10 Highest Grossing Movies of 2024, Ranked

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While the 2020s got to a rocky start when it came to the box office due to the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread closure of theaters, recent years have had the theatrical experience springing back to life with an array of widely acclaimed blockbusters. Many of 2024's premiere blockbusters had large shoes to fill, following the monumental box-office success of films from 2023 such as Barbie, Oppenheimer, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The year managed to not only meet these expectations but reached even higher box office highs than the previous year.

Even outside this selection of the highest-grossing films of the year, many standout box-office successes defined the year on a smaller scale. Between the massive returns for lower-budget horror phenomenons like Terrifier 3 and Longlegs and the occasional box-office disappointments finding new life and success in the streaming era than ever before, 2024 has been a great year for cinematic success and profit. These highest-grossing films stand out among the rest, however, as the most exciting and engaging films that had audiences hooked throughout the year.

10 'Venom: The Last Dance'

Worldwide Box Office: $475.0 Million

While still not nearly as successful as the $1 billion original, there is still a fundamental excitement and love for the character and world of Venom that made Venom: The Last Dance a hit across the world. The film sees the chaotic duo of Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and Venom on the run from both a shadowy government agency looking to take Venom away and a notorious villain responsible for the creation of all symbiotes. In their most dangerous mission yet, Eddie and Venom will have to give their all in hopes of saving the world from absolute destruction.

While the film may have had diminishing returns in the domestic marketplace compared to the previous two entries, this final chapter still held its ground in international markets to make an exceptional box office return. While some may consider the film one of the worst films of 2024, it cannot be denied that this quality didn't stop general audiences around the world and die-hard Venom fans from enjoying the wild blockbuster film.

9 'Yolo'

Worldwide Box Office: $479.5 Million

The only non-American film to make it into the top 10, Yolo is a Chinese sports dramedy about a stay-at-home loner who finds the inspiration to restart her life after a chance encounter with a boxing coach. It acts as a movie of feel-good self-improvement and strength, showing a young woman who had long since given up on her life finding the drive and willpower to succeed and flourish with the help of a kind-hearted friend.

While the film had a minuscule box-office presence outside of China, the film's lucrative Lunar New Year release and crowd-pleasing story made it a smash hit and an immediate box-office phenomenon. The film was easily the most successful of 2024's Spring Festival, continuing to show China's inherent strengths and growing presence at the global scale of box-office dominance. The film has even managed to earn a coveted spot among the top 20 highest-grossing films in Chinese box office history.

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8 'Kung Fu Panda 4'

Worldwide Box Office: $547.6 Million

Helping cement the series among the highest-grossing animated franchises of all time, Kung Fu Panda 4 continues the widespread global appeal and charm that the martial arts animals have had for over 15 years. The film sees Po taking steps towards stepping down as the legendary dragon warrior and becoming the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace, having to choose an apprentice to take his place. At the same time, a nefarious new villain known as the Chameleon has been spreading chaos and disarray by disguising herself as villains from Po's past ventures.

Kung Fu Panda as a franchise has always found a way to strike a chord with audiences around the world, blending over-the-top comedic antics with stylish kung-fu action and an ever-expanding world. Kung Fu Panda 4 continues to ride the coattails not only of the previous entries in the franchise but also the massive hot-streak that Dreamworks has found itself in following films like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Bad Guys.

7 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire'

Worldwide Box Office: $568.7 Million

The modern monsterverse films have found great success in having massive-scale kaiju destruction from these titans facing off against one another, with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire leaning into this cathartic monster mayhem. The film sees both titular kaiju having to team up after their explosive showdown in the previous film, traveling into the depths of the hollow earth to take down a deadly enemy who threatens to upend the entire world.

It's clear to see the increased appeal that The New Empire has held over previous Monsterverse films to make it the highest-grossing of the franchise, taking a step away from generic human characters and increasing the focus on the monsters themselves. The pure catharsis of large-scale monster destruction has proved to connect with audiences across the world, with The New Empire furthering the excitement and enthusiasm for the franchise as a whole while acting as a considerable improvement over previous entries.

6 'Wicked'

Worldwide Box Office: $640.1 Million

The long-awaited adaptation of one of the most famous Broadway shows of all time, Wicked was always going to have a built-in audience, yet its exquisite execution has quickly made it one of the year's biggest cultural phenomenons. Adapting the first half of the Broadway show, the film acts as an origin story for Elphaba and Glinda, who would go on to become the legendary Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, respectively. While widely known in the original Wizard of Oz as enemies, this origin shows how they were initially unexpected friends while attending university together.

Wicked seamlessly translates all the energy and emotional highs of the musical onto the big screen as if it was built from the ground up as a cinematic experience. The top-notch production design, brilliant lead performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and expansive delve into the themes of the original story have made it one of the biggest domestic box office hits. While its international box office success is much less than other films, the exceptional word of mouth domestically has secured it a spot in the year's highest-grossing films.

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5 'Dune: Part Two'

Worldwide Box Office: $707.1 Million

The original Dune was already a massive box-office success in its own right and helped prove the capabilities of Frank Herbert's masterpiece novel as a modern sci-fi epic. Dune: Part Two not only expanded upon the original and fully delivered on all the hype and potential but was a much greater box office success, earning nearly $300 million more than the previous film. Taking place immediately after the previous film, it sees Paul Atreides and his mother navigating a new life among the Fremen as they plan their revenge against the Harkonnens.

Dune: Part Two managed to build and improve upon the already beloved original film in nearly every way, being one of the biggest critical hits of the year and achieving high status as a must-watch blockbuster experience. The film's exceptional visual style and flair made it that much more engrossing and exciting to watch on the biggest screen imaginable, amplified thanks to the masterful directing style of Denis Villeneuve.

4 'Moana 2'

Worldwide Box Office: $896.6 Million

The original Moana has continued to be one of the most watched and beloved films of the streaming era, so it was all but inevitable that this long-awaited sequel would be a massive box-office success. Moana 2 sees the titular hero traveling out into the deep blue sea once again, accompanied by a new team of companions, in hopes of finding and communicating with other societies and tribes out there. While on her adventure, she finds herself reuniting with the demigod Maui and having to face off against a vicious god of storms.

To say that Moana 2 was a gargantuan box-office success is an understatement, as it broke numerous box-office records and continues to rise as one of the biggest hits in both domestic and international box offices. The film perfectly capitalized on its Thanksgiving week release to be the quintessential family experience of the holiday season, cashing in on all of the goodwill and charm that the original film built up for 8 years.

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3 'Despicable Me 4'

Worldwide Box Office: $969.0 Million

While not the highest-grossing film in the franchise, Despicable Me 4 continues the overarching global dominance that Illumination and the minions have had over animated pop culture for 15 years now. The film sees Gru and his family (accompanied by his new baby son) having to leave their home and go into hiding after a dangerous altercation with a nefarious villain from Gru's past. While the culture shock of this new environment proves to be difficult for Gru and his family, this deadly villain is slowly approaching in hopes of revenge against Gru.

Especially after the massive box-office success of Minions: The Rise of Gru and the gentle-minions trend, it would make sense that the next numerical Despicable Me entry after 7 years would find similar success and excitement. The film features the same lighthearted comedy and charm that made the previous entries such notable hits both in theaters and on streaming, with the massive box-office returns for this latest installment showing that this series is far from ending anytime soon.

2 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Worldwide Box Office: $1.338 Billion

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen many misfires and box-office bombs from their more recent, post-Avengers: Endgame outings, Deadpool & Wolverine has proven to be one of their biggest smash hits in years. The ultra-violent third installment of the trilogy sees Deadpool having to travel across the multiverse alongside the brash and aggressive Wolverine to save his home universe from being completely erased. The duo find themselves facing off and meeting various other Marvel icons in their quest for vengeance against the TVA.

Combining the signature writing style and over-the-top violence of the original Deadpool films with the gargantuan scope and scale of the MCU proved to be a match made in heaven that brought out the best in both franchises. The movie works wonders not just as a wild multiversal adventure, but as a glorious sendoff to the 20th Century Fox era of Marvel movies, with all of their legendary highs and infamous lows. The film has proven to be so successful that it is now the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

1 'Inside Out 2'

Worldwide Box Office: $1.698 Billion

While animated sequels are normally much lower in quality compared to the original film, Pixar sequels have always found a way to enchant and delight just as effectively as the original film, with Inside Out 2 continuing the studio's legendary stature. The film follows a now-teenager, Riley having to deal with all the difficulties and emotional pains that come with adolescence, given shape in an array of four new chaotic emotions that seem to only make things worse.

The original Inside Out was already an exceptional coming-of-age story about the acceptance of all emotions, good and bad, and how they make up one's ideals and person, with Inside Out 2 further amplifying both the charm and emotional weight of the original. The film has quickly risen through the ranks to not only be the highest-grossing Pixar movie of all time but has also become the overall highest-grossing animated film of all time. Between the success of both Inside Out 2 and Moana 2, it's easy to see these animated sequels as the future for Disney's success at the box office.

NEXT: The 25 Biggest Box Office Flops of the 2020s (So Far)