Buzz
Contemporary film series have effectively debunked the age-old saying that sequels can't match the original. With increased budgets, star-studded casts, and a focus on audience satisfaction, follow-up films often surpass their originals—and the hype can lead to staggering box office numbers.
This trend is most evident in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Data from The Numbers reveals that seven of the top 25 highest-earning sequels are Marvel films, with each Avengers sequel outperforming its predecessor. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) ranks 12th, while Avengers: Infinity War (2018) secured third place. Just a year later, Avengers: Endgame (2019) eclipsed Infinity War, claiming second place with nearly $180 million more in earnings.
Few franchises can rival the MCU's domestic box office success, but Star Wars stands out as a formidable contender. The highest-grossing sequel ever is 2015's Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, released a decade after Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), which concluded the prequel trilogy. Despite mixed reviews, fans flocked to theaters: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace ranks 11th, while Revenge of the Sith narrowly missed the top 25.
Pixar movies are also box office powerhouses, particularly when there's a long gap since the original release. The top-grossing Pixar sequel, 2018’s Incredibles 2, debuted 14 years after The Incredibles (2004); similarly, Finding Dory (2016), which ranks ninth, arrived 13 years after Finding Nemo (2003).
Check out the list below to see if your favorite sequel made it into the top 25, and explore The Numbers’ complete ranking here.
- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) // $936,662,225
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) // $858,373,000
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) // $678,815,482
- Jurassic World (2015) // $652,270,625
- Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) // $620,181,382
- Incredibles 2 (2018) // $608,581,744
- The Dark Knight (2008) // $533,720,947
- Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) // $515,202,542
- Finding Dory (2016) // $486,295,561
- Frozen II (2019) // $477,373,578
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) // $474,544,677
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) // $459,005,868
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012) // $448,139,099
- Shrek 2 (2004) // $441,226,247
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) // $424,668,047
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) // $423,315,812
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) // $417,719,760
- Toy Story 3 (2010) // $415,004,880
- Iron Man 3 (2013) // $408,992,272
- Captain America: Civil War (2016) // $408,084,349
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) // $402,111,870
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) // $390,532,085
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) // $389,813,101
