The Most Popular Movie Every Year Since 1970

Han and Chewbecca in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
(Image credit: Disney / Lucasfilm)

Being the highest grossing movie of all time — an honor still held to this day, domestically, by 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens — is, undoubtedly, something to be proud about. However, an achievement that does not get quite as much attention, but should, is being the highest grossing movie in a certain year. 

With help from TheNumbers.com, we were able to look at the North American (U.S.A. and Canada) box office data from 1970 to the present and discover what film proved to be the most financially successful of each year. Some of the results may surprise you.

Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw in Love Story

(Image credit: Paramount)

1970: Love Story

These days, romantic dramas rarely amount to blockbuster levels of success, but this Oscar-nominated adaptation of Erich Segal’s bestselling novel proved that love really could conquer all in 1970. Starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw as a modern Romeo and Juliet, Love Story raked in $106,397,186, which is especially impressive by that year’s standards.

Tom Laughlin in Billy Jack

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

1971: Billy Jack

Co-writer and director Tom Laughlin debuted as half-Navajo former Green Beret Billy Jack in 1967’s Born Losers, but it was the self-titled 1971 follow-up that made the character an icon, especially at the box office. Despite mixed reviews, according Rotten Tomatoes, audiences were drawn to Billy Jack’s message of peace and thrilling action sequences, resulting a $98 million win overall.

Marlon Brando in The Godfather

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

1972: The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola was on top of the world in 1972. Not only would the first half of his adaptation of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather go on to become a Best Picture Oscar winner, but it was also the biggest hit of that year with more than $133.7 million in returns.

Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

1973: The Exorcist

William Friedkin’s fact-based thriller about demonic possession, The Exorcist, has been plagued for years by rumors of being “cursed.” If that were true, it might not have become one of the greatest horror movies of all time or been 1973’s most successful movie with $193 million at the box office.

Gene Hackman and Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

1974: Blazing Saddles

Mel Brooksiconic spoof movie targeting Westerns, Blazing Saddles, is jam-packed with so much offensive/politically incorrect material that it probably would never get made today. Yet, an unapologetically silly, boundary-pushing story like this one — in which a Black man (Cleavon Little) is suddenly appointed sheriff of a bigoted town in the late 1800s — must have been exactly what audiences were looking for in 1974, considering its $119.5 million gross.

Roy Scheider in Jaws

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

1975: Jaws

The film credited as the very first blockbuster is one of the scariest Steven Spielberg movies, Jaws. The seminal creature feature achieved that honor by raking in $260 million and becoming the highest grossing movie of 1975, let alone of all time… for a little while, at least.

Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers in Rocky

(Image credit: MGM)

1976: Rocky

Sylvester Stallone’s breakthrough (as both star and writer of the first of the Rocky movies), was literally, a one-two punch. The iconic boxing drama beat out the competition at the box office in 1976 with more than $117.2 million and went on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill wandering around the Death Star together in Star Wars.

(Image credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

1977: Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope

The film that first surpassed Jaws as the highest-grossing movie of all time was George LucasStar Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, with — according to Box Office Mojo — a grand total of $460.9 million domestically. Yet, it only took an initial draw of $195.7 million for the movie that first launched the enduring Star Wars franchise to become the top movie of 1977.

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in Grease

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

1978: Grease

Grease was, indeed, the word in the mouths of the many moviegoers who went out to see the big, bright musical classic in 1978. Starring John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John as teen lovers in the 1950s, it sped to the top the year’s box office with more than $153 million.

Christopher Reeves as Superman being interviewed by Lois Lane in Superman

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

1979: Superman

In 1979, people around the country flocked to the theater to see a man fly on the big screen. That man was Christopher Reeve as Superman — the title character of director Richard Donner’s classic superhero movie that flew to the top of the year’s box office by making more than $93.3 million dollars.

Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

(Image credit: Disney / Lucasfilm)

1980: Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back

It is probably no surprise that the second chapter of Lucas’ epic outer space saga — also widely considered the best Star Wars movie — became the highest grossing movie of 1980 with $181.4 million. Not only did The Empire Strikes Back outweigh the competition by roughly $80 million, it was also one of only two films to surpass $100 million that year (the other being the Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder-led Stir Crazy).

Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

1981: Raiders Of The Lost Ark

The movie that solidified Harrison Ford — a man with many interesting facts to his name — as a box office king, saw his debut as globe-trotting, daredevil archeologist, Indiana Jones. Itself a tribute to the movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark was cinema’s biggest sensation in 1981, grossing $168.4 million.

Henry Thomas in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

1982: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 

Years after his friend, George Lucas, took away his box office crown with Star Wars, Spielberg reclaimed the honor when his sci-fi family drama, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, became the highest grossing movie of all time (and of 1982) with $321.8 million. 

Mark Hamill in Return of the Jedi

(Image credit: Twentieth Century Fox)

1983: Star Wars: Episode VI — Return Of The Jedi

Out of the franchise’s original trilogy, Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi grossed the highest amount in the year it was first released. Not to mention, the epic "finale" was the highest grossing movie of 1983 after raking in more than $249.3 million.

Ke Huy Quan as Short Round in Indiana Jones in the Temple of Doom

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

1984: Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

Ford’s adventurous fortune hunter returned bigger (and certainly scarier) with Spielberg’s first follow-up to Raiders. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom whipped the competition away in 1984 by earning $220.7 million.

Alan Silvestri composed the score for Back to the Future, a film Robert Zemeckis directed.

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

1985: Back To The Future

I bet if Doc Brown’s Delorean existed, moviegoers would have used it to see one of the greatest time travel movies ever, Back to the Future, repeatedly, without having to buy subsequent tickets. However, they did have to buy additional tickets, which may have helped it become the top movie of 1985 with $193.1 million.

Tom Cruise as Maverick in Top Gun

(Image credit: Paramount)

1986: Top Gun

For years, the most successful of Tom Cruise’s action movies was director Tony Scott’s Top Gun. The thrilling popcorn flick was also the most successful movie of 1986, having grossed $171.8 million that year.

Brigitte Nielsen, Dean Stockwell, and Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop II

(Image credit: Paramount)

1987: Beverly Hills Cop II

Tony Scott became the most financially successful director two years in a row when he helmed the 1987 sequel to one of Eddie Murphy’s best movies. Beverly Hills Cop II was the year’s biggest hit with $153.7 million.

Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man

(Image credit: MGM)

1988: Rain Man

Dustin Hoffman gives one of his best performances (earning him an Oscar) as a man with autism and savant syndrome alongside Tom Cruise as his long-lost brother in Rain Man. Barry Levinson’s charming drama also won Best Picture after winning the box office in 1988 with $151.7 million.

Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson in Batman

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

1989: Batman

When it was first announced that Michael Keaton was cast to play the title role of Tim Burton’s Batman, fans immediately rejected the idea. However, they seemed to change their minds about him pretty soon, making one of the best live-action Batman movies ever the biggest hit of 1989 with a $251.2 million gross.

Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

1990: Ghost

Ghost proved that by combining two successful, yet deeply contradicting, genres like romance and horror, you may have a big hit on your hands. Led by Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg, the moving drama knocked other 1990 movies dead with its earnings of $217.6 million.

Arnold Schwarzenegger seated on motorcycle in Terminator 2: Judgement Day

(Image credit: Tri-Star Pictures)

1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Fans of James Cameron’s technophobic franchise of time-travel thrillers agree that Arnold Schwarzenegger came “back” better than ever with Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The acclaimed sequel was also a much bigger hit than its predecessor and the biggest hit of 1991 with $201.9 million.

Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Keaton in Batman Returns

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

1992: Batman Returns

Despite inciting controversy for its wicked tone and falling short of its predecessor’s success, Batman Returns still proved to be nothing short of a hit. Tim Burton’s second Michael Keaton-led DC comics adaptation topped the 1992 box office with $162.8 million.

T-Rex from Jurassic Park

(Image credit: Universal)

1993: Jurassic Park

Spielberg would, again, prove that whatever he touches turns to gold with his stunning adaptation of Michael Crichton's inventive sci-fi thriller, Jurassic Park. It was likely the revolutionary special effects that helped it become the top-grossing movie of 1993 (and of all time, for a while) with $338.7 million.

The main characters in The Lion King.

(Image credit: Disney)

1994: The Lion King

One of the all-time greatest animated Disney movies, The Lion King, is also one of the studio’s biggest money-makers. The film proved to be box office royalty, winning 1994 with $300.4 million.

Val Kilmer in Batman Forever

(Image credit: Warner Bros)

1995: Batman Forever

Even without Michael Keaton or Burton, the Batman franchise was still on fire with Batman Forever. By raking in more than $184 million, the Joel Schumacher-helmed, Val Kilmer-led DC spectacle became the number one movie of 1995.

The White House in Independence Day

(Image credit: Fox / Disney)

1996: Independence Day

The spaceships in 1996’s Independence Day are not the only reason it is one of the biggest and best alien invasion movies of all time. Audiences who made a $306.2 million hit out of the Roland Emmerich-helmed disaster flick also made Will Smith into a leading box office draw.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men In Black

(Image credit: Sony)

1997: Men In Black

Despite being one of Will Smith’s best movies, it may seem odd that Men in Black is the top-grossing movie of 1997, given that Titanic came out that same year. The inventive sci-fi comedy came out in the summer and ended its run with $250.7 million dollars, whereas James Cameron’s historical epic, which released in December, made only $157.5 million by the end of year.

Jack and Rose in Titanic

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

1998: Titanic

While Titanic was released in 1997, it still managed to make more money than any film released the following year, raking in more than $488.1 million. The romantic, Oscar-winning, historical tragedy would, of course, go on to top the all-time box office charts for years with an overall domestic total of more than $600.7 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Liam Neeson, Jake Lloyd, and Ewan McGregor in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

1999: Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace

While the Star Wars prequels have experienced a bit of resurgence in more recent years, the trilogy — including The Phantom Menace — was initially met with backlash from die-hard fans. However, you wouldn't know that by looking at its impressive $430.4 million returns, which resulted in a towering box office win for 1999.

Taylor Momsen and Jim Carrey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas

(Image credit: Archive Photos / Stringe)

2000: How The Grinch Stole Christmas

The loot that Jim Carrey’s mean, green, holiday-hating recluse snatched in How the Grinch Stole Christmas didn't include $253.4 million. No, Ron Howard’s live-action Dr. Seuss movie earned that money at the box office fair and square, becoming the top-grossing movie of 2000 less than two months after its release.

Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

2001: Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

The year 2001 saw the beginning of one of the most extraordinarily popular movie franchises of all time. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone — adapted from the first book in J.K. Rowling’s young adult fantasy series — also became the most popular movie of that year, casting a $300.4 million spell.

Spider-Man and MJ kissing in the rain after saving her from some thugs

(Image credit: Sony)

2002: Spider-Man

Director Sam Raimi came a long way from making low budget horror films by bringing a beloved superhero to the big screen in one of the best non-MCU Marvel movies ever. The Tobey Maguire-led Spider-Man cast a huge web on the 2002 box office, raking in more than $403.7 million.

Marlin and Dory in Finding Nemo

(Image credit: Pixar)

2003: Finding Nemo

People already had their choices of the best Pixar movie before the animation studio became a real box office juggernaut with Finding Nemo. Grossing more than $339.7 million, the story of a clown fish searching for his son was the number one movie of 2003.

Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers in Shrek 2

(Image credit: Dreamworks)

2004: Shrek 2

A way to understand how impactful the Oscar-winning, animated fantasy send-up Shrek was is by looking at the box office of its sequel. Believed to be the best of the Shrek movies by some, Shrek 2 was the highest grossing movie of 2004 with $441.2 million.

Ewan McGregor

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

2005: Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge Of The Sith

While considered by many to be best of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith fell several million short of The Phantom Menace. However, it still managed to top the 2005 box office with more than $380.3 million.

Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

(Image credit: Disney)

2006: Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Johnny Depp helped make swashbuckling cool again with Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The second chapter of the theme park attraction-inspired franchise, Dead Man’s Chest, brought in a lot of booty and conquered the 2006 box office with $423.3 million.

Peter Parker Spider-Man 3 trailer screenshot

(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

2007: Spider-Man 3

For a few different reasons — including an infamous dance sceneSpider-Man 3 is one of the webslinger’s least beloved films. Regardless, it ruled the box office in 2007, bringing in $336.5 million.

Heath Ledger and Christian Bale The Dark Knight

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

2008: The Dark Knight

Most people agree that Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is the greatest live-action Batman movie ever made, mostly for Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning Joker portrayal. If you disagree, at least you cannot deny its financial success, winning the 2008 box office with a staggering $531 million.

Optimus Prime standing with the Sphynx

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

2009: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

Fans of Michael Bay’s live-action reinvention of a popular toy line were excited to see what came next in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which topped the 2009 box office with $402.1 million, despite coming out the same year as James Cameron’s Avatar. The latter would go on to top the all-time charts with $785,221,649 — according to Box Office Mojo — but only made over $352 million of that in 2009, coming in second behind the alien robot sequel.

Buzz and Jessie holding hands.

(Image credit: Pixar)

2010: Toy Story 3

Despite making $408.4. million in 2010, the ludicrously successful Avatar still fell short of topping that year’s box office chart overall and came in second to Toy Story 3. Pixar’s acclaimed tearjerker of a sequel raked in $415 million.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

2011: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2

The year 2011 saw the end of one of the most popular franchises of all time. Fans brought the final installment of the Harry Potter movies (Deathly Hallows: Part 2) to a $381 million gross, making it the big winner for that year.

Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, and Scarlett Johansspn in The Avengers

(Image credit: Walt Disney Studios)

2012: The Avengers

Just four years after The Dark Knight shattered box office records, Marvel swooped in to bring things to new heights with a $623.4 million gross. The Avengers was already a monumental occasion by teaming up several iconic comic book characters in one film before it topped the 2012 box office.

RDJ in Iron Man 3

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

2013: Iron Man 3

For years, the heart and soul of the MCU was Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, which totally makes sense of Iron Man 3 becoming the number one movie of 2013. Many fans expressed their disappointment over it, but it still made a tremendous $408.9 million.

The Guardians of the Galaxy cast

(Image credit: Marvel)

2014: Guardians Of The Galaxy

The moment that convinced the world that Marvel could make a successful flick out of anything was when Guardians of the Galaxy became the highest-grossing movie of 2014. The comic book movie starring obscure cosmic characters also played a part in making Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, and Bradley Cooper some of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

(Image credit: Disney / Lucasfilm)

2015: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Within just a few week after its release, the 2007 box office was officially conquered by Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which made $742.2 million that year. According to Box Office Mojo, J.J. Abrams’ fun revitalization of the beloved franchise would go on to become the highest grossing of all time with a domestic total of $936.7 million.

Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton in Finding Dory

(Image credit: Disney / Pixar)

2016: Finding Dory

More than a decade after Nemo was found, fans grew excited to see Ellen DeGeneres’ Blue Tang find her parents… and herself in Finding Dory. The long-awaited sequel topped a lot of fierce competition in 2016 with a $486.3 million gross.

Mark Hamill in Star Wars: The Last Jedi

(Image credit: Disney / Lucasfilm)

2017: Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Rian Johnson’s contribution to the Star Wars saga, The Last Jedi, did not quite match the success of The Force Awakens in a few different ways — only making $517.2 within nearly three weeks after its December release, for instance. However, that was enough to make it the top movie of 2017.

Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther walking away from fiery crash

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

2018: Black Panther

Black Panther is a landmark for the MCU (and comic book movies in general) for starring one of the first Black superheroes as the lead, receiving a Best Picture Oscar nomination (and winning three statuettes), and making an incredible amount of money. Released in February, it still managed to beat Avengers: Infinity War as 2018’s biggest movie with a $700 million gross.

The cast of Avengers: Endgame

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

2019: Avengers: Endgame

Most fans agree that the greatest MCU movie ever is the epic finale to the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame. A great indication of just how much fans love the film is its astonishing financial returns of $858.4 million, easily becoming the top movie of 2019.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence walking down street in Bad Boys for Life

(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

2020: Bad Boys For Life

The year 2020 was not a good one for the box office (or anybody) due to Covid-19 causing a complete shutdown of the theater industry for a long time. This standstill allowed the January release of Bad Boys For Life to thrive as the Number One movie of the year with a $204.4 million gross.

Tobey Maguire, Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man in No Way Home

(Image credit: Marvel)

2021: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Theaters came back in a big way with what many might consider to be the greatest live-action Spider-Man movie ever: Spider-Man: No Way Home. Because Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, and Tobey Maguire could not convince fans that they would not be appearing in this multiverse-spanning film together, audiences made sure they would head to theater to see it, resulting in a 2021 chart-topping win with $572.9 million.

Tom Cruise's Maverick in Top Gun: Maverick

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

2022: Top Gun: Maverick

The person often credited with saving Hollywood in 2022 is Tom Cruise, with his return to one of his most iconic roles in Top Gun: Maverick. It was one of the best reviewed films of the year, earned several Academy Award nominations, and topped the year’s box office at $718.7 million.

Those were top-grossing movies of every year from 1970 to now!

Jason Wiese
Content Writer

Jason Wiese writes feature stories for CinemaBlend. His occupation results from years dreaming of a filmmaking career, settling on a "professional film fan" career, studying journalism at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO (where he served as Culture Editor for its student-run print and online publications), and a brief stint of reviewing movies for fun. He would later continue that side-hustle of film criticism on TikTok (@wiesewisdom), where he posts videos on a semi-weekly basis. Look for his name in almost any article about Batman.