13 Movies That Have Made $1 Billion At The Box Office Since 2020, Ranked

Movie theaters really struggled during the 2020 pandemic, and getting back on their feet hasn’t been easy. People’s preferences have shifted, with many getting tired of the same old franchises, and the movie industry itself is changing because of streaming services and new technologies like AI. Despite all this, thirteen films have still earned over a billion dollars worldwide.

Just like before the pandemic, most of the biggest movies are sequels or based on well-known stories. Despite this, they still drew in audiences and earned a lot of money. Here’s a ranked list of all the films that have grossed over $1 billion since 2020, from lowest to highest, including Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: The Seed Bearer.

Jurassic World Dominion Passed the $1 Billion Mark by the Skin of Its Teeth

With Jurassic World Dominion, the latest trilogy concluded, bringing back beloved characters from previous films. Owen Grady and Claire Dearing joined forces to protect Maisie, a girl they’ve raised as their own, and uncover illegal activities at the Biosyn corporation. While the movie grossed over $1 billion worldwide, it received the lowest ratings from critics of any film on this list, earning a 29% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

While dinosaur fans probably enjoyed seeing more of the creatures on screen, the latest movie didn’t offer much beyond that. The story was predictable, and the returning actors weren’t utilized to their full potential. Many viewers also felt the film didn’t fully explore the consequences of the dinosaurs being loose in the world, a missed chance to make the story more complex and engaging.

Avatar: Fire and Ash Was Too Repetitive

Continuing the story a year after the previous film, Avatar: Fire and Ash introduces the Mangkwan, a new Na’vi clan. While Jake Sully and his family are still grieving the loss of their son, Neteyam, they face a new danger when the Mangkwan align with the returning villain, Miles Quaritch. This third installment in the Avatar series earned $1.49 billion worldwide, but with a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it received the lowest critical reception and box office numbers of any film in the franchise so far.

While the world of Pandora is still visually impressive, the excitement of returning isn’t what it used to be. Many viewers felt that the story and characters in Fire and Ash were too similar to previous Avatar movies, making the film’s long length difficult to sit through. With another movie already planned, there’s concern the series may start to lose its momentum.

Lilo & Stitch Made Controversial Changes to the Beloved Disney Movie

The movie Lilo & Stitch is based on the popular 2002 animated film. It follows a runaway alien who becomes friends with a lonely girl in Hawaii. The live-action version recently surpassed $1 billion at the box office, making it Disney’s most successful remake since The Lion King. Critics generally liked the film, giving it a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though it did have some flaws.

The live-action version of Lilo & Stitch differed from the original, particularly the ending, which was changed to allow the character to attend college. While this didn’t seem to affect how much money the movie made, some fans felt it went against the original film’s core theme of family. Most people agree the remake wasn’t better than the animated movie, though it was seen as more emotionally resonant than some other recent Disney films.

Critics Were Mixed on The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but Fans Loved it

After 30 years, the world of Super Mario Bros. returned to the big screen with a new animated movie. When Mario and Luigi are magically transported to the Mushroom Kingdom and become separated, they have to reunite and team up to defeat the evil Bowser and save the kingdom. While critics weren’t completely thrilled (giving it a 59% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), the movie was a huge box office success, earning over $1.36 billion worldwide.

Okay, so the story wasn’t groundbreaking, and a couple of the voice actors weren’t perfect, but honestly, the animation team nailed bringing the world of Super Mario Bros. to life on the big screen! They really captured the look and feel of the games. Plus, it was just packed with funny moments that played really well with the audience. It’s a really fun movie, which explains why fans seem to love it even if some critics didn’t!

Moana 2 Was a Decent Follow-Up to a Modern Classic

Nearly ten years after the popular film Moana, Moana 2 follows the Disney princess on a new adventure: bringing together the diverse communities of her world. She embarks on a journey to locate the island of Motufetu, accompanied by a fresh team and her familiar friend, Maui. Despite receiving a somewhat lower critical reception – a 61% rating on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the original’s 95% – the sequel was a huge commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide ($1,059,242,164).

Originally based on a stage show, the movie’s supporting characters feel a bit underdeveloped. However, the sequel successfully built upon the story’s mythology and continued the personal journeys of Moana and Maui. Combined with some memorable new songs and beautiful animation, it all came together really well.

Deadpool & Wolverine Was a Hilarious Easter Egg Hunt

Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool, is now part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Deadpool & Wolverine, but his original universe was falling apart after Logan (Wolverine) disappeared. Determined to save his friends, Wade embarked on a quest to find another Wolverine. While the movie received a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – slightly lower than previous Deadpool films – it became the highest-grossing film in the series, earning over $1.059 billion worldwide.

Some viewers felt Deadpool & Wolverine relied too heavily on Easter eggs and references to older Marvel films, making it feel unoriginal. But for fans, the movie was a fun tribute to pre-Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films, largely thanks to the great chemistry and heartfelt stories of Deadpool and Wolverine. While their future is uncertain, this sequel was a smart and enjoyable way to bring Hugh Jackman back as Wolverine.

Avatar: The Way of Water Is the Current Highest-Grossing Movie of the 2020s

More than ten years after the huge success of James Cameron’s Avatar, the sequel Avatar: The Way of Water returned audiences to the world of Pandora. The new film features the return of the Resources Development Administration, who are once again trying to colonize the alien planet. This forces Jake Sully and his family to seek help from another Na’vi clan, the Metkayina. Although it didn’t quite reach the same heights as the first Avatar (earning a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), The Way of Water is currently the third highest-grossing film of all time, having earned over $2.3 billion worldwide.

While Avatar was groundbreaking, The Way of Water really pushed boundaries with its stunning visuals, thanks to new technology. Many people believe the incredible imagery alone makes it worth seeing. However, some viewers found the story itself fairly predictable and the movie’s three-hour length too much. Though well-made, it seems most audiences were drawn in by the spectacle rather than the plot.

Inside Out 2 Is Pixar’s Biggest Box Office Success

I was so excited to see Inside Out 2! It was amazing seeing how Riley’s emotions changed as she started going through puberty. It was fun watching Joy, Sadness, and the whole crew try to navigate everything while she was at hockey camp with her friends. Honestly, after a few Pixar movies that didn’t do as well, this one really blew everyone away! It made almost $1.7 billion worldwide, making it Pixar’s biggest hit ever, and critics loved it too – it has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

While not quite as groundbreaking as the original, Inside Out 2 still resonated with viewers thanks to its thoughtful and emotionally aware story. The sequel successfully built upon the world established in the first film, revisiting familiar themes while also allowing the characters to grow. As with all Pixar movies, the animation was top-notch, and the story managed to be both heartwarming and insightful.

Zootopia 2 Was a Sequel Worth Waiting For

Following directly after the events of the first movie, Zootopia 2 saw Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde investigating a new mystery: the surprising absence of reptiles in the city and secrets about Zootopia’s origins. When a snake disrupted a formal event to steal a valuable item, Judy and Nick faced a formidable foe in their search for answers. Similar to Inside Out 2, the sequel didn’t surpass the original’s almost perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it was a huge financial success, earning $1,866,647,950 worldwide.

The core message of Zootopia 2 – embracing differences and challenging our own prejudices – remains powerfully relevant, just like the first Zootopia. The sequel also builds on the original story, answering lingering questions and enriching the world of the franchise. Viewers especially appreciated how the film showed characters navigating challenges, ultimately strengthening their relationship.

Top Gun: Maverick Outdid Its Predecessor in Every Way

In Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise reprised his role as the skilled pilot, but this time he was an instructor training a new group of aviators for a high-risk mission. Among his students was Rooster, whose father was a friend of Maverick’s, and who blamed Maverick for hindering his career. While the original Top Gun received mixed reviews, the sequel was a critical and commercial success, earning a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide.

While the first movie is a classic, Maverick is even better in almost every way. The aerial action is incredible, using a perfect mix of real footage and visual effects to create truly exciting scenes. Plus, the tension between Maverick and Rooster feels earned, building on their past and adding real emotional weight to the film, which balances perfectly with all the thrilling action.

2026-05-10 00:42