#1 of 3,340 Highest-grossing adventure movie ever
2009 · Action, Adventure
$2.9B worldwide
$785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
Adventure box office · All time
Highest-Grossing Adventure Movies of All Time
Avatar (2009) is the highest-grossing adventure movie in our database, with $2.9B worldwide, ahead of Avengers: Endgame (2019) at $2.8B and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) at $2.5B. 3,340 adventure films in our database report a worldwide gross, $323.3B in all, 38% of it from the US & Canada. 56 films crossed $1 billion and 680 crossed $100 million. By language, English leads with $299.6B across 2,003 adventure releases.
- films with a reported gross
- 3,340
- combined worldwide
- $323.3B
- films crossed $100M
- 680
- earned in the US & Canada
- 38%
#1 of 3,340 Top 5
What Are the Highest-Grossing Adventure Movies Ever?
Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B, $124.3M ahead of Avengers: Endgame (2019). The top 5 were released between 2009 and 2026 and took $12.7B together; every one of them earned more than half of their gross outside the US & Canada.
- Number 1
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5 $2.1B Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)$936.7M US & Canada · 45% $1.1B elsewhere · 55%
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
All 3,340 Adventure Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 3,340. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 1 Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: $785.2M Rest of the world: $2.1B Worldwide: $2.9B
- 2 Apr 26, 2019 US and Canada: $858.4M Rest of the world: $1.9B Worldwide: $2.8B
- 3 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)Jul 31, 2026 US and Canada: $958.8M Rest of the world: $1.6B Worldwide: $2.5B
Jul 31, 2026 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $2.5B worldwide - 4 Dec 16, 2022 US and Canada: $688.5M Rest of the world: $1.7B Worldwide: $2.3B
- 5 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)Dec 18, 2015 US and Canada: $936.7M Rest of the world: $1.1B Worldwide: $2.1B Dec 18, 2015 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $2.1B worldwide
- 6
Apr 27, 2018 US and Canada: $678.8M Rest of the world: $1.4B Worldwide: $2.1B - 7
Dec 17, 2021 US and Canada: $814.9M Rest of the world: $1.1B Worldwide: $1.9B - 8
Nov 26, 2025 US and Canada: $428.1M Rest of the world: $1.4B Worldwide: $1.9B - 9
Jul 17, 2026 US and Canada: $625.6M Rest of the world: $1.2B Worldwide: $1.8B - 10
Jun 14, 2024 US and Canada: $653M Rest of the world: $1B Worldwide: $1.7B - 11
Jun 12, 2015 US and Canada: $653.4M Rest of the world: $1B Worldwide: $1.7B - 12
Jul 19, 2019 US and Canada: $543.6M Rest of the world: $1.1B Worldwide: $1.7B - 13
May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $623.4M Rest of the world: $897.2M Worldwide: $1.5B - 14
Apr 3, 2015 US and Canada: $353M Rest of the world: $1.2B Worldwide: $1.5B - 15
Dec 19, 2025 US and Canada: $404.3M Rest of the world: $1.1B Worldwide: $1.5B - 16
Nov 22, 2019 US and Canada: $477.4M Rest of the world: $976.3M Worldwide: $1.5B - 17
Jul 21, 2023 US and Canada: $636.2M Rest of the world: $810.9M Worldwide: $1.4B - 18
May 1, 2015 US and Canada: $459M Rest of the world: $946M Worldwide: $1.4B - 19
Feb 16, 2018 US and Canada: $700.4M Rest of the world: $649.5M Worldwide: $1.3B - 20
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)Jul 15, 2011 US and Canada: $381.4M Rest of the world: $961.1M Worldwide: $1.3B Jul 15, 2011 · English · Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy $1.3B worldwide - 21
Jul 26, 2024 US and Canada: $636.7M Rest of the world: $701.3M Worldwide: $1.3B - 22
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)Dec 15, 2017 US and Canada: $620.2M Rest of the world: $714.2M Worldwide: $1.3B Dec 15, 2017 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1.3B worldwide - 23
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)Jun 22, 2018 US and Canada: $417.7M Rest of the world: $892.7M Worldwide: $1.3B Jun 22, 2018 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1.3B worldwide - 24
Jun 15, 2018 US and Canada: $608.6M Rest of the world: $634.6M Worldwide: $1.2B - 25
Apr 14, 2017 US and Canada: $226M Rest of the world: $1B Worldwide: $1.2B - 26
May 3, 2013 US and Canada: $409M Rest of the world: $806.6M Worldwide: $1.2B - 27
May 6, 2016 US and Canada: $408.1M Rest of the world: $747M Worldwide: $1.2B - 28
Dec 21, 2018 US and Canada: $335.1M Rest of the world: $816.9M Worldwide: $1.2B - 29
Jun 19, 2026 US and Canada: $480.3M Rest of the world: $668.8M Worldwide: $1.1B - 30
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)Dec 17, 2003 US and Canada: $381.9M Rest of the world: $756.7M Worldwide: $1.1B Dec 17, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $1.1B worldwide - 31
Jul 2, 2019 US and Canada: $391.3M Rest of the world: $741.4M Worldwide: $1.1B - 32
Mar 8, 2019 US and Canada: $426.8M Rest of the world: $704.6M Worldwide: $1.1B - 33
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)Jun 29, 2011 US and Canada: $352.4M Rest of the world: $771.4M Worldwide: $1.1B Jun 29, 2011 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1.1B worldwide - 34
Jul 20, 2012 US and Canada: $448.1M Rest of the world: $666.8M Worldwide: $1.1B - 35
Nov 9, 2012 US and Canada: $304.4M Rest of the world: $804.2M Worldwide: $1.1B - 36
Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)Jun 27, 2014 US and Canada: $245.4M Rest of the world: $859.8M Worldwide: $1.1B Jun 27, 2014 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1.1B worldwide - 37
Oct 3, 2019 US and Canada: $335.5M Rest of the world: $743.5M Worldwide: $1.1B - 38
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)Dec 20, 2019 US and Canada: $515.2M Rest of the world: $561.8M Worldwide: $1.1B Dec 20, 2019 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1.1B worldwide - 39
Jun 21, 2019 US and Canada: $434M Rest of the world: $639.8M Worldwide: $1.1B - 40
Jun 18, 2010 US and Canada: $415M Rest of the world: $652.3M Worldwide: $1.1B - 41
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)Jul 7, 2006 US and Canada: $423.3M Rest of the world: $642.9M Worldwide: $1.1B Jul 7, 2006 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $1.1B worldwide - 42
Nov 27, 2024 US and Canada: $460.4M Rest of the world: $598.8M Worldwide: $1.1B - 43
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)Dec 16, 2016 US and Canada: $533.5M Rest of the world: $525.1M Worldwide: $1.1B Dec 16, 2016 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1.1B worldwide - 44
May 24, 2019 US and Canada: $355.6M Rest of the world: $698.7M Worldwide: $1.1B - 45
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)May 20, 2011 US and Canada: $241.1M Rest of the world: $805.6M Worldwide: $1B May 20, 2011 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $1B worldwide - 46
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)May 19, 1999 US and Canada: $487.6M Rest of the world: $558.9M Worldwide: $1B May 19, 1999 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1B worldwide - 47
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)Nov 19, 2010 US and Canada: $296.4M Rest of the world: $747.4M Worldwide: $1B Nov 19, 2010 · English · Action, Adventure, Mystery $1B worldwide - 48
Jun 30, 2017 US and Canada: $264.6M Rest of the world: $770.2M Worldwide: $1B - 49
Jun 17, 2016 US and Canada: $486.3M Rest of the world: $543M Worldwide: $1B - 50
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)Nov 16, 2001 US and Canada: $318.9M Rest of the world: $707.6M Worldwide: $1B Nov 16, 2001 · English · Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy $1B worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Biggest Adventure Movies Make Their Money?
Of the top 10, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) earned the biggest share at home (45% in the US & Canada), while Zootopia 2 (2025) made 77% of its gross abroad. Across all 3,340 films, $123B (38%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Avatar (2009) $2.9B $785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
- 2 Avengers: Endgame (2019) $2.8B $858.4M US & Canada · 31% $1.9B elsewhere · 69%
- 3 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) $2.5B $958.8M US & Canada · 38% $1.6B elsewhere · 62%
- 4 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) $2.3B $688.5M US & Canada · 29% $1.7B elsewhere · 71%
- 5 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) $2.1B $936.7M US & Canada · 45% $1.1B elsewhere · 55%
- 6 Avengers: Infinity War (2018) $2.1B $678.8M US & Canada · 33% $1.4B elsewhere · 67%
- 7 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) $1.9B $814.9M US & Canada · 42% $1.1B elsewhere · 58%
- 8 Zootopia 2 (2025) $1.9B $428.1M US & Canada · 23% $1.4B elsewhere · 77%
- 9 The Odyssey (2026) $1.8B $625.6M US & Canada · 35% $1.2B elsewhere · 65%
- 10 Inside Out 2 (2024) $1.7B $653M US & Canada · 38% $1B elsewhere · 62%
Gross bands
How Many Adventure Movies Crossed $100 Million?
680 of 3,340 films crossed $100M and took $289.1B between them, 89% of the total. 1,851 films, 55% of the list, earned under $10M.
24% 28% 37% 9%
- $1B or more 56 films, 2% of the list $76.7B · 24% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 128 films, 4% of the list $91.7B · 28% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 496 films, 15% of the list $120.7B · 37% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 809 films, 24% of the list $30.6B · 9% of the gross
- Under $10M 1,851 films, 55% of the list $3.6B · 1% of the gross
By decade
Which Decade's Adventure Movies Earned the Most?
Films released in the 2010s lead with $150.8B from 1,224 titles, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019). Each column links to the decade's biggest year.
- 1920s 1920s Peak year 1925 The Gold Rush (1925) $122.1K The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1930s 1930s Peak year 1939 The Wizard of Oz (1939) $25.7M The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1940s 1940s Peak year 1948 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) $5.3M The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1950s 1950s Peak year 1955 Lady and the Tramp (1955) $325.9M Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1960s 1960s Peak year 1967 The Jungle Book (1967) $759.7M The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1970s 1970s Peak year 1977 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $3.4B Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1980s 1980s Peak year 1989 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $8.9B Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- 1990s 1990s Peak year 1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $23B Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 2000s 2000s Peak year 2009 Avatar (2009) $71.5B Avatar (2009)
- 2010s 2010s Peak year 2019 Avengers: Endgame (2019) $150.8B Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2020s 2020s Peak year 2024 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) $64.6B Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing Adventure Movies?
2019 releases earned the most: $20.5B from 158 films, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 158 films | 158 | $20.5B | Avengers: Endgame (2019) $2.8B |
| 2017 159 films | 159 | $18.3B | Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) $1.3B |
| 2015 125 films | 125 | $18.1B | Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) $2.1B |
| 2016 141 films | 141 | $17.6B | Captain America: Civil War (2016) $1.2B |
| 2018 167 films | 167 | $17.2B | Avengers: Infinity War (2018) $2.1B |
| 2012 92 films | 92 | $15.4B | The Avengers (2012) $1.5B |
| 2013 96 films | 96 | $13.7B | Iron Man 3 (2013) $1.2B |
| 2014 112 films | 112 | $13.1B | Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014) $1.1B |
| 2024 125 films | 125 | $12.5B | Inside Out 2 (2024) $1.7B |
| 2009 107 films | 107 | $11.9B | Avatar (2009) $2.9B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Adventure Movies Speak?
English-language adventure films took $299.6B across 2,003 films, 93% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language adventure films ($7.1B) and Japanese-language adventure films ($6.7B).
All-Time Adventure Box Office by Language
- English $299.6B2,003 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
-
Chinese $7.1B103 films · #1 Detective Chinatown 3 (2021) -
Japanese $6.7B277 films · #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Infinity Castle (2025) -
French $1.1B140 films · #1 Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002) -
Korean $794.4M39 films · #1 The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) -
Spanish $583.8M89 films -
Russian $553.5M76 films · #1 Forbidden Empire (2014) -
German $460.8M92 films · #1 Manitou’s Shoe (2001) -
Hindi $398.2M52 films · #1 Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) - Telugu $384.7M10 films · #1 Bāhubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)
Archive
Adventure Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1923 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $20.5B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $64.6B
2010s 10 years · $150.8B
- 2019 $20.5B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $17.2B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $18.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $17.6B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $18.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $13.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $13.7B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $15.4B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $8.2B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $8.6B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $71.5B
- 2009 $11.9B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $7.7B #1 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- 2007 $7.9B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $7.1B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $7.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- 2004 $6B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $7.2B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $5.9B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $5.9B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $4.4B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $23B
- 1999 $4.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $3.1B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $2.7B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $3.5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $2.9B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $2B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $1.1B #1 Cliffhanger (1993)
- 1992 $427.5M #1 Forever Young (1992)
- 1991 $1.1B #1 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- 1990 $1.6B #1 Dances with Wolves (1990)
1980s 10 years · $8.9B
- 1989 $1.7B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $819.3M #1 Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
- 1987 $429.9M #1 Predator (1987)
- 1986 $841.3M #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986)
- 1985 $1.4B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $810.9M #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $990M #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $474.1M #1 First Blood (1982)
- 1981 $590.1M #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $763.7M #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $3.4B
- 1979 $450.6M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $596.2M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $1.4B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $52.6M #1 King Kong (1976)
- 1975 $513.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $60.5M #1 Benji (1974)
- 1973 $35.5M #1 Live and Let Die (1973)
- 1972 $85.5M #1 The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
- 1971 $476.6K #1 The Red Tent (1971)
- 1970 $251.8M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $759.7M
- 1969 $133.6M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $44.6M #1 Planet of the Apes (1968)
- 1967 $274.2M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $16.1K #1 The Ghost of Monk’s Island (1966)
- 1965 $115.4M #1 Thunderball (1965)
- 1964 $27.3M #1 From Russia with Love (1964)
- 1963 $74.7M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $47.3M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $370.7K #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)
- 1960 $42.2M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $325.9M
- 1959 $74.6M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $172.8K #1 The Old Man and the Sea (1958)
- 1957 $27.2M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $42M #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- 1955 $93.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $43.9K #1 Knights of the Round Table (1954)
- 1953 $87.5M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $352.2K #1 Les Miserables (1952)
- 1951 $1.2K #1 Alice in Wonderland (1951)
- 1950 $7.7K #1 The Flame and the Arrow (1950)
1940s 6 years · $5.3M
1930s 5 years · $25.7M
FAQ
Adventure Box Office All Time: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 3,340 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing adventure movie of all time?
Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B worldwide, $785.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Avengers: Endgame (2019) at $2.8B and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) at $2.5B.
How much have adventure movies earned at the box office?
3,340 adventure films in our database report a worldwide gross, $323.3B in all, or $96.8M per film on average.
How many adventure movies have made $1 billion?
56 films crossed $1 billion worldwide: Avatar (2009), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) among others. 680 crossed $100 million.
How is the all-time adventure box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the all-time adventure box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.