While there’s a tendency for critics and moviegoing audiences to mentally separate big-budget blockbusters from the kind of movies associated with the Oscars, they’re often not so different. Not only are ‘blockbusters’ like Black Panther and Joker occasionally honored at the Academy Awards, but the increased public profile they afford their nominees often result in hugely inflated interest at the box office.
2020’s Best Picture winner Parasite is a perfect example of this, taking the world by storm after it took home multiple statues at the ceremony. With that in mind, here are the ten highest-grossing best picture winners of all time.
10 Green Book (2018) - $328.6 Million
Criticized by many for its twee, saccharine look at race relations in the 1960s, Green Book’s Best Picture win was something of an upset at the 91st Academy Awards, beating out the likes of BlacKkKlansman, The Favourite and Roma at the ceremony.
Nevertheless, it clearly struck a chord with the Academy – as well as audiences in general – earning itself an impressive 8.2 on IMDb and 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, while raking in $328.6 million worldwide.
9 Rain Man (1988) - $354.8 Million
Considering it was released back in 1988, Rain Man’s incredible performance at the box office is a feat made even more impressive given that its $354.8 million gross doesn’t even account for inflation.
Telling the story of two estranged brothers who come together in the wake of their father’s death, Barry Levinson’s classic comedy-drama has since achieved iconic status, with its central performances from Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman standing out as the movie’s highlight.
8 American Beauty (1999) – $356.3 Million
Marking one of the most impressive directorial debuts of all time – both critically and financially – 1999’s American Beauty was the first film from Sam Mendes, who’d go on to direct modern classics Skyfall and 1917.
Pairing a smart, layered script with gorgeous cinematography and striking visuals, Kevin Spacey’s Oscar-winning performance serves as the centerpiece of American Beauty, which explores themes of identity, sexuality, frustration, repression, and the meaning of beauty in poignant fashion. The movie clearly struck a chord with audiences, too, grossing over $350 million worldwide.
7 Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - $377.9 Million
Something of a phenomenon when it released back in 2008, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire chronicles the tragic life of a poverty-stricken Indian boy, Jamal, and explores how he came to be a winning contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
With a star-making lead performance from Dev Patel, as well as a memorable soundtrack and a tremendous script, Slumdog Millionaire received a staggering eight Academy Awards, and was an unexpected box office hit, grossing almost $380 million worldwide.
6 The King’s Speech (2010) – $424 Million
One of the most highly acclaimed Best Picture winners of the past ten years, The King’s Speech earned an impressive twelve Oscar nominations at the 83rd Academy Awards.
Telling the story of King George VI’s struggle to overcome his stammer with the help of a vocal coach, The King’s Speech’s tight script, attention to detail and triumphant performances were among the very best of the year, resulting in one of the most memorable – and profitable – Best Picture winners in a long time.
5 Dances With Wolves (1990) - $424.2 Million
The directorial debut of actor Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolves sees Costner’s Lt. John J. Dunbar befriend a tribe of Sioux after he’s posted in the remote Fort Sedgwick, bringing him into conflict with his fellow officers.
With an impressive seven Oscar wins under its belt, Dances with Wolves far surpassed its predicted popularity, grossing $424.2 million worldwide and becoming instantly iconic in the process. In addition to its touching story and great performances, the movie’s beautiful score and stunning cinematography were praised by critics.
4 Gladiator (2000) - $460.5 Million
Arguably the definitive – and best – sword-and-sandals movie ever made, Ridley Scott’s epic masterpiece Gladiator follows Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe, who’s betrayed by the cruel Emperor Commodus, who usurps his own father as the ruler of Rome.
Refusing to kneel to Commodus, Maximus’ family is killed, and he’s soon sold into slavery – where he rises in the ranks as a fierce, vengeful gladiator. Earning just shy of half a billion dollars at the box office, as well as five Academy Awards, Gladiator is undoubtedly a modern classic.
3 Forrest Gump (1994) - $678.2 Million
Famously beating out all-time greats Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption for Best Picture at the 1995 Academy Awards, the infinitely quotable Forrest Gump rubbed salt in the wound by eclipsing both pictures at the box office – earning more than double what the other two made combined.
The movie follows the life of its titular character, whose good nature and unwavering optimism has a tremendous ripple effect on some of the 20th Century’s most important historical events.
2 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003) - $1.12 Billion
The culminating chapter of what’s quite possibly the greatest movie trilogy ever made, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was rewarded for the entire series’ accomplishments at the 76th Academy Awards, where it took home a record-breaking eleven statues in every category for which it was nominated.
With the fantasy genre typically being snubbed by the Academy, The Return of the King’s victory was truly ground-breaking, and the entire series has since become one of the most popular franchises of all time – with its final chapter alone grossing an incredible $1.12 billion at the box office.
1 Titanic (1997) - $2.187 Billion
The classic period tearjerker from box office magnet James Cameron, Titanic’s insane $2.187 billion gross at the box office was admittedly boosted by the film’s 2012 3D re-release, which honored the 100th anniversary of the real-life tragedy.
Even without this however, Titanic was still a box office juggernaut when it released back in 1997, tying with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Ben-Hur for the greatest number of Oscars ever won, at eleven.
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