Every time a new blockbuster hits theaters, the question always seems to be how it will stack up to the highest grossing movies of all time. Most of those blockbusters fall short thanks to the incredibly high standards their predecessors have set. From big screen adaptations of comic books to sweeping romance stories set aboard ill fated ships, the highest grossing films of all time are certainly a mixed lot at best. I love some of the movies on this list. Others? Well, not so much. I’ll keep my opinions out of this one though. Before we begin, a word about the list. The figures on this list are based on box office numbers alone via Box Office Mojo. All numbers are current as of February 1, 2013. These figures do not include rentals, DVD sales or Blu-Ray sales. It boggles the mind that with those figures factored in, the numbers would be even higher.
25: Spider-Man 3
Released: 2007
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $151, 116, 516
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $336, 530, 303
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $890, 871, 626
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFhCLiGvb08
24: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Released: 2005
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $102, 685, 961
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $290, 013, 036
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $896,911,078
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5gbNtYw9KA
23: Jurassic Park
Released: 1993
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $47, 026, 828
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $357, 067, 947
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $914,691,118
22: Shrek 2
Released: 2004
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $108, 037, 878
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $441, 226, 247
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $919,838,758
21: Finding Nemo
Released: 2003
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $70, 251, 710
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $380, 843, 261
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $921,049,815
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBNSOdEjtZs
20: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Released: 2002
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $62, 007, 528
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $342, 551, 365
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $926,047,111
19: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Released: 2009
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $77, 835, 727
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $301, 959, 197
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $934,416,487
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQAX-YwX6iM
18: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Released: 2007
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $77, 108, 414
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $292, 004, 738
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $939,885,929
17: The Lion King
Released: 1994
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $40, 888, 194
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $422, 783, 777
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $951,583,777
16: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
Released: 2010
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $125, 017, 372
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $295, 983, 305
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $956,399,711
15: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Released: 2007
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $114, 732, 820
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $309, 420, 425
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $963,420,425
14: Harry Potter and the Scorceror’s Stone
Released: 2001
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $90, 294, 621
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $317, 575, 550
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $974,755,371
13: The Dark Knight
Released: 2008
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $158, 411, 483
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $534, 858, 444
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,004,558,444
12: Alice In Wonderland
Released: 2010
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $116, 101, 023
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $334, 191, 110
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,024,299,904
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfT56H6nH3A
11: Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
Released: 1999
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $64, 820, 970
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $474, 544, 677
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,027,044,677
10: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Released: 2011
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $90, 151, 958
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $241, 071, 802
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,043,871,802
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DikskwvTr34
09: Toy Story 3
Released: 2010
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $110, 307, 189
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $415, 004, 880
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,063,171,911
08: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Released: 2006
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $135, 634, 554
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $423, 315, 812
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,066,179,725
07: The Dark Knight Rises
Released: 2012
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $160, 887, 295
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $448, 139, 099
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,077,694,498
06: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Released: 2003
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $72, 629, 713
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $377, 845, 905
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,119,929,521
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPFURb5S_sQ
05: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Released: 2011
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $97, 852, 865
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $352, 390, 543
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,123,746,996
04: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Released: 2011
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $169, 189, 427
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $381, 011, 219
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $$1,328,111,219
03: The Avengers
Released: 2012
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $207, 438, 708
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $623, 357, 910
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $1,511,757,910
02: Titanic
Released: 1997
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $28, 638, 131
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $658, 672, 302
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $2,185,372,302
01: Avatar
Released: 2009
Opening Weekend (Domestic): $47, 026, 828
Total Box Office Take (Domestic): $760, 507, 625
Total Box Office Take (Worldwide): $2,782,275,172
