Top-Grossing Movies That Ruled The Box Office In 2023
With every new year, there's one movie that dominates the conversation. Sometimes, it seems like a shoo-in for an Oscar, and sometimes, it's guaranteed to be a license to print money. In rare cases, it may even snag both honors. But however it got there, it's as much a cultural event as a movie.
Still, not every year is so predictable when it comes to its box office blowouts. Some movies quietly make a king's ransom while everyone talks about another one. But whether they're a surprise or not, these were the biggest movies of 2023.
Barbie - $1,441,769,400
Considering how inescapably powerful and crowd-pleasing Barbie's success was this year, it's unlikely to surprise anyone that it utterly dominated the box office. Even so, a movie that convinced enough people to go out to the theaters that it made $1.4 billion is a pretty rare phenomenon nowadays.
Of course, Barbie was not only popular enough to elevate itself to global success but pervasive enough as a cultural phenomenon to bring a whole different movie with it. That "Barbenheimer" meme sold a lot of tickets this year, folks. According to Box Office Mojo, enough tickets to gross $636,169,400 domestically and $805,600,000 internationally.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie - $1,361,888,017
Considering how quickly its hype seemed to come and go, one could be forgiven for thinking the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a more modest success than it actually was. In the lead-up to its release, many Nintendo fans were particularly turned off by what they thought were strange casting choices for many of the video game franchise's long-time characters.
However, fans and families nonetheless poured into theaters to see the colorful adventure and most reportedly came away reasonably satisfied with what they saw. It's easy to understand the power of a movie that appeals to all ages, but Box Office Mojo's $574,934,330 domestic and $786,953,687 international figures don't lie.
Oppenheimer - $950,245,530
Although Christopher Nolan's immense popularity as a director and the world's increasing reckoning with the darker moments of its past likely would have made this prestige biopic pretty successful, Oppenheimer got an unexpected boost. Nobody would have thought a moody tale of regret with a three-hour runtime would have much to do with Barbie, but the public felt otherwise.
So, while Oppenheimer was considered the bitter pill to swallow in the "Barbenheimer" double feature, viewers largely came away appreciating the movie after the meme worked its magic. When the dust settled, the biopic ended up pulling in $325,366,53 in the United States and $624,879,000 throughout the rest of the world.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 - $845,555,777
After its unexpectedly popular debut in 2014, the Guardians Of The Galaxy series has remained consistent in its reliably fun, humorous, and heartfelt experiences. However, the stakes were higher than ever in this post-Infinity War installment of the series, and the movie's tone shows it.
Although fans largely enjoyed their time seeing Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, many were unprepared for how heart-wrenching Rocket's tragic backstory would be. Still, the difficult feelings didn't scare audiences away, and Box Office Mojo reported that the movie made $358,995,815 domestically and $486,559,962 internationally.
Fast X - $704,709,660
Although the Fast And The Furious franchise has seen its ups and downs in the over 20 years since Vin Diesel first put the pedal to the metal, the most recent entries in the series have proven that it's an unstoppable juggernaut nowadays. And as long as the action keeps getting bigger, it seems it'll stay that way.
Although it's hard not to notice how improbable the main "family's" feats of strength have become, something would have to go terribly wrong for Fast X not to hit at the box office after introducing megastar Jason Momoa as the film's antagonist. And since Box Office Mojo reported $145,960,660 in domestic grosses and $558,749,000 in international grosses, it seems nothing went terribly wrong.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - $690,516,673
Although Marvel's dalliances into its various multiverses haven't always yielded the best results, it wasn't hard to see what led them down that path when 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse became a massive hit with critics and audiences alike. With a firmly established lore, likable characters in the form of Spider-Gwen and Miles Morales, and a gorgeous visual style, this sequel just needed to stick the landing.
And stick the landing, it did. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse not only treated fans to a deeper dive into this crazy spider-verse but maintained everything that people loved about the last entry. For their commitment to these qualities, the filmmakers were rewarded with $381,311,319 in the United States and $309,205,354 throughout the rest of the world.
The Little Mermaid - $569,626,289
No matter how often people say they're tired of seeing Disney release live-action remakes of its classic movies, the numbers show that they're not as sick of them as they let on. After all, those who bemoaned The Little Mermaid's arrival for various reasons have proven to be outnumbered by those who were excited about it.
Part of that turnaround comes from Halle Bailey's well-received performance as Ariel, but there's also the prevailing sense that the final product turned out to be a better overall experience than some feared. As such, Box Office Mojo credited the film for making $298,172,056 domestically and $271,454,233 internationally.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning - $567,535,383
While Hollywood can find itself struggling to come up with a reliable hitmaker at times, that's exactly how someone could reasonably describe the Mission Impossible series in the nearly 30 years that Tom Cruise has played Ethan Hunt. Whether it's due to the frantic sense of action or how committed Cruise is to doing his own stunts, it seems impossible for audiences to imagine anyone else in the lead role.
And it seems that the franchise's box office strength is far from over, as Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One has made $172,135,383 in American theaters and $395,400,000 in international theaters this year. It seems likely that part two will fare handsomely as well.
Elemental - $495,851,987
As Screen Rant noted, initial impressions of Pixar's latest film, Elemental, suggested that it not only underperformed but outright flopped. With a shaky opening weekend, a spotty recent track record, and a disappointing reception at Cannes, fans took Elemental's early performance as a sign that Pixar's best days are behind it.
Yet whether it picked up speed as it went on or it's just staggering to consider how much success Pixar has come to expect, this chilly reception didn't stop Elemental from becoming within the top ten most successful movies of the year. It may have been a crowded summer in 2023, but $154,426,697 domestically and $341,425,290 internationally is still nothing to sneeze at.
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania - $476,071,180
Although the character's adventures have bore enough fruit to sustain three movies, it's also true that Ant-Man could never strictly be considered the most popular Marvel character. As superhero fatigue has started to set in with audiences in recent years, Ant-Man's shaky ground as a box office draw became even more uncertain with Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania.
According to Variety, ticket sales plummeted 69% in the movie's second week from its $105 million debut. This accounts for the biggest second-week performance decrease in the franchise's history. However, it seems the Marvel Cinematic Universe still had enough momentum to grant the troubled film $214,504,909 domestically and $261,566,271 internationally.
John Wick: Chapter 4 - $440,146,694
Thanks to overwhelmingly positive word-of-mouth upon the first John Wick movie's release in 2014, what started as a scrappy action movie became a massive enough sensation to spawn three additional movies. Part of that can be attributed to Keanu Reeves's star power, but the consistently impressive fight choreography is arguably the real star of the show.
While some fans have noted that the freshness of the original movie's storytelling has diminished a little with each successive sequel, they still find them hard to resist as long as the action remains engaging and creative. Considering that Box Office Mojo credited the movie for grossing $187,131,806 domestically and $253,014,888 internationally, that apparently still remains true.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - $438,966,392
Although the Transformers movies have always had a significant hatedom, it was nonetheless true that their significant commercial returns historically outweighed their critical perceptions. However, there are signs that the Sun may be setting on the once-dominant franchise. In the case of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, that's happening despite its invocation of the beloved Beast Wars series.
According to Screen Rant, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the lowest-grossing Transformers movie in history. But whether that has to do with a lack of big stars, increased competition, or simple series fatigue, that decrease makes its performance part of a wider trend rather than an outlier. Still, its $157,066,392 domestic returns and $281,900,000 international returns show how much the franchise's momentum can still carry it.
Meg 2: The Trench - $395,000,317
For some, it may come as a surprise to hear that the 2018 shark movie The Meg did well enough to warrant a sequel, but it did gross $529,338,515 by the end of its run. However, the sequel is being widely derided as a disappointment, which didn't exactly bode well for its hopes of success.
Indeed, it's hard not to notice that the shark adventure's returns have diminished significantly since its last outing five years ago. But with grosses of $82,600,317 in the United States and $312,400,000 throughout the world, Meg 2: The Trench still made enough money to be considered within the top 15 of 2023's cinematic releases.
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny - $383,963,057
Although it was at least considered a step up from the nadir of the Indiana Jones series — Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull — the general consensus about Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny is that it ends the series on a decent note rather than an incredible one.
Whether it comes from the feeling that the series should have been put out to pasture long ago or whether 2023 was just such an uncanny year for movies, that sentiment showed in the finale's performance. According to Box Office Mojo, it grossed $174,480,468 domestically and $209,482,589, which is a little light for the last entry in a franchise with the impressive legacy of Indiana Jones.
Five Nights At Freddy's - $283,107,340
Although Five Nights At Freddy's can hardly be considered the most successful movie of the year, it remains unclear whether it's reached its full potential. After all, it's the newest movie on this list by far, which speaks to a fairly impressive box office performance to be among the company of established franchises like Indiana Jones and John Wick.
In that respect, the movie mirrors the series of independent horror games it's based on. After all, nobody could have predicted that a simple game about creepy animatronics could become a widespread and enduring enough cultural sensation to spawn a major release almost a decade later.
Creed III - $275,248,615
Considering that some of the movies that performed better than Creed III in 2023 were considered disappointments, one might expect that the boxing movie underperformed by its franchise's standards as well. However, it seems that this couldn't be further from the truth.
According to Screen Rant, not only did Creed III do well by the standards of a Rocky movie, but it had the biggest opening weekend in the history of the series. Although the earlier Creed movies were praised for the deft, creative way they continued the Rocky legacy, they were modest commercial successes. So, Box Office Mojo's reports of Creed III making $156,248,615 domestically and $119,000,000 internationally mean more in relative terms than they do in absolute terms.
The Flash - $270,633,313
After its long and troubled production, a common sentiment leading up to the release of The Flash was bewilderment at the movie coming out at all. Still, the mixed reviews that followed suggested the movie was at least a fairly enjoyable viewing experience.
With this context in mind, it's perhaps not surprising to hear of the movie's $108,133,313 domestic grosses and $162,500,000 international grosses. However, it's unclear whether this modest success is enough to cover the costs of its production and marketing budgets.
The Nun II - $268,067,073
Each year, one can generally expect some horror movies to perform well at the box office. No generation seems to tire of being scared, and it's hardly uncommon for one horror movie to dominate the public's morbid interests. And while Five Nights At Freddy's has arguably outperformed The Nun II in this department, it had a beloved game series to power it.
By contrast, The Nun II had a more traditional path to success as a sequel to a horror film that based its marketing around the titular creepy apparition. And while sequels are always a gamble performance-wise, Box Office Mojo's reported $86,267,073 domestic grosses and $181,800,000 indicate a creditable attempt to meet the success of its predecessor.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour - $248,956,030
Considering the overwhelming success of her global Eras tour, it's perhaps not surprising that a concert movie chronicling the experience would also perform well. And since Screen Rant reported that Swift bypassed the studio system by producing the film itself and dealing directly with theaters, it seems she had similar confidence in its success.
However, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour arguably performed even better than expected and has broken the record for concert movies previously set by Justin Bieber: Never Say Never in 2011. According to Box Office Mojo, that's especially true in the United States, where the movie grossed $178,265,894 compared to $70,690,136 internationally.
The Sound Of Freedom - $247,801,879
For those unaware, The Sound Of Freedom is a fictionalized account of the story of real-life former government agent Tim Ballard, who founded an anti-trafficking group called Operation Underground Railroad. According to Time, the movie was heavily criticized upon release for misleading depictions of child exploitation and cited adjacency to infamous far-right theories.
However, despite or perhaps because of this controversy, Box Office Mojo reported that The Sound Of Freedom grossed $184,174,541 domestically and $63,627,338 internationally. This makes it the highest-grossing independent release since 2019's Parasite.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - $208,177,026
Considering the massive resurgence of Dungeons and Dragons' popularity in recent years, it was high time that Hollywood capitalized on it with another movie. Considering that the last major release about the tabletop role-playing game was the maligned movie from 2000 with Jeremy Irons, it seemed the world was due for Dungeons And Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
Although it's always hard to please hardcore fans of a major property, this most recent outing stood well enough on its own to entertain fans and newcomers alike. And that interest and enjoyment was reflected by its $93,277,026 domestic grosses and $114,900,000 international grosses.
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie - $194,095,899
Although it's easy to get this impression from the name, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie does not mark the first time the popular children's show has found its way to the big screen. Instead, this is a sequel to the PAW Patrol movie from 2021.
Although many sequels to come out in 2023 paled or at least underperformed when compared to previous installments, that's not the case for PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Although it marks a modest improvement from the 2021 outing, Box Office Mojo's reports of the movie grossing $65,195,899 domestically and $128,900,000 internationally show that kids haven't outgrown these pups yet.
The Equalizer 3 - $190,423,846
Around the dawn of John Wick's popularity in 2014, its stiffest competition in the "man gets revenge on organized crime syndicate" trend at the time was The Equalizer, starring Denzel Washington. Although John Wick and its sequels have consistently outperformed these movies at the box office, The Equalizer nonetheless did well enough to ensure it became a series as well.
Not only that, but each Equalizer movie's box office performance has matched its predecessors oddly closely. None have eclipsed 200 million in grosses, but none have fallen short of $190 million either. Since Box Office Mojo reported $92,367,957 in domestic grosses and $98,055,889 in international grosses for The Equalizer 3, the possibility of The Equalizer 4's existence seems very real.
Insidious: The Red Door - $189,086,877
Since 2010, the Insidious series has proved a regular fixture of horror cinema and spawned four sequels. Naturally, a film series with this many installments is likely to attract more fatigue and face diminishing returns as it progresses. However, it seems this hasn't been the case with Insidious.
That's because regardless of how the films have performed critically, it seems that there's more public interest in the franchise than ever before. According to Box Office Mojo, 2023's Insidious: The Red Door grossed $82,156,962 in the United States and $106,929,915 elsewhere in the world. That makes it the most commercially successful entry in the series.
The Marvels - $188,853,446
Although most filmmakers in the world could only dream of amassing $188 million from one of their releases, that number goes beyond a disappointment for Disney's The Marvels. For the entertainment juggernaut, this underperformance is yet another sign that their stranglehold on the industry is starting to abate.
As Boxoffice Pro chief analyst Shawn Robbins told Variety, "Disney set an impossibly high bar for itself during the 2010s, firing every cannon in its arsenal. The downside to success is that it becomes expected every time. The studio was always going to be in a challenged position when the well started to run dry." The Marvels grossed $76,853,446 domestically and $112,000,000 internationally.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem - $180,513,586
Using a similar cell-shaded visual style as the Spider-Verse movies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem updates the story of the beloved turtles to the modern world. In the process, they're characterized more as modern teenagers than the '80s teens that characterized many other adaptations of the original comics.
It's unclear how well a more traditional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie would have fared in this day and age, but Mutant Mayhem proved to be a modest success. Its reported $118,613,586 domestic grosses and $61,900,000 international grosses may not make for the biggest box office blowout this year, but it did well enough relative to its budget.
Scream VI - $168,961,389
After six entries into a film series, it's hard to keep up the same magic that gained a movie the cachet to warrant a library of sequels in the first place. In the eyes of some fans of the original Scream movies, Scream VI has all but lost the balance in its blend of horror and comedy.
However, it's interesting to note that Scream VI is the third-highest-grossing movie of the series, taking a back seat only to the original film and Scream 2. So, while some fans may be turned off, it seems just as many people have just started turning in. According to Box Office Mojo, Scream VI grossed $108,161,389 in the United States and $60,800,000 elsewhere.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - $154,609,238
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes follows future Panem tyrant Coriolanus Snow during his younger days and particularly centers around his time as a mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games. But while Snow made for an engaging antagonist in the other Hunger Games movies, that apparently doesn't mean viewers were itching to see his origin story.
After all, Box Office Mojo reported that the movie grossed $98,373,951 domestically and $56,235,287 internationally. For reference, The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 was the worst-performing entry of the previous film series, and its total grosses amounted to over $661 million.
Killers Of The Flower Moon - $151,813,788
On paper, nothing should have stopped the success of Killers Of The Flower Moon. It not only sees the return of legendary director Martin Scorcese tackling a dark period of American history but also sees him bring Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio — his two most frequent collaborators — together.
But while it's attracted rave reviews from those who have seen it, it seems there are many more viewers with little interest in checking it out. According to Box Office Mojo, it grossed $65,613,788 domestically and $86,200,000 internationally. For reference, Scorcese's prestige family movie Hugo performed better with a significantly smaller budget in 2011.
Evil Dead Rise - $146,733,054
Although it's the first entry of the beloved Evil Dead series in years, there's much that separates Evil Dead Rise from most of the other films. Unlike the cult trilogy that started it all, Evil Dead Rise does not feature series mainstay Ash Williams. And while most critics raved about the film, others mentioned that it lacked some of the surreal humor that made the originals so special.
Although most reviews from critics and other viewers alike indicated they enjoyed the movie well enough, it didn't appear to attract such a widespread audience in a year loaded with major releases. As a result, Box Office Mojo reported that it grossed $67,233,054 in the United States and $79,500,000 internationally.
Trolls Band Together - $145,837,460
Although the original Trolls movie from 2016 couldn't be considered a film for everyone, it nonetheless proved successful enough among families to spawn a major attraction at Universal Orlando Resort. It also powered Justin Timberlake's last number-one hit to date, "Can't Stop The Feeling!"
However, that surprising success hasn't necessarily rubbed off on its sequels. Trolls: World Tour had the misfortune of being released in theaters in 2020, while Box Office Mojo reported that Trolls Band Together grossed less than half of the 2016 original. Specifically, the movie brought in $64,468,460 domestically and $81,369,000 internationally.
The Exorcist: Believer - $134,809,025
The Exorcist: Believer attempts to forge a link between itself and the infamous 1973 original by incorporating Regan's mother from The Exorcist. However, the film's Rotten Tomatoes score indicates that neither critics nor audiences as a whole were terribly impressed with what the new film brought to the table.
Perhaps the biggest nail in the movie's coffin is that unlike the first film's reputation — even 50 years later — it's simply not considered very scary. Word-of-mouth is arguably more important to horror movies than any other genre, and the movie's failure on that front has likely contributed to its $65,531,815 domestic grosses and $69,277,210 international grosses.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods - $133,838,006
While Marvel's experiment in making a humorous adventure out of its lesser-known comic book characters worked wonders for Guardians Of The Galaxy, DC had similar — if more modest — success with Shazam! in 2019. However, it seems that lightning couldn't quite strike twice for young Billy Batson.
After all, Shazam! made over $367 million in 2019, but Shazam! Fury of the Gods could barely eclipse a third of that figure four years later. With $57,638,006 grossed domestically and $76,200,000 grossed internationally, it was clear that viewers in 2023 voted with their wallets.
Blue Beetle - $129,288,072
After years of existing in relative obscurity as a well-liked side character among comic fans, Blue Beetle finally got his own movie. But while it was steeped in hype before its release in August 2023, it didn't take very long for that hype to dissipate.
With the general consensus about the movie being at least fairly positive, it's hard to pin down the reason why Blue Beetle underperformed at the box office. But a creeping sense of superhero fatigue among audiences and the film's release during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are potential factors. Box Office Mojo described the movie as grossing $72,488,072 domestically and $56,800,000 internationally.
Pathaan - $128,780,000
For those wondering how a movie they've never heard of ended up among the highest-grossing films of the year, it's worth noting that it was a much bigger hit elsewhere than it was in the United States. Indeed, Box Office Mojo reported that Pathaan only made $17,487,476 domestically.
However, that's because it was a movie intended for Indian audiences. As for why it proved so successful there, Shah Rukh Khan's starring role is likely a major factor. That's because it's considered a comeback film for the legendary Bollywood actor. Pathaan grossed $95,095,974 internationally, with the vast majority of this figure coming from India.
A Haunting in Venice - $121,874,285
A Haunting in Venice is the third in a series of films based on the most famous of Agatha Christie's murder mystery novels. As he did with Murder On The Orient Express and Death On The Nile, Sir Kenneth Branagh both directed the film and starred as Hercule Poirot, Christie's signature detective.
However, this series seems to be suffering from the law of diminishing returns, as Death On The Nile's total grosses of $137,307,235 were a significant step down from the $352,794,081 Murder On The Orient Express earned in 2017. True to the trend, A Haunting In Venice grossed $42,471,412 in the United States and $79,402,873 elsewhere in the world.
Gran Turismo - $121,659,378
Video game movies have a long and risky history, but those wondering how people turned a straightforward racing game into a movie should know that it's about a skilled gamer becoming a real race car driver. But while this movie may have been a hit with car people, that wasn't quite as true for general audiences.
Ultimately, the movie was a modest success relative to its budget. It made about $44,428,554 in the United States and $77,230,824 elsewhere in the world, the latter of which is estimated to have covered its production budget.
Haunted Mansion - $117,449,790
Although Disney has been able to make 20 years of hay out of the Pirates Of The Caribbean series, their other attempts to adapt their theme park rides to movies haven't fared nearly as well. Between the failure of The Haunted Mansion in 2003 and its underperforming run at the box office two decades later, it seems the titular experience is box office poison.
Other than Wish, Haunted Mansion serves as the most egregious example of Disney's missteps this year, and it disappeared from theaters quickly. According to Box Office Mojo, it grossed $67,653,287 domestically and $49,796,503 internationally.
Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine - $106,464,725
Even in cases where Americans aren't the intended audience for a movie, Box Office Mojo generally has some data for how it fared there. However, there is no data on how the latest movie in the long-running anime and manga series about a child detective fared in the United States.
That's because Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine was only released in eight countries, none of which were in the United States. And of those eight countries, the vast majority of the movie's $106,464,725 windfall was earned in Japanese theaters.
Saw X - $105,796,027
Although Saw X is titled like a sequel, it's actually a prequel taking place between the first and second movies in the Saw series. This time, it features the infamous Jigsaw killer seeking an experimental cancer treatment in Mexico only to learn that the operation is run by fraudsters.
While this makes for a compelling premise, it appears it wasn't compelling enough to compete with the cornucopia of options in theaters this year. As such, Saw X ended up grossing $53,607,898 domestically and $52,188,129 internationally.
