The $2 billion club: 7 highest-grossing movies that made history, ranked

There are films that dominate the box office, and then there are films that own the box office. Commercially successful movies usually earn in the hundreds of millions and sometimes enter the billion-dollar club. But we are here to take a look at the highest-grossing movies — the ones that entered the $2 billion club.

Not all these smash hits sprung out of Hollywood. There’s one Chinese movie in it too, and it rose to prominence pretty fast and is now competing with giants like Titanic and Star Wars.

The top two on this list of highest-grossing movies are close to entering the $3 billion club, which is a feat still unattained in the history of cinema. A potential re-release should do it, but considering digital sales of these films, they have probably achieved this tally already.

But we are focusing on the box office here, so let’s dive right into this cinematic stash of cash.

Highest-grossing movies of all time

7. Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War is the 19th film in the MCU. (Image via Marvel Entertainment)

Many fans still believe that Infinity War is the best movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following its release, it opened with a whopping $257 million at the domestic box office. By the end of its theatrical run, it entered the $2 billion club and currently sits with $2.052 billion in earnings.

6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the first movie in the sequel trilogy. (Image via Lucasfilm Ltd.)

The first film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy also became one of the first films to enter the $2 billion club, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. It now holds $2.07 billion at the box office. With this, the long-running popular franchise also got a new protagonist, Rey, played by Daisy Ridley.

5. Ne Zha 2

This is the only animated movie in the list. (Image via Beijing Enlight Media)

This is the only Chinese and animated film to sit alongside the highest-grossing movies of all time. It’s a sequel to the 2019 movie Ne Zha and follows the deity of the same name and Ao Bing, who are struck by heavenly lightning and have lost their bodies. Currently, the film has earned $2.2 billion and is still up and running in theaters.

4. Titanic

James Cameron directed the film. (Image via Paramount Pictures)

Like the name, it certainly became a Titanic at the global box office and currently floats with $2.264 billion. This James Cameron classic is among the films that are worth revisiting in cinema halls. It is re-released every time.

3. Avatar: The Way of Water

A sequel to Avatar: Way of Water is in development. (Image via TSG Entertainment)

Again, a James Cameron film is on this list of highest-grossing movies of all time. The sequel to his 2009 film reunited actors like Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, and more in this blue world. With this, Zoe Saldana is the only actress to be part of four films on this list, including Infinity War and the two below. As of this writing, Way of Water has $2.32 billion in its box office bag.

2. Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame concluded the Infinity Saga. (Image via Marvel Entertainment)

Avengers: Endgame isn’t just one of the highest-grossing movies of all time but one of the most expensive movies made too. It was reportedly made on a budget between $350 million and $400 million and has earned $2.8 billion at the global box office. Its sequels, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, are due in the next couple of years too, and we can expect the same for them.

1. Avatar

Avatar can become a $3 billion movie if re-released. (Image via 20th Century Studios)

And finally, the mega-giant — and again it belongs to James Cameron. That’s his third film on this list, and it’s currently holding $2.92 billion at the global box office. It’s just a re-release short of making a new record never attained by a movie before: becoming a $3 billion movie.

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