The full ranking
Avatar crowned the decade while Middle-earth, Hogwarts, and the Black Pearl dominated it. The 2000s box office champions, ranked by worldwide gross.
Avatar (2009)
Cameron's Pandora epic became the highest-grossing film of all time, now past $2.9 billion worldwide with re-releases. It single-handedly drove the 3D boom.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Peter Jackson's finale passed $1.1 billion worldwide and swept eleven Oscars without a single loss, tying the all-time record.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
Captain Jack's second voyage grossed over $1.06 billion worldwide, at the time the fastest film ever to a billion.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Nolan's crime epic crossed $1 billion worldwide on the back of Heath Ledger's posthumous-Oscar Joker. It changed what superhero films were allowed to be.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
The boy wizard's screen debut grossed nearly $975 million worldwide and launched the decade's most reliable franchise.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
The trilogy capper grossed about $961 million worldwide, the biggest film of 2007. With a reported budget north of $300 million, it was then the most expensive movie ever made.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
The fifth Potter grossed over $938 million worldwide, proof the franchise only grew as it darkened. It also introduced director David Yates, who stayed on for every installment through the finale.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
The sixth chapter took in over $929 million worldwide as the saga built toward its two-part finale. Only Avatar out-grossed it worldwide in 2009.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Helm's Deep and Gollum carried the middle chapter past $925 million worldwide, the top film of 2002. Andy Serkis's motion-capture turn changed what audiences expected a digital character to be.
Shrek 2 (2004)
The ogre sequel grossed nearly $920 million worldwide, the biggest animated film ever on release and the top film of 2004.
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