Deadline has compiled a list of the highest-grossing movies at the North American box office for each since 1977, including the most recent winner, 2024’s Inside Out 2. With a few noted exceptions, the list is dominated by superheroes, Star Wars, animation and, of course, Harry Potter.
Click on the photo above to launch the photo gallery to see how many you remember.
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2024 – Inside Out 2
Image Credit: Disney Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: 6/12/2024
North American Total: $652,980,194
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2023 – Barbie
Image Credit: Warner Bros. / Everett Collection Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 7/19/2023
North American Total: $636,238,421
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2022 – Top Gun: Maverick
Image Credit: Scott Garfield /Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: 5/20/2022
North American Total: $718,318,561
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2021 – Spider-Man: No Way Home
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing / © Marvel Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Release Date: 12/17/2021
North American Total: $804,793,477
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2020 – Bad Boys For Life
Image Credit: Ben Rothstein / © Columbia Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Release Date: 1/17/20
North American Total: $206,305,244
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2019 – Avengers: Endgame
Image Credit: Marvel/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: 4/26/19
North American Total: $858,373,000
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2018 – Black Panther
Image Credit: Matt Kennedy /Marvel /Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Everett Collection Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: 2/13/18
North American Total: $700,426,566
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2017 – Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Image Credit: J Heath/Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: 12/15/17
North American Total: $620,181,382
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2016 – Finding Dory
Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Disney
Release Date: 6/17/16
North American Total: $486,295,561
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2015 – Jurrasic World
Image Credit: Universal Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Universal Pictures
Release Date: 6/12/15
North American Total: $652,270,625
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2014 – Guardians of the Galaxy
Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: 8/1/14
North American Total: $333,176,600
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2013 – Iron Man 3
Image Credit: Walt Disney Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date: 5/3/13
North American Total: $409,013,994
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2012 – Avengers
Image Credit: Disney Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: 5/4/12
North American Total: $623,357,910
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2011 – Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows II
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 7/15/11
North American Total: $381,011,219
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2010 – Avatar
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 12/18/08
North American Total: $749,766,139
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2009 – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Image Credit: Paramount/Everett Collection Distributor: Paramount
Release Date: 6/24/09
North American Total: $402,111,870
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2008 – The Dark Knight
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 7/18/08
North American Total: $534,987,076
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2007 – Spider-Man 3
Image Credit: Sony Distributor: Sony
Release Date: 5/4/07
North American Total: $336,530,303
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2006 – Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Image Credit: Disney Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date: 7/7/06
North American Total: $423,315,812
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2005 – Star Wars: Ep. III – Revenge Of The Sith
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 5/19/05
North American Total: $380,270,577
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2004 – Shrek 2
Image Credit: Dreamworks SKG Distributor: Dreamworks SKG
Release Date: 5/19/04
North American Total: $441,426,807
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2003 – Finding Nemo
Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: 05/30/03
North American Total: $339,714,978
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2002 – Spider-Man
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures Distributor: Sony
Release Date: 5/3/02
North American Total: $403,706,375
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2001 – Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 11/16/01
North American Total: $317,575,550
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2000 – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Image Credit: Universal Distributor: Universal Pictures
Release Date: 11/17/00
North American Total: $260,745,620
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1999 – Star Wars: Ep. I – Phantom Menace
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 5/19/99
North American Total: $431,088,295
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1998 – Titanic
Image Credit: Paramount Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: 12/19/97
North American Total: $600,683,057
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1997 – Men in Black
Image Credit: Sony/Everett Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Release Date: 7/2/97
North American Total: $250,690,539
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1996 – Independence Day
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Release Date: 7/2/96
North American Total: $306,169,268
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1995 – Batman Forever
Image Credit: Warner Bros./Everett Collection Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 6/16/95
North American Total: $184,031,112
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1994 – The Lion King
Image Credit: Disney Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: 6/15/94
North American Total: $312,855,561
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1993 – Jurassic Park
Image Credit: Universal Distributor: Univeral
Release Date: 6/11/93
North American Total: $357,067,947
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1992 – Batman Returns
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 6/19/92
North American Total: $162,831,698
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1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Image Credit: TriStar Pictures Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Release Date: 7/3/91
North American Total: $204,843,345
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1990 – Ghost
Image Credit: Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Paramount
Release Date: 7/13/90
North American Total: $217,631,306
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1989 – Batman
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 6/23/89
North American Total: $251,188,924
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1988 – Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Image Credit: Everett Collection Distributor: Walt Disney
Release Date: 6/24/88
North American Total: $156,452,370
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1987 – Beverly Hills Cop II
Image Credit: Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Paramount
Release Date: 5/20/87
North American Total: $153,665,036
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1986 – Top Gun
Image Credit: Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Paramount
Release Date: 5/16/86
North American Total: $176,781,728
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1985 – Back to the Future
Image Credit: Universal Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection Distributor: Universal Pictures
Release Date: 6/3/85
North American Total: $211,850,472
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1984 – Ghostbusters
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures/ Everett Collection Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Release Date: 6/8/84
North American Total: $229,242,989
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1983 – Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Image Credit: Twentieth Century Fox/Everett Collection Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date: 5/25/83
North American Total: $252,583,617
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1982 – E.T., (aka E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL)
Image Credit: Universal/Everett Collection Distributor: Universal
Release Date: 6/11/82
North American Total: $359,197,037
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1981 – SUPERMAN II, (aka SUPERMAN 2)
Image Credit: Warner Bros./ Courtesy: Everett Collection. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 6/19/81
North American Total: $108,185,706
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1980 Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
Image Credit: Twentieth Century Fox/ Everett Collection Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date: 5/21/80
North American Total: $209,398,025
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1979 – Superman
Image Credit: Warner Bros./Everett Collection Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 12/15/79
North American Total: $134,218,018
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1978 – Grease
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: 6/16/78
North American Total: $159,978,870
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1977 – Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Image Credit: Twentieth Century Fox Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date: 5/25/77
North American Total: $307,263,857