2023 saw some of the highest box office movie revenues recorded. Barbie and The Super Mario Bros were the surprise winners. Before Barbie hit the big screen, movie publications were already pitching a Barbie Vs Oppenheimer contest. The Super Mario Bros movie wasn’t really in the frame of conversation, although movie buffs still expected the return of the Italian Nintendo characters to fetch a decent revenue.
Ultimately, Barbie by Warner Bros netted $1.433 billion at the box office, and Universal Pictures’ The Super Mario Bros movie snuck into the number 2 spot with a reported $1.361 billion revenue. Also, created by Universal Pictures, Oppenheimer was still up there earning $933.678, the third-highest gross revenue of the year, even though the movie was the majority’s favorite, earning the highest figure.
Top 10 Earning Movies of All Time
Although 2023’s movies picked up impressive revenues, none reached the top 10 all-time box office revenue charts. Titanic held the top spot for 12 years prior to Avatar and held onto the second spot for 22 years.
- Avatar (2009) – $2.8 billion
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – $2.798 billion
- Titanic (1997) – $2.202 billion
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) – $2.068 billion
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – $2.048 billion
- Jurassic World (2015) – $1.672 billion.
- The Lion King (2019) – $1.657 billion.
- The Avengers (2012) – $1.519 billion.
- Furious 7 (2015) – $1.516 billion.
- Frozen II (2019) – $1.450 billion.
TOP 10 BOX OFFICE EARNERS IN 2023
Here is the list of 2023’s top 10 box office hits in 2024 and YouTube trailers giving you a sneak peek into what each movie has to offer (just in case you haven’t seen them yet).
1. Barbie – $1.433 billion (Warner Bros)
Barbie is a film that falls in the fantasy comedy genre. The highest grosser of 2023 is directed by Greta Gerwig. The movie is based on Mattel’s widely popular fashion dolls that go by the same name. There have been numerous animated films on Barbie before, but this is the first live-action film to be made on the popular ‘doll character.’ The film stars Margot Robbie in the lead as Barbie. She is paired with Ryan Gosling, who makes the perfect Ken. The audience hailed the movie as one of the most original films of the last decade, with some really funny punch lines.
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie – $1.361 billion (Illumination – Universal Pictures)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is based on the hugely popular Nintendo video game franchise. The movie’s plot is based on Mario, a plumber in Brooklyn. Mario will be seen traveling through the Mushroom Kingdom with a princess named Peach. Mario is tasked with saving his brother Luigi from Bowser, a Koopa that breathes fire. It is a fun and colorful movie that gets the animation game on point. There are easter eggs in every other scene, which will surely get the original Mario fans a bit nostalgic.
3. Oppenheimer – $933.678 million (Universal Pictures)
Coming from the celebrated director Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer has had many expectations since its announcement. The movie is a dramatized dedication to J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is prominent in history. He was a physicist who helped end World War 2 with his contribution to making the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy, who had previously worked with Nolan in the iconic Batman trilogy, has portrayed the lead character. Murphy offers a stupendous performance that makes you forget about the 3-hour runtime. Nolan is a proven master of using sound design to enhance the overall film experience, and Oppenheimer does just the same.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – $845.556 million (Marvel Studios)
In “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” the team faces a threat from Adam Warlock, who was created by Ayesha for revenge. Rocket’s life is at stake due to a kill switch implanted by his creator, the High Evolutionary. Rocket’s past is revealed, showcasing his escape from experimentation on Counter-Earth. The Guardians, aided by Ravagers, infiltrate Orgocorp to find Rocket’s override code. Their journey leads to Counter-Earth, confronting the High Evolutionary and battling for freedom. Rocket’s near-death experience is overcome using the code, and the team rescues genetically modified children. The film ends with a new lineup of Guardians on a fresh mission.
5. Fast X – $704.710 million (Universal Pictures)
In “Fast & Furious 10,” Dom Toretto’s team is betrayed by drug lord Dante Reyes during a mission in Rome. Accused of a bombing they didn’t commit, the team faces a global manhunt led by Agent Aimes. Dom’s brother Jakob protects Dom’s son, Little B, while Dom confronts Dante in Rio de Janeiro. The team seeks help from Deckard Shaw and battles Dante’s forces, leading to sacrifices and unknown fates. Cipher and Gisele resurface in Antarctica. As Dante traps Dom in a rigged dam, the film ends with suspense, leaving the characters’ destinies in balance.
6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – $689.935 million (Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures)
In “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Part One,” Gwen Stacy reveals that she is Spider-Woman to her father, Captain George Stacy. The story will cross paths with Mike Morales on Earth-1610, who faces the Spot’s multiversal threat. Gwen will join forces with Miles and other Spider-People across dimensions. She will discover the consequences of straying from “canon events.” truths about Miles’ origin will be shown as the film showcases a collapsing multiverse. Gwen reconciles with her father as the movie progresses, and Miles faces his existence on Earth-42.
7. The Little Mermaid – $569.626 million (Walt Disney Pictures)
Ariel is a gorgeous mermaid who has high aspirations for life. She is the youngest daughter of King Triton and is driven by her desire for adventure. As a spirited young mermaid, she wants to see what lies in the human world. But, she will need legs to go beyond her world under the water. For this reason, she will make a deal with a witch in which she will ask for human legs while sacrificing her mesmerizing voice.
8. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One: $567.535 million (Skydance Media and Paramount Pictures)
Mission Impossible has been a globally successful franchise that gave Tom Cruise a cult status. In this edition, agent Ethan Hunt and his team will face threats from “the Entity,” an unregulated AI. Facing this all-powerful lethal enemy will make Ethan cross his limits to save humankind. The movie has been produced by Christopher McQuarrie and features the high-octane action scenes the franchise is known for.
9. Elemental – $489.452 million (Pixar Animation Studios)
This Disney-Pixar animation film has been praised a lot by critics. It has been declared a 2023 sleeper hit owing to the massive box-office collections. The film talks about two characters, Ember and Wade. In their city, fire, land, water, and air residents, everyone stays together. Although Ember is a young woman with a lot of character and resilience, and Wade is a very laid-back guy, they realize they have many things in common.
10. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – $476.071 million (Marvel Studios)
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023) sees Scott Lang, Hope van Dyne, and their family accidentally transported to the Quantum Realm. Facing Kang the Conqueror, the Quantum Realm’s ruler, they uncover Janet’s past involvement and her resistance against Kang. As Scott and Cassie join forces with rebels, Hope, Hank, and Janet navigate a complex plot of betrayal and multiversal threats. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Five, received mixed reviews but grossed $476.071 million worldwide. It explores family dynamics, introduces new characters, and sets the stage for a multiversal uprising in a mid-credits scene.
Prediction for Top 10 Movies of 2024
2024 has another exciting lineup of box office hits in the pipeline. What is your prediction for the highest-earning movie of the year? We have Gladiators 2, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Godzilla vs Kong: The New Empire, Despicable Me 4, Beetlejuice 2, and many more on the horizon. However, if you have read our 2024 FILM PREVIEW, you may have spotted Beverly Hills Cop 4 bringing the popular actor Eddie Murphey back as Axle Foley – this is my pick of the year! What’s yours?