2022 has turned out be one of the best year for movies in a while especially after the terrible pandemic. A lot of films came out this year and more importantly good movies. I’ve already made my list of Best films of the year and the worst. This is me talking about the biggest financial successes of the year regardless of their quality. So, without further ado lets see which films made the most money this year. There are some surprises definitely on the list, as all of these are not big budget-studio movies.
20) Smile
Worldwide Gross: $216,135,048
- Reported Budget: $17 Million
- Domestic Gross: $105 Million (49.0%)
This has to be Parker Finn’s best work yet and definitely one of the best films of the year.
19) Too Cool to Kill
Worldwide Gross: $217,254,604
- Reported Budget: $24 Million
- Domestic Gross: $185,882 (<0.1%)
The Chinese Action comedy comes on this list despite having a small release but due to its phenomenal performance on the Chinese box office it is the 19th highest grossing film of 2022.
18) Lightyear
Worldwide Gross: $226,425,420
- Reported Budget: $200,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $118,307,188 (52.2%)
Let just get this out of the way, this is not like the other Pixar movies that set the world on fire but still the Chris Evans-starring Lightyear has made a pretty solid buck, the movie is also the 15th biggest Pixar film of all time.
17) Bullet Train
Worldwide Gross: $239,268,602
- Reported Budget: $85,900,000
- Domestic Gross: $103,368,602 (43.2%)
Director David Leitch brought us a really fun ride this year with Bullet Train which starred Brad Pitt in the lead role. Despite mixed reviews and a convoluted screenplay, the film worked and made it on this list.
16) The Bad Guys
Worldwide Gross: $250,162,278
- Reported Budget: $70,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $97,233,630 (38.9%)
This was a star-studded animated film from Dreamworks that took a turn from the usual animated style of the studio, this was a more Spider-Verse style which apparently worked with the audiences, otherwise, the film wouldn’t have worked here.
15) Elvis
Worldwide Gross: $286,040,048
- Reported Budget: $85,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $151,040,048 (52.8%)
Baz Luhrmann’s tribute to the American Icon of Rock and Roll- Elvis worked very well with critics and audiences. The film worked because of Austin Butler’s unreal performance as Elvis Presley. The film worked on the box office while garnering Oscar buzz at the same time.
14) Black Adam
Worldwide Gross: $391,273,355
- Reported Budget: $260,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $167,873,355 (42.9%)
The only second DC film that released this year does feature on this list because of its massive opening but the hype for the film dropped soon resulting it stopping its theatrical run at $391 Million. The film is actually a box office failure carrying a loss of almost 50-100 Million.
13) Uncharted
Worldwide Gross: $401,748,820
- Reported Budget: $120,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $148,648,820 (37.0%)
Sony and Tom Holland are really a deadly combo post pandemic as all their ventures have been a success including Uncharted which was an adaptation of the hit game. Despite terrible reviews the film made ample money and was one of the blockbusters early this year.
12) Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Worldwide Gross: $402,656,846
- Reported Budget: $110,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $190,872,904 (47.4%)
The second and final video game adaptation on this list is Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Paramount has really been successful with the Sonic franchise as both the films worked with the critics as well as the masses.
11) Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Worldwide Gross: $405,161,334
- Reported Budget: $200,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $95,850,844 (23.7%)
For many films, $400 Million is a huge number but considering the budget of Fantastic beasts this was not a resounding success. The mixed critical reception of the film restricted its success. This has led Warner Bros. to reconsider their plan for the Harry Potter franchise.
10) Moon Man
Worldwide Gross: $460,237,662
- Reported Budget: $8,600,000
- Domestic Gross: $0 (0.0%)
This film never released in the US or any other country for that matter but it is the second biggest opening for a Chinese film and it made almost half a billion dollars in its theatrical run.
9) Water Gate Bridge
Worldwide Gross: $626,571,697
- Reported Budget: $200,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $117,294 (<0.1%)
This is another Chinese film that is a blockbuster taking place in the Top 10 biggest movies of the year. It got a small release in Americ, marking the conclusion of the most expensive film duology in the history of Chinese cinema.
8) Thor: Love and Thunder
Worldwide Gross: $760,928,081
- Reported Budget: $250,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $343,256,830 (45.1%)
The least successful Marvel movie of the year, which is definitely one of the worst films that have come out this year is the fourth Thor film. The film still managed to be in the top 10 despite criticism from both critics and fans alike.
7) The Batman
Worldwide Gross: $770,836,163
- Reported Budget: $200,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $369,345,583 (47.9%)
The only superhero film that was relevant and memorable from the entire year was The Batman. The film was praised by fans and critics alike. Matt Reeves’ film was a major blockbuster in the early part of this year.
6) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Worldwide Gross: $805,249,637*
- Reported Budget: $250,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $428,162,231 (53.3%)
These are not the final figures for the MCU flick as it is still going on in the theatres but I fear not for long as Avatar: The Way of Water is just crushing any competition. The film was the best Marvel film of the year. However, the film couldn’t come even close to the original Black Panther either in quality or box office success.
5) Minions: The Rise of Gru
Worldwide Gross: $939,433,210
- Reported Budget: $80,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $369,500,210 (39.3%)
This is the biggest animated film of the year and the most cost effective as well. The unsurmountable success of the prequel to the Despicable Me series makes it the biggest the animated franchise of all time.
4) Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Worldwide Gross: $955,775,804
- Reported Budget: $200,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $411,331,607 (43.0%)
The biggest Marvel movie of the year that I think we were all excited the most crashed our expectations. The film was projected to earn well beyond $1 Billion but the mixed response from everyone made it stop its theatrical run at under that figure.
3) Jurassic World: Dominion
Worldwide Gross: $1,001,136,080
- Reported Budget: $165,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $376,009,080 (37.6%)
The worst film of the entire year in my opinion, that is a disgrace to Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park. However, as we all love to see dinosaurs on the big screen, the film collected the big bucks making the threequel to cross the $1 Billion mark, one of the only three movies to cross it this year.
2) Avatar: The Way of Water
Worldwide Gross: $1,030,118,839*
- Reported Budget: $350,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $293,290,336 (30.7%)
These are not the final figures for James Cameron’s magnum opus. This is definitely one of the best films of the year. In just 12 days, the film has crossed the $1 Billion mark. Trust me just days from you reading this article, you’ll hear the news that Avatar: The Way of Water is the highest grossing film of 2022. The film is projected to earn double of what it already has.
1) Top Gun: Maverick
Worldwide Gross: $1,488,732,821
- Reported Budget: $170,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $718,732,821 (48.3%)
Honestly, this film deserved it all. It was one of the best movies of 2022 and no one expected it to be so good or earn so much. I’m a little bummed out that Avatar 2 will eventually surpass and take the crown from but what can you do. For now though, Maverick was the highest grossing film of 2022 despite having a modest budget in comparison to all the big studio movies. It was truly the film that actually saved theatres because it solidified their existence in the post pandemic world.
All the above mentioned movies are either playing in theatres near you or are available on a streaming service/digital.
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