Overview of the events of the 2020s in film
The decade of the 2020s in film directly dealt with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema . This witnessed a profound transformation in how movies are produced, distributed, and consumed globally. The pandemic led to widespread theater closures, delays in releases, and a rapid acceleration in the shift towards streaming services as a primary means of distribution.
Highest-grossing films [ edit ]
† Indicates films playing in theatres in the week commencing 22 November 2024.
List of worldwide highest-grossing films
Rank
Title
Distributor(s)
Worldwide gross
Year
Ref.
1
Avatar: The Way of Water
20th Century
$2,320,250,281
2022
[ 1]
2
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Sony
$1,912,233,593
2021
[ 2]
3
Inside Out 2 †
Disney
$1,690,685,517
2024
[ 3]
4
Top Gun: Maverick
Paramount
$1,495,696,292
2022
[ 4]
5
Barbie
Warner Bros.
$1,445,638,421
2023
[ 5]
6
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Universal
$1,362,027,222
2023
[ 6]
7
Deadpool & Wolverine †
Disney
$1,316,684,625
2024
[ 7]
8
Jurassic World: Dominion
Universal
$1,003,700,604
2022
[ 8]
9
Oppenheimer
Universal
$970,506,816
2023
[ 9]
10
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Disney
$955,775,805
2022
[ 10]
11
Despicable Me 4 †
Universal
$948,141,000
2024
[ 11]
12
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Universal
$939,628,210
2022
[ 12]
13
The Battle at Lake Changjin
Huaxia Film Distribution
$902,540,935
2021
[ 13]
14
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Disney
$859,208,836
2022
[ 14]
15
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Disney
$845,555,777
2023
[ 15]
16
Hi, Mom
Lian Ray Pictures
$841,674,419
2021
[ 16]
17
No Time to Die
MGM / Universal
$774,153,007
2021
[ 17]
18
The Batman
Warner Bros.
$770,962,583
2022
[ 18]
19
Thor: Love and Thunder
Disney
$760,928,081
2022
[ 19]
20
F9
Universal
$726,229,501
2021
[ 20]
21
Fast X
$714,566,116
2023
[ 21]
22
Dune: Part Two
Warner Bros.
$711,844,358
2024
[ 22]
23
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Sony
$690,615,475
2023
[ 23]
24
Detective Chinatown 3
Wanda Pictures
$686,257,563
2021
[ 24]
25
Full River Red
Beijing Joyful Premiere Culture
$634,631,282
2023
[ 25]
26
Wonka
Warner Bros.
$632,302,312
2023
[ 26]
27
The Battle at Lake Changjin II
Huaxia Film Distribution
$626,571,697
2022
[ 27]
28
The Wandering Earth 2
China Film Group Corporation
$604,460,538
2023
[ 28]
29
The Little Mermaid
Disney
$569,626,289
2023
[ 29]
30
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Warner Bros. / Toho
$567,650,016
2024
[ 30]
31
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Paramount
$567,535,383
2023
[ 31]
32
Kung Fu Panda 4
Universal
$546,062,086
2024
[ 32]
33
No More Bets
Mega Films Distribution
$528,487,347
2023
[ 33]
34
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Sony
$506,863,592
2021
[ 34]
35
Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
Toho / Aniplex
$504,311,383
2020
[ 35]
36
Elemental
Disney
$495,851,987
2023
[ 36]
37
Lost in the Stars
One Pictures (Beijing)
$486,153,324
2023
[ 37]
38
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Universal
$484,675,943
2022
[ 38]
39
The Eight Hundred
CMC Pictures Holdings
$484,210,000
2020
[ 39]
40
YOLO
China Film Group Corporation
$480,589,313
2024
[ 40]
41
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Disney
$476,071,180
2023
[ 41]
42
Godzilla vs. Kong
Warner Bros. / Toho
$470,116,094
2021
[ 42]
43
Pegasus 2
China Film Group Corporation
$469,580,995
2024
[ 43]
44
Moon Man
Mahua FunAge
$460,303,199
2022
[ 44]
45
John Wick: Chapter 4
Lionsgate
$440,146,694
2023
[ 45]
46
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Paramount
$438,966,392
2023
[ 46]
47
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Warner Bros.
$434,381,226
2023
[ 47]
48
My People, My Homeland
China Lion Film Distribution
$433,241,288
2020
[ 48]
49
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Disney
$432,243,292
2021
[ 49]
50
Bad Boys for Life
Sony
$426,505,244
2020
[ 50]
Highest-grossing film per year [ edit ]
The beginning of the decade marked the first time ever in history that a non-Hollywood production topped the annual global box office.
Year
Title
Studio(s)
Worldwide Gross
2020
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train
Toho / Aniplex
$507,127,293
2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Sony
$1,912,233,593
2022
Avatar: The Way of Water
20th Century
$2,320,250,281
2023
Barbie
Warner Bros.
$1,445,638,421
2024
Inside Out 2
Disney
$1,690,685,517
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