Since its inception in 1922, the box office has been used as a measure of a film’s success. Over the past 100 years, movies have increasingly reached milestones such as $100 million and $1 billion. In 1990, Dancing with wolves became the first film to gross more than $100 million at the box office (per ABC news); however, it would take seven years for another movie, Titanic, to reach that billion dollar milestone. In 2017 three movies — The fate of the Furious, Beauty and the Beastand The boss baby – surpassed this figure within a year. Likewise, it took almost 75 years for movies to start making $1 billion at the box office; however, since 2010, several films have reached this milestone or beyond.
Now you’re wondering, what makes a movie successful at the box office? Measures of commercial success vary depending on the type of film and expectations for it. For example, a blockbuster movie is expected to make at least $100 million at the box office during its opening weekend. For independent films or low-budget productions, $1 million in revenue is considered a success. In addition, movies that break major records, such as over $1 billion in revenue, are praised for their financial success.
Unfortunately, streaming services have had an impact on box office numbers. Their increasing popularity and the availability of more content than ever before has led to a decline in theatrical box office revenue for many films, with worldwide box office revenue down 71% in 2020 compared to 2019. In addition, it has made it more difficult for movies to reach certain milestones as quickly as they used to due to increased competition from streaming services. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at the movies that made the fastest $1 billion at the box office.
10/10 Avatar (2009) — 19 days
avatar was a celebrated movie when it was first released, and still is to this day for its fantastic storytelling and beautiful animation. The hype around avatar was unprecedented; it’s been over 12 years since its release and the film continues to dominate cinemas around the world. The audience eagerly awaited the sequel The way of the waterwhich was released in 2022. Social media has played a huge role in generating excitement for this movie, as well as creating an online community where fans can come together and share their love for avatar.
Distributors are leaving multiplexes for fear of being freaked out by James Cameron’s masterful storytelling skills – his track record speaks for itself, as he won an Academy Award for his work on avatar. Cameron made history as the first director with three films to gross more than $1.5 billion at the box office. The film was released on December 16, 2009 and by January 3, 2010, the film had reached $1.02 billion, taking only 19 days to reach the milestone.
9/10 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) – 19 days
Star Wars: The Last Jedi had a huge hype around it. It is also considered one of the most original installments in the sequel trilogy. Despite some fan backlash, the film still managed to become a box office hit due to strong word of mouth and yet to be suppressed Star Wars hype. The film also featured many beloved characters from the original trilogy, such as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher). Plus, it introduced new characters like Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega), who quickly became fan favorites. All these factors contributed to the making Star Wars: The Last Jedi one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters in recent years. Released on December 13, 2017, the film reached $1.04 billion on December 31, 2017, in the same 19 days as avatar.
8/10 The Fate of the Furious (2017) – 18 days
The fate of the furious contains all the elements that make up a successful action franchise. It has a popular cast, including Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson, as well as an exciting premise that will keep fans coming back for more. Plus, it has spectacular action sequences and over-the-top suspense that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The film also provides unexpected dramatic weight through the plotline of the marriage between Dom (Diesel) and Letty (Theron). The success of Furious 7 paved the way for this episode to be just as successful at the box office. With these factors in mind, it’s no surprise that this movie made so much money so soon after its release in 2017. The film was released on April 12, 2017 and reached $1.06 billion on April 29, 2017, taking just 18 days to reach this milestone. .
7/10 Furious 7 (2015) – 17 days
Furious 7 had a lot to do with it. First, the film had an established fan base and a franchise reputation that attracted audiences. Second, the movie featured a star-studded cast led by Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, both well-known action movie stars with a loyal fan base. Third, Universal Studios used its marketing power to advertise Furious 7 through advertisements and interviews with celebrities and late-night hosts, such as Jimmy Fallon. Finally, Universal Studios also capitalized on Walker’s tragic death by using it as a promotional tool to boost ticket sales even further to honor his legacy as an actor. These factors helped create Furious 7 one of the most successful films of 2015 at the box office with over $1 billion in total grosses within 17 days of its release date.
6/10 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – 14 days
Avatar: the way of the water was released in late 2022, with millions of fans waiting for the sequel for more than a decade. The film was directed, co-written and produced by James Cameron, who also acted as the film’s cinematographer. The film was shot in 6K resolution on Arri Alexa cameras at a frame rate of 48 frames per second. The visual effects were created by a team led by Jim Bosher and Richard Baneham of Double Negative (Dneg), with additional help from Weta Digital and other visual effects studios around the world. Avatar: the way of the water has grossed over $2 billion worldwide since its release in December 2022, making it one of the highest-grossing films ever made. It only took this movie 14 days to hit $1.02 billion, and we can’t be surprised. With its excellent graphics, wonderful story and huge fan base, it’s no wonder avatar is such a resounding success.
5/10 Jurassic World (2015) – 13 days
Jurassic world combined his sequel star power and nostalgia to reel in the fans. The film features Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Irrfan Khan and Vincent D’Onofrio. In addition to bringing back iconic characters from the original Jurassic Park film, the film’s storyline is familiar but exciting enough for audiences who have waited decades for another dinosaur adventure. In addition, Universal Pictures had high expectations for this blockbuster, which helped make it a success at the box office. Raised over $1 billion in 13 days, Jurassic world was a box office success.
4/10 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – 12 days
Spider-Man: No Way Home was a huge success, even in terms of Marvel movies. Marvel movies are known for attracting devoted fans and charting higher and higher at the box office, but No way home was one of their fastest hits. It grossed over $1.05 billion in just 12 days after its release on December 15, 2021. The film became the only one of 2021 to cross that mark on December 26, 2021. In terms of success, No way home only finds out Avengers: Infinite War and Avengers: endgame.
3/10 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) – 12 days
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was one of the fastest films to earn over $1 billion due to its appeal to longtime fans and newcomers alike. The film featured an incredibly talented cast, including Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher, as well as new faces like Adam Driver. In addition, it had the advantage of being the first Star Wars movie released after Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, giving them more resources for promotion than ever before. Finally, the film was masterfully directed by JJ Abrams, who understood exactly how to balance nostalgia and freshness for an exciting experience for viewers around the world. All these factors contributed to the making The power awakens the third-fastest film to gross $1 billion, with the film grossing $1.09 billion in just 12 days.
2/10 Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – 11 days
Avengers: Infinite War is set up for success outside the gate due to the huge success it has achieved before Avengers and interconnected MCU movies. The film is one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Part of the reason for its success is the fact that it features numerous popular characters from the Marvel cinematic universe, such as Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk. Moreover, it offers viewers an exciting action-packed storyline with emotional elements that resonated with audiences around the world.
Further, Infinite War has been praised for successfully juggling between so many characters and locations without losing momentum or pace. Ultimately, the legacy of this film will be defined by how audiences were left stunned by its heartbreaking ending, which saw some fan favorites perish at the hands of Thanos. Infinite War raked in over $1.04 billion in just 11 days, making it the second-fastest film to gross over $1 billion.
1/10 Avengers: Endgame (2019) – 5 days
The expectation for Avengers: endgame was huge, and it’s no surprise that it brought in billions of dollars in such a short time. What sets this movie apart from others is its ability to deliver a thrilling, entertaining, and emotionally impactful finale to Marvel’s epic Infinity Saga storyline. In addition, the film features high-profile actors such as Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Mark Ruffalo who help bring the characters to life on screen. Finally, director Anthony Russo and Joe Russo have created stunning visual effects that make viewers feel like they’re part of the action themselves – significantly contributing to its box office success. Grossing over $1.22 billion in just five short days, Avengers: endgame is the fastest-grossing film to date to $1 billion.