At present, James Cameron's 2009 film "Avatar", distriibuted by 20th Century Fox, ranks first in terms of most dollars earned, with $2,782,275,172 in international box office earnings.
However, if we adjust the income of movies over time for inflation, the answer might be different. For instance, the original "Star Wars - Episode IV, A New Hope", released in 1977 earned $775,398,007. In 2012 US dollars, that would be $2,937,113,663, just edging out "Avatar"... And 1939's "Gone with the Wind" earned $198,676,459 which would be $3,256,991,131 in 2012 US dollars!
You asked which movie made the most money. That is not the same as biggest grossing movie. The cost of production must be deducted from gross receipts. The movie that has made the most profit will surprise you. It is "my Big Fat Greek Wedding"
It cost a measly $6 million to make and has gross revenues of $369 million. That is a 6150% return on investment. The list is:
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You asked which movie made the most money. That is not the same as biggest grossing movie. The cost of production must be deducted from gross receipts. The movie that has made the most profit will surprise you. It is "my Big Fat Greek Wedding"
It cost a measly $6 million to make and has gross revenues of $369 million. That is a 6150% return on investment.
# Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back ($290,158,751) # Superman II ($180,000,000) # Nine to Five ($103,290,500) # Stir Crazy ($101,500,000) # Airplane! ($83,400,000) # Any Which Way You Can ($70,700,000) # The Blue Lagoon ($58,853,106) # Ordinary People ($54,766,923) # Urban Cowboy ($53,300,000) # Popeye ($49,823,057)
"The Bridge on the River Kwai was the highest grossing movie in 1957. It made $27.2 million. The movie is about British prisoners of war who are forced to build a bridge for the Burma-Siam railway.
Avatar (2009). It grossed over $2.7 billion
It WAS the highest-grossing movie until James Cameron topped himself. His 2009 sci-fi adventure "Avatar" is the No. 1 worldwide boxoffice champion of all time. As of Labor Day, 2014, it had grossed almost 2.8 billion. Cameron's 1997 blockbuster, "Titanic," is now in second place with a total of $2,187 billion.
World of warcraft, by a LARGE amount
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Both are very well known characters. In terms of movie sales, Harry Potter is the highest grossing film series and James Bond is the second highest grossing.