Let’s be real—when a new blockbuster comes out, the first question on everybody’s mind is, “So, how much did it make?” Studios, fans, and that single movie-addicted friend all view box office figures as if they’re the ultimate scoreboard. But is making a lot of money the best way to gauge a movie’s success?
Let’s examine five of the highest-grossing film franchises in history—and then explore why the largest dollar amounts don’t necessarily translate to the largest impact.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy: Marvel’s Cosmic Underdogs
Who would have ever imagined that a wise-cracking raccoon and a tree with a three-word vocabulary would bring in billions? With four movies generating $2.48 billion globally, Guardians of the Galaxy showed that Marvel magic isn’t exclusive to the Avengers. James Gunn’s irreverent sense of humor, killer soundtracks, and ragtag crew made what was originally a cult comic into a worldwide phenomenon. Guardians Vol. 3 even counted as one of 2023’s top-grossing movies. And although Gunns jumped ship to DC, the Guardians’ future remains pretty strong.
4. The Dark Knight Trilogy: Batman’s Billion-Dollar Grit
Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman not only changed superhero movies—it redefined the blockbuster genre. Through three films that generated $2.44 billion at the box office, this trilogy redefined Gotham on a gritty, realistic level. Christian Bale’s dark Batman, Heath Ledger’s legendary Joker, and Nolan’s dark, cerebral direction raised the bar. The Dark Knight itself became a pop culture touchstone, and all subsequent Batman movies have aimed to reach its pedestal.
3. Iron Man: The Armored Avenger Who Started It All
Before the MCU was a global superpower, Iron Man was a giant gamble. It paid off—big time. Throughout three films, Tony Stark’s journey raked in $2.42 billion and created the most successful film universe on record. Robert Downey Jr. took a supporting comic book character and turned him into a worldwide phenomenon, and Iron Man 3 alone took in over $1.2 billion. While Stark’s story came to an end in Avengers: Endgame, the success of Iron Man lives on.
2. The Conjuring: Horror’s Unlikely Box Office Juggernaut
Horror isn’t typically where studios go for billion-dollar payback—but The Conjuring universe did exactly that. With nine films and $2.38 billion in the bank, this franchise showed that even well-made scares have box office power. James Wan established a shared universe of ghosts, demons, and haunted dolls (hello, Annabelle), and the horror brand is both frightening and profitable. With the last mainline entry in production, don’t be surprised if additional spin-offs are already in production.
1. Planet of the Apes: Sci-Fi’s Longest-Running Surprise
Ten movies, $2.51 billion, and a legacy that spans over 50 years. Planet of the Apes is America’s longest-active science-fiction franchise, and it continues to roll. What started with a twist-ending classic in 1968 has evolved into modern reboots with heart and cutting-edge effects. The new film recently debuted in theaters, showing that the public is still all in on stories of smart apes and the downfall of humanity.
Now, in anticipation of the arguments over which franchise should wear the crown, let’s discuss the glaringly obvious: box office performance doesn’t tell the entire tale. Little Bits of Gaming has pointed out, “Barbie grossed $1.446 billion at the box office, it was the top-grossing film of 2023 and is the 14th top-grossing film of all time.”.
But that doesn’t say how well it performed, it simply says it cost a lot of money, and those are not the same thing.” Ticket prices, inflation, and whether a film’s wide releases can all greatly skew those numbers. Example: by Guinness World Records’ reckoning, Gone with the Wind remains the highest-grossing film of all time when accounting for inflation—$4.5 billion in today’s money. That’s greater than Avatar, Avengers, or anything else since the dawn of time.
And then there’s the matter of representation. UCLA conducted a study and found that studios lose a total of up to $130 million on each film when they fail to introduce genuine diversity in their stories. Movies like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians didn’t just dominate the box office—they showed that audiences are hungry for stories that reflect more accurately the world we live in.
Next time you look over a headline boasting of a box office record, keep in mind: money speaks, to be sure, but it doesn’t always have much to say. Sometimes the best measure of a movie’s success is how it makes you talk, changes the business, or sticks with you when the lights come back on.