The Highest-Grossing Film From Your Birth Year

Though undeniably charming, infants possess only a vague understanding of their surroundings. They are completely unaware of the top-earning film released in their birth year. For those who are older and intrigued, explore the films that topped the box office (domestically, often adjusted for inflation) over the last 72 years.

The Era of the 1950s

1950: Cinderella

Disney’s animated classic captivated viewers with its enchanting story.

1951: Quo Vadis

This grand Roman historical drama won over audiences. (The title translates from Latin as, “Where are you going?”)

1952: The Greatest Show on Earth

Cecil B. DeMille’s spectacular circus drama featured Jimmy Stewart and Charlton Heston in leading roles.

1953: Peter Pan

Disney’s adaptation of the timeless children’s story had youngsters eagerly bringing their parents to theaters.

1954: White Christmas

Bing Crosby delivered festive joy—even in April—to moviegoers with this heartwarming musical, primarily set in Vermont.

1955: Lady and the Tramp

Disney’s tale of canine romance outshone two Alfred Hitchcock classics—To Catch a Thief and The Trouble with Harry—to claim the title of the year’s highest-grossing film.

1956: The Ten Commandments

Charlton Heston’s portrayal of Moses stood out as the highlight of this Biblical spectacle, which drew massive crowds to theaters.

1957: The Bridge on the River Kwai

David Lean’s gripping war drama, depicting British prisoners of war forced to build a bridge for their Japanese oppressors during World War II, captivated audiences and became the year’s most successful film.

1958: South Pacific

The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, centered on ill-fated romance, secured the number one position at the box office that year.

1959: Ben-Hur

Charlton Heston maintained his cinematic reign with this story of a Judean man seeking vengeance against his Roman oppressors.

The Decade of the 1960s

1960: Swiss Family Robinson

Disney’s family adventure film drew larger crowds than Psycho or Spartacus that year.

1961: 101 Dalmatians

Cruella de Vil and her spotted foes outpaced West Side Story in 1961, also surpassing other beloved family movies such as The Absent-Minded Professor and The Parent Trap.

1962: The Longest Day

Audiences flocked to this thrilling World War II movie depicting the Normandy invasion.

1963: Cleopatra

Elizabeth Taylor famously led this lavish historical drama, which delivered grand visuals and spectacle.

1964: Mary Poppins

Disney extended its 1960s winning streak with this enchanting story of a magical nanny who brings joy wherever she goes.

1965: The Sound of Music

Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer took the lead in this musical masterpiece about the gifted Von Trapp family, adapted from the 1959 stage sensation.

1966: The Bible: In the Beginning

This sweeping Biblical drama explores the first 22 chapters of Genesis, with a script co-authored by Orson Welles. Moviegoers flooded theaters to see it.

1967: The Graduate

Dustin Hoffman finds himself entangled with Mrs. Robinson and ponders a future in plastics in this Mike Nichols-directed classic.

1968: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick delivered a grand, high-budget space odyssey that was best experienced on the big screen.

1969: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Robert Redford and Paul Newman teamed up in this Western about two charming criminals. The film outperformed The Love Bug, Midnight Cowboy, and Easy Rider to claim the title of the year’s highest-grossing movie.

The Era of the 1970s

1970: Airport

This high-flying disaster drama soared at the box office, though the emotional Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw film Love Story, released in December, eventually earned more as it continued into 1971.

1971: Billy Jack

This low-budget indie film featured Tom Laughlin as a martial arts outsider battling prejudice, becoming an unexpected success.

1972: The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola’s crime saga not only dominated 1972 but also became the highest-earning film in history at the time.

1973: The Exorcist

Linda Blair’s encounter with demonic forces provided a terrifying experience for audiences, who still propelled it to the top spot of the year.

1974: Blazing Saddles

Mel Brooks’ comedic Western surpassed another Brooks film, Young Frankenstein, in 1974 to claim the title of the year’s top-grossing movie.

1975: Jaws

Steven Spielberg launched his era of summer blockbusters with this adaptation of Peter Benchley’s novel about a shark wreaking havoc on a seaside community.

1976: Rocky

Rising star Sylvester Stallone played the role of aspiring boxer Rocky Balboa in the inaugural installment of the Rocky series.

1977: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope

George Lucas’s galactic adventure turned into a cultural sensation, making it the top-grossing film of 1977.

1978: Grease

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John captivated audiences with this nostalgic tribute to 1950s romance.

1979: Kramer vs. Kramer

This Dustin Hoffman family drama outshone rivals such as Superman: The Movie, Rocky II, and Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

The Decade of the 1980s

1980: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

George Lucas demonstrated that Star Wars was no one-hit wonder with this follow-up, which sent Luke Skywalker to Dagobah’s swamps and Han Solo into Carbonite freezing.

1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Harrison Ford’s debut as adventurer Indiana Jones became the year’s top-grossing film, outpacing Superman II and Stripes.

1982: E. T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming tale of intergalactic friendship won over audiences—and boosted sales of Reese’s Pieces.

1983: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

The finale of the original Star Wars trilogy drew massive crowds to theaters, though Tootsie also performed well as the year’s second-highest-grossing film.

1984: Ghostbusters

Slimer and the gang scored a summer blockbuster, but Eddie Murphy ultimately earned more with the late-year release of Beverly Hills Cop, which continued to sell tickets well into 1985.

1985: Back to the Future

Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled through time while earning heaps of 1980s cash.

1986: Top Gun

Audiences craved high-speed action and sweaty beach volleyball scenes. Crocodile Dundee came in a close second.

1987: Beverly Hills Cop II

Cop II dominated the summer box office as a major success, though Three Men and a Baby eventually earned more by late 1987 and into 1988.

1988: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

This innovative live-action and animation blend became director Robert Zemeckis’s most significant triumph of the 1980s, following Back to the Future.

1989: Batman

Marking the rise of the dark and brooding superhero film, Batman captivated audiences throughout the entire summer.

The Decade of the 1990s

1990: Ghost

The Patrick Swayze-led fantasy romance Ghost dominated the year, but the winter holidays of 1990 and 1991 were ruled by Home Alone.

1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s unstoppable T-800 caused chaos that summer, but Home Alone eventually outpaced both Ghost and T2.

1992: Batman Returns

In a clash of holiday family films, Disney’s animated Aladdin and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York drew huge crowds during the 1992 and 1993 holiday season. However, Batman Returns topped the box office for the calendar year 1992.

1993: Jurassic Park

Steven Spielberg’s rendition of Michael Crichton’s novel combined animatronics and CGI dinosaurs to create a modern-day equivalent of Jaws.

1994: The Lion King

Disney’s animated masterpiece nearly matched Forrest Gump in 1994’s box office race but ultimately claimed the top position.

1995: Batman Forever

Val Kilmer donned the cape and cowl in this flamboyant Batman installment, which narrowly surpassed Apollo 13 in earnings. However, when including 1996 revenues for Toy Story, released in November, Pixar’s animated adventure emerges as the true winner.

1996: Independence Day

Will Smith’s high-budget extraterrestrial spectacle marked the dawn of a new wave of disaster movies. It also outperformed another destructive blockbuster, Twister, released the same year.

1997: Men in Black

Notice a pattern? Will Smith delivered another summer hit in 1997 with this science fiction adventure.

1998: Titanic

Released in late 1997, Titanic achieved the majority of its record-breaking earnings in 1998.

1999: Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars made its comeback with a new chapter 16 years after Return of the Jedi. If your parents named you Anakin—our condolences.

The Decade of the 2000s

2000: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Jim Carrey took the lead in this live-action version of the Dr. Seuss tale, a seasonal favorite that outperformed Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible II.

2001: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

The debut of the eight-part Potter series showcased the enchanting appeal of J.K. Rowling’s young wizard at the box office.

2002: Spider-Man

What could overshadow a second Star Wars prequel? Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, which showcased Marvel’s ability to draw massive audiences.

2003: Finding Nemo

Pixar’s underwater adventure captivated children, but the December release of the final The Lord of the Rings installment, The Return of the King, ultimately earned more across 2003 and 2004.

2004: Shrek 2

DreamWorks triumphed with the continuing escapades of ogre Shrek (Mike Myers) and his companion Donkey (Eddie Murphy).

2005: Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Moviegoers rushed to the “concluding” Star Wars installment to witness Darth Vader’s transformation following his battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi.

2006: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) made a comeback in this follow-up, which outperformed another eagerly awaited 2006 Disney release: Pixar’s Cars.

2007: Spider-Man 3

Ever wonder why Spider-Man movies keep getting made? Because they rake in huge profits. Tobey Maguire’s final outing as the web-slinger was the top-grossing film of its release year.

2008: The Dark Knight

In a year packed with blockbusters like Iron Man, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Twilight, Christopher Nolan’s second Batman installment surpassed them all.

2009: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

How would you feel knowing a Transformers sequel was the top-grossing film the year you were born? That’s for you to decide.

The Decade of the 2010s

2010: Avatar

The Pixar sequel Toy Story 3 dominated the summer, but James Cameron’s Pandora epic broke box office records upon its December release.

2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

The conclusion of the Harry Potter series outperformed the Transformers, Twilight, and Hangover sequels released that same year.

2012: The Avengers

Marvel’s star-studded ensemble, fueled by four years of anticipation, had fans thrilled to see Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the Hulk unite on screen.

2013: Iron Man 3

Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark was the year’s biggest success, though The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, released in November, eventually earned more through 2014.

2014: Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel’s cosmic escapade exceeded expectations, though The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 1 ultimately led during the 2014-2015 winter season.

2015: Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens

The long-awaited Star Wars sequel, featuring the comeback of the original trilogy’s iconic stars (with Luke and Han still trading barbs), briefly held the title of the highest-grossing film ever. However, if considering earnings within a single calendar year, Jurassic World took the lead.

2016: Finding Dory

The Finding Nemo follow-up rode the wave of success, though Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the standalone Star Wars film about the Rebel mission to steal the Death Star plans, ultimately earned more across 2016 and 2017.

2017: Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Though Luke Skywalker had only a brief appearance in The Force Awakens, fans clearly missed him—and flocked to theaters to discover what he had been doing.

2018: Black Panther

Marvel’s acclaimed Wakandan journey narrowly surpassed the studio’s own Avengers: Infinity War to lead the 2018 box office.

2019: Avengers: Endgame

Death, devastation, and Paul Rudd combined to make this Marvel conclusion both the top-grossing film of 2019 and the highest-earning film in history.

The Decade of the 2020s

2020: Bad Boys For Life

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunited for this Bad Boys follow-up, which led the box office in a year when theaters faced significant challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film debuted in February, just before widespread lockdowns began.

2021: Spider-Man: No Way Home

The newest installment in Marvel’s ever-growing universe had fans flocking to theaters despite the ongoing pandemic, achieving Sony’s first-ever $500 million domestic gross and securing the year’s top spot despite its mid-December release.

2022: Top Gun: Maverick

The long-awaited sequel to the 1986 Tom Cruise flight drama faced pandemic-related delays. Upon its release, overwhelming demand propelled it to a $719 million haul, making Maverick the fifth highest-earning film in U.S. history.