How to determine a movie’s popularity isn’t something everyone agrees on. Some use the box office take, but that can skew toward newer movies due to ticket prices rising. Adjusting for inflation is a remedy for that, but it’s an imprecise science.
A better way might be to go by sheer ticket sales, and this is the method we took to determine the most popular movie each year since 1995.
1995– Batman Forever
The third installment of the initial Batman series stars Val Kilmer in the title role and introduces Robin for the first time. In it, Batman has to stop the Riddler and Two-Face from enforcing their will over Gotham City.
Ticket Sales: 42,306,002
1996– Independence Day
Critics were, well, critical. However, audiences loved this film about seemingly invincible aliens trying to take over the world and humans fighting back.
Ticket Sales: 69,269,062
1997– Men in Black
For the second year in a row, Will Smith starred in the top ticket-seller. Once again, he was fighting aliens, this time as a secret agent partnered with Tommy Lee Jones.
Ticket Sales: 54,607,854
1998– Titanic
Telling the story of the famously doomed ship and mixing in a love story proved to be a winner. The film shattered box office records, received generally favorable reviews, and took 11 Oscars, including for Best Picture, Director, and Cinematography. No other movie on this list sold more tickets, and only 3 came even close.
Ticket Sales: 104,092,298
1999– Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
One of the most-anticipated releases of all time, ticket sales didn’t disappoint. The story and acting did, though, and many fans rank this film that introduces the child Anakin Skywalker as the worst in the franchise.
Ticket Sales: 84,732,942
2000– How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Jim Carrey plays the notorious Dr. Seuss character who plots to ruin Christmas for everyone in Whoville. Many loved this adaptation using real people while some took a Grinch-like approach and grumbled about preferring the animated classic.
Ticket Sales: 47,006,948
2001– Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Warner Bros.
At last, fans got to see Harry Potter, Dumbledore, and Voldemort come to life on the big screen. Both the first and final films of the series led in ticket sales in the years they were released.
Ticket Sales: 53,074,988
2002– Spider-Man
The first of the series starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst shows us how Peter Parker got his powers. Willem Dafoe is spectacular as Spidey’s enemy, the Green Goblin.
Ticket Sales: 69,484,746
2003– Finding Nemo
Nemo is a young clownfish hatched from the only remaining egg after a barracuda attack claims his mother and all the rest of his siblings-to-be. When he’s captured by a scuba diver who wants him for his aquarium, his father, Marlin, sets out on an epic journey across the ocean to get him back.
Ticket Sales: 56,337,374
2004– Shrek 2
To celebrate their marriage, Shrek and Fiona travel to the kingdom Fiona’s parents rule. Unfortunately, they don’t receive the welcome they expected.
Ticket Sales: 71,050,925
2005– Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
The final prequel finishes the story of Anakin’s transformation to Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine’s takeover of the galaxy. Although most viewers thought it was much better than The Phantom Menace, the movie didn’t see nearly as many tickets.
Ticket Sales: 59,324,582
2006– Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
After the popularity of the first in the series, moviegoers were eager to sail with Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) again. This time, he’s after the heart of Davy Jones to avoid eternal enslavement to him.
Ticket Sales: 64,628,368
2007– Spider-Man 3
This was the final of the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films. In this one, Spider-Man deals with inner turmoil and an old friend seeking revenge.
Ticket Sales: 48,914,288
2008– The Dark Knight
As Alfred tells Bruce Wayne, “Some men just want to watch the world burn,” and that’s what Batman’s up against with the Joker, unforgettably played by Heath Ledger. The second film of Christopher Nolan’s franchise reboot, it’s most fans’ favorite.
Ticket Sales: 73,955,652
2009– Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Two years after the Autobots saved the Earth, things seem pretty normal. Then an ancient Decepticon returns for vengeance.
Ticket Sales: 53,614,916
2010– Toy Story 3
Andy’s grown up and heading to college, but he intends to keep his beloved childhood toys for his own kids. Instead of being put in the attic, the toys accidentally end up in a day-care center and have to find a way home.
Ticket Sales: 52,598,844
2011– Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
The final and darkest film in the series riveted audiences. We finally learn the truth about the past, and we get to see the final confrontation between Harry and Voldemort.
Tickets Sales: 48,046,812
2012– The Avengers
This one kicked off the series. In it, Loki and his alien army plot to take over the world, and only the Avengers can stop them.
Ticket Sales: 78,311,295
2013– Iron Man 3
Robert Downey, Jr. had another great year as Tony Stark – Iron Man. Without the Avengers this time, he has to rebuild and seek retribution after a powerful terrorist tears the world apart.
Ticket Sales: 50,306,552
2014– Guardians of the Galaxy
A deranged criminal has bad plans in store for the universe. A group of intergalactic criminals band together to stop him.
2015– Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
With a new director at the helm, fans convinced that George Lucas had lost it with the prequels were ready to try again. Some old favorites return as we meet a scavenger girl who has the potential to restore order to the universe.
Ticket Sales: 88,043,765
2016– Finding Dory
In Finding Nemo, Dory is Marlin’s forgetful but well-meaning companion and guide. This time, it’s Dory who’s on a quest: finding the parents she was separated from long ago, Marlin and Nemo join her in her search.
Ticket Sales: 56,219,140
2017– Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
Kylo Ren and the First Order continue to seek supremacy over the galaxy. In the meantime, Rey develops her skills and seeks to persuade Luke Skywalker to rejoin the fight.
Ticket Sales: 57,660,910
2018– Black Panther
It’s time for T’Challa, heir to the kingdom of Wakunda, to step up and lead his people. A villain from the country’s past presents a challenge to him.
Ticket Sales: 76,845,177
2019– Avengers: Endgame
The evil demigod Thanos has devastated much of the universe. In this final installment of the series, the remaining Avengers are the only hope of defeating him.
Ticket Sales: 93,708,843
2020– Bad Boys for Life
Columbia Pictures.
Will Smith delivers another blockbuster performance, this time as Detective Mike Lowrey. The wife and son of a drug lord are out to kill all of those involved in his trial and conviction, and that includes Lowrey. Ticket numbers are by far the lowest here, but 2020 was the year of the COVID-19 outbreak, and many theaters closed.
Ticket Sales: 21,723,470
2021– Spider-Man: No Way Home
Separating regular life from being a superhero proves difficult now that the world knows who Spider-Man is. When a new challenge arises, Spider-Man seeks the assistance of Dr. Strange.
Ticket Sales: 55,094,689
2022– Top Gun: Maverick
Critics and audiences alike raved about this sequel to the 1986 original, and many thought it was robbed of Best Picture. Maverick is back, this time to train the Navy’s best pilots for an exceptionally dangerous mission.
Ticket Sales: 68,255,728
2023– Barbie
Everything’s great in the perfect Barbie World. Then Barbie and Ken get a chance to go to the real world, and they find that life among actual humans is more difficult.
Ticket Sales: 60,414,947
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12 of the Most Annoying TV Show Characters of All Time, According to the Internet
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The 12 Most Epic Opening Scenes in Movie History
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The 12 Most Genius Movie Plot Holes You Never Knew Were Actually Explained
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19 Hyped-Up Movies That Were Actually Terrible
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Unpopular Opinion: These 15 Shows Everyone Raved About, but We Couldn’t Stand