This list was made of the highest-grossing movies from each year using Box Office Mojo and The Numbers. The numbers were adjusted for inflation and international box office figures were used where they became available (starting in 1975). A few years in the 1930s are missing because of a lack of data.
1930: "Tom Sawyer"
Adjusted gross: $159 million
Unadjusted gross: $11 million
What it's about: An adaptation of the classic Mark Twain novel, Tom and his friends Huckleberry Finn and Joe Harper have numerous adventures, become pirates, attend their own funerals, and escape from a vengeful murderer.
1931: "Frankenstein"
Adjusted gross: $190 million
Unadjusted gross: $12 million
What it's about: Universal's original "Frankenstein" adaptation put a permanent mark on how we see the character in pop culture. After Dr. Henry Frankenstein makes the dead walk again, his monster needs to learn how to live.
1933: "King Kong"
Adjusted gross: $185 million
Unadjusted gross: $10 million
What it's about: "King Kong," one of the first mass spectacles of cinema, has been remade plenty of times. But the original one possesses a rare emotional power — of a romance between an actress and a prehistoric ape — that's hard to top.
1934: "It Happened One Night"
Adjusted gross: $45 million
Unadjusted gross: $2.5 million
What it's about: Before pesky production codes changed what movies were allowed to show onscreen, Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable made a romantic comedy for the ages, about a socialite who runs off on an escapade with a reporter.
1935: "Top Hat"
Adjusted gross: $30 million
Unadjusted gross: $1.7 million
What it's about: One of Frank Sinatra's and Ginger Roger's most essential movies, "Top Hat" is a classic Hollywood musical about a dancer falling in love with an actress. It has one of Astaire's most beloved songs, "Cheek to Cheek."
1937: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
Adjusted gross: $3 billion
Unadjusted gross: $185 million
What it's about: Walt Disney's first major animated feature is a landmark that set his template of adapting dark fairy tales for audiences of all ages. Snow White's jealous stepmother despises her, so she flees to escape her wrath. Hiding in the forest, she befriends seven dwarfs — Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, Happy, Bashful, Sleepy and Dopey. Only a prince, however, can save her from the poisoned apple her mother secretly gives her.
1938: "Alexander's Ragtime Band"
Adjusted gross: $68 million
Unadjusted gross: $4 million
What it's about: A classical musician, doubted by his family, struggles with love and unexpected success while World War I upends his plans.
1939: "Gone with the Wind"
Adjusted gross: $3.4 billion
Unadjusted gross: $198.6 million
What it's about: Scarlett O' Hara and Rhett Butler engage in a tumultuous romance against the backdrop of the American Civil War. The sweeping historical romance was widely praised in its time, being nominated for 13 Oscars and winning ten.
1940: "Pinocchio"
Adjusted gross: $1.4 billion
Unadjusted gross: $84.3 million
What it's about: Yet another example of Disney's dominance with animated films, his story of a living puppet trying to become a "real boy" tugs at the heartstrings while keeping its sense of fun.
1941: "Sergeant York"
Adjusted gross: $268 million
Unadjusted gross: $16.4 million
What it's about: "Sargeant York" may have been about World War I — a sharpshooter becomes an unexpected hero after attacking and capturing a German position using the same strategy as turkey hunting — but the American-proud movie became a point of major discussion in the United States over the merits of entering World War II.
1942: "Bambi"
Adjusted gross: $1.5 billion
Unadjusted gross: $103 million
What it's about: Another Disney hit, "Bambi" uses an all-animal cast of characters in a story about a white-tailed deer, his animals friends, and a haunting death in the family.
1943: "This Is the Army"
Adjusted gross: $271 million
Unadjusted gross: $19.5 million
What it's about: A World War I dancer goes on to showbusiness success while refusing to commit to marrying his fiancée.
1944: "Going My Way"
Adjusted gross: $223 million
Unadjusted gross: $16.3 million
What it's about: A message-heavy morality tale starring Bing Crosby, "Going My Way" is about a popular youthful pastor giving a group of young kids direction in life while winning over the more conventional pastor who lead the parish before him. The movie won seven Oscars, including best picture, and a print was presented to Pope Pius XII at the Vatican.
1945: "The Bells of St. Mary's"
Adjusted gross: $285 million
Unadjusted gross: $21.3 million
What it's about: "Going My Way" was so popular that it got a sequel. In this film, the pastor and a nun, played by Ingrid Bergman, attempt to save a run-down parochial school on the verge of being closed down.
1946: "Song of the South"
Adjusted gross: $802 million
Unadjusted gross: $65 million
What it's about: A mixture of live action and animation, "Song of the South" encompasses several stories about living on a plantation during the Reconstruction Era. It's the source of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," which won an Oscar for best song. The movie is considered by many to be extraordinarily racist— it was protested upon its theatrical release — and Disney has never released it on a home video format.
1947: "Forever Amber"
Adjusted gross: $173 million
Unadjusted gross: $16 million
What it's about: Amber St. Clair tries and succeeds to climb the social ladder despite her humble background, But in the process, she leaves true love behind.
1948: "The Snake Pit"
Adjusted gross: $100 million
Unadjusted gross: $10 million
What it's about: A woman (played by Olivia de Havilland) finds herself in a mental ward and has no idea why she's there.
1949: "Samson and Delilah"
Adjusted gross: $291.2 million
Unadjusted gross: $28.8 million
What it's about: One of Cecil B. DeMille's many grand Biblical epics, the movie adapts the story of a man whose power is tied to his uncut hair, and the woman who learns his secret and betrays him.
1950: "Cinderella"
Adjusted gross: $100 million
Unadjusted gross: $10 million
What it's about: Cinderella's cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the royal ball, but she goes anyway with the help of her fairy godmother and, because this is a Disney movie, becomes a princess by the end.
1951: "Quo Vadis?"
Adjusted gross: $277.7 million
Unadjusted gross: $30 million
What it's about: A Roman commander begins questioning his emperor's leadership after falling in love with a Christian captive.
1952: "The Greatest Show on Earth"
Adjusted gross: $327 million
Unadjusted gross: $36 million
What it's about: Perhaps his greatest commitment to spectacle, DeMille takes a dazzling behind-the-scenes look at the Ringling Bros.-Barnum and Bailey Circus.
1953: "Peter Pan"
Adjusted gross: $366.8 million
Unadjusted gross: $40.7 million
What it's about: Wendy and her brothers are whisked away to the magical Neverland, where Peter Pan steers them through fantastical dangerous situations.
1954: "White Christmas"
Adjusted gross: $268.4 million
Unadjusted gross: $30 million
What it's about: A feel-good Bing Crosby musical about a song-and-dance team dealing with romantic drama while trying to save a failing hotel.
1955: "Lady and the Tramp"
Adjusted gross: $326 million
Unadjusted gross: $36.3 million
What it's about: A low-class mutt strikes up a romance with a posh, sheltered cocker spaniel.
1956: "The Ten Commandments"
Adjusted gross: $579.5 million
Unadjusted gross: $65.5 million
What it's about: Moses learns he's not really Egyptian and frees the Hebrew people from slavery.
1957: "The Bridge on the River Kwai"
Adjusted gross: $233 million
Unadjusted gross: $27.2 million
What it's about: British soldiers captured by the Japanese during World War II are forced to build a bridge in Burma while other soldiers look for them.
1958: "South Pacific"
Unadjusted gross: $306.4 million
Unadjusted gross: $36.8 million
What it's about: Based on the acclaimed play, "South Pacific" is about a nurse who falls in love with an older French plantation owner with mixed-race children she has trouble accepting.
1959: "Ben-Hur"
Adjusted gross: $612 million
Unadjusted gross: $74 million
What it's about: Set adjacent to the story of Jesus, a Jewish prince named Judah is sent to slavery by a Roman friend, regains his freedom, and plots revenge. The movie won 11 Oscars, which stood as a record until 1997's "Titanic."
1960: "Swiss Family Robinson"
Adjusted gross: $327.6 million
Unadjusted gross: $40.3 million
What it's about: A comedy about a family chased by pirates and shipwrecked on a deserted island.
1961: "101 Dalmatians"
Adjusted gross: $1 billion
Unadjusted gross: $144.8 million
What it's about: Cruella de Vil abducts a litter of puppies to use their fur for a tacky fashion statement. The rest of the family has to find them before it's too late.
1962: "The Longest Day"
Adjusted gross: $311.6 million
Unadjusted gross: $39.1 million
What it's about: A panoramic view of D-Day, looking at the events from the points of view of multiple American and German soldiers.
1963: "Cleopatra"
Adjusted gross: $453.8 million
Unadjusted gross: $57.7 million
What it's about: A four-hour historical epic about the life of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who had a legendary Hollywood romance behind the scenes.
1964: "Mary Poppins"
Adjusted gross: $240.6 million
Unadjusted gross: $31 million
What it's about: A magical nanny swoops in to take care of the children from a disenchanted family. She sings a lot, too.
1965: "The Sound of Music"
Adjusted gross: $1.2 billion
Unadjusted gross: $158.6 million
What it's about: A governess of a large Austrian family struggles whether to become a nun, falls in love with the family's widowed father, and flees the Nazis.
1966: "The Bible: In The Beginning..."
Adjusted gross: $259.2 million
Unadjusted gross: $34.9 million
What it's about: A production of the first book of Genesis, from the story of Adam and Eve to the binding of Isaac.
1967: "The Jungle Book"
Adjusted gross: $531 million
Unadjusted gross: $73.7 million
What it's about: Bagheera the Panther and Baloo the Bear try to convince a human boy that the jungle isn't for him and he's better off with other humans.
1968: "Funny Girl"
Adjusted gross: $361 million
Unadjusted gross: $52.2 million
What it's about: A comedienne and entertainer rises through fame and falls in love with a man too proud to accept her help when he needs it.
1969: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"
Adjusted gross: $670.8 million
Unadjusted gross: $102.3 million
What it's about: A western about two outlaws on the run after they commit a string of robberies.
1970: "Love Story"
Adjusted gross: $659.3 million
Unadjusted gross: $106.3 million
What it's about: A young man and woman fall in love and go through tragedy together.
1971: "Billy Jack"
Adjusted gross: $582 million
Unadjusted gross: $98 million
What it's about: A war veteran saves horses from being killed and goes at war with the police to save a center for runaways.
1972: "The Godfather"
Adjusted gross: $776.6 million
Unadjusted gross: $134.9 million
What it's about: The epic saga of the Corleone crime family, where an aging patriarch arranges to hand off the family empire to his reluctant son who wants to live a normal life.
1973: "The Exorcist"
Adjusted gross: $1.2 billion
Unadjusted gross: $232.9 million
What it's about: A mother attempts to get back her teenaged daughter by recruiting two priests to free her from a demonic possession.
1974: "Blazing Saddles"*
Adjusted gross: $584 million
Unadjusted gross: $119.6 million
What it's about: The type of comedy that would never get made today, "Blazing Saddles" shows Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder at the height of their talents, with a scathing satire on racial attitudes in America.
1975: "Jaws"
Adjusted gross: $2.09 billion
Unadjusted gross: $471 million
What it's about: When a great white shark terrorizes a suburban beach, a group of locals band together to capture it. "Jaws" is a Hitchcockian thriller that introduced much of the world to Steven Spielberg, who went on to dominate popular movies for decades afterward.
1976: "Rocky"
Adjusted gross: $946 million
Unadjusted gross: $225 million
What it's about: Underdog boxer Rocky Balboa gets the rare chance to fight heavyweight champion Apollo Creed — and he needs to win to prove himself to the world.
1977: "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope"
Adjusted gross: $3.06 billion
Unadjusted gross: $775 million
What it's about: In a galaxy far, far away, Luke Skywalker gets tangled up with a Jedi knight, pilot Han Solo, a giant bear thing called a wookiee, and two droids — all in order to save the galaxy and rescue Princess Leia from the clutches of Darth Vader. The first "Star Wars" movie established one of the most popular franchises of all time and took science fiction movies mainstream again.
1978: "Grease"
Adjusted gross: $1.45 billion
Unadjusted gross: $395 million
What it's about: A musical about a couple of teens falling in love over summer break and then learning they go to the same high school. Drama and dancing ensues.
1979: "Moonraker"
Adjusted gross: $693 million
Unadjusted gross: $210 million
What it's about: One of the most ambitious James Bond films — with Roger Moore — "Moonraker" has Bond investigating the theft of a space shuttle, leading him to a space million where he stops a global genocide.
1980: "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back"
Adjusted gross: $1.56 billion
Unadjusted gross: $538 million
What it's about: "Empire" surpassed even the first "Star Wars" movie in fame, with its unforgettable twist at the end and meditative scenes of Luke training with Yoda.
1981: "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
Adjusted gross: $1.03 billion
Unadjusted gross: $390 million
What it's about: Archaeologist and professional swashbuckler Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) is hired by the United States government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do.
1982: "E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial"
Adjusted gross: $1.97 billion
Unadjusted gross: $793 million
What it's about: An alien stumbles itself into the life of a troubled child who needs to help it find its way back home.
1983: "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi"
Adjusted gross: $1.14 billion
Unadjusted gross: $475 million
What it's about: The final entry in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, "Return of the Jedi" follows the rebels taking their last stand against the Empire while Luke tries to persuade Darth Vader into becoming a good guy.
1984: "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"
Adjusted gross: $767 million
Unadjusted gross: $333 million
What it's about: Indiana Jones stumbles upon an Indian village desperate to rescue their children from a nearby cult that sacrifices them in an ancient catacomb.
1985: "Back to the Future"
Adjusted gross: $847 million
Unadjusted gross: $381 million
What it's about: Marty McFly is sent 30 years into the past un a really nice car invented by his friend, a kooky local scientist. He needs to make sure his high-school-aged parents stick together so the present still happens.
1986: "Top Gun"
Adjusted gross: $779 million
Unadjusted gross: $357 million
What it's about: A young United States Navy student competes with his fellow students over being the best fighter pilot and learns a few life lessons along the way.
1987: "Fatal Attraction"
Adjusted gross: $674 million
Unadjusted gross: $320 million
What it's about: A married man has a one night stand and tries to move on, only for his lover to stalk him and his family.
1988: "Rain Man"
Adjusted gross: $718 million
Unadjusted gross: $355 million
What it's about: When a father dies, his spoiled son inherits only a fraction of his small fortune while his autistic savant brother inherits the bulk of it.
1989: "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"
Adjusted gross: $915 million
Unadjusted gross: $474 million
What it's about: Indiana Jones has a dad. He's also a swashbuckling archaeologist, and goes missing on the hunt for the Holy Grail. Indiana Jones tries to track him down and save him, stopping a Nazi plot in the process.
1990: "Ghost"
Adjusted gross: $926 million
Unadjusted gross: $506 million
What it's about: A fantasy thriller about a dead young man who tries to save his girlfriend through an incompetent psychic.
1991: "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"
Adjusted gross: $913 million
Unadjusted gross: $520 million
What it's about: The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to protect Sarah Connor and her son from a newer, badder Terminator.
1992: "Aladdin"
Adjusted gross: $860 million
Unadjusted gross: $504 million
What it's about: A street urchin uses the help of a witty genie to get a princess to fall in love with him and stop a planed coup in the kingdom.
1993: "Jurassic Park"
Adjusted gross: $1.71 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.03 billion
What it's about: A misfit group of kids and scientists tour a secret theme park with live dinosaurs, only for everything to go awry.
1994: "The Lion King"
Adjusted gross: $1.59 billion
Unadjusted gross: $988 million
What it's about: An adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" with animals and set in the Pride Lands of Africa.
1995: "Die Hard: With A Vengeance"
Adjusted gross: $575 million
Unadjusted gross: $366 million
What it's about: John McClane foils a German terrorist who tries to rob the Federal Reserve Building in Manhattan.
1996: "Independence Day"
Adjusted gross: $1.25 billion
Unadjusted gross: $817 million
What it's about: Aliens are invading Earth, and the only hope is fighter pilot captain Steven Hille AKA Will Smith.
1997: "Titanic"
Adjusted gross: $3.17 billion
Unadjusted gross: $2.13 billion
What it's about: James Cameron's romance was the highest-grossing movie of all time until his own "Avatar" in 2009. It's about a young, poor artist (Leonardo DiCaprio) who falls in love with an aristocrat destined for another suitor (Kate Winslet) on the doomed Titanic ship.
1998: "Armageddon"
Adjusted gross: $813 million
Unadjusted gross: $554 million
What it's about: After discovering that an enormous asteroid is close to pummeling the Earth, NASA recruits a bunch of drillers to make a big hole in it and save the planet.
1999: "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"
Adjusted gross: $1.41 billion
Unadjusted gross: $984 million
What it's about: The return of "Star Wars" was a prequel trilogy directed by mastermind George Lucas. The first one, "The Phantom Menace," was about two Jedi Knights who meet a young boy who holds great promise with the Force.
2000: "Mission: Impossible II"
Adjusted gross: $759 million
Unadjusted gross: $546 million
What it's about: A secret agent pulls together a misfit but profesional team to find and destroy a genetically modified disease that could wipe out humanity.
2001: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Adjusted gross: $1.32 billion
Unadjusted gross: $975 million
What it's about: With "Sorcerer's Stone," the "Harry Potter" series kicked itself off and became one of the most popular movie franchises in history, all because of J.K. Rowling's insanely popular books. The first movie finds Harry discovering he's a wizard and leaving his abusive aunt and uncle to go to the magical school of Hogwarts, where he makes friends and fights off evil.
2002: "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"
Adjusted gross: $1.23 billion
Unadjusted gross: $923 million
What it's about: The middle "Lord of the Rings" entry sees Frodo and Sam get closer to Mordor and face off against the dark wizard Saruman.
2003: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
Adjusted gross: $1.46 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.12 billion
What it's about: In the capstone "Lord of the Rings" film, Gandalf and Aragorn lead a battle against Sauron's army while Frodo and Sam attempt to destroy the One Ring.
2004: "Shrek 2"
Adjusted gross: $1.17 billion
Unadjusted gross: $920 million
What it's about: Shrek and Princess Fiona go to her parents' house for dinner, where they're shocked to learn that they're both ogres.
2005: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
Adjusted gross: $1.1 billion
Unadjusted gross: $897 million
What it's about: Even though he's ineligible, Harry is entered into the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, where he faces off against the representatives of other magical schools in a competition.
2006: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
Adjusted gross: $1.27 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.07 billion
What it's about: Captain Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp) and his troupe try to capture the heart of Davy Jones for its magical properties — but all of them have their own agendas.
2007: "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Adjusted gross: $1.11 billion
Unadjusted gross: $963 million
What it's about: The plot isn't entirely coherent, but the third "Pirates" movie was a visual spectacle that had the characters sail off the edge of the map and find what lies beyond.
2008: "The Dark Knight"
Adjusted gross: $1.12 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1 billion
What it's about: Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" gave newfound respect to the superhero genre, making it a dark and gritty morality drama instead of mere escapism. Batman (played by Christian Bale) faces off against the Joker (played by Heath Ledger) while trying to avoid the psychological traps he sets.
2009: "Avatar"
Adjusted gross: $3.1 billion
Unadjusted gross: $2.78 billion
What it's about: The highest-grossing movie of all time — by far— "Avatar" is a science-fiction epic where a paraplegic marine inhabits another body to live on the moon of another planet and ingratiate himself into another population. But once he does so, he gets suspicious about the orders he's been given.
2010: "Toy Story 3"
Adjusted gross: $1.17 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.06 billion
What it's about: Pixar returned to Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the toys to see what they're up to when Andy leaves for college. It's one of Pixar's most moving movies, where every beloved character gets their due.
2011: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
Adjusted gross: $1.43 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.34 billion
What it's about: The "Harry Potter" series ended with a bang, with Harry, Ron, and Hermione finding the remaining horcruxes and facing off against Lord Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts.
2012: "The Avengers"
Adjusted gross: $1.58 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.52 billion
What it's about: Finally, the characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe came together in "The Avengers," with Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, and Black Widow fighting off Loki and his alien army.
2013: "Frozen"
Adjusted gross: $1.31 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.28 billion
What it's about: The newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally curses her home and gives it a permanent winter, so she and her sister Anna team up with a traveler, a rain deer, and a snowman on a quest to fix it.
2014: "Transformers: Age of Extinction"
Adjusted gross: $1.12 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.1 billion
What it's about: Optimus Prime befriends an "inventor," played by Mark Wahlberg, who helps him and the other Autobots fight off alien robots.
2015: "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens"
Adjusted gross: $2.07 billion
Unadjusted gross: $2.07 billion
What it's about: Three decades after the Empire was defeated, The Resistance forms to fight a new threat: the First Order, and teams up with a pair of characters with mysterious backgrounds for the fight.
2016: "Captain America: Civil War"
Adjusted gross: $1.15 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.15 billion
What it's about: The Avengers have an argument over their role in politics: should they remain independent, or accept an overseer to keep them accountable? The dispute leads to a schism within the group, with Captain America leading one side and Iron Man the other.
2017: "Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi"
Adjusted gross: $1.31 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1.31 billion
What it's about: Following the events of "The Force Awakens," Rey looks for Luke Skywalker to help the Resistance fight the First Order, but Kylo Ren has his own plans.
2018: "Avengers: Infinity War"
Adjusted gross: $2.05 billion
Unadjusted gross: $2.05 billion
What it's about: The kickoff to the two-part finale of the Infinity Stones saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Infinity War" brought together an enormous team of superheroes in a fight against the villain Thanos.
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