This article shows the lists of highest-grossing fantasy films of all time.
The following is a list of the highest-grossing fantasy films of all time. The top 11 are among the highest-grossing films of all time. Superhero films and science fiction films often have some fantasy elements but are not included here, having their own separate lists.
F Box Office Mojo stopped updating its main total for Frozen in August 2014, while it was still in release. The total listed here incorporates subsequent earnings in Japan, Nigeria, Spain, the United Kingdom and Germany up to the end of 2015 but omits earnings in Turkey, Iceland, Brazil, and Australia (2016), which amount to a few hundred thousand dollars. The total is rounded to $1 million to compensate for the numerical inaccuracy. It was re-released in the United Kingdom in December 2017 with Olaf's Frozen Adventure earning an additional $2.3 million.
This list charts films the biggest worldwide openings. Since films do not open on Fridays in many markets, the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday following the movie's release. Figures prior to the year 2002 are not available.
Since many American films do not open in all markets at the same time, the 'opening' gross varies depending on when it was released in the US-Canada market. For example, for films like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 which opened in the US-Canada market and in most other major markets during the same weekend, the 'opening' is the total gross of the film during that weekend. On the other hand, for films which opened in several markets a week ahead of their respective releases in the US-Canada market, the 'opening' is the sum of the opening grosses in the markets where they were released first and the opening in the US-Canada market. In the latter case, the opening grosses from territories after the initial overseas opening are not included in the 'opening' of the film. In all cases, if a film opens in a market after its release in the US-Canada market, that opening is not included in the 'opening' of the film.
Year | Title | Worldwide gross | Budget | Reference(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | $1,006,968,171 ($974,755,371) | $125,000,000 | [28] |
2002 | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | $947,495,095 ($936,689,735) | $94,000,000 | [29] |
2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | $1,150,779,825 ($1,140,692,011) | $94,000,000 | [30] |
2004 | Shrek 2 | $919,838,758 | $150,000,000 | [31] |
2005 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | $896,346,413 ($895,921,036) | $150,000,000 | [32] |
2006 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | $1,066,179,725 | $225,000,000 | [2] |
2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | $963,420,425 | $300,000,000 | [2] |
2008 | The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | $419,665,568 | $225,000,000 | [33] |
2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | $934,454,096 ($933,959,197) | $250,000,000 | [34] |
2010 | Alice in Wonderland | $1,025,468,216($1,025,467,110) | $200,000,000 | [35] |
2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 | $1,342,321,665 ($1,341,511,219) | $125,000,000 | [36] |
2012 | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | $1,017,003,568 | $200,000,000 | [2] |
2013 | Frozen | $1,290,000,000 ($1,287,000,000) | $150,000,000 | [37] |
2014 | The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies | $956,019,788 | $209,000,000 | [2] |
2015 | Cinderella | $542,358,331 ($542,351,353) | $84,210,000 | [38] |
2016 | The Jungle Book | $966,554,929 ($966,550,600) | $175,000,000 | [39] |
2017 | Beauty and the Beast | $1,264,434,525 ($1,263,521,126) | $255,000,000 | [40] |
2018 | Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald | $654,855,901 | $200,000,000 | [2] |
2019 | Frozen II | $1,450,026,933 | $150,000,000 | [2] |
2020 | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train | $503,063,688 | $15,850,000 | [41] |
2021 | A Writer's Odyssey | $159,848,488 | TBA | [42] |
2022 | Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore | $407,150,844 | $200,000,000 | [43] |
2023 | Barbie | $1,445,638,421 | $145,000,000 | [44] [3] |
2024 | Moana 2 | $717,016,469 | $150,000,000 | [2] |
(...) Since grosses are not limited to original theatrical runs, a film's first-run gross is included in brackets after the total if known.
TBATo be ascertained.
The following is a timeline of highest-grossing fantasy films of all time.
Established | Title | Record setting gross | Reference(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | Beauty and the Beast | $331,907,151 | [45] |
1992 | Aladdin | $504,050,219 | [2] |
2001 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | $974,755,371 | [28] |
2004 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | $1,140,682,011 | [30] |
2005 | $1,141,093,340 ‡ | ||
2011 | $1,141,911,920 ‡ | ||
2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 | $1,341,511,219 | [36] |
2016 | $1,341,836,224 ‡ | ||
2018 | $1,342,028,110 ‡ | ||
2019 | Frozen II | $1,450,026,933 | [2] |
‡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.
The following is a list of the highest-grossing fantasy film series & franchises of all time. The top 6 are along the highest grossing film series and franchises of all time. The Wizarding World has the highest gross with a total gross of $9.6 billion, while Frozen has the highest average with $1.4 billion.
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Film | Year | Known ticket sales (est.) | Territories with known ticket sales data [a] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | 2001 | 148,973,885 | USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, Brazil, South Korea | [b] |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | 2003 | 142,573,659 | USA, Canada, Europe, Korea, South America, Australia, Japan | [c] |
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | 2002 | 130,420,246 | Worldwide | [51] |
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first instalments of the Harry Potter, Fast & Furious, Spy Kids, Monsters, Inc. and Shrek franchises, and The Lord of the Rings and Ocean's trilogies. Significant non-English language films released included Monsoon Wedding, Amélie and Spirited Away. There was one film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, that passed over $1 billion in a re-release of 2020.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a 2002 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It is based on the 1998 novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling. Produced by David Heyman, it is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and the second instalment in the Harry Potter film series. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger respectively. The story follows Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the Heir of Salazar Slytherin opens the Chamber of Secrets, unleashing a monster that petrifies the school's students.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a 2009 fantasy film directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It is based on the 2005 novel Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling. It is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and the sixth instalment in the Harry Potter film series. It stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger respectively. The story follows Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts as he receives a mysterious textbook, falls in love, and attempts to retrieve a memory that holds the key to Lord Voldemort's downfall.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is a 2010 fantasy film directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. The film is the first of two cinematic parts based on the 2007 novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling. It is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) and the seventh instalment in the Harry Potter film series. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, respectively, reprising roles as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The story follows Harry Potter, who has been asked by Dumbledore to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's secret to immortality – the Horcruxes.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 fantasy film directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. The film is the second of two cinematic parts based on the 2007 novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling. It is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series. The story concludes Harry Potter's quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes in order to stop him once and for all.
Hollywood movies refers to the cinema of United States of America. The Hollywood cinema industry plays an important role among the world movie making studios. It is the third largest film market in the world. Hollywood movies in the 21st century are sometimes called "New Hollywood". Beginning in the 2000s, American movies began to attract more fans and to impact total box office receipts. Science fiction, fantasy films, and animated movies have been globally impacting the movie industry. Research shows that compared to 20th century, the value of the movies approximately doubled. International advertising had a crucial role in making "New Hollywood" bigger, compared to 20th century. Most of the movies` box office numbers are increased by overseas viewers.
2020 in film is a history of events, which includes the highest-grossing films, award ceremonies, critics' lists of the best films of 2020, festivals, a list of country-specific lists of films released, and notable deaths.
2021 in film is an overview of events, including the highest-grossing films, award ceremonies, festivals, a list of country-specific lists of films released, and movie programming. The release of Steven Spielberg's adaptation of West Side Story coincided with the 60th anniversary of the musical's 1961 film adaptation. A Clockwork Orange, Fiddler on the Roof, The French Connection and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory celebrated their 50th anniversaries. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Shrek, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Monsters, Inc., Spirited Away, Amélie and The Fast and the Furious celebrated its 20th anniversary. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol celebrated its 10th anniversary.
If overseas is still at $173M by tomorrow AM, then the new global opening record for an animated movie set by Super Mario Bros stands at $377.2M.
Worldwide: $947,495,095; Original Release: $936,689,735
Total: $1,146,030,912
Original Release: $1,140,682,011
2005 Re-release: $411,329
2011 Re-release: $818,580
2017 Re-release: $307,481
2020 Re-release: $237,586
2021 Re-release: $3,573,925
Worldwide: $797,361,618; Original Release: $795,634,069
Worldwide: $934,454,096; Original Release: $933,959,197
Worldwide: $1,025,468,216; Original Release: $1,025,467,110
Total: $1,342,321,665
Original Release: $1,341,511,219
2016 Re-release: $325,005
2018 Re-release: $191,886
2017 Re-release: $307,481
2020 Re-release: $293,555
Worldwide – $1,274,219,009 (total as of 8 August 2014; including Japanese gross up to August 3, Spanish gross up to July 27, UK gross up to June 8, German gross up to March 30, and omitting Nigerian gross)
Worldwide: $542,358,331; Original Release: $542,351,353
Worldwide: $966,554,929; Original Release: $966,550,600
Worldwide: $1,264,434,525; Original Release: $1,263,521,126