5.58 Miramax Books 8¼x6 hardcover [9/] for $23.95

L i n k s
data source for Bollywood list at Ask.com
primary 1-200 data source at Box Office Mojo website
foreign-language 1-50 data source at Box Office Mojo website
data source for China 1-20 list at The Numbers website
data source for Japan 1-50 list at The Numbers website

here on the Magic Lantern Video & Book Store Box Office Hits Pages

on page 1: top of page • the list of hit films, 1-50 • more hit films, 51-100 • books • links

on page 2: top of page • hit foreign-language films • hit films of China • Bollywood • Japan

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