#1 of 2,055 Highest-grossing sci-fi movie ever
2009 · Action, Adventure
$2.9B worldwide
$785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
Sci-Fi box office · All time
Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies of All Time
Avatar (2009) is the highest-grossing sci-fi 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. 2,055 sci-fi films in our database report a worldwide gross, $175.8B in all, 40% of it from the US & Canada. 28 films crossed $1 billion and 362 crossed $100 million. By language, English leads with $164.1B across 1,359 sci-fi releases.
- films with a reported gross
- 2,055
- combined worldwide
- $175.8B
- films crossed $100M
- 362
- earned in the US & Canada
- 40%
#1 of 2,055 Top 5
What Are the Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi 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 2,055 Sci-Fi Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 2,055. 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
Jun 12, 2015 US and Canada: $653.4M Rest of the world: $1B Worldwide: $1.7B - 9
May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $623.4M Rest of the world: $897.2M Worldwide: $1.5B - 10
Dec 19, 2025 US and Canada: $404.3M Rest of the world: $1.1B Worldwide: $1.5B - 11
May 1, 2015 US and Canada: $459M Rest of the world: $946M Worldwide: $1.4B - 12
Feb 16, 2018 US and Canada: $700.4M Rest of the world: $649.5M Worldwide: $1.3B - 13
Jul 26, 2024 US and Canada: $636.7M Rest of the world: $701.3M Worldwide: $1.3B - 14
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 - 15
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 - 16
Jun 15, 2018 US and Canada: $608.6M Rest of the world: $634.6M Worldwide: $1.2B - 17
May 3, 2013 US and Canada: $409M Rest of the world: $806.6M Worldwide: $1.2B - 18
May 6, 2016 US and Canada: $408.1M Rest of the world: $747M Worldwide: $1.2B - 19
Dec 21, 2018 US and Canada: $335.1M Rest of the world: $816.9M Worldwide: $1.2B - 20
Jul 2, 2019 US and Canada: $391.3M Rest of the world: $741.4M Worldwide: $1.1B - 21
Mar 8, 2019 US and Canada: $426.8M Rest of the world: $704.6M Worldwide: $1.1B - 22
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 - 23
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 - 24
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 - 25
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 - 26
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 - 27
Jun 30, 2017 US and Canada: $264.6M Rest of the world: $770.2M Worldwide: $1B - 28
Jun 10, 2022 US and Canada: $376.9M Rest of the world: $625.1M Worldwide: $1B - 29
Jul 3, 2024 US and Canada: $361M Rest of the world: $611M Worldwide: $972M - 30
Jul 3, 2013 US and Canada: $368.1M Rest of the world: $602.7M Worldwide: $970.8M - 31
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)May 6, 2022 US and Canada: $411.3M Rest of the world: $544.4M Worldwide: $955.8M May 6, 2022 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $955.8M worldwide - 32
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)May 19, 2005 US and Canada: $414.4M Rest of the world: $491.2M Worldwide: $905.6M May 19, 2005 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy $905.6M worldwide - 33
Jul 7, 2017 US and Canada: $335M Rest of the world: $546M Worldwide: $881M - 34
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)Mar 25, 2016 US and Canada: $330.4M Rest of the world: $544M Worldwide: $874.4M Mar 25, 2016 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $874.4M worldwide - 35
Jul 2, 2025 US and Canada: $339.6M Rest of the world: $529.5M Worldwide: $869.1M - 36
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)Nov 22, 2013 US and Canada: $424.7M Rest of the world: $440.3M Worldwide: $865M Nov 22, 2013 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $865M worldwide - 37
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)May 5, 2017 US and Canada: $389.8M Rest of the world: $473.9M Worldwide: $863.8M May 5, 2017 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $863.8M worldwide - 38
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)Nov 11, 2022 US and Canada: $453.8M Rest of the world: $405.4M Worldwide: $859.2M Nov 11, 2022 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $859.2M worldwide - 39
Oct 5, 2018 US and Canada: $213.5M Rest of the world: $642.6M Worldwide: $856.1M - 40
Nov 3, 2017 US and Canada: $315.1M Rest of the world: $540.2M Worldwide: $855.3M - 41
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)May 5, 2023 US and Canada: $359M Rest of the world: $486.6M Worldwide: $845.6M May 5, 2023 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $845.6M worldwide - 42
Jul 16, 2010 US and Canada: $292.6M Rest of the world: $546.8M Worldwide: $839.4M - 43
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)Jun 24, 2009 US and Canada: $402.1M Rest of the world: $434.2M Worldwide: $836.3M Jun 24, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $836.3M worldwide - 44
Jun 2, 2017 US and Canada: $412.8M Rest of the world: $411.1M Worldwide: $824M - 45
Jul 3, 1996 US and Canada: $306.2M Rest of the world: $511.2M Worldwide: $817.4M - 46
Nov 13, 2009 US and Canada: $166.1M Rest of the world: $625.1M Worldwide: $791.2M - 47
May 18, 2018 US and Canada: $324.6M Rest of the world: $461.3M Worldwide: $785.9M - 48
Jun 30, 2004 US and Canada: $374.3M Rest of the world: $410.2M Worldwide: $784.6M - 49
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)May 25, 1977 US and Canada: $461M Rest of the world: $314.4M Worldwide: $775.4M May 25, 1977 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $775.4M worldwide - 50
Aug 1, 2014 US and Canada: $333.7M Rest of the world: $439.6M Worldwide: $773.4M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Biggest Sci-Fi 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 Avatar (2009) made 73% of its gross abroad. Across all 2,055 films, $70.2B (40%) 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 Jurassic World (2015) $1.7B $653.4M US & Canada · 39% $1B elsewhere · 61%
- 9 The Avengers (2012) $1.5B $623.4M US & Canada · 41% $897.2M elsewhere · 59%
- 10 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) $1.5B $404.3M US & Canada · 27% $1.1B elsewhere · 73%
Gross bands
How Many Sci-Fi Movies Crossed $100 Million?
362 of 2,055 films crossed $100M and took $158B between them, 90% of the total. 1,268 films, 62% of the list, earned under $10M.
24% 28% 38% 9%
- $1B or more 28 films, 1% of the list $42.5B · 24% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 71 films, 3% of the list $49.5B · 28% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 263 films, 13% of the list $66B · 38% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 425 films, 21% of the list $15.9B · 9% of the gross
- Under $10M 1,268 films, 62% of the list $1.9B · 1% of the gross
By decade
Which Decade's Sci-Fi Movies Earned the Most?
Films released in the 2010s lead with $87.8B from 743 titles, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019). Each column links to the decade's biggest year.
- 1950s 1950s Peak year 1954 Godzilla (1954) $696.6K Godzilla (1954)
- 1960s 1960s Peak year 1968 Planet of the Apes (1968) $33.1M Planet of the Apes (1968)
- 1970s 1970s Peak year 1977 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $2B Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1980s 1980s Peak year 1989 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $5.4B Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- 1990s 1990s Peak year 1997 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $12.5B Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 2000s 2000s Peak year 2009 Avatar (2009) $31B Avatar (2009)
- 2010s 2010s Peak year 2018 Avengers: Endgame (2019) $87.8B Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2020s 2020s Peak year 2022 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) $37.1B Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies?
2018 releases earned the most: $15.1B from 106 films, led by Avengers: Infinity War (2018). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 106 films | 106 | $15.1B | Avengers: Infinity War (2018) $2.1B |
| 2017 88 films | 88 | $11.1B | Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) $1.3B |
| 2019 103 films | 103 | $10.3B | Avengers: Endgame (2019) $2.8B |
| 2015 84 films | 84 | $10.2B | Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) $2.1B |
| 2014 61 films | 61 | $9.7B | Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014) $1.1B |
| 2013 60 films | 60 | $8.6B | Iron Man 3 (2013) $1.2B |
| 2016 98 films | 98 | $8.4B | Captain America: Civil War (2016) $1.2B |
| 2009 60 films | 60 | $7.9B | Avatar (2009) $2.9B |
| 2022 68 films | 68 | $7.5B | Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) $2.3B |
| 2024 80 films | 80 | $6.9B | Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) $1.3B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak?
English-language sci-fi films took $164.1B across 1,359 films, 93% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($3.4B) and Chinese-language sci-fi films ($2.5B).
All-Time Sci-Fi Box Office by Language
- English $164.1B1,359 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
-
Japanese $3.4B296 films · #1 Stand by Me Doraemon (2014) -
Chinese $2.5B37 films · #1 The Wandering Earth (2019) -
Korean $197.4M25 films · #1 Hope (2026) -
Hindi $177.1M9 films · #1 PK (2014) -
Russian $168.1M37 films · #1 Forbidden Empire (2014) -
French $151M48 films · #1 9 (2009) - Tamil $46.6M14 films · #1 2.0 (2018)
-
Spanish $43.7M41 films -
German $41.7M19 films · #1 Iceman (2014)
Archive
Sci-Fi Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1933 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $15.1B, led by Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
2020s 7 years · $37.1B
- 2026 so far $5.9B #1 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
- 2025 $4.9B #1 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
- 2024 $6.9B #1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- 2023 $4.7B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $7.5B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $6.2B #1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 2020 $912.4M #1 Tenet (2020)
2010s 10 years · $87.8B
- 2019 $10.3B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $15.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $11.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $8.4B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $10.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $9.7B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $8.6B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $5.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $4.8B #1 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- 2010 $3.9B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $31B
- 2009 $7.9B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $3.2B #1 Iron Man (2008)
- 2007 $2.5B #1 Transformers (2007)
- 2006 $1.6B #1 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- 2005 $3.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $2.5B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $3.4B #1 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- 2002 $3B #1 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
- 2001 $2.3B #1 The Mummy Returns (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 X-Men (2000)
1990s 10 years · $12.5B
- 1999 $2.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $1.9B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $2.7B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $1.5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $918.9M #1 Waterworld (1995)
- 1994 $555.9M #1 Stargate (1994)
- 1993 $199.7M #1 Demolition Man (1993)
- 1992 $456.9M #1 Alien 3 (1992)
- 1991 $819.7M #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $995.3M #1 Total Recall (1990)
1980s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1989 $1B #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- 1988 $139.1M #1 Alien Nation (1988)
- 1987 $360.5M #1 Predator (1987)
- 1986 $504.9M #1 Aliens (1986)
- 1985 $654.3M #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $693.3M #1 Ghostbusters (1984)
- 1983 $781.3M #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $234.5M #1 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- 1981 $362.6M #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $645.6M #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $2B
- 1979 $500.5M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $341.8M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $1.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $4.1M #1 Robot Taekwon V (1976)
- 1975 $3.9M #1 Bug (1975)
- 1974 $560.7K #1 The Terminal Man (1974)
- 1973 $27.2M #1 Sleeper (1973)
- 1972 $9.3M #1 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- 1971 $42.1M #1 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- 1970 $19M #1 Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
1960s 8 years · $33.1M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $32.6M #1 Planet of the Apes (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $36.5K #1 The Face of Another (1966)
- 1965 $180.7K #1 Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965)
- 1964 $492 #1 Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
- 1961 $90 #1 Mothra (1961)
- 1960 $5.9K #1 The Time Machine (1960)
1950s 9 years · $696.6K
- 1959 $12.1K #1 On the Beach (1959)
- 1958 $16.3K #1 Hare-Way to the Stars (1958)
- 1957 $30K #1 The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- 1956 $3.7K #1 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
- 1955 $291 #1 Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
- 1954 $594.6K #1 Godzilla (1954)
- 1953 $15K #1 Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)
- 1952 $15K #1 Water, Water Every Hare (1952)
- 1951 $9.6K #1 The Man in the White Suit (1951)
1940s 1 year · $14.8K
FAQ
Sci-Fi 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 2,055 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi 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 sci-fi movies earned at the box office?
2,055 sci-fi films in our database report a worldwide gross, $175.8B in all, or $85.6M per film on average.
How many sci-fi movies have made $1 billion?
28 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. 362 crossed $100 million.
How is the all-time sci-fi 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 sci-fi 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.