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What Are The Highest Grossing Movie Sequels? On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, we investigate what makes a successful sequel and what are the highest grossing movie sequels ever made?
Sequels are a curious beast. They can be eagerly anticipated triumphs or disappointing cash grabs. What separates the cinematic gold from the box office duds? Is it the allure of familiar characters, the promise of expanded worlds, or something more? Let’s dive into the world of sequels and explore what makes them box office hits. We’ll also uncover the highest-grossing sequels of all time to see if they hold the key to cinematic success.
Get ready to revisit your favorite franchises and discover the secrets behind their enduring appeal.
The experts at RANT Casino have analysed some of the most notable movie sequels in film history and ranked them based on how much profit the title made.
| Rank | Film | Profit (GBP) |
| 1 | Avengers: Endgame (2019) | £1,954,751,280 |
| 2 | Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) | £1,576,200,225 |
| 3 | Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens (2015) | £1,461,048,174 |
| 4 | Avengers: Infinity War (2018) | £1,385,132,031 |
| 5 | Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) | £1,377,477,689 |
| 6 | Top Gun: Maverick (2022) | £1,060,557,034 |
| 7 | Furious 7 (2015) | £1,060,273,966 |
| 8 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011) | £985,569,769 |
| 9 | Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) | £924,014,438 |
| 10 | Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) | £912,375,230 |
Topping the charts as the most profitable sequel of all time is Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, raking in a staggering £1.9 billion. Released in 2019, this epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga capitalized on the immense popularity of its predecessor, Avengers: Infinity War.
The sequel’s success can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the cliffhanger ending of Infinity War left audiences craving answers and eager to see how the story would unfold. Secondly, the film masterfully brought together a beloved ensemble cast, delivering a satisfying conclusion to their interconnected narratives. Finally, the perfect blend of action, humor, and emotional depth resonated with audiences worldwide, solidifying its status as a cinematic phenomenon.
Avengers: Endgame not only exceeded expectations but also surpassed its predecessor’s box office performance by nearly £600 million, demonstrating the power of a well-executed sequel.
Claiming the second spot on the podium of highest-grossing sequels is James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, amassing a staggering £1.6 billion in profits. The sequel to the groundbreaking original, which still holds the title of highest-grossing film of all time with over £2 billion, faced immense expectations.
Cameron’s ability to create a visually stunning and immersive world, coupled with the enduring appeal of Pandora’s alien landscapes, proved to be a winning formula once again. The film expanded on the original story, introducing new characters and deepening the connection between humans and the Na’vi people. While the production costs were astronomical, the box office returns solidified Avatar: The Way of Water as another cinematic triumph for Cameron.
The success of these two sequels highlights the importance of world-building, character development, and visual spectacle in creating enduring franchises.
Securing the third spot on the podium of highest-grossing sequels is the iconic Star Wars: The Force Awakens, amassing a staggering £1.4 billion in profits. Rebooting a beloved franchise with such a dedicated fanbase is a daunting task, yet J.J. Abrams masterfully managed to capture the essence of the original trilogy while introducing a new generation of heroes.
The Force Awakens struck a perfect balance between nostalgia and innovation. By reintroducing iconic characters like Han Solo and Chewbacca while introducing fresh faces like Rey and Finn, the film successfully appealed to both longtime fans and new audiences. The film’s ability to reignite the magic of the Star Wars universe, combined with its thrilling action sequences and emotional storytelling, propelled it to box office stardom.
The sequel’s immense success is a testament to the enduring power of the Star Wars franchise and the skill of its creators in delivering a film that exceeded expectations.
Claiming the fourth spot on the list of highest-grossing sequels is Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War. This epic crossover event generated a staggering £1.3 billion in profits, solidifying the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s dominance at the box office. Remarkably, when combined with its successor, Avengers: Endgame, the Infinity Saga collectively amassed over £3.2 billion, a testament to the franchise’s unparalleled success.
Infinity War was a pivotal moment in the MCU, bringing together a vast array of beloved characters for an unprecedented showdown. Its cliffhanger ending, leaving fans on the edge of their seats, contributed significantly to its box office triumph. The film’s perfect blend of action, humor, and emotional stakes captivated audiences worldwide, making it a cultural phenomenon.
The enduring popularity of the Avengers franchise is a testament to Marvel’s ability to create interconnected stories and beloved characters. With several new projects in the pipeline, the MCU shows no signs of slowing down, and it’s entirely possible that future Avengers films will continue to dominate the box office and solidify the franchise’s legacy.
Rounding out the top five highest-grossing sequels is Spider-Man: No Way Home, which amassed an impressive £1.3 billion at the box office. This installment of the Spider-Man franchise capitalized on the immense anticipation generated by early rumors of a multiverse crossover, featuring multiple Spider-Man actors.
By delivering on this fan-driven expectation, the film tapped into a deep well of nostalgia and excitement. The unprecedented reunion of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland on the big screen created a cultural phenomenon, driving ticket sales and solidifying the film’s place in cinematic history.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is a prime example of how fan engagement and clever marketing can contribute to a film’s box office success.
1. RANT Casino sought to find out the most profitable movie sequels of all-time.
2. Utilising Mental Floss, Daily Mail, and Digital Trend, a seed list of the most notable movie sequels was collected.
3. Each movie was researched via IMDb to obtain both the estimated movie budget, in addition to the gross earnings worldwide at the box office.
4. The movie budget was then subtracted from the global box office earnings to generate the estimated profit of each movie.
5. Each movie was then ranked from highest to lowest profit.
6. Data collected 09/05/24 and is correct as of then.
Full dataset can be found – here
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