When a movie makes a billion dollars, what does it truly mean? We believe there is often a disconnect between how much a movie makes and how good it is, but there is something to be said about box office juggernauts that connect with the zeitgeist and audiences around the world.
Here are the top grossing movies of all time, and an opportunity for you to think about your tastes in movies.
#1 Avatar (2009) – $2.78 Billion
Why people saw it: Aside from being hungry for well-made movies (which all James Cameron movies are, to be fair), JC movies are also known to push the envelope in terms of technology, and the painstaking work that went into the CGI and 3D was (for better or worse) groundbreaking.
Why you should avoid it: The cheesy story is told in such a straightforward manner that it nearly belittles your intelligence. If you don’t want your senses to be hammered incessantly (although the 2D version is more bearable to watch) or feel like you’ve graduated from watching Saturday morning cartoons, then you can skip this one and hold onto your money.
#2 Titanic (1997) – $1.84 Billion
Why people saw it: James Cameron struck gold over a decade earlier with this soap opera about the ill-fated ship – and recreated the sinking to a harrowing level of detail. It’s both brave and over the top, innovative yet derivative, and – at the time – was the pinnacle of Cameron’s attempts to take digital enhancement to the next level. Only he could top himself.
Why you should avoid it: The romance of Kate and Leo is quite frankly necessary to make you care about the characters in the movie, but it is borderline eye-and-ear-bleed inducing. Yet, without it, all the CGI of the sinking is also meaningless, so you’ll have to sit through an hour and a half of courtship, longing stares and sighs to get to the ‘good stuff’.
#3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – $1.13 Billion (as of 08/2011)
Why people saw it: After watching the cast grow up over a decade, and enjoying a series of books that withstood all expectations, how could one not go and see the final installment of this movie adaptation? It is well made, committed to the visual world it has crafted over time, shows off many wonderful British actors and is a fitting finale both emotionally and in terms of story.
Why you should avoid it: If you haven’t seen it from the beginning, this movie won’t matter to you (or make sense to you) one bit – it hinges on your appreciation of the previous movies (or books) and as a standalone film may not have any impact on you. So please start from the beginning.
#4 The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003) – $1.11 Billion
Why people saw it: As the finale of the ambitious Lord of the Rings adaptation by Peter Jackson and Co., there was little to hold back people from going to see how they would pull of the ending. It was emotional, technically superb and a fitting close to a movie that never let you forget how expensive it was to make.
Why you should avoid it: It’s long. And it’s a movie that keeps going even after the climax, so you may actually start to grow impatient with it (as many did when they saw it in the theaters a few years ago). And don’t think about doing a marathon of all three movies – it will take all day and then you’ll wonder how you wasted all that time.
#5 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) – $1.06 Billion
Why people saw it: If it wasn’t for the surprise popularity of the first ‘Pirates’, no one would have gone to see this not-as-good sequel – yet it made an incredible amount of money thanks to the return of the trinity of Johnny Depp, Kiera Knightley, and the other guy.
Why you should avoid it: Sorry to say, it’s a really silly film that is as laden and turgid as the first one is sprightly and fun. Not sure why they headed in this direction, but it was certainly a step backwards.
#6 Toy Story 3 (2010) – $1.06 Billion
Why people saw it: The hugely successful original ‘Toy Story’ is what put Pixar on the map, so sequels were inevitable. This one beautifully upgraded the quality of the animation, while hitting all of the right notes – sentimentality, excitement, humor – without being too heavy handed. It’s amazing how they were able to avoid becoming stale.
Why you should avoid it: If you’ve seen the other two, you won’t want to avoid this one. But is it a good standalone film? We think it is – it’ll make you want to watch what you’ve missed. But if you regret throwing away all of your childhood toys, then maybe you will want to skip it in order to avoid feeling any guilt.
#7 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) – $1.03 Billion (as of 8/2011)
Why people saw it: The early buzz was that somehow Michael Bay reversed the tide and actually made a good movie. And with numerous commercials that showcased lifelike-CGI work, it was hard not to get curious about the third installment of the robots-on-earth-in-disguise war. The fact that it lacked Megan Fox may have helped it as well.
Why you should avoid it: Michael Bay gives you more! But it’s more of the same. Incoherent, slapdash, unfunny and bloated, it offers 10x all of the annoying qualities of summer movies (and maybe that’s Bay’s point). It’s also too much for the senses both visually and aurally, with 3D put on top of it all, and you really may get a headache from this one.
#8 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) – $1.03 Billion (as of 8/2011)
Why people saw it: Who doesn’t (over)love Jack Sparrow? Yes, Depp is great, and he’s probably the only reason why people saw this FOURTH installment of the series. But then again, perhaps people had a renewed hope with a new director (Rob Marshall) and a refreshed cast (including Penelope Cruz). We suppose they earnestly tried to breathe new life into it, but while audiences flocked to it, critics hated it.
Why you should avoid it: No matter how talented Depp is, the character is just a bit tired. And it turns out that even with an entirely new crew, the story was still disjointed, the action a bit recycled and the aftertaste a little bit too familiar. Don’t fret though, as making a billion dollars ensures the production of another sequel.
#9 Alice in Wonderland (2010) – $1.02 Billion
Why people saw it: The Tim Burton brand is so strong, that the mere mention of him draws audiences. While we’ve been burned before (Planet of the Apes), we still hark back to the greats (Beetlejuice) and bring hope along to every new release. The original story of Alice is so interesting, it truly deserved another shot (or reimagining, in this case). The movie looks pretty, the production values are clear, and the film rode the peak of the 3D wave.
Why you should avoid it: This is pure style over substance. While the art direction is, indeed, something to marvel at, the story is muddled and the reimagining is overall uninteresting. We’re happy to keep it playing on the monitor, like elevator music, but we prefer the sound off.
#10 The Dark Knight – $1 Billion
Why people saw it: Christopher Nolan’s version of Batman – with the first Batman Begins – really hit all the right notes, even if purists didn’t think it was perfect. The ‘Dark Knight’ had even more riding on it, from a larger, more complex story to the tragic final performance by Heath Ledger as The Joker. The chatter surrounding the movie was so intense by the time it opened, the question that remained was: why wouldn’t you want to go see it?
Why you should avoid it: If you don’t like darkness or nihilism, then this is not your movie. It moves forward relentlessly, surprises you at every turn, and Nolan’s vision can be frightening for some. It’s in many ways a great movie, but certainly not for everyone.
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