Let’s say it: Hollywood loves more of the same, and that makes sense. When folks dig a world, a good guy, or a bad one, they come back for more. That’s what those big film boss guys want from her when heaps of cash are up for grabs. From hero tales to space wars, these sets have not just kept us on the edge of our seats—they’ve turned into huge must-see events all over. Here’s the list of the top 10 cash kings in film history, sorted by their total cash haul.
10. Key Mentions
These sets may not hit the high marks, but they’ve made big marks. Planet of the Apes has made $2.51 billion in its many new releases. The MonsterVerse, with Godzilla and King Kong, has brought in $2.49 billion. Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight set has racked up $2.44 billion and changed how we see hero films for good. And folks who dig scares have shot The Conjuring world to $2.38 billion in cash scare wins.
9. Jurassic Park / Jurassic World
Old dinos still fill seats. Since 1993, the Jurassic line has brought in $4.98 billion from its films. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom made $1.3 billion by itself, showing there’s still lots of long-gone beast charm. Be it old love or the buzz of T-Rex runs, this set keeps on making noise.
8. Fast and Furious
What kicked off with hot car races has blown up into a big bang of thrills, big booms, and odd family links. With $5.14 billion made, the set moved from low-key drag races to world-saving moves, more than once. The Fate of the Furious alone speo past $1.2 billion. Dig it or not, it’s one of the top cash names in film.
7. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
Middle-earth has shown it’s not just deep in tale, but also in cash gold making $5.89 billion. Peter Jackson’s two sets took folks on grand trips that paid off well. The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey each hit the $1 billion mark. The dream world keeps on firing up all from games to stream shows.
6. X-Men (Plus Deadpool)
Mutants have seen both good and bad times, but have still pulled in a cool $5.8 billion over 14 films. Deadpool added its kick with its R-rated laughs, even outdoing some main X-Men films. With the X-Men set to join the MCU for real, this set may be set for its next big leap.
5. James Bond
The name’s Bond—cash Bond. Since Dr. No in 1963, this UK spy has led 27 films, making $7.9 billion in the process. With each new face, the man shifts, but the set’s draw does not fade. Skyfall is still the top Bond film at $1.1 billion. And with new bosses and fresh paths in the plan, 007’s thrill license is far from over.
4. Spider-Man
The fave web guy has worn lots of suits—and not just changes in look. With Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, the Spider-Verse has earned $8.9 billion worldwide. No Way Home almost hit $2 billion alone, proving Spidey still has strong swinging might.
3. Wizarding World (Harry Potter + Fantastic Beasts)
What set off as a tale of a boy in a small box has grown into a $9.6 billion film realm. The first Harry Potter films brought the charm to a generation, and Fantastic Beasts went on with the tale. The end, Deathly Hallows: Part 2, made over $1.3 billion by itself. With spinoffs, park rides, and a new TV set in motion, the charm still hangs on.
2. Star Wars
This big-span tale set out in 1977 and still pulls huge crowds years on. With 12 films out and more on the way, the Star Wars world has made $10.3 billion. The Force got big again in 2015, when The Force Awakens made just over $2 billion. The mix of old stars and new champs keeps the force strong at the cash register.
1. Marvel Film World (MCU)
The boss of the film game. With more than $31.4 billion in cash made all over from 35 films (and still more to come), Marvel has made comic tales into a big fever. The Avengers films alone made $7.7 billion, with Endgame leading at $2.79 billion by itself. From Iron Man’s first suit to tales of many worlds, the MCU swapped how a film set can be—and it’s not slowing down soon.