Entertainment • Film

Highest-grossing films

Highest-grossing films are movies ranked by the total box-office revenue they have earned, usually worldwide and usually measured in nominal dollars.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Highest-grossing films are movies ranked by the total box-office revenue they have earned, usually worldwide and measured in nominal dollars. Because box-office totals change over time and currencies differ, rankings can vary depending on the source and whether re-releases are counted. The all-time leader in many widely used nominal-box-office lists is Avatar (2009).

Definition and scope

Highest-grossing films are usually listed by worldwide theatrical revenue accumulated over a film’s release history. Some lists include only original releases, while others count re-releases and later theatrical runs, which can alter the totals.

Measurement issues

Box-office rankings depend on the reporting source, exchange rates, and whether the figures are updated continuously. Nominal gross rankings are different from admissions-based or inflation-adjusted rankings, which often place older films much higher.

Notable films

Commonly cited leaders in nominal worldwide gross include Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, Titanic, and Ne Zha 2. Franchise films, sequels, and event releases frequently dominate the list.

Historical context

The modern top-grossing list reflects the global expansion of theatrical distribution and the rise of large franchise films. Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Universal, and other major studios appear frequently among the highest earners.

Key facts

Rankings are generally based on worldwide theatrical box-office gross, not profits or ticket sales.
The all-time leader in many widely used nominal-box-office lists is Avatar (2009).
Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Titanic (1997) are also among the highest-grossing films.
Re-releases can change a film’s lifetime gross and affect its rank.
Inflation-adjusted rankings can produce very different results from nominal gross rankings.

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Canadian context

Canadian readers often encounter these rankings through global entertainment reporting and domestic box-office coverage, but the lists themselves are international rather than Canada-specific.

Frequently asked questions

What does "highest-grossing" mean in film?

It means the films that have earned the most money at the box office, usually worldwide and measured in nominal currency.

Which film is usually listed as the highest-grossing of all time?

Avatar (2009) is commonly listed as the highest-grossing film in nominal worldwide box-office terms.

How is this different from "most tickets sold"?

Ticket-sales rankings measure admissions, not revenue. Older films can rank much higher by admissions because ticket prices were lower.

Why do box-office rankings change?

Totals can change when films are re-released, when reporting is updated, or when exchange-rate conversions are revised.

Are inflation-adjusted lists the same as gross lists?

No. Inflation-adjusted lists often place older films much higher because they account for changes in ticket prices over time.

References

Box Office Mojo — https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/top_lifetime_gross/?area=XWW
Supports: Worldwide lifetime gross rankings and current top-grossing films
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films
Supports: Examples of highest-grossing films and rank changes over time
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_by_box_office_admissions
Supports: Difference between revenue rankings and admissions-based rankings
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films_in_the_United_States_by_year
Supports: Context on box-office dominance by major franchises and yearly gross patterns