The 2000s offered many milestones artistically and financially for film-goers. On the list of top-grossing films in cinema history, the 2000s are well-represented; however, while some of the films on this list are obvious, others may surprise readers, and shows that critical and commercial success are not always synonymous.
Worldwide, the top seven grossing films of the 2000s were:
Avatar
While Avatar was released late 2009, it still was the top-grossing film of the decade. It has now surpassed director Cameron's other epic: Titanic. Thus, at $1.878 billion, it is the top grossing film of all time. Regardless, this sci-fi epic was a crowning cinematic jewel for a decade overflowing with digital animation.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The length of the title was only challenged by the length of the film itself, clocking in at almost three and a half hours in the theatrical release. Nevertheless, this 2003 film was epic in scope. Offering wonderful acting, beautiful scenery, and amazing special effects, this brought the most popular trilogy of the decade to its heart-wrenching end. At $1.119 billion, it held the title of highest earner of the decade worldwide for six years.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Another well-loved trilogy, the movie certainly had its issues as a middle child, but brought back everyone's favorite eccentric pirate and crew. The film's 2006 release was highly anticipated, earning $1.066 billion, but had difficulty living up to the standards of its predecessor (which would have ranked #32 on this list). The first movie's light-hearted humor was dampened, leaving Dead Man's Chest to build a fantasy world some critics found lacking.
The Dark Knight
This new spin on the eponymous hero of Gotham brought a new level of bleakness to Batman films, and moved away from the 90s semi-comical take (and after the critical flop of Batman and Robin in 1997). Perhaps simply because the film offered a new, more psychologically nuanced approach to Batman, and offered a grungier approach to the hero genre. It's 2008 release simply blew away audiences, earning $1.001 billion.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
It would be unthinkable if one of the Harry Potter series did not find its way onto a list of the top-grossing films of the 2000s; the series broke records across the board, and this film was a sensation upon its release. The first movie remains to this date the highest grosser in the series by roughly thirty million, earning a total of $974 million.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
This film's revenue was likely dampened by the second film's release, but it did not stop it from being a very high grosser at $961 million, as well as being the most successful film of 2007. The films itself also came with mixed reviews, seen by many as having a muddy plot. Regardless, the film left room for another sequel; Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, scheduled for a 2011 release.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
It only makes sense that the 2007 film would find itself high on the list. The film was the darkest entry in the Harry Potter series up to that point, and received strong reviews across the board. The first film of the series made by David Yates made a remarkable impact, as he will be the one to bring the epic 8-film series to its conclusion. This film alone earned $938 million
All seven films on this list will certainly be remembered as the new decade goes on, but the critical legend of some will fade in time. Even if not all these films were adored, it is undeniable that their impact in cinema was and remains powerful, and most of these films have sequels on the way.
Sources
Box Office Mojo's Worldwide Box Office Earnings
Frank Yeats - Frank Yeats is a graduate of West Texas A&M University with a degree in English. He writes plays, short stories and poetry. His long-term ...
