It is hard to ignore the toll that the box office took in the year 2020, as theaters shut down and in-home streaming took precedence due to safety concerns related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In a 2021 analysis, the global box office dropped by 72%, as outlined by Box Office Pro. However, despite the hit the box office took, the 2020s have produced some high quality content across genres.
The slow return to theaters in 2021 was sparked by films like Halloween Kills, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Despite the decade's youth, here are some of the highest grossing films of the 2020s, so far.
7 Sonic the Hedgehog — $319.7M
Sonic the Hedgehog received a Valentine's Day release in February 2020. The film was based on the beloved 90s video game by the same name, and grossed over $148.9 million in the United States, and over $319 million globally. The film features the beloved Hedgehog, who is voiced by Ben Schwartz, and his journey with a small town police officer, Tom (played by James Marsden). The two team up to defeat an evil genius, played by Jim Carrey. The series is already set to add another film to the franchise, making the video game inspired film a threequel.
6 The Batman — $770.8M
The Batman was one of the most anticipated spring releases in 2022, and Robert Pattinson's rendition reimagines the character in more ways than one. The film kicked off the year's top grossing films, surpassing 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home. The Batman finds itself with an origin story already unmasked, opening as the hero is already established. The fun of The Batman, is learning the character who now has a different tone as well as Gotham.
5 No Time to Die — $774M
Although No Time to Die is the seventh highest grossing film of 2021, earning over $160 million in box office sales domestically, this installment is important to note regarding the future of the James Bond franchise. Daniel Craig took on the role of the infamous spy in 2006's Casino Royale. No Time to Die is the 25th Bond movie to be made, and officially marked the 50th anniversary for James Bond films. This release may be the last time audiences ever see Craig as Bond, but according to Screen Rant, No Time to Die most certainly will not be the last time we meet Mr. Bond.
4 Jumanji: The Next Level — $800M
Although Jumanji: The Next Level was a holiday release in 2019, the box office numbers are recorded for both 2019 and 2020. Overall, the film grossed just over $320 million in the United States alone and earning a little over $800 million worldwide, nearly doubling the first film's earnings. With any remake, it is hard to appease everyone, and there is often a fear of stepping on the toes of the original. However, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle tactfully touched on the Robin William's classic and the sequel was easily welcomed. The entire cast returned to reprise the roles of their avatars, as well as Alex Wolff who plays Spencer Gilpin, the series' main protagonist. After Spencer re-enters the game world of Jumanji, his friends must step in to bring him back out. However, there is a malfunction in the game and the plan does not go accordingly.
3 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — $954.3M
When it comes to body horror, there is no director who masters the craft like Sam Raimi, making him the perfect fit for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Almost instantly, the horror-infused superhero film climbed over competitors in the box office, grossing over $411 million in domestic earnings and under $1 billion worldwide. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was also released on Disney+, but the streaming service didn't stifle ticket sales. The film currently sits at the second highest-grossing film of 2022 thus far, and according to TIME is the 11th highest-grossing Marvel movie of all time.
2 Top Gun: Maverick — $1.24B
Top Gun was released in 1986 and earned $357.3 million at the box office. The film focused on fighter pilot, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his goal of being the top fighter pilot in his class all while winning the affections of his flight instructor. Over 35 years later, Cruise reprised his role in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick. Maverick, now a seasoned pilot, finds himself training flight school graduates for a special assignment. Top Gun: Maverick is currently ranked the number one, highest-grossing movie of 2022, earning over $622 million in domestic box office sales and $1.24 billion worldwide. Not only has the film surpassed Marvel's Doctor Strange, but has flown past Titanic, becoming Paramount's highest-grossing domestic movie ever.
1 Spider-Man: No Way Home — $1.9B
In the third installment to the Spider-Man Franchise starring Tom Holland, Spider-Man's identity is revealed and Peter must navigate what it now means to be his alter-ego. Peter seeks the help of Doctor Stranger, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and an all new madness is unlocked. Spider-Man: No Way Home grossed over $1.9 billion in box office sales, ranking it the top grossing movie of 2021. The film is packed with action and familiar faces from past Spider-Man franchises, hosting the return of both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. The ending of No Way Home suggests that Peter has been forgotten by not only those who knew him personally, but the entire state of New York, leaving the door open for anything to happen in the MCU. However, it is not goodbye to Spidey forever as there are already preliminary talks of a fourth film with Holland returning.