Another complication is release in multiple formats for which different ticket prices are charged. One notable example of this phenomenon is Avatar, which was also released in 3D and IMAX: almost two-thirds of tickets for that film were for 3D showings with an average price of $10, and about one-sixth were for IMAX showings with an average price over $14.50, compared to a 2010 average price of $7.61 for 2D films.[55] Social and economic factors such as population change[56] and the growth of international markets[57][58][59] also impact on the number of people purchasing theater tickets, along with audience demographics where some films sell a much higher proportion of discounted children's tickets, or perform better in big cities where tickets cost more.[53]
The measuring system for gauging a film's success is based on unadjusted grosses, mainly because historically this is the way it has always been done because of the practices of the film industry: the box office receipts are compiled by theaters and relayed to the distributor, which in turn releases them to the media.[60] Converting to a more representative system that counts ticket sales rather than gross is also fraught with problems because the only data available for older films are the sale totals.[56] As the motion picture industry is highly oriented towards marketing currently released films, unadjusted figures are always used in marketing campaigns so that new blockbuster films can much more easily achieve a high sales ranking, and thus be promoted as a "top film of all time",[54][61] so there is little incentive to switch to a more robust analysis from a marketing or even newsworthy point of view.[60]
Highest-grossing sci-fi film franchises and film series [§]
(The films in each franchise can be viewed by selecting "show".)
| Rank |
Series |
Total worldwide gross |
No. of films |
Average of films |
Highest-grossing film |
|
| 1 |
Marvel Cinematic UniverseS  |
$22,010,591,408 |
23 |
$956,982,235 |
Avengers: Endgame ($2,772,462,833) |
|
Phase Three |
$12,927,670,019 |
11 |
$1,175,242,729 |
Avengers: Endgame ($2,772,469,552) |
| 1 |
Avengers: Endgame (2019) |
$2,772,469,552
|
| 2 |
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) |
$2,048,359,754
|
| 3 |
Black Panther (2018) |
$1,346,913,161
|
| 4 |
Captain America: Civil War (2016) |
$1,153,304,495
|
| 5 |
Captain Marvel (2019) |
$1,128,274,794
|
| 6 |
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) |
$880,166,924
|
| 7 |
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) |
$863,756,051
|
| 8 |
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) |
$853,977,126
|
| 9 |
Doctor Strange (2016) |
$677,718,395
|
| 10 |
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) |
$622,674,139
|
| 11 |
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) |
$580,055,628 |
|
|
Phase Two |
$5,271,691,209 |
6 |
$878,615,202 |
Avengers: Age of Ultron ($1,405,403,694) |
| 1 |
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) |
$1,405,403,694
|
| 2 |
Iron Man 3 (2013) |
$1,214,811,252
|
| 3 |
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) |
$773,328,629
|
| 4 |
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) |
$714,264,267
|
| 5 |
Thor: The Dark World (2013) |
$644,571,402
|
| 6 |
Ant-Man (2015) |
$519,311,965 |
|
|
Phase One |
$3,811,244,484 |
6 |
$635,207,414 |
The Avengers ($1,518,812,988) |
| 1 |
The Avengers (2012) |
$1,518,812,988
|
| 2 |
Iron Man 2 (2010) |
$623,933,331
|
| 3 |
Iron Man (2008) |
$585,174,222
|
| 4 |
Thor (2011) |
$449,326,618
|
| 5 |
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) |
$370,569,774
|
| 6 |
The Incredible Hulk (2008) |
$263,427,551 |
|
|
|
2
|
Star Wars |
$9,241,699,398 |
11 |
$840,154,491 |
The Force Awakens ($2,068,223,624) |
|
Episodes |
$7,724,434,474 |
8 |
$965,554,309 |
The Force Awakens ($2,068,223,624) |
|
Sequel trilogy |
$3,400,763,513 |
2 |
$1,700,381,757 |
The Force Awakens ($2,068,223,624) |
| 1 |
VII – The Force Awakens (2015) |
$2,068,223,624
|
| 2 |
VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) |
$1,332,539,889 |
|
|
Prequel trilogy |
$2,525,197,773 |
3 |
$841,732,591 |
The Phantom Menace ($1,027,044,677) |
| 1 |
I – The Phantom Menace (1999) |
$1,027,044,677
|
| 2 |
III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) |
$848,754,768
|
| 3 |
II – Attack of the Clones (2002) |
$649,398,328 |
|
|
Original trilogy |
$1,798,473,188 |
3 |
$599,491,063 |
A New Hope ($775,398,007) |
| 1 |
IV – A New Hope (1977) |
$775,398,007
|
| 2 |
V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) |
$547,969,004
|
| 3 |
VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) |
$475,106,177 |
|
|
|
Anthology films |
$1,448,982,080 |
2 |
$724,491,040 |
Rogue One ($1,056,057,273) |
| 1 |
Rogue One (2016) |
$1,056,057,273
|
| 2 |
Solo (2018) |
$392,924,807 |
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
Avengers |
$7,745,045,988 |
4 |
$1,936,261,497 |
Endgame ($2,772,462,833) |
| 1 |
Endgame (2019) |
$2,772,469,552
|
| 2 |
Infinity War (2018) |
$2,048,359,754
|
| 3 |
The Avengers (2012) |
$1,518,812,988
|
| 4 |
Age of Ultron (2015) |
$1,405,403,694 |
|
| 4 |
Spider-Man |
$6,660,598,883 |
9 |
$740,066,543 |
Spider-Man 3 ($890,871,626) |
|
Raimi series |
$2,502,979,488 |
3 |
$834,326,496 |
Spider-Man 3 ($890,871,626) |
| 1 |
Spider-Man 3 (2007) |
$890,871,626
|
| 2 |
Spider-Man (2002) |
$821,708,551
|
| 3 |
Spider-Man 2 (2004) |
$783,766,341
|
| 4 |
Spider-Man/Men in Black II (combo) |
$6,632,970 |
|
|
Webb series |
$1,466,912,986 |
2 |
$733,456,493 |
The Amazing Spider-Man ($757,930,663) |
| 1 |
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) |
$757,930,663
|
| 2 |
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) |
$708,982,323 |
|
|
Marvel Cinematic Universe |
$1,460,222,552 |
2 |
$730,111,276 |
Homecoming ($880,166,924) |
| 1 |
Homecoming (2017) |
$880,166,924
|
| 2 |
Far From Home (2019) |
$580,055,628 |
|
|
Venom (2018)' |
$855,013,954 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
Jurassic Park |
$4,998,557,380 |
5 |
$999,711,476 |
Jurassic World ($1,671,713,208) |
|
Jurassic World trilogy |
$2,981,197,669 |
2 |
$1,490,598,835 |
Jurassic World ($1,671,713,208) |
| 1 |
Jurassic World (2015) |
$1,671,713,208
|
| 2 |
Fallen Kingdom (2018) |
$1,309,484,461 |
|
|
Jurassic Park trilogy |
$2,017,359,711 |
4 |
$504,339,928 |
Jurassic Park ($1,029,939,903) |
| 1 |
Jurassic Park (1993) |
$1,029,939,903
|
| 2 |
The Lost World (1997) |
$618,638,999
|
| 3 |
Jurassic Park III (2001) |
$368,780,809 |
|
|
|
6
|
Transformers |
$4,844,649,269 |
7 |
$692,092,753 |
Dark of the Moon ($1,123,794,079) |
|
Live-action series |
$4,847,276,426 |
6 |
$807,879,404 |
Dark of the Moon ($1,123,794,079) |
| 1 |
Dark of the Moon (2011) |
$1,123,794,079
|
| 2 |
Age of Extinction (2014) |
$1,104,054,072
|
| 3 |
Revenge of the Fallen (2009) |
$836,303,693
|
| 4 |
Transformers (2007) |
$709,709,780
|
| 5 |
The Last Knight (2017) |
$605,425,157
|
| 6 |
Bumblebee (2018) |
$467,989,645 |
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
The Hunger Games |
$2,968,191,442 |
4 |
$742,047,861 |
Catching Fire ($865,011,746) |
| 1 |
Catching Fire (2013) |
$865,011,746
|
| 2 |
Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) |
$755,356,711
|
| 3 |
The Hunger Games (2012) |
$694,394,724
|
| 4 |
Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) |
$653,428,261 |
|
| 8 |
Iron Man |
$2,423,918,805 |
3 |
$807,972,935 |
Iron Man 3 ($1,214,811,252) |
| 1 |
Iron Man 3 (2013) |
$1,214,811,252
|
| 2 |
Iron Man 2 (2010) |
$623,933,331
|
| 3 |
Iron Man (2008) |
$585,174,222 |
|
|
9
|
Star Trek |
$2,266,723,196 |
13 |
$174,363,323 |
Into Darkness ($467,381,584) |
|
Kelvin Timeline |
$1,189,710,370 |
3 |
$396,570,123 |
Into Darkness ($467,381,584) |
| 1 |
Into Darkness (2013) |
$467,381,584
|
| 2 |
Star Trek (2009) |
$385,680,446
|
| 3 |
Beyond (2016) |
$336,648,340 |
|
|
The Original Series |
$621,900,000 |
6 |
$103,650,000 |
The Motion Picture ($139,000,000) |
| 1 |
The Motion Picture (1979) |
$139,000,000
|
| 2 |
IV: The Voyage Home (1986) |
$133,000,000
|
| 3 |
VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) |
$96,900,000
|
| 4 |
II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) |
$95,800,000
|
| 5 |
III: The Search for Spock (1984) |
$87,000,000
|
| 6 |
V: The Final Frontier (1989) |
$70,200,000 |
|
|
The Next Generation |
$455,112,826 |
4 |
$113,778,207 |
First Contact ($150,000,000) |
| 1 |
First Contact (1996) |
$150,000,000
|
| 2 |
Generations (1994) |
$120,000,000
|
| 3 |
Insurrection (1998) |
$117,800,000
|
| 4 |
Nemesis (2002) |
$67,312,826 |
|
|
| 10 |
Captain America |
$2,238,138,536 |
3 |
$746,046,179 |
Civil War ($1,153,304,495) |
| 1 |
Civil War (2016) |
$1,153,304,495
|
| 2 |
The Winter Soldier (2014) |
$714,264,267
|
| 3 |
The First Avenger (2011) |
$370,569,774 |
|
|
11
|
Planet of the Apes |
$2,203,568,141 |
9 |
$244,840,905 |
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ($708,835,589) |
|
Reboot series (Chernin Entertainment) |
$1,863,556,401 |
3 |
$621,185,467 |
Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($708,835,589) |
| 1 |
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) |
$708,835,589
|
| 2 |
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) |
$490,719,763
|
| 3 |
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) |
$481,801,049 |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
Godzilla / Gojira |
$2,121,763,804 |
35 |
$60,621,823 |
Godzilla ($529,076,069) |
|
American films (1998–2019) |
$1,286,547,608 |
3 |
$428,849,203 |
Godzilla ($529,076,069) |
| 1 |
Godzilla (2014)[70] |
$529,076,069
|
| 2 |
Godzilla (1998)[71] |
$379,014,861
|
| 3 |
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) [72] |
$378,456,678 |
|
|
|
|
| 13 |
Thor |
$1,945,408,441 |
3 |
$648,469,480 |
Ragnarok ($851,510,421) |
| 1 |
Ragnarok (2017) |
$851,510,421
|
| 2 |
The Dark World (2013) |
$644,571,402
|
| 3 |
Thor (2011) |
$449,326,618 |
|
|
14
|
Men in Black |
$1,906,359,037 |
4 |
$476,589,759 |
Men in Black 3 ($624,026,776) |
| 1 |
Men in Black 3 (2012) |
$624,026,776
|
| 2 |
Men in Black (1997) |
$589,390,539
|
| 3 |
Men in Black II (2002) |
$441,818,803
|
| 4 |
Men in Black: International (2019) |
$244,489,949
|
| 5 |
Men in Black II/Spider-Man (combo) |
$6,632,970 |
|
|
15
|
Terminator |
$1,844,580,004 |
5 |
$368,916,001 |
Judgment Day ($520,881,154) |
| 1 |
Judgment Day (1991) |
$520,881,154
|
| 2 |
Genisys (2015) |
$440,603,537
|
| 3 |
Rise of the Machines (2003) |
$433,371,112
|
| 4 |
Salvation (2009) |
$371,353,001
|
| 5 |
The Terminator (1984) |
$78,371,200 |
|
|
16
|
Guardians of the Galaxy |
$1,637,067,377 |
2 |
$818,533,689 |
Vol.2 ($863,738,748) |
| 1 |
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) |
$863,738,748
|
| 2 |
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) |
$773,328,629 |
|
|
17
|
The Matrix |
$1,632,989,142 |
3 |
$544,329,714 |
The Matrix Reloaded ($742,128,461) |
| 1 |
The Matrix Reloaded (2003) |
$742,128,461
|
| 2 |
The Matrix (1999) |
$463,517,383
|
| 3 |
The Matrix Revolutions (2003) |
$427,343,298 |
|
|
18
|
Alien |
$1,502,857,995 |
7 |
$214,693,999 |
Prometheus ($403,354,469) |
| 1 |
Prometheus (2012) |
$403,354,469
|
| 2 |
Covenant (2017) |
$240,891,763
|
| 3 |
Alien vs. Predator (2004) |
$172,544,654
|
| 4 |
Resurrection (1997) |
$161,376,068
|
| 5 |
Alien 3 (1992) |
$159,814,498
|
| 6 |
Aliens (1986) |
$131,060,248
|
| 7 |
Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem (2007) |
$128,884,494
|
| 8 |
Alien (1979) |
$104,931,801 |
|
|
19
|
Resident Evil / Biohazard |
$1,237,686,980 |
9 |
$137,520,776 |
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ($312,257,250) |
|
Live-action series |
$1,233,229,454 |
6 |
$205,538,242 |
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ($312,257,250) |
| 1 |
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)[73] |
$312,257,250
|
| 2 |
Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)[74] |
$300,228,084
|
| 3 |
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)[75] |
$240,004,424
|
| 4 |
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)[76] |
$148,412,065
|
| 5 |
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)[77] |
$129,342,769
|
| 6 |
Resident Evil (2002)[78] |
$102,984,862 |
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
Independence Day |
$1,207,082,826 |
2 |
$603,541,413 |
Independence Day ($817,400,891) |
| 1 |
Independence Day (1996) |
$817,400,891
|
| 2 |
Resurgence (2004) |
$389,681,935 |
|
| 21 |
Ant-Man |
$1,141,986,104 |
2 |
$570,993,052 |
Ant-Man and the Wasp ($622,674,139) |
| 1 |
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) |
$622,674,139
|
| 2 |
Ant-Man (2015) |
$519,311,965 |
|
|
22
|
Back to the Future |
$970,381,382 |
3 |
$323,460,461 |
Back to the Future ($389,053,797) |
| 1 |
Back to the Future (1985) |
$389,053,797
|
| 2 |
Back to the Future Part II (1989) |
$331,950,002
|
| 3 |
Back to the Future Part III (1990) |
$244,527,583
|
| 4 |
Back to the Future Day (2015) |
$4,850,000 |
|
|
23
|
Maze Runner |
$948,906,705 |
3 |
$316,302,235 |
The Maze Runner ($348,319,861) |
| 1 |
The Maze Runner (2014) |
$348,319,861
|
| 2 |
The Scorch Trials (2015) |
$312,325,103
|
| 3 |
The Death Cure (2018) |
$288,261,741 |
|
|
24
|
Pacific Rim |
$701,933,054 |
2 |
$350,966,527 |
Pacific Rim ($411,002,906) |
| 1 |
Pacific Rim (2014) |
$411,002,906
|
| 2 |
Uprising (2018) |
$290,930,148 |
|
|
25
|
G.I. Joe |
$678,209,722 |
2 |
$339,104,861 |
Retaliation ($375,740,705) |
| 1 |
Retaliation (2013) |
$375,740,705
|
| 2 |
The Rise of Cobra (2009) |
$302,469,017 |
|
The following is a list of the highest worldwide openings for sci-fi films.
Includes revenue from re-releases. If a film increased its gross through re-releases while holding the record, the year in which it recorded its highest gross is also noted in italics.
