Every Movie To Break $1 Billion at the Box Office Since Covid

by

As a cinephile who has spent countless hours lost in the magic of the silver screen, I must admit that the box office success stories of recent years have left me utterly spellbound. The latest addition to this esteemed club is none other than “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and its staggering $1.9 billion earnings. Having grown up with the web-slinger, it was a heartwarming spectacle to witness three generations of Spidey grace the screen together, battling villains from across the Spider-Verse.

2020 brought concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic’s profound influence on the future of cinema and theaters, with both audiences and film titans sharing these worries. The impact is still being felt today, as the industry has been forced to adapt to streaming platforms, miniseries, and accelerated production timelines, which have unfortunately led to underpaying and mistreating crews. Despite the numerous challenges faced within the industry and against powerful Hollywood conglomerates, the post-COVID cinema world has surprisingly seen some of the most profitable releases in cinematic history.

Despite the fact that no domestic box office earnings have exceeded those of James Cameron’s “Avatar” so far, several films released after the pandemic have come very close, and the trend continues with sequels from well-known franchises leading the pack.

Despite the fact that COVID-19 has shed light on existing quality and labor union concerns within the film industry, it hasn’t deterred the influx of individuals eagerly flocking back to cinemas following what appeared to be the demise of the movie industry as we knew it. I, for one, am among those who have rejoiced at the return of this cherished pastime.

8 Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)

$1.004 Billion

Dominion, surpassed the $1 billion mark and ranked 53rd among the highest-grossing films worldwide. It also set a record by earning $350 million the fastest in cinematic history. This was achieved just below The Dark Knight’s earnings, making it an impressive accomplishment, especially considering its release in 2022, during the post-Covid era.

The movie’s triumph can also be credited to its familiar actors, such as Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard who have appeared in the Jurassic World series. However, it was primarily the original cast from the 1993 film that drew audiences, as they reunited for the first time on screen, featuring Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum.

The release on June 10th garnered a weekend box office revenue of more than $145 million, coming very close to exceeding its production budget of $165 million. While the original Jurassic Park, released in 1993 and directed by Steven Spielberg, has a higher gross of over $50 million compared to Jurassic Park: Dominion, it’s remarkable how similar they are in terms of earnings, given that each subsequent installment typically experiences a drop in quality.

7 Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

$1.1 Billion

Under the guidance of director Joseph Kosinski, the blockbuster hit “Top Gun: Maverick” stars Tom Cruise alongside Miles Teller. This highly anticipated sequel brings back Cruise as the iconic character Maverick, who now takes on the role of mentoring a fresh batch of graduates from Top Gun. In this continuation, Miles Teller portrays Bradley, the son of Goose, who tragically perished in the first “Top Gun” movie.

In a remarkable turn of events, the sequel to Top Gun, titled Top Gun: Maverick, surpassed the box office earnings of the original movie by an astonishing $1.1 billion, establishing it as Tom Cruise’s most financially successful film in his career. Domestically, Top Gun: Maverick currently ranks fifth in terms of box office records, trailing behind James Cameron’s 2009 release, Avatar. During its debut weekend, which was the week of May 27th, 2022, the film easily surpassed half of its initial $170 million budget.

6 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

$1.14 Billion

Repeating their starring roles, the humorous pair Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds feature in this lively and exaggerated superhero movie where Deadpool gets back on his feet again. Packed with numerous appearances from famous faces, tributes to fans, and outstanding performances by both, the film Deadpool 2: Wolverine’s Adventure has become the top-grossing R-rated film domestically and internationally.

To date, the film has grossed approximately $1.14 billion worldwide, placing it among the top-earning films released after the Covid pandemic. Known as Deadpool & Wolverine, this movie has already earned more than five times its initial production budget of $200 million, and during its opening weekend alone, it raked in a staggering $211 million. This film’s remarkable success also makes Deadpool & Wolverine the 6th highest-grossing superhero movie domestically, surpassing The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan, but falling short of The Avengers.

5 Barbie (2023)

$1.4 Billion

Compared to another movie that achieved comparable box office earnings, “Barbie” surpassed the $1 billion mark, something that didn’t happen with Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”. Directed by Greta Gerwig, this film about female identity and nostalgia grossed over $1.4 billion at the box office. A significant part of its success can undoubtedly be credited to its exceptional production design and a stellar cast that includes Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, respectively.

Despite the enormous success of “Oppenheimer” in the summer of 2023, “Barbie” managed to outshine it by nearly half a billion dollars, landing the movie at the 15th spot among the highest-grossing films ever made. On its opening weekend on July 21st, the film raked in over $10 million more than its initial budget of $150 million.

After achieving well-earned success, the film “Barbie” has become the highest-grossing comedy movie, not just in the United States but globally as well. In the U.S., the earnings of “Barbie” surpassed those of “Home Alone” and “The Hangover Part II” by a staggering billion dollars. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, “Barbie” has ranked among the most successful films at the box office.

4 The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

$1.4 Billion

Without warning, boasting stars like Chris Pratt as Mario and Jack Black as Bowser, The Super Mario Bros. Movie stands out as a commendable addition to Nintendo’s lineup. This movie is surprisingly true-to-life and entertaining, making it a stark contrast when viewers compare it to the notorious 1993 film adaptation, Super Mario Bros., which starred Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as Mario and Luigi respectively.

In 2023, the recently premiered movie raked in nearly $1.4 billion at the cinema, far exceeding its production cost of $100 million by an impressive $50 million during its first weekend alone.

In terms of global and domestic earnings from digital animation, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” currently ranks as the third highest-grossing film, trailing behind only “Frozen II,” “Inside Out 2,” and “The Incredibles 2.”

3 Inside Out 2 (2024)

$1.6 Billion

Under the impressive earnings of approximately $1.6 billion, the second installment in Pete Docter’s original “Inside Out” series has just had a spectacular premiere. With its remarkable success, “Inside Out 2” now holds the title as the top-grossing digital animation release ever across all platforms. This sequel continues with the same emotions as the first film and introduces new feelings as Riley navigates adolescence. Notably, “Inside Out 2” surpassed “Frozen II” by nearly $150 million in earnings.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that the initial 2015 launch of “Inside Out” earned roughly $300 million less than “Inside Out 2”, demonstrating an unanticipated level of popularity for this animated series.

The sequel to “Inside Out,” titled simply as “Inside Out 2,” has become Pixar’s top-grossing animated film, and it ranks fifth among all Walt Disney projects. Among all the films released by Walt Disney, Kelsey Mann’s continuation of “Inside Out” is only outranked by Jon Favreau’s 2019 CGI adaptation of “The Lion King.”

2 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

$1.9 Billion

Among the initial films to debut post-pandemic, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the final, uncertain chapter of Disney and Sony’s Spider-Man partnership, grossed an impressive $1.9 billion at the box office. Despite this remarkable accomplishment, it trails slightly behind “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”

The film includes the pinnacle of fan service, with Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield all fighting together as Spider-Men against original villains across all the series, featuring Willem Dafoe returning as The Green Goblin, Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, Electro, Mysterio, Sandman, and The Lizard.

At home, the Spider-Man series earned the second highest gross at the box office for a superhero film, with Avengers: Endgame still taking the lead by approximately $40 million. Released on December 17th, 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home managed to make an additional $60 million more than its initial budget of $200 million during its opening weekend.

In a historically secluded era for cinema, the extraordinary popularity of this film showcased the unwavering enthusiasm that moviegoers continue to harbor, particularly when the production pays tribute to the enduring legacy of Marvel.

1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

$2.3 Billion

Under the guidance of director James Cameron, the movie titled “Avatar: The Way of Water” served as a highly successful continuation of the Avatar series. In this follow-up, actors Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver reprise their roles. Set 16 years after the Na’vi initially resisted the RDA, the story unfolds on an enlarged Pandora, offering a captivating tale of continued conflict and exploration.

To this day, the original “Avatar” (released in 2009) continues to hold the title as the highest-earning film in the film industry, raking in a staggering $2.9 billion at the box office.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the cinematic masterpiece that is Avatar: The Way of Water. It undeniably builds upon James Cameron’s remarkable legacy, with films like Titanic, another box office titan. Now, let me share an interesting fact: Avatar: The Way of Water has grossed over $2.3 billion at the box office! This staggering figure places it third in the list of highest-grossing films in history, trailing only behind Avengers: Endgame, which raked in an astounding $2.7 billion.

On December 16, 2022, Avatar: The Way of Water was released in the U.S., and during its opening weekend, it grossed more than $130 million. This amount nearly equaled a fourth of the movie’s total production cost of $460 million.

Read More

2024-08-19 21:02