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In 1997, James Cameron’s Titanic became the highest grossing film of all time when it became the first film to rake in over a billion dollars at the global box office. One of the most popular movies in history, Titanic shattered the record of USD $914,691,118 that Jurassic Park had set, and would go on to make a very chill USD $1,843,201,268.
In fact, it wasn’t until Cameron released Avatar in 2009 that a new film would snatch the top spot, bumping Titanic down to number two. Cameron didn’t just break his own record, though. He smashed it to smithereens.
You see, Avatar didn’t just surpass Titanic, it was the first film to bring in over two billion dollars at the global box office. Titanic would join Avatar in the two billion dollar club in 2012, after Cameron re-released it for cinemas in 3D.
The one-two punch of Titanic and Avatar were sitting pretty on top of the highest grossing film lists, and until 2019, Cameron looked unbeatable when it came to making some of the most popular movies in recent history.
James Cameron Vs the Entire Marvel Cinematic Universe
Enter: Avengers: Endgame. 2019 saw Avatar and Titanic bumped down to numbers two and three respectively, as Avengers: Endgame made USD$2,797,501,328. Not only did Endgame join the prestigious two billion dollar club, it did it in just 11 days. To date, it holds the record for being the fastest grossing film of all time.
However, if there’s one thing to know about James Cameron, it’s that he doesn’t accept defeat easily. In 2021, Avatar was re-released in China, one of many Hollywood blockbusters that were re-released in theatres post-lockdown in a bid to entice audiences back into cinemas. The film quickly reclaimed its number one spot, knocking Endgame back down to number two.
In September 2022, Cameron further cemented Avatar‘s number one spot with a remastered re-release of the film hitting cinemas for just two weeks. Designed to get audiences excited for Avatar: The Way of Water, the re-release pulled in USD$18 million in the United States and USD$39 internationally, making it the first film in history to gross over USD$2.905 billion.
Then, in December 2022, Cameron finally released Avatar: The Way of Water. After 13 years of delays, memes and snark, the box office spoke for itself, and the message was loud and clear. It said: “never bet against James Cameron”.
Avatar: The Way of Water went on to make USD$2,319,935,105 at the global box office. While it wasn’t enough to knock Avengers: Endgame down a spot, the Avatar sequel is now the third-highest grossing film of all time, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at.
In February 2023, Cameron also re-released Titanic, a 4K remaster of the 3D version of the film, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The Highest Grossing Film of All Time, Adjusted for Inflation
Of course, there’s also some debate about whether James Cameron has ever actually held the title for highest grossing film of all time. That’s because there’s this pesky little thing called inflation. That is, movie tickets cost more now, so movies make more money.
If you take inflation into account, Gone With the Wind has been holding the record since 1939, with Avatar at number two and Titanic at number three. The problem here is that inflation is notoriously tricky to estimate. It has to take factors like exchange rates and the price index of movie tickets into consideration. Thus, the estimate for how much Gone With the Wind actually grossed, when adjusted for inflation, varies pretty greatly.
The Top 10 Highest Grossing Films of All Time
1. Avatar (2009)
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Synopsis: A paraplegic Marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.
Grossed: USD $2,906,256,019
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd
Synopsis: After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of the remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.
Grossed: USD $2,797,501,32
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
3. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Synopsis: Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na’vi race to protect their home.
Grossed: USD $2,319,935,105
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+ from June 7
4. Titanic (1997)
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
Synopsis: A seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.
Grossed: USD $2,257,844,545
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
5. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong’o
Synopsis: As a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace.
Grossed: $2,068,223,624
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman
Synopsis: The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Grossed: USD $2,048,359,75
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
7. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Directed by: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch
Synopsis: With Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
Grossed: $1,892,667,830
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
8. Jurassic World (2015)
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Judy Greer
Synopsis: A new theme park, built on the original site of Jurassic Park, creates a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.
Grossed: USD $1,671,537,444
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
9. The Lion King (2019)
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Starring: Beyoncé, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Synopsis: After the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.
Grossed: USD $1,656,943,394
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
10. The Avengers (2012)
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston
Synopsis: Earth’s mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.
Grossed: USD $1,656,943,394
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
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