Curious what the highest grossing movies of all-time are? There are a few movies in cinematic history that have made a long-lasting impression. The popularity of a particular movie is often judged in terms of ticket sales; more specifically, the amount of money generated through selling tickets for a motion picture is what determines if that movie is a box office hit or not.
We have compiled a list of the 15 most popular movies of all time, based on ticket sales. However, considering that the average ticket price in 1940 was only 24 cents, while nowadays prices range between 5 and $20, we adjusted the sales figures so that they match the current inflation rate.
Our countdown revealed that 10 out of the 15 most popular movies of all time were filmed before 1980. In fact, only one movie in our countdown, Avatar, which ranked second to last, was produced in this millennium. Either people back in the day were more passionate about going to the cinema or they simply don’t make movies like they used to.
Apart from Avatar, which can be credited with making the concept of 3D movies widespread, our top 15 includes some classic movies, such as Star Wars, Jaws, or Doctor Zhivago.
Photo Credit: Serious Cat
Not surprisingly, the most popular movie of all time, in terms of revenue generated at the box office, turned out to be none other than Gone With the Wind, whose ticket sales, after adjusting for inflation, amounted to a whopping $1,604,234,300.
Wondering if your favorite motion picture has made the top? Let’s take a look at the countdown.
No. 15: Return of the Jedi
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $746,831,700
Year: 1983
See the rest of history’s highest grossing movies on the following pages:
No. 14: Avatar
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $772,206,800
Year: 2009
No. 13: Ben-Hur
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $778,120,000
Year: 1959
No. 12: The Empire Strikes Back
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $779,554,300
Year: 1980
No. 11: 101 Dalmatians
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $793,343,000
Year: 1961
No. 10: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $865,460,000
Year: 1937
No. 9: The Exorcist
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $878,157,400
Year: 1973
No. 8: Doctor Zhivago
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $985,635,500
Year: 1965
No. 7: Jaws
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $1,016,945,800
Year: 1975
No. 6: The Ten Commandments
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $1,040,140,000
Year: 1956
No. 5: Titanic
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $1,075,667,300
Year: 1997
No. 4: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $1,126,323,400
Year: 1982
No. 3: The Sound of Music
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $1,130,778,100
Year: 1965
No. 2: Star Wars
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $1,414,269,600
Year: 1977
No. 1: Gone With the Wind
Ticket sales, inflation adjusted: $1,604,234,300
Year: 1939
