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A lot of moviegoers think that "Titanic" is the largest grossing domestic film of all time, primarily because of its huge popularity as well as topping $600+ million in revenue following its release in 1997.
In fact, Titanic was the largest grossing domestic film in actual dollars, with Star Wars a distant second at $460+ million in 1977. Because money not only talks but sings and dances as well in our society, we remain impressed by large amounts of money. Not satisfied with this approach, I looked for a more accurate measure to compare and found it in adjusting for inflation. When adjusted for inflation, the actual moneymaking value of films takes on a new look.
Titanic, while No. 1 in actual dollars generated, is only No. 6 when adjusted for inflation.
The real No. 1 largest grossing domestic film in moviemaking history is none other than "Gone with the Wind", which grossed $198+ million in 1939 but its inflation-adjusted value in today's money is $1.329 billion (1,329,000,000+).
Here are the Top 25 moneymaking movies when inflation adjusted:
1) Gone with the Wind - $1.329+ billion (actual gross of $198+ million in 1939).
2) Star Wars - $1.172+ billion ($460+ million in 1977).
3) The Sound of Music - $937+ million ($158+ million 1965).
4) E. T.: The Extra-Terrestrial - $933+ million ($435+million in 1982).
5) The Ten Commandments - $861+ million ($65+ million in 1956).
6) Titanic - $844+ million ($600+ million in 1997).
7) Jaws - $842+ million ($260+ million in 1975).
8) Doctor Zhivago - $816+ million ($111+ million in 1965).
9) The Exorcist - $727+ million ($232+ million 1973).
10) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - $717+ million ($184+ million in 1937).
11) 101 Dalmatians - $657+ million ($144+ million in 1961).
12) The Empire Strikes Back - $646+ million ($290+ million in 1980).
13) Ben-Hur - $644+ million ($74 million in 1959).
14) Return of the Jedi - $618+ million ($309 million in 1983).
15) The Sting - $586+ million ($156 million in 1973).
16) Raiders of the Lost Ark - $579+ million ($242+ million in 1981).
17) Jurassic Park - $567+ million ($357+ million in 1993).
18) The Graduate - $563+ million ($104+ million in 1967).
19) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - $558+ million ($431 million in 1999).
20) Fantasia - $546+ million ($76+ million in 1941).
21) The Godfather - $519+ million ($134+ million in 1972).
22) Forrest Gump - $516+ million ($329+ million in 1994).
23) Mary Poppins - $514+ million ($102+ million in 1964).
24) The Lion King - $508+ million ($328+ million in 1994).
25) Grease - $506+ million ($188+ million in 1978).
Here are 10 more eye-poppers among the Top 100 grossing films when inflation adjusted:
44) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - $423+ million ($423+ million in 2006).
46) Blazing Saddles - $416 million ($119+ million in 1974).
55) The Passion of the Christ - $392 million ($370 million in 2004).
62) Smokey and the Bandit - $373+ million ($126+ million in 1977).
69) The Rocky Horror Picture Show - $362+ million ($112+ million in 1975).
70) Rocky - $362+ million ($117 million in 1976).
80) M.A.S.H. - $353+ million ($81+ million in 1970).
81) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - $352+ million ($179+ million in 1984).
88) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - $333+ million ($305+ million in 2003).
96) Sergeant York - $316+ million ($16+ million in 1941).
All figures are adjusted to the estimated 2007 average ticket price of $6.58. Some of these films had multiple releases; the release date used reflects the year of initial release.
