32 Movies You Might Not Know Made Over $500 Million At The Box Office

As a film critic with a background in European cinema, I’ve seen my fair share of critically acclaimed masterpieces that left audiences and box offices underwhelmed. But every now and then, a movie comes along that defies expectations and rakes in the dough despite its mixed reception from critics and audiences alike.

Many films, such as “Avatar,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Titanic,” have raked in enormous profits at the box office, surpassing the $2 billion mark each. Yet, there are other films with impressive theatrical earnings that often go unrecognized. According to Box Office Mojo, these 32 movies generated over $500 million in revenue.

The Smurfs (2011)

Have you recalled the 2011 movie named “The Smurfs,” which featured Neil Patrick Harris and the iconic blue Smurf characters from the old cartoon series? If not, you might be astonished to discover this seemingly overlooked production raked in an impressive $564 million at the box office. A significant portion of that earnings came from international sales, but the figure is still remarkable.

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)

As a dedicated fan of the Indiana Jones series, I must admit that The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull from 2008 wasn’t my favorite installment. However, I can’t deny its impressive box office success with an astonishing $787 million in global revenues. It seems that people flocked to cinemas in droves to catch a glimpse of their beloved hero, even if it had been nearly 20 years since the last adventure.

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

I remember being really excited about Mission: Impossible II back in 2000, even if some people view it as the weakest entry in the Tom Cruise action series today. It’s hard to deny the fact that the movie was a massive success at the box office, raking in an impressive $546 million worldwide during its theatrical run.

The Grinch (2018)

Animated films have long been known to bring in large sums of money, and this was true for Illumination’s 2018 version of Dr. Seuss’ Christmas tale, “The Grinch.” This film, which may have slipped your mind, raked in an impressive $540 million towards the end of 2018.

The Passion Of The Christ (2004)

I was thoroughly engrossed by Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” when it graced our screens in the early 2000s. The buzz surrounding this film was unrivaled, but I must admit, I had underestimated its box office success. This thought-provoking or debated piece of art raked in an astounding $612 million globally! A significant portion of that revenue came from the US, where church groups reportedly booked entire screenings for their congregations.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

I can’t forget the joy and excitement I felt while watching “Mamma Mia!” with its irresistible ABBA tunes, lighthearted take on musical theater, and an amazing ensemble of actors. What sometimes slips my mind is the impressive box office revenue it generated, totaling $695 million. A considerable chunk of that sum came from international audiences, yet there’s no disputing this heartwarming Greek-inspired romantic story was a triumphant hit.

Ted (2012)

In the summer of 2012, the box office saw great success with movies such as “The Avengers” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” However, nestled between these superhero blockbusters was another major box office sensation: “Ted,” a raunchy comedy by Seth MacFarlane about a man and his beloved stuffed bear. This unconventional film amused audiences immensely, raking in an impressive $549 million by the end of its run.

Cinderella (2015)

Over the last ten years or so, Disney has released a large number of live-action adaptations that have been widely discussed. Yet, the 2015 Cinderella movie, starring Lily James, is sometimes overlooked. Despite not reaching the same level of success as films like The Lion King and The Jungle Book, this fantasy production generated an impressive global revenue of $542 million.

The Meg (2018)

As a longtime fan of thrilling action movies and underwater adventures, I can confidently say that people have a soft spot for both Jason Statham’s films and shark-centric thrillers. The massive success of “The Meg” (2018), which grossed an impressive $529 million at the box office just over five years ago, is a testament to this fact. Although its sequel didn’t quite reach the same heights, it still performed exceptionally well, further proving the enduring appeal of these types of movies.

Meet The Fockers (2004)

You won’t be criticized if you haven’t recalled a thing from “Meet the Fockers,” the 2004 follow-up to the 2000 comedy “Meet the Parents” starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. This is all the more understandable considering the movie’s impressive global box office collection of $523 million.

World War Z (2013)

I’m a huge fan of movies with fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, and one such film that comes to mind is “World War Z,” released in the summer of 2013. Production and post-production faced numerous challenges for this Brad Pitt zombie thriller. The early reviews were just okay, but boy, did it surprise us all! Raking in a whopping $540 million worldwide box office, “World War Z” proved that even movies with rocky beginnings can become blockbuster hits.

Night At The Museum (2006)

The “Night at the Museum” film series, featuring Ben Stiller, has generated several follow-ups and provided enjoyable options for family movie nights. It’s no wonder then that this fantasy comedy with a large cast of museum exhibits became a box office success back in 2006, raking in an impressive $574 million. In simpler terms, it made a huge profit.

Life Of Pi (2012)

Although Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” film adaptation from 2012 might seem forgotten or outdated at times, it’s essential not to overlook its remarkable success. With a total earnings of over $609 million globally, this movie brought the acclaimed early 21st-century novel to life in an extraordinary way. Although its domestic box office in the US only amounted to $125 million, its international revenue was truly impressive.

The Croods (2013)

Have you watched “The Croods” (released in 2013), an animated film featuring the voices of Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Nicolas Cage, and Catherine Keener as a prehistoric family? If not, I’d be amazed if I told you that it raked in a staggering $587 million globally during its cinema tenure – sufficient to ignite a franchise encompassing films, TV series, and video games.

The Boss Baby (2017)

The Boss Baby is a movie many of us probably remember for one reason or another, meaning we either watched the Alec Baldwin-led animated film or saw its trailer during our visits to the theater in 2017. Well, the movie was not only a hit, but a massive hit, bringing in a total of $527 million before it finally left the big screen.

Hancock (2008)

It’s surprising to note that in 2008, the Will Smith starrer “Hancock” earned more revenue at the box office than the groundbreaking “Iron Man,” which initiated the Marvel Cinematic Universe and significantly impacted the film industry as we currently recognize it.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

In the first quarter of 2017, “Kong: Skull Island” stood out as the top-grossing film in the Monsterverse franchise. Its box office earnings were impressive, totaling approximately $569 million globally.

The Martian (2015)

As a film enthusiast who has followed the Golden Globes for years, I find it quite astonishing that Ridley Scott’s “The Martian,” released in 2015 and starring Matt Damon, was awarded the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy accolade at the 73rd Golden Globes. To put things into perspective, this movie made an impressive $631 million box office revenue before it even received any significant awards recognition.

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

As a long-time fan of Marvel movies, I must admit that “Thor: The Dark World” didn’t leave me as impressed as some of its predecessors or successors did. When it first came out, there were criticisms that it was a misstep for the franchise, and I shared that sentiment at the time. However, looking back, I’ve come to appreciate some aspects of this film.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

In 2018, the initial Venom film generated over $850 million at the box office. Its successor, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, released in October 2021, managed to earn an impressive $506 million despite the ongoing challenges for cinemas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Men In Black 3 (2012)

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: Men in Black 3 wasn’t a terrible film for me, but it’s hard to believe that the third installment of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones’ franchise would rake in the biggest box office revenue. Released back in 2012, this sci-fi action comedy had an otherworldly earning of $654 million at the box office.

Maleficent (2014)

In 2014, the box office saw tremendous success with hits like “Godzilla,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” and “Interstellar” raking in large sums of money and attracting huge crowds to cinemas globally. Notably, “Maleficent,” starring Angelina Jolie, also joined this profitable list, grossing an impressive $760 million worldwide, ranking among the biggest movies ever made.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

The Da Vinci Code movie featuring Tom Hanks, directed by Ron Howard in 2006, drew massive crowds and grossed an impressive $760 million globally despite being criticized for having one of Tom Hanks’ least flattering on-screen hairstyles.

2012 (2009)

The disaster movie “2012” directed by Roland Emmerich is known for its outrageous destruction scenes, yet it remains incredibly popular with audiences. This film, featuring John Cusack as the leading man, was released in 2009 – a year when many believed the world would come to an end in 2012. Despite this belief, or perhaps because of it, “2012” raked in a massive $791 million at the global box office.

The Secret Life Of Pets (2016)

As a movie enthusiast who has been following the box office trends for years, I find it quite astonishing that I overlooked the massive success of “The Secret Life of Pets” in 2016. With earnings amounting to an impressive $876 million, this animated film by Illumination Entertainment truly left its paw prints all over the industry.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

A wildly inaccurate historical film or a biopic everyone needs to see depending on who you ask, Bohemian Rhapsody was one of the biggest movies of 2018. And while Avengers: Infinity War and Black Panther dominated the box office conversation that year, let’s not forget that the Queen movie made $911 million before it left the big screen.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2018)

The 2018 film “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” fell short of matching the greatness of its predecessor and the beloved “Harry Potter” series, yet it still achieved significant success. After its premiere, this sequel to “Fantastic Beasts” brought in an impressive $656 million at the box office.

Suicide Squad (2016)

David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” (2016) has been criticized heavily for its lack of coherence and inconsistent storyline, appearing more like a compilation of separate films rather than a single unified one. Despite these issues, it managed to rake in an impressive $749 million at the box office.

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: The 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast really knocked it out of the park at the box office, raking in over $500 million. But here’s the mind-blowing part – it went on to earn an additional billion dollars, bringing its total revenue to a staggering $1.2 billion. That’s some serious success right there!

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

As a gamer, I’d say: “I didn’t find Alice in Wonderland (the 2010 Tim Burton adaptation) that great a movie for me personally. But you know what? It sure was a money maker! To the tune of over $1 billion at the box office, which is absolutely mind-blowing.”

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

The film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (2009) is frequently criticized as being among the weakest entries in the Transformers series and one of Michael Bay’s least successful projects. Despite this, it generated impressive earnings of over $836 million at the box office, surpassing its predecessor by over $100 million.

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Although X-Men: Apocalypse didn’t earn as much money as some previous films in the comic book series when it came out in 2016, it still wasn’t a box office flop. The movie, featuring Oscar Isaac portraying a sinister character reminiscent of a certain Power Rangers antagonist, grossed an impressive $544 million during its cinema tenure.

2024-07-19 20:38