Top 10 highest-grossing movies currently showing in theaters

As the superhero genre continues to dominate and Marvel Studios remains an unstoppable force, Brie Larson's Captain Marvel easily grossed over $1 billion early this year. Marketed as a feminist movie, it still had its drawbacks, particularly in Larson's performance. Nevertheless, it became another triumph for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Toy Story franchise faced skepticism when a fourth installment was announced, as the third film, released in 2010, was considered the perfect conclusion. However, Pixar and Disney once again moved audiences with Toy Story 4, delivering an emotionally resonant story and a meaningful farewell for the beloved cowboy, Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks).

Before the release of Joker, no one could have imagined that a film about the origin of Gotham's notorious criminal would gross over $1 billion, especially with its R-rating and the absence of a release in China. However, Joaquin Phoenix's Joker defied expectations, reaching one milestone after another. Starting with the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, the film sparked debates about its portrayal of violence and its potentially provocative content. Phoenix is now a leading contender for the 2020 Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the Joker.

Though it sparked controversy before its release, Aladdin ultimately proved to be a box-office hit. The beloved story, familiar to audiences of all ages, triumphed over competing films, with Will Smith's brilliant performance as the Genie stealing the show. This success came in the middle of the summer movie season. Disney is now planning a spinoff focusing on Prince Anders (played by Billy Magnussen), a character introduced in the live-action version of Aladdin.

The sequel to Frozen (2013) is the latest film to join the 'billion-dollar club' this year. The success of Frozen 2 is hardly surprising, as the original remains the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Six years later, audiences continue to adore the bond between Elsa and Anna, as well as the beloved characters who accompany them on their journey.

The Fast & Furious spinoff demonstrated the enduring power of the action-packed, speed-driven franchise, especially outside of North America. The star power of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham also played a key role. The success of Hobbs & Shaw has led Universal to consider expanding this as a standalone brand, especially as the main Fast & Furious storyline is set to conclude in 2021.

This Chinese animated film made a huge impact last year with record-breaking box office earnings at home, even earning praise from the directors of the Avengers franchise. Thanks to its creative storyline and meaningful messages, Na Tra: Ma Dong Giang The revitalized the familiar tale of Na Tra. The Chinese film industry is now planning to expand this universe, with the next project being a film about Jiang Ziya, set for release during the Chinese New Year in 2020.

The all-time box office record set by Avatar (2009) was finally broken after a decade. Avengers: Endgame, which brought nearly every major character from the MCU together, created a global frenzy when it was released early in the summer, earning a massive $2.79 billion. Fans were eager to see what would happen next after the cliffhanger in Infinity War (2018), and Marvel Studios did not disappoint. The epic final battle between the superheroes and Thanos’ army left audiences, particularly those who had been with the franchise since 2008, deeply moved and satisfied.

The Lion King's legacy remains as strong as ever. Director Jon Favreau's new version featured an all-star cast and cutting-edge visual effects. However, the film didn't win over critics, with many feeling the soundtrack fell short of the 1994 original. Still, the 2019 release contributed significantly to Disney's dominant success at the box office this year.

Spider-Man: Far from Home is another film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, produced through a collaboration between Sony and Marvel Studios. As the second solo outing for Spider-Man (Tom Holland), the film benefited from being released shortly after the success of Avengers: Endgame. Nevertheless, the film stands out on its own, showing significant improvements over Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). After overcoming some challenges, Sony and Marvel Studios are set to continue their partnership in the future.