List of highest-grossing science fiction films
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The following is a list of highest-grossing science fiction films of all time.
Highest-grossing sci-fi films
The following is a list of the highest-grossing science fiction films of all time. The top 12 are among the highest-grossing films of all time. Superhero films often have some science-fiction elements but are not included here, as they have their own list.
- † Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing 8 May 2026 in theaters around the world.
Highest-grossing films adjusted for inflation
Because of the long-term effects of inflation, notably the significant increase of movie theater ticket prices, the list unadjusted for inflation gives far more weight to later films.[51] The unadjusted list, while commonly found in the press, is therefore largely meaningless for comparing films widely separated in time, as many films from earlier eras will never appear on a modern unadjusted list, despite achieving higher commercial success when adjusted for price increases.[52] To compensate for the devaluation of the currency, some charts make adjustments for inflation, but not even this practice fully addresses the issue, since ticket prices and inflation do not necessarily parallel one another. For example, in 1970, tickets cost $1.55 or about $6.68 in inflation-adjusted 2004 dollars; by 1980, prices had risen to about $2.69, a drop to $5.50 in inflation-adjusted 2004 dollars.[53] Ticket prices have also risen at different rates of inflation around the world, further complicating the process of adjusting worldwide grosses.[51]
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.[54] Social and economic factors such as population change[55] and the growth of international markets[56][57][58] also have an effect 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.[52]
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.[59] 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.[55] 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",[53][60] so there is little incentive to switch to a more robust analysis from a marketing or even newsworthy point of view.[59]
Despite the inherent difficulties in accounting for inflation, several attempts have been made. Estimates depend on the price index used to adjust the grosses,[60] and the exchange rates used to convert between currencies can also affect the calculations, both of which can have an effect on the ultimate rankings of an inflation adjusted list. Gone with the Wind—first released in 1939—is generally considered to be the most successful film, with Guinness World Records in 2014 estimating its adjusted global gross at $3.4 billion. Estimates for Gone with the Wind's adjusted gross have varied substantially: its owner, Turner Entertainment, estimated its adjusted earnings at $3.3 billion in 2007, a few years earlier than the Guinness estimate;[61] other estimates fall either side of this amount, with one putting its gross just under $3 billion in 2010,[62] while another provided an alternative figure of $3.8 billion in 2006.[63] Which film is Gone with the Wind's nearest rival depends on the set of figures used: Guinness had Avatar in second place with $3 billion, while other estimates saw Titanic in the runner-up spot with first-run worldwide earnings of almost $2.9 billion at 2010 prices.[62]
| Rank | Title | Worldwide gross (2024 $) |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avatar | A1$4,056,000,000 | 2009 |
| 2 | Star Wars | $3,652,000,000 | 1977 |
| 3 | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | ET$2,990,000,000 | 1982 |
| 4 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | TFA$2,642,000,000 | 2015 |
| 5 | Avatar: The Way of Water | TFA$2,452,000,000 | 2022 |
InfInflation adjustment is carried out using the Consumer price index for advanced economies published by the International Monetary Fund.[65] The index is uniformly applied to the grosses in the chart published by Guinness World Records in 2014, beginning with the 2014 index. The figures in the above chart take into account inflation that occurred in 2014, and in every available year since then, through 2022.
A1The adjusted gross for Avatar includes revenue from the original release and all four reissues. The original release and 2010 Special Edition grosses are adjusted from the Guinness base year, whilst the 2020 and 2021 grosses are adjusted from the 2021 index and the 2022 gross from 2022.[66]
TFAThe gross for Star Wars: The Force Awakens is adjusted from the 2016 index.
Timeline of highest-grossing sci-fi films
Star Wars is the only franchise to hold it on multiple occasions doing so twice in 1977 and 1999, while Steven Spielberg is the only director to hold it on multiple occasions doing so twice in 1983 and 1993.
Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park and Avatar all became the highest grossing films of all time upon the release. Avatar briefly lost it in 2019 to Avengers: Endgame before taking it back with a 2021 re-issue.
| Established | Title | Record setting gross | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea | $28,200,000* | [# 1] |
| 1968 | Planet of the Apes | $32,600,000* | [# 2] |
| 1970 | 2001: A Space Odyssey | $138,000,000–193,000,000 | [# 3] |
| 1978[67][68] | Star Wars | $410,000,000/$268,500,000R | [# 4][# 5] |
| 1982 | $530,000,000 ‡ | [# 6] | |
| 1983[69] | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | $619,000,000–664,000,000 | [# 6][# 7] |
| 1985 | $701,000,000 ‡ | [# 8] | |
| 1993 | Jurassic Park | $914,691,118 | [# 9] |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | $924,317,558 | [# 10] |
| 2010[70][71] | Avatar | $2,743,577,587 | [# 11] |
| $2,788,416,135 ‡ | |||
| 2021[72] | $2,847,397,339 ‡ | ||
| 2022 | $2,923,706,026 ‡ |
RDistributor rental.
*U.S. and Canada gross only
‡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.
Highest-grossing sci-fi film franchises and film series
The following is a list of highest-grossing sci-fi film franchises and film series of all time. The top four are among the highest-grossing franchises of all time. Star Wars sits top with a total gross of $10.3B, while Avatar has the best average of any science fiction series at $2.25B.
- † Background shading indicates that at least one film in the series is playing in the week commencing 8 May 2026 in theaters around the world.
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*Canada and U.S. gross only.
RDistributor rental.
Highest grossing sci-fi films by year
| Year | Film | Gross | Budget | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Project Hail Mary † | $643,672,721 | $200,000,000 | [35] |
| 2025 | Avatar: Fire and Ash † | $1,485,999,890 | $400,000,000 | [5] |
| 2024 | Dune: Part Two | $714,844,358 | $190,000,000 | [84] |
| 2023 | Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | $441,381,193 | $195,000,000–200,000,000 | [85][86] |
| 2022 | Avatar: The Way of Water | $2,334,484,620 ($2,320,250,281) | $350,000,000–460,000,000 | [87] |
| 2021 | Hi, Mom | $839,098,445 | $59,000,000 | [88][89] |
| 2020 | Tenet | $365,304,105 | $205,000,000 | [90][91] |
| 2019 | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | $1,074,144,248 | $275,000,000–416,000,000 | [92][93] |
| 2018 | Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | $1,308,467,944 | $170,000,000–431,600,000 | [94][95][96] |
| 2017 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | $1,332,539,889 | $200,000,000–317,000,000 | [97][98][99] |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | $1,056,057,273 | $200,000,000–265,000,000 | [100][101][102] |
| 2015 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | $2,068,223,624 | $447,000,000 | [103][104][105] |
| 2014 | Transformers: Age of Extinction | $1,104,039,076 | $210,000,000 | [106] |
| 2013 | The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | $865,011,746 | $130,000,000–140,000,000 | [18][107][108][109] |
| 2012 | The Hunger Games | $694,394,724 | $78,000,000 | [110][111] |
| 2011 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | $1,123,794,079 | $195,000,000 | [112][113][114] |
| 2010 | Inception | $836,836,967 ($825,532,764) | $160,000,000 | [115] |
| 2009 | Avatar | $2,923,706,026 ($2,743,577,587) | $237,000,000 | [116] |
| 2008 | WALL-E | $521,311,890 | $180,000,000 | [117] |
| 2007 | Transformers | $709,709,780 | $150,000,000–200,000,000 | [30] |
| 2006 | Déjà Vu | $180,557,550 | $75,000,000 | [118] |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | $905,595,947 ($849,997,605) | $113,000,000 | [119] |
| 2004 | The Day After Tomorrow | $552,639,571 | $125,000,000 | [46] |
| 2003 | Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines | $433,371,112 | $187,300,000 | [120] |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones | $653,779,970 | $115,000,000 | [121] |
| 2001 | Jurassic Park III | $368,780,809 | $93,000,000 | [122] |
| 2000 | Hollow Man | $190,213,455 | $95,000,000 | [123] |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | $1,046,386,656 ($924,305,084) | $115,000,000 | [124] |
| 1998 | Armageddon | $553,709,788 | $140,000,000 | [125] |
| 1997 | The Lost World: Jurassic Park | $618,638,999 | $73,000,000 | [126] |
| 1996 | Independence Day | $817,400,891 | $75,000,000 | [127] |
| 1995 | Waterworld | $264,218,220 | $172,000,000–175,000,000 | [128] |
| 1994 | Stargate | $196,567,262 | $55,000,000 | [129] |
| 1993 | Jurassic Park | $1,033,928,303 ($912,667,947) | $63,000,000 | [130] |
| 1992 | Alien 3 | $159,814,498 | $50,000,000–60,000,000 | [131] |
| 1991 | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | $520,881,154 | $94,000,000–102,000,000 | [132] |
| 1990 | Total Recall | $261,317,921 | $48,000,000–80,000,000 | [133] |
| 1989 | Back to the Future Part II | $331,950,002 | $40,000,000 | [134] |
| 1988 | Alien Nation | $32,155,047 | $16,000,000 | [135] |
| 1987 | Predator | $98,268,458 | $15,000,000–18,000,000 | [136] |
| 1986 | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | $133,000,000 | $26,000,000 | [137] |
| 1985 | Back to the Future | $389,053,797 ($381,109,762) | $19,000,000 | [138] |
| 1984 | Ghostbusters | $296,187,079 ($229,242,989) | $25,000,000–30,000,000 | [139] |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | $475,106,177 ($385,845,197) | $32,500,000–42,700,000 | [140] |
| 1982 | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | $792,910,554 ($619,000,000–664,000,000) | $10,500,000 | [141] |
| 1981 | Time Bandits | $42,368,025 ($42,365,581) | $5,000,000 | [142] |
| 1980 | The Empire Strikes Back | $538,375,067 ($413,562,607) | $30,500,000 | [143] |
| 1979 | Star Trek: The Motion Picture | $139,000,000 | $44,000,000 | [144] |
| 1978 | Invasion of the Body Snatchers | $24,946,533 | $3,500,000 | [145] |
| 1977 | Star Wars | $775,398,007 ($530,000,000) | $11,000,000 | [146] |
| 1976 | Logan's Run | $25,000,000 | $7,000,000–8,000,000 | [147] |
| 1975 | Rollerball | $30,000,000 | $5,000,000–6,000,000 | [148] |
Highest-grossing opening weekends for sci-fi films
The following is a list of the highest worldwide openings for sci-fi films.
| Rank | Film | Worldwide opening | Year | Ref[149] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | $528,966,675 | 2015 | [150] |
| 2 | Jurassic World | $524,909,010 | [151] | |
| 3 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | $450,821,889 | 2017 | [152] |
| 4 | Avatar: The Way of Water | $441,703,887 | 2022 | [153] |
| 5 | Jurassic World Dominion | $386,000,000 | [154] | |
| 6 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | $382,425,000 | 2011 | |
| 7 | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | $373,500,000 | 2019 | [155] |
| 8 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | $347,335,518 | 2025 | |
| 9 | Lilo & Stitch | $341,000,000 | [156] | |
| 10 | Jurassic World Rebirth | $322,099,000 | [157] |
Box office admissions
The following is a list of sci-fi films that sold over 70 million tickets.
| Film | Year | Known ticket sales (est.) | Territories with known ticket sales data[a] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope | 1977 | 338,400,000 | Worldwide | [64] |
| E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | 1982 | 276,700,000 | Worldwide | [64] |
| Avatar | 2009 | 238,600,000 | Worldwide | [64] |
| Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens | 2015 | 196,584,093 | USA, Canada, Europe, Morocco, China, South Korea | [b] |
| Jurassic Park | 1993 | 165,447,929 | USA, Canada, Brazil, Europe, China, India | [c] |
| Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | 1999 | 157,000,804 | USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Seoul | [d] |
| Jurassic World | 2015 | 152,003,952 | USA, Canada, Europe, Morocco, China, South Korea | [e] |
| Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back | 1980 | 129,984,978 | USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Seoul | [f] |
| Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi | 1983 | 126,255,825 | USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Seoul | [g] |
| Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi | 2017 | 126,062,216 | USA, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea | [h] |
| Independence Day | 1996 | 120,752,312 | USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Seoul | [i] |
| Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | 2016 | 111,452,976 | USA, Canada, China, Europe, Japan | [j] |
| The Wandering Earth | 2019 | 104,027,044 | China, United States, Canada | [k] |
| Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | 2005 | 98,302,094 | Worldwide | [197] |
| Ghostbusters | 1984 | 82,375,218 | USA, Canada, Europe, Seoul | [l] |
| Close Encounters of the Third Kind | 1977 | 74,596,637 | [m] |
See also
Notes
- "Box Office Information for '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'". The Numbers. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- "Planet of the Apes (1968)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- Miller, Frank. "The Critics' Corner on 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY". Turner Classic Movies. Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- Harmetz, Aljean (May 18, 1980). "The Saga Beyond 'Star Wars'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
"Star Wars" has brought 20th Century-Fox approximately $250 million in film rentals ... "Star Wars" grossed $410 million, and his share was enough to allow him to finance its sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back," himself.
Alt URL - Block, Alex Ben; Wilson, Lucy Autrey (30 March 2010). George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success. Harper Collins. p. 527. ISBN 978-0-06-196345-2..
- Star Wars: "Domestic Rentals: $127.0; Foreign Rentals: $141.5; Production Cost: $13.0 (Initial Release – Unadjusted $s in Millions of $s)."
- Wuntch, Philip (July 19, 1985). "Return of E.T.". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
Its worldwide box-office gross was $619 million, toppling the record of $530 million set by Star Wars.
- Block & Wilson 2010, p. 609. "Steven Spielberg, by far the most successful director of the decade, had the highest-grossing movie with 1982's E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, which grossed over $664 million in worldwide box office on initial release."
- "Jurassic Park (1993) – Miscellaneous notes". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- Jurassic Park
- Total: "Jurassic Park (1993)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
Worldwide: $1,029,153,882; Production Budget: $63 million
- Original release: "Jurassic Park (1993)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
$914,691,118
- 2011 re-release: "Jurassic Park (2011 re-release)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
United Kingdom: $786,021
- As of 2010: Block & Wilson 2010, pp. 756–757. "Production Cost: $70.0 (Unadjusted $s in Millions of $s) ... Jurassic Park was a smash at the box office, bringing in $920 million in worldwide box office and spawning two sequels."
- Total: "Jurassic Park (1993)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Total: "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
$1,027,044,677
- Original release: "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
$924,317,558
- Total: "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- "Avatar (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
Worldwide: $2,923,706,026
Original Release: $2,743,577,587
2010 Special Edition: $44,838,548
2020 Re-release: $1,281,204
2021 Re-release: $57,995,770
2022 Re-release: $76,012,917
- Box office territories for which the film's ticket sales data are currently known
