Top 10 Blockbuster Films Dominating the 2023 Box Office
The Highest-Grossing Movies of 2023: A Box Office Recap
As 2023 draws to a close, let’s reflect on the cinematic triumphs of the year. Dominated by powerhouse studios like Disney, Marvel, and notable franchises such as Mario and Barbie, the box office witnessed remarkable performances. A particularly memorable moment occurred in July when the distinct films Barbie and Oppenheimer were released on the same day, giving rise to the viral “Barbenheimer” phenomenon.
Both movies exceeded expectations, with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie projected to conclude 2023 as the highest-grossing film globally, surpassing $1.4 billion. Oppenheimer also achieved significant success, amassing over $950 million in box office earnings, making it director Christopher Nolan’s highest-grossing non-Batman film to date.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released in April, made a substantial impact, crossing the $1 billion mark. This achievement not only solidifies its status as the highest-grossing video game movie by a considerable margin but also raises the prospect of Hollywood exploring more video game properties (Nintendo’s collaboration with Sony for a live-action Zelda movie being a notable example).
In a noteworthy deviation, 2023 marked the first year since 2014 that Disney did not produce a billion-dollar movie. Although not achieving the same milestone, Disney still had a monumental year, with films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Little Mermaid, Elemental, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania collectively grossing over $2.5 billion worldwide.
Continue reading to discover the top 10 highest-grossing movies of 2023 at the global box office. For a comprehensive overview, also explore GameSpot’s analysis of the top 10 biggest box office disappointments of the year. All box office figures have been sourced from BoxOfficeMojo.com.
10. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
9. Elemental
Global Box Office: $495.9 Million
Another addition to Disney’s lineup, Elemental, produced by the renowned animation studio Pixar, made its debut in June. Despite being considered a commercial disappointment by some, the film still garnered nearly $500 million worldwide, securing a position in the top 10 for 2023. Depicting the tale of anthropomorphic elements of nature, the movie experienced renewed attention upon its release on Disney+ later in the year.
8. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Global Box Office: $567.5 Million
Tom Cruise’s movies are a reliable source of significant box office earnings, and this held true for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. While it may not have surpassed Cruise’s highest-grossing films, it still raked in over $500 million worldwide. The scheduled sequel is poised for release in 2025.
7. The Little Mermaid
Global Box Office: $569.6 Million
Disney’s recent live-action adaptation, The Little Mermaid, featuring Halley Bailey, may not have outperformed some of Disney’s earlier remakes like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Nevertheless, with a global box office earnings exceeding $550 million, reaching $569.6 million, the film stands as a testament to the immense popularity of Disney’s cinematic offerings overall.
6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Global Box Office: $690.5 Million
Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse secured the sixth position for the year with a global box office collection exceeding $690 million. The film, uniting various iterations of Spider-Man, received high critical acclaim. Its distinctive and visually captivating art style garnered appreciation and commentary from many viewers.
5. Fast X
Global Box Office: $704.7 Million
Death. Taxes. And the Fast and Furious franchise consistently raking in substantial revenue. These are reliable bets, and Fast X adhered to the tradition. The tenth installment in the main series amassed over $700 million worldwide, securing the fifth spot for the year. The enduring appeal of watching Vin Diesel speed through in fast cars remains a captivating spectacle for audiences.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Global Box Office: $845.5 Million
Disney’s standout success in 2023 came with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, earning nearly $850 million. This installment concluded the existing Guardians saga and also served as the final Guardians movie helmed by writer-director James Gunn, who has since taken charge of DC’s movie studio. As noted, Disney’s streak of having at least one movie surpass $1 billion concluded in 2023, with Vol. 3 coming closest to reaching that milestone during the year.
3. Oppenheimer
Global Box Office: $950.5 Million
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer will conclude 2023 as the third highest-grossing movie of the year and the director’s most successful non-Batman film to date. Depicting the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb, the movie features Cillian Murphy in the lead role, delivering one of his standout performances.
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Global Box Office: $1.361 Billion
Nintendo’s history with Mario movies hadn’t been stellar until this year, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie changed that narrative. Surpassing $1.361 billion, the film initially seemed poised to claim the title of the highest-grossing movie of 2023 (until Barbie entered the scene). Notably, it stands as the highest-grossing video game film of all time by a significant margin. The success of this venture may serve as inspiration for other studios to intensify their efforts in adapting video games for the silver screen. Anticipating a sequel, Nintendo and Universal are already in the works, and Nintendo has additionally announced a collaboration with Sony for a live-action Legend of Zelda movie.
1. Barbie
Global Box Office: $1.441 Billion
Directed by Greta Gerwig, the Barbie movie features Margot Robbie as a Barbie doll grappling with existential thoughts and experiencing a breakthrough. The film soared to a staggering $1.44 billion at the box office, sparking numerous memes—a significant cultural impact in 2023. Ryan Gosling co-starred as Ken, undertaking his own emotional and spiritual journey within the narrative. Despite Barbie’s colossal success, Robbie, who served as a producer, has indicated that fans should not anticipate a sequel.
