The 50 Highest-Grossing Films of All Time from Best to Worst – RT Critics

The following are currently the 50 highest-grossing films of all time, arranged in order from “best” to “worst” according to the collective opinions of Rotten Tomatoes film critics. Contained is each film’s critical approval, average rating and critical consensus (if there is one). All of these films grossed a least a billion US dollars, 6 of them 2 billion; as of 2022, however, not all billion-dollar films are among the top 50. The films shown cover 30 years, the earliest release on the list being Jurassic Park (1993), and the most recent being The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). I’ve previously made several lists of The 50 Highest-Grossing Films of All Time from Best to Worst – RT Critics, along with two of The 50 Highest-Grossing Films of All Time from Best to Worst – RT Audiences, and one of The 50 Highest-Grossing Films of All Time from Best to Worst – IMDb Audiences, but they’re all heavily out of date.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

98% – 8.9/10 (312 reviews)

Deftly blending comedy, adventure, and honest emotion, Toy Story 3 is a rare second sequel that really works. Read critic reviews

Zootopia (2016)

98% – 8.1/10 (298 reviews)

The brilliantly well-rounded Zootopia offers a thoughtful, inclusive message that’s as rich and timely as its sumptuously state-of-the-art animation — all while remaining fast and funny enough to keep younger viewers entertained. Read critic reviews

Toy Story 4 (2019)

97% – 8.4/10 (460 reviews)

Heartwarming, funny, and beautifully animated, Toy Story 4 manages the unlikely feat of extending — and perhaps concluding — a practically perfect animated saga. Read critic reviews

Black Panther (2018)

96% – 8.3/10 (532 reviews)

Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU’s most absorbing stories — and introducing some of its most fully realized characters. Read critic reviews

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)

96% – 8.3/10 (333 reviews)

Thrilling, powerfully acted, and visually dazzling, Deathly Hallows Part II brings the Harry Potter franchise to a satisfying — and suitably magical — conclusion. Read critic reviews

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

96% – 8.2/10 (469 reviews)

Top Gun: Maverick pulls off a feat even trickier than a 4G inverted dive, delivering a long-belated sequel that surpasses its predecessor in wildly entertaining style. Read critic reviews

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

94% – 8.2/10 (555 reviews)

Exciting, entertaining, and emotionally impactful, Avengers: Endgame does whatever it takes to deliver a satisfying finale to Marvel’s epic Infinity Saga. Read critic reviews

Finding Dory (2016)

94% – 7.7/10 (340 reviews)

Funny, poignant, and thought-provoking, Finding Dory delivers a beautifully animated adventure that adds another entertaining chapter to its predecessor’s classic story. Read critic reviews

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

93% – 8.7/10 (276 reviews)

Visually breathtaking and emotionally powerful, The Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King is a moving and satisfying conclusion to a great trilogy. Read critic reviews

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

93% – 8.3/10 (451 reviews)

Packed with action and populated by both familiar faces and fresh blood, The Force Awakens successfully recalls the series’ former glory while injecting it with renewed energy. Read critic reviews

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

93% – 7.9/10 (425 reviews)

A bigger, bolder Spider-Man sequel, No Way Home expands the franchise’s scope and stakes without losing sight of its humor and heart. Read critic reviews

Incredibles 2 (2018)

93% – 7.9/10 (390 reviews)

Incredibles 2 reunites Pixar’s family crimefighting team for a long-awaited follow-up that may not quite live up to the original, but comes close enough to earn its name. Read critic reviews

Skyfall (2012)

92% – 8.2/10 (390 reviews)

Sam Mendes brings Bond surging back with a smart, sexy, riveting action thriller that qualifies as one of the best 007 films to date. Read critic reviews

Jurassic Park (1993)

91% – 8.4/10 (140 reviews)

Jurassic Park is a spectacle of special effects and life-like animatronics, with some of Spielberg’s best sequences of sustained awe and sheer terror since Jaws. Read critic reviews

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

91% – 8.1/10 (487 reviews)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi honors the saga’s rich legacy while adding some surprising twists — and delivering all the emotion-rich action fans could hope for. Read critic reviews

Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

91% – 8.1/10 (367 reviews)

Thanks to a script that emphasizes its heroes’ humanity and a wealth of superpowered set pieces, The Avengers lives up to its hype and raises the bar for Marvel at the movies. Read critic reviews

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

90% – 7.7/10 (429 reviews)

Captain America: Civil War begins the next wave of Marvel movies with an action-packed superhero blockbuster boasting a decidedly non-cartoonish plot and the courage to explore thought-provoking themes. Read critic reviews

Frozen (2013)

90% – 7.7/10 (251 reviews)

Beautifully animated, smartly written, and stocked with singalong songs, Frozen adds another worthy entry to the Disney canon. Read critic reviews

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

90% – 7.4/10 (458 reviews)

A breezily unpredictable blend of teen romance and superhero action, Spider-Man: Far from Home stylishly sets the stage for the next era of the MCU. Read critic reviews

Titanic (1997)

88% – 8/10 (253 reviews)

A mostly unqualified triumph for James Cameron, who offers a dizzying blend of spectacular visuals and old-fashioned melodrama. Read critic reviews

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

87% – 8/10 (375 reviews)

The Dark Knight Rises is an ambitious, thoughtful, and potent action film that concludes Christopher Nolan’s franchise in spectacular fashion. Read critic reviews

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

85% – 7.6/10 (491 reviews)

Avengers: Infinity War ably juggles a dizzying array of MCU heroes in the fight against their gravest threat yet, and the result is a thrilling, emotionally resonant blockbuster that (mostly) realizes its gargantuan ambitions. Read critic reviews

Rogue One (2016)

84% – 7.5/10 (462 reviews)

Rogue One draws deep on Star Wars mythology while breaking new narrative and aesthetic ground — and suggesting a bright blockbuster future for the franchise. Read critic reviews

James Cameron’s Avatar (2009)

82% – 7.5/10 (336 reviews)

It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron’s singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking. Read critic reviews

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

81% – 7.1/10 (200 reviews)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone adapts its source material faithfully while condensing the novel’s overstuffed narrative into an involving — and often downright exciting — big-screen magical caper. Read critic reviews

Furious 7 (2015)

81% – 6.7/10 (281 reviews)

Serving up a fresh round of over-the-top thrills while adding unexpected dramatic heft, Furious 7 keeps the franchise moving in more ways than one. Read critic reviews

Iron Man Three (2013)

79% – 7/10 (331 reviews)

With the help of its charismatic lead, some impressive action sequences, and even a few surprises, Iron Man 3 is a witty, entertaining adventure and a strong addition to the Marvel canon. Read critic reviews

Captain Marvel (2019)

79% – 6.8/10 (552 reviews)

Packed with action, humor, and visual thrills, Captain Marvel introduces the MCU’s latest hero with an origin story that makes effective use of the franchise’s signature formula. Read critic reviews

Frozen II (2019)

77% – 6.7/10 (338 reviews)

Frozen II can’t quite recapture the showstopping feel of its predecessor, but it remains a dazzling adventure into the unknown. Read critic reviews

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

76% – 7.1/10 (437 reviews)

Narratively, it might be fairly standard stuff — but visually speaking, Avatar: The Way of Water is a stunningly immersive experience. Read critic reviews

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

76% – 6.8/10 (379 reviews)

Exuberant and eye-popping, Avengers: Age of Ultron serves as an overstuffed but mostly satisfying sequel, reuniting its predecessor’s unwieldy cast with a few new additions and a worthy foe. Read critic reviews

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

71% – 6.7/10 (384 reviews)

With an enchanting cast, beautifully crafted songs, and a painterly eye for detail, Beauty and the Beast offers a faithful yet fresh retelling that honors its beloved source material. Read critic reviews

Jurassic World (2015)

71% – 6.6/10 (359 reviews)

Jurassic World can’t match the original for sheer inventiveness and impact, but it works in its own right as an entertaining — and visually dazzling — popcorn thriller. Read critic reviews

Joker (2019)

69% – 7.3/10 (598 reviews)

Joker gives its infamous central character a chillingly plausible origin story that serves as a brilliant showcase for its star — and a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema. Read critic reviews

The Fate of the Furious (2017)

67% – 6.1/10 (315 reviews)

The Fate of the Furious opens a new chapter in the franchise, fueled by the same infectious cast chemistry and over-the-top action fans have come to expect. Read critic reviews

Aquaman (2018)

65% – 6/10 (414 reviews)

Aquaman swims with its entertainingly ludicrous tide, offering up CGI superhero spectacle that delivers energetic action with an emphasis on good old-fashioned fun. Read critic reviews

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

64% – 6.6/10 (307 reviews)

Peter Jackson’s return to Middle-earth is an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film’s deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty. Read critic reviews

Despicable Me 3 (2017)

59% – 5.7/10 (198 reviews)

Despicable Me 3 should keep fans of the franchise consistently entertained with another round of colorful animation and zany — albeit somewhat scattershot — humor. Read critic reviews

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

58% – 5.7/10 (265 reviews)

While it’s nowhere near as thrilling as turtle tipping your way to 128 lives, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a colorful — albeit thinly plotted — animated adventure that has about as many Nintendos as Nintendon’ts. Read critic reviews

Aladdin (2019)

57% – 5.9/10 (387 reviews)

Aladdin retells its classic source material’s story with sufficient spectacle and skill, even if it never approaches the dazzling splendor of the animated original. Read critic reviews

Minions (2015)

55% – 5.8/10 (226 reviews)

The Minions’ brightly colored brand of gibberish-fueled insanity stretches to feature length in their self-titled Despicable Me spinoff, with uneven but often hilarious results. Read critic reviews

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

53% – 6/10 (229 reviews)

Gone is Depp’s unpredictability and much of the humor and originality of the first movie. Read critic reviews

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

52% – 6.1/10 (523 reviews)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker suffers from a frustrating lack of imagination, but concludes this beloved saga with fan-focused devotion. Read critic reviews

The Lion King (2019)

52% – 6/10 (436 reviews)

While it can take pride in its visual achievements,The Lion King is a by-the-numbers retelling that lacks the energy and heart that made the original so beloved–though for some fans that may just be enough. Read critic reviews

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

51% – 5.9/10 (237 reviews)

Burdened by exposition and populated with stock characters, The Phantom Menace gets the Star Wars prequels off to a bumpy — albeit visually dazzling — start. Read critic reviews

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

51% – 5.8/10 (279 reviews)

Tim Burton’s Alice sacrifices the book’s minimal narrative coherence — and much of its heart — but it’s an undeniable visual treat. Read critic reviews

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

47% – 5.4/10 (433 reviews)

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom adds another set piece-packed entry to the blockbuster franchise, although genuinely thrilling moments are in increasingly short supply. Read critic reviews

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

35% – 5/10 (266 reviews)

Its special effects — and 3D shots — are undeniably impressive, but they aren’t enough to fill up its loud, bloated running time, or mask its thin, indifferent script. Read critic reviews

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

33% – 5/10 (279 reviews)

It’s shorter and leaner than the previous sequel, but this Pirates runs aground on a disjointed plot and a non-stop barrage of noisy action sequences. Read critic reviews

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

18% – 4/10 (217 reviews)

With the fourth installment in Michael Bay’s blockbuster Transformers franchise, nothing is in disguise: Fans of loud, effects-driven action will find satisfaction, and all others need not apply. Read critic reviews