Blockbuster Movies: Best Picture Oscar Nominees Crossing $1 Billion Box Office Revenue
Exploring the debate on whether blockbuster films should be recognized with prestigious Oscars nominations, especially those that achieve massive box office success.
Not every movie that wins big at The Academy Awards is a hit with audiences, with just a few of the movies that earned over $1 billion ever getting nominated. The Academy Awards highlight some of the biggest and best films ever made, with the Best Picture award specifically designed for this purpose. Since the awards began nearly 100 years ago, hundreds of movies have been nominated to win the category, with many all-time great movies and classics receiving recognition through the awards.
However, 53 movies have made more than $1 billion at the box office, which is a clear indication that they found favor with general audiences and had many moviegoers returning to watch films multiple times. Despite this, of the 53 films to earn this tremendous level of recognition, only nine of those films have been nominated for a chance at winning Best Picture. And of those nine nominees, just two of those films won the category. Indicating that Hollywood critics and the public clearly have some differences in taste when it comes to what makes a good movie.
Titanic (1997)
Box Office Total: $2,223,048,786
Jack and Rose Staring into Each Other's Eyes Lovingly in Titanic - Box Office Total: $2,223,048,786 - Titanic (1997)
James Cameron's Titanic not only elevated his career from a respected director to one of the all-time greats, but also made history by being the first movie to surpass $1 billion in earnings upon its initial release. The film received numerous accolades, including 11 Oscars, with the prestigious Best Picture award among them. This success set a trend for Cameron, as he continued to produce blockbuster hits and receive nominations for Best Picture, solidifying his status as a powerhouse in the film industry.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
Box Office Total: $1,121,386,981
Aragorn releasing the ghost army in Lord of the Rings Return of the King - Box Office Total: $1,121,386,981 - The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
Six years later, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King achieved the remarkable feat of earning over $1 billion at the box office and winning the prestigious Best Picture award. This concluding chapter in the LotR trilogy marked the closure of the franchise and became a cultural phenomenon. All three films in the trilogy were released consecutively, with each one receiving nominations for the award. However, it was The Return of the King that made history by surpassing the $1 billion mark and securing the win.
Movie Title | Total Global Box Office |
|---|---|
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings | $891,210,039 |
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | $919,148,764 |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | $1,121,386,981 |
Avatar (2009)
Box Office Total: $2,923,706,026
Sam Worthington as Jake Sully wearing an Exopack in Avatar - Box Office Total: $2,923,706,026 - Avatar (2009)
In 2010, Toy Story 3 was released and became a major success. However, after the previous two entries, none of the other titles have managed to snag the win, with each one losing out to other nominees, all of which were less financially successful. In 2010, James Cameron once again managed to make another milestone in film history with the first movie to earn more than $2 billion at the box office, Avatar. The epic film managed to excel both domestically and with audiences around the globe, making it the highest-earning film in cinema, and thanks to a short re-release which brought that total even higher, it remains so to this day.
Box Office Total: $1,068,879,522
Woody being made to wave goodbye by Andy in Toy Story 3 - Box Office Total: $1,068,879,522 - Toy Story 3 (2010)
Toy Story 3 was a massive success at the box office, attracting a wide range of audiences including families, young adults who grew up with the franchise, and children. The film's popularity translated into over $1 billion in global box office revenue and a nomination for Best Picture, showcasing its compelling storytelling. Its nomination in the main category was particularly noteworthy as the Oscars had introduced a separate category for Best Animated Picture. Ultimately, Toy Story 3 did not win Best Motion Picture but did secure the victory for Best Animated Picture.
Movie Title | Total Global Box Office |
|---|---|
Toy Story | $365,270,951 |
Toy Story 2 | $511,358,276 |
Toy Story 3 | $1,068,879,522 |
Toy Story 4 | $1,072,817,964 |
Black Panther (2018)
Box Office Total: $1,336,494,320
Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa in Black Panther 2018 - Box Office Total: $1,336,494,320 - Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther made history as the only MCU movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Despite paving the way for mega hits like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, which were released during the peak of the studio's success, they did not receive the same recognition. This showcases a disparity between the most commercially successful films and those deemed worthy of prestigious awards like the Oscars.
Joker (2019)
Box Office Total: $1,064,085,246
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck smiles at the cheering mob in Joker - Box Office Total: $1,064,085,246 - Joker (2019)
Joker, a remarkable film within the superhero genre, was met with overwhelming success and acclaim upon its debut. Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of the main character, coupled with Todd Phillips' direction and attention to detail, solidify Joker as a cinematic gem. This movie defies the conventions of typical hero films by showcasing a raw and gritty realism often missing in the genre's more vibrant and fantastical offerings. Offering a fresh take on the origin story of the iconic DC Comics villain, Joker not only raked in substantial earnings at the box office but also secured two Oscars and a nomination for Best Picture.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Box Office Total: $1,468,499,044
Top Gun Mach 10 - Box Office Total: $1,468,499,044 - Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick also capitalized on the power of nostalgia. With the original film released in 1986, the nearly 40-year gap between installments resonated with multiple generations who held a special connection to the franchise. This anticipation led to a massive success at the box office and even garnered critical acclaim, receiving a nomination for Best Picture. The film secured six nominations in total and clinched a victory for Best Sound, solidifying its status as a monumental achievement.
Movie Title | Total Global Box Office |
|---|---|
Top Gun | $357,463,748 |
Top Gun: Maverick | $1,468,499,044 |
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Box Office Total: $2,317,514,386
Jake Sully holds a gun while standing on the back of a skimwing in Avatar The Way of Water - Box Office Total: $2,317,514,386 - Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Barbie (2023)
Cameron returns once again with another entry on this list, Avatar: The Way of Water. The long-awaited sequel became the first movie after COVID to earn $2 billion at the box office, showing its ability to bring audiences back to theaters. In addition, it became the second-fastest movie to cross the $2 billion box office figure, after Avengers: Endgame, just 39 days after its release (via Business Insider). The Way of Water had a noticeable drop in earnings from the prequel, but it did manage to win an Oscar for Best Visual Effects and get nominated for Best Picture.
Box Office Total: $1,435,510,498
Barbie Sings in the car while Ken Screams in the back seat in the Barbie Movie. - Box Office Total: $1,435,510,498 - Barbie (2023)
Greta Gerwig secures a spot on this list for her remarkable work on the film Barbie. The film benefited from an impressive marketing campaign and the viral sensation of Barbenheimer, which generated significant buzz. Despite facing tough competition, Barbie emerged as the clear favorite among audiences at the box office. Despite receiving only 8 Oscar nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards and overlooking Margot Robbie and Gerwig, Barbie remains a standout film that sparked conversations and drew crowds to theaters.
All Box Office figures mentioned in this article can be found on The Numbers.
Editor's P/S:
This article highlights a fascinating disconnect between the preferences of audiences and Hollywood critics when it comes to selecting the best movies. Despite the immense popularity of films that have earned over $1 billion at the box office, only a small number have been nominated for Best Picture. This discrepancy suggests that there may be a fundamental difference in the criteria used to judge a film's artistic merit versus its commercial success.
The article also showcases the remarkable achievements of James Cameron and Peter Jackson, both of whom have had multiple films on this exclusive list. Their ability to create visually stunning and emotionally resonant films has earned them both critical and commercial success, solidifying their status as legendary filmmakers.
