List of highest-grossing fantasy films explained

This article shows the lists of highest-grossing fantasy films of all time.

Highest-grossing fantasy films

The following is a list of the highest-grossing fantasy films of all time. The top 12 are among the highest-grossing films of all time. Superhero films and science fiction films often have some fantasy elements but are not included here, having their own separate lists.

Highest-grossing films[1] !Rank! Film !! Worldwide gross !! Year !!
1Frozen II $1,450,026,933 2019 [2]
2Barbie $1,445,638,421 2023 [3]
3The Super Mario Bros. Movie $1,362,680,539 2023 [4] [5]
4Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 $1,342,321,665 2011
5Frozen $ 2013
6Beauty and the Beast $1,263,521,126 2017
7 $1,150,779,825 2003
8 $1,066,179,725 2006
9Aladdin $1,050,693,953 2019
10 $1,045,713,802 2011
11Alice in Wonderland $1,025,467,110 2010
12 $1,017,003,568 2012
13Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone $1,006,968,171 2001
14Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 $976,941,486 2010
15The Jungle Book $967,724,775 2016
16 $962,542,945 2017
17 $960,996,492 2007
18 $958,366,855 2013
19 $956,019,788 2014
20 $947,495,095 2002
21Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $942,172,396 2007
22Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince $934,454,096 2009
23Shrek 2 $919,838,758 2004
24 $897,690,072 2001
25Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire $896,678,241 2005
26Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $879,602,366 2002
27 $829,747,654 2012
28Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them $814,044,001 2016
29Shrek the Third $813,367,380 2007 [6]
30Coco $807,817,888 2017
31 $800,059,707 2019
32Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban $797,361,618 2004
33 $794,881,442 2017
34Maleficent $758,411,779 2014
35Shrek Forever After $752,600,867 2010
36 $745,013,115 2005 [7]
37Ne Zha $742,718,496 2019 [8]
38Up $735,099,102 2009 [9]
39 $712,171,856 2011 [10]
40 $709,827,462 2009 [11]
41 $698,491,347 2010 [12]
42 $654,855,901 2018 [13]
43 $654,264,015 2003 [14]
44Wonka $631,042,612 2023 [15]
45How to Train Your Dragon 2 $621,537,519 2014 [16]
46Night at the Museum $574,481,229 2006 [17]
47The Smurfs $563,749,323 2011 [18]
48Puss in Boots $554,987,477 2011 [19]
49Cinderella $542,358,331 2015 [20]
50Aladdin $504,050,219 1992 [21]

Biggest worldwide openings on record for fantasy films

This list charts films the biggest worldwide openings. Since films do not open on Fridays in many markets, the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday following the movie's release. Figures prior to the year 2002 are not available.

Since many American films do not open in all markets at the same time, the 'opening' gross varies depending on when it was released in the US-Canada market. For example, for films like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 which opened in the US-Canada market and in most other major markets during the same weekend, the 'opening' is the total gross of the film during that weekend. On the other hand, for films which opened in several markets a week ahead of their respective releases in the US-Canada market, the 'opening' is the sum of the opening grosses in the markets where they were released first and the opening in the US-Canada market. In the latter case, the opening grosses from territories after the initial overseas opening are not included in the 'opening' of the film. In all cases, if a film opens in a market after its release in the US-Canada market, that opening is not included in the 'opening' of the film.

Rank Film Year Opening (USD)[22]
1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 2011 $483,189,427
2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 2009 $394,022,354
3 The Super Mario Bros. Movie2023$377,200,000[23]
4 Frozen II 2019 $358,503,293
5 Beauty and the Beast 2017 $357,026,593[24]
6 Barbie2023$356,322,044[25]
7 2011 $350,653,677
8 2007 $343,972,864
9 2012 $340,667,634
10 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 2007 $332,715,157
11 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 2010 $330,017,372
12 2011$291,022,261
13 2009$274,939,137
14 The Mermaid2016$274,049,983[26]
15 2017$271,809,637
16 2018$253,663,104
17 2003$250,000,534
18 2010 $228,893,465
19 Jiang Ziya: Legend of Deification2020 $151,700,000[27]
20 2012 $222,617,303
21 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2016 $219,903,387
22 Aladdin 2019 $214,700,000
23 Alice in Wonderland 2010 $210,101,023
24 2013 $209,845,197
25 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2004 $207,200,000
26 2002 $189,900,000
27 Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire 2005 $188,200,000
28 2006 $182,300,000
29 Maleficent 2014 $170,000,000
30 2019 $155,100,000
31 Oz the Great and Powerful 2013 $149,000,000
32 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 2002 $147,900,000
33 Shrek the Third 2007 $136,800,000
34 Shrek 2 2004 $131,100,000
35 Dumbo 2019 $119,500,000
36 Frozen 2013 $110,600,000
37 Wrath of the Titans 2012 $109,600,000
38 2005 $107,100,000

Highest-grossing fantasy films by year

Year! scope="col"
TitleWorldwide grossBudgetReference(s)
2001Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone$1,006,968,171 ($974,755,371)$125,000,000
2002$947,495,095 ($936,689,735)$94,000,000[28]
2003$1,150,779,825 ($1,140,692,011)$94,000,000
2004Shrek 2[29]
2005Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire$896,346,413 ($895,921,036)$150,000,000[30]
2006$1,066,179,725$225,000,000
2007$963,420,425$300,000,000
2008$419,665,568$225,000,000[31]
2009Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince$934,454,096 ($933,959,197)$250,000,000[32]
2010Alice in Wonderland$1,025,468,216($1,025,467,110)$200,000,000[33]
2011Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2$1,342,321,665 ($1,341,511,219)$125,000,000
2012$1,017,003,568$200,000,000
2013Frozen$ ($)$150,000,000[34] -- THIS HAS RECEIVED A CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE AS IT IS BELIEVED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WP:CALC WHICH PERMITS BASIC CALCULATIONS, SO IF YOU WISH TO CHALLENGE THE TOTAL INCLUDED HERE PLEASE RAISE THE ISSUE ON THE TALK PAGE FIRST -->
2014$956,019,788$209,000,000
2015Cinderella$542,358,331 ($542,351,353)$84,210,000[35]
2016The Jungle Book$966,554,929 ($966,550,600)$175,000,000[36]
2017Beauty and the Beast$1,264,434,525 ($1,263,521,126)$255,000,000[37]
2018$654,855,901$200,000,000
2019Frozen II$1,450,026,933$150,000,000
2020$503,063,688$15,850,000[38]
2021A Writer's Odyssey$159,848,488TBA[39]
2022$407,150,844$200,000,000[40]
Barbie$$[41]
(...) Since grosses are not limited to original theatrical runs, a film's first-run gross is included in brackets after the total if known.

Timeline of highest-grossing fantasy films

The following is a timeline of highest-grossing fantasy films of all time.

Established! scope="col"
TitleRecord setting grossReference(s)
1991Beauty and the Beast$331,907,151[42]
1992Aladdin$504,050,219
2001Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone$974,755,371[43]
2004$1,140,682,011[44]
2005$1,141,093,340
2011$1,141,911,920
2011Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2$1,341,511,219[45]
2016$1,341,836,224
2018$1,342,028,110
2019Frozen II$1,450,026,933

Highest-grossing fantasy film series & franchises

The following is a list of the highest-grossing fantasy film series & franchises of all time. The top 6 are along the highest grossing film series and franchises of all time. The Wizarding World has the highest gross with a total gross of $9.6 billion, while Frozen has the highest average with $1.4 billion.

Box office admissions

FilmYearKnown ticket sales Territories with known ticket sales dataNotes
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone2001148,973,885USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, Brazil, South Korea
2003142,573,659USA, Canada, Europe, Korea, South America, Australia, Japan
2002130,420,246Worldwide[46]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses . 3 November 2019 . Box Office Mojo.
  2. Web site: Top Lifetime Grosses – Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo. 6 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603065050/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/top_lifetime_gross/?area=XWW . 3 June 2021.
  3. Web site: Barbie (2023) – Financial Information .
  4. Web site: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) – Financial Information . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415030008/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Super-Mario-Bros-Movie-The-(2022)#tab=box-office . 15 April 2023.
  5. Web site: The Super Mario Bros. Movie .
  6. Web site: Shrek the Third .
  7. Web site: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe .
  8. Web site: Ne Zha Zhi Mo Tong Jiang Shi (2019) – Financial Information .
  9. Web site: Up .
  10. Web site: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 .
  11. Web site: The Twilight Saga: New Moon .
  12. Web site: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) . 2010-07-12 . . Amazon.com.
  13. Web site: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
  14. Web site: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
  15. Web site: Wonka (2023) – Financial Information.
  16. Web site: How to Train Your Dragon 2.
  17. Web site: Night at the Museum.
  18. Web site: The Smurfs .
  19. Web site: Puss in Boots.
  20. Web site: Cinderella.
  21. Web site: Aladdin.
  22. Web site: Worldwide Openings. Box Office Mojo. 8 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20191022122046/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/worldwideopenings.htm. 22 October 2019. live.
  23. Web site: 2023-04-09 . 'Super Mario Bros' Hits High Scores: Record Opening For Animated Pic At $377M+ WW, 5-Day U.S. Record $204M+; 'Air' Soars To $20M – Sunday Box Office Update . 2023-04-09 . . en-US . If overseas is still at $173M by tomorrow AM, then the new global opening record for an animated movie set by Super Mario Bros stands at $377.2M..
  24. Web site: 'Frozen 2' Even Hotter with $358M+ Global Bow; Biggest Animated Opening Ever WW & Overseas – International Box Office . 25 November 2019 .
  25. Web site: Greta Gerwig Makes Box Office History as 'Barbie' Scores Biggest Opening Weekend Ever for Female Director . 23 July 2023 .
  26. Web site: The Mermaid: Chinese Weekend . 2022-04-17 . Box Office Mojo.
  27. Web site: Legend of Deification. www.boxofficemojo.com.
  28. Web site: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers . . 10 February 2020 . Worldwide: $947,495,095; Original Release: $936,689,735.
  29. Web site: Shrek 2.
  30. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  31. Web site: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – Box Office Mojo]. . 7 June 2021. Worldwide: $797,361,618; Original Release: $795,634,069.
  32. Web site: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Box Office Mojo. . 7 June 2021. Worldwide: $934,454,096; Original Release: $933,959,197.
  33. Web site: Alice in Wonderland – Box Office Mojo. . 7 June 2021. Worldwide: $1,025,468,216; Original Release: $1,025,467,110.
  34. Frozen

    Total as of 3 August 2014: $247,650,477

    Total as of 31 August 2014: $249,036,646

    Total as of 17 August 2014: $167,333

    Total as of 27 July 2014: $21,668,593

    Total as of 2 November 2014: $22,492,845

    Total as of 8 June 2014: £39,090,985

    Total as of 30 November 2014: £40,960,083 ($1 = £0.63866)

    Total as of 7 December 2014: £41,087,765 ($1 = £0.64136)

    Total as of 14 December 2014: £41,170,608 ($1 = £0.636)

    Total as of 26 November 2017: £42,840,559 ($1 = £0.7497)

    Total as of 3 December 2017: £42,976,318 ($1 = £0.742)

    Total as of 30 March 2014: €35,098,170

    Total as of 18 October 2015: €42,526,744

    nb. the exact euro to dollar conversion rate is unknown for earnings since April 2014, but the euro never fell below parity with the dollar during 2014 and 2015 (as can be verified by comparing the exchange rate on the individual date entries at the provided reference) so an approximate conversion rate of €1: $1 is used here to give a lower-bound.<

  35. Web site: Cinderella – Box Office Mojo. . 7 June 2021. Worldwide: $542,358,331; Original Release: $542,351,353.
  36. Web site: The Jungle Book – Box Office Mojo. . 7 June 2021. Worldwide: $966,554,929; Original Release: $966,550,600.
  37. Web site: Beauty and the Beast – Box Office Mojo. . 7 June 2021. Worldwide: $1,264,434,525; Original Release: $1,263,521,126.
  38. Web site: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (2020) . Japan Film's Box Office. 2021-06-05.
  39. Web site: Ci Sha Xiao Shuo Jia (2021) – Financial Information. The Numbers . 7 June 2021.
  40. 4123432 . Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore . 4 June 2023.
  41. Web site: Barbie .
  42. Web site: Beauty and the Beast (1991) . . 17 September 2020 . 3 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200803181044/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0101414/ . live .
  43. Web site: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone – Box Office Mojo . . 6 June 2021.
  44. Web site: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Box Office Mojo . 6 June 2021. Box Office Mojo.
    Total: $1,146,030,912
    Original Release: $1,140,682,011
    2005 Re-release: $411,329
    2011 Re-release: $818,580
    2017 Re-release: $307,481
    2020 Re-release: $237,586
    2021 Re-release: $3,573,925.
  45. Web site: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – Box Office Mojo . 6 June 2021. Box Office Mojo.
    Total: $1,342,321,665
    Original Release: $1,341,511,219
    2016 Re-release: $325,005
    2018 Re-release: $191,886
    2017 Re-release: $307,481
    2020 Re-release: $293,555.
  46. Web site: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002 . . 29 February 2020 . ru.

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