With 2024’s Deadpool and Wolverine steamrolling all tracking estimates, it tallied the sixth highest opening weekend gross of all time and took the number one spot for R-rated movies by earning $211 million in the US and Canada. With this record breaking release in mind, here are the top 10 highest grossing opening weekends of all time, adjusted for inflation.
1. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $357,115,007
Adjusted Gross: $438,707,930
Setting a record weekend gross by $100 million, Avengers: Endgame was a massive cultural event in 2019. The film took over the world, earning $2.8 billion worldwide, and $858 million domestically. It sits at second place in both categories trailing Avatar, and The Force Awakens, respectively. It incredibly made $1 billion worldwide in just five days, and hit the $2 billion mark in an astonishing eleven days.
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $247,966,675
Adjusted Gross: $329,261,926
Similarly, the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was an extremely highly anticipated cultural event, drawing the excitement of millions of people across the country. Starring Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, the film totaled $937 million domestically and just managed to reach the $2 billion mark worldwide. The movie held the record for highest opening day gross with $119 million domestically, until Avengers: Endgame came out four years later. It is also interestingly the most expensive film ever made with an enormous $447 million budget.
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $257,698,183
Adjusted Gross: $323,034,525
Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War brought in $257 million in its opening weekend on its way to a $2.052 billion worldwide gross. Upon release, this blockbuster was the highest grossing MCU film, and was the fourth highest grossing film of all time. At the time, it was the quickest movie to hit the $1 billion threshold, doing so in just eleven days. It also set the record for highest opening IMAX weekend at $23.3 million domestically.
4. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $260,138,569
Adjusted Gross: $293,044,742
Spiderman: No Way Home brought back the beloved previous faces and villains of the Spiderman franchise, generating buzz from an immensely wide-ranging audience and breaking pre-sale records. This film is the most recent addition to this list, and finished its run at $1.9 billion globally. The film earned $122 million dollars on its opening day, and is the highest grossing opening for a December release.
5. The Avengers (2012)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $207,438,708
Adjusted Gross: $283,489,187
As the first film to hit the $200 million mark on opening weekend, The Avengers became the third highest grossing film of all time after its theatrical run. It earned just over $1.5 billion worldwide, and $623 million domestically. This film set up all the later Avengers’ films, starting the MCU’s run as the most successful film franchise of all time.
6. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $220,009,584
Adjusted Gross: 280,289,911
Despite its mixed reactions, Star Wars: The Last Jedi currently holds the fifth highest opening weekend gross of all time. It finished with $620 million domestically and $1.3 billion globally, placing it as the nineteenth highest grossing film of all time. It is still one of the most talked about events in Star Wars history due to its portrayal of some of the original characters and storylines.
7. Jurassic World (2015)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $208,806,270
Adjusted Gross: $274,807,769
Universal’s Jurassic World capitalized on the summer market and reached $1 billion in just 13 days in 2015, totalling $1.67 billion worldwide. It held the opening weekend record before The Force Awakens’ release in the same year. The movie was extremely successful in both IMAX and 3D screenings with its innovative visual effects, and breathtaking action. It held on for an impressive $106 million second weekend with mostly positive audience reception.
8. Black Panther (2018)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $202,003,951
Adjusted Gross: $254,801,093
Released in 2018, Black Panther grossed a domestic total of over $200 million in its opening weekend, $700 million through its domestic theatrical release, and $1.3 billion worldwide. The film received immense critical acclaim for a blockbuster, and it was the first superhero film to be nominated for “Best Picture” at the Academy Awards. The financial success of Black Panther confirmed the viability for Marvel to tell more diverse stories.
9. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $191,271,109
Adjusted Gross: $252,611,703
Having the second highest opening weekend gross upon release, Avengers: Age of Ultron went on to gross $1.4 billion worldwide back in 2015. It proved to be a successful risk with a huge $365 million budget, due to its star studded cast, and filming in multiple locations around the world.
10. Lion King (2019)
Original Opening Weekend Gross: $191,770,759
Adjusted Gross: 234,746,914
Disney’s “live action” Lion King is a computer animated photorealistic remake of their 1994 classic. It earned $540 million domestically and was extremely successful internationally, totaling $1.65 billion globally. The film featured a stacked cast and crew, and was a massive success for its imaginative animation.
