Box office records represent more than just numbers; they mark shifting trends in how audiences consume cinema. This collection looks at the historic milestones set by films that dominated the global conversation.
You will see questions about the financial performance of major franchises and the production strategies behind some of the most profitable projects in Hollywood history. Some details focus on inflation-adjusted data while others look at original theatrical runs.
When you finish, try browsing our all-time box office records, our franchise history section, or check out our Golden Age collection.
In what year was the epic film ‘Gone with the Wind’ first released in theaters?
1945
1945
1952
1952
1960
1960
1939
1939
Which film currently holds the record for the highest-grossing movie of all time when adjusted for inflation in the United States?
A Star Is Born
A Star Is Born
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
Titanic
Titanic
Which film directed by James Cameron held the record for the highest worldwide unadjusted box office gross for over a decade before being briefly surpassed by ‘Avengers: Endgame’?
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Titanic
Titanic
Avatar
Avatar
Which of the following Star Wars films earned the highest unadjusted domestic box office gross during its initial 1977 theatrical run?
The Phantom Menace
The Phantom Menace
A New Hope
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
Return of the Jedi
Approximately how much did ‘Avengers: Endgame’ earn at the global box office during its original theatrical run before re-releases?
$1.5 billion
$1.5 billion
$2.7 billion
$2.7 billion
$3.2 billion
$3.2 billion
$2.0 billion
$2.0 billion
Which major studio distributed the original 1977 ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ and maintained the rights to it for decades?
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Disney
Disney
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Which sequel trilogy installment set the record for the highest single-day domestic box office opening in history at the time of its release?
Return of the Jedi
Return of the Jedi
The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back
The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens
The Last Jedi
The Last Jedi
Which follow-up film directed by James Cameron secured a spot among the top five highest-grossing films of all time by 2024?
The Lion King (2019)
The Lion King (2019)
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water
Frozen II
Frozen II
Jurassic World
Jurassic World
Who was the producer famously behind the production and financial strategy for ‘Gone with the Wind’?
Sam Goldwyn
Sam Goldwyn
Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick
Estimates suggest that ‘Gone with the Wind’ sold approximately how many tickets in the United States during its lifetime, inflated by multiple re-releases?
400 million tickets
400 million tickets
225 million tickets
225 million tickets
80 million tickets
80 million tickets
150 million tickets
150 million tickets
Approximately what was the total unadjusted domestic gross for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, making it the highest-grossing domestic film in U.S. history unadjusted for inflation?
$1.2 billion
$1.2 billion
$930 million
$930 million
$600 million
$600 million
$200 million
$200 million
What unique box office feat was achieved by ‘Avengers: Endgame’ upon its release in April 2019?
A $1 billion+ global opening weekend
A $1 billion+ global opening weekend
Being the first 3D movie to win Best Picture
Being the first 3D movie to win Best Picture
A 50-week theatrical run without dropping out of the top 10
A 50-week theatrical run without dropping out of the top 10
A $500 million opening weekend
A $500 million opening weekend
When adjusted for inflation, ‘Gone with the Wind’ has been estimated to have a lifetime US box office gross in the neighborhood of which figure?
$3.7 billion
$3.7 billion
$2.1 billion
$2.1 billion
$2.9 billion
$2.9 billion
$1.8 billion
$1.8 billion
Which Star Wars prequel trilogy film was the first to cross the $400 million domestic unadjusted gross threshold?
Attack of the Clones
Attack of the Clones
The Phantom Menace
The Phantom Menace
Revenge of the Sith
Revenge of the Sith
The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens
Which film marks the lowest unadjusted domestic gross of the three Star Wars sequel trilogy entries?
A New Hope
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back
The Rise of Skywalker
The Rise of Skywalker
The Return of the Jedi
The Return of the Jedi
Which director successfully negotiated the merchandising rights for his film franchise, significantly impacting his personal wealth compared to original cinematic box office returns?
George Lucas
George Lucas
Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
James Cameron
James Cameron
In what year was James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ first released, triggering a massive surge in 3D cinema ticket sales?
2009
2009
2019
2019
2021
2021
1998
1998
What was the approximate unadjusted global gross of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ upon the conclusion of its theatrical run?
$2.0 billion
$2.0 billion
$2.4 billion
$2.4 billion
$1.6 billion
$1.6 billion
$1.2 billion
$1.2 billion
Which film was the first in motion picture history to gross over $1 billion worldwide unadjusted?
Titanic
Titanic
Avatar
Avatar
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Jurassic World
Jurassic World
Which musical film typically ranks behind ‘Gone with the Wind’ and ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ in domestic inflation-adjusted box office charts?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
Doctor Zhivago
Doctor Zhivago
Which Star Wars sequel film caused significant debate regarding its second-weekend box office drop-off compared to its massive opening?
Rogue One
Rogue One
The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens
The Last Jedi
The Last Jedi
The Rise of Skywalker
The Rise of Skywalker
What primary factor allowed ‘Avatar’ to reclaim the top spot as the highest-grossing film of all time from ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in 2021?
International DVD sales included in calculations
International DVD sales included in calculations
Direct-to-streaming sales added to the total
Direct-to-streaming sales added to the total
A re-release in China
A re-release in China
A re-release in North America
A re-release in North America
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
If you enjoyed these stats, check out more trivia on fantasy cinema history, look through our special effects archives, or browse our catalog of iconic films.
