'Emma.' Opens Strong, as 'Parasite' Nears $50 Million at Indie Box Office

10. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1939)

Estimated admissions: 109,000,000

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $184,925,486

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $982,090,000

Disney’s first animated feature has been rereleased at least three times since its debut in 1937 according to CNBC, selling around 109 million tickets in total. “Snow White” made more in its 1983, 1987 and 1993 releases than it did in its initial run, and when all of those are adjusted for today’s ticket price, the movie would have made just under $1 billion in the U.S.

RKO Radio Pictures

9. “The Exorcist” (1973)

Estimated admissions: 116,532,505

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $232,906,145

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,049,957,870

Audiences may have fainted, vomited and cried in the theater when “The Exorcist” debuted in 1973, but that didn’t stop them from buying tickets. William Friedkin’s groundbreaking horror film made the bulk of its money during its initial release, according to CNBC, and was brought to theaters again in 2000 and 2010 with extended scenes. All told, the movie sold an estimated 116.5 million tickets, which equates to around $1.04 billion.

Warner Bros.

8. “Doctor Zhivago” (1965)

Estimated admissions: 124,612,132

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $112,150,919

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,122,755,309

“Doctor Zhivago” earned $112.1 million during its 1965 theatrical run, selling around 124.6 million tickets. The romantic drama, based on a 1957 novel by Boris Pasternak, picked up five Academy Awards, and would have brought in around $1.12 billion at today’s ticket prices.

MGM

7. “Jaws” (1975)

Estimated admissions: 128,078,818

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $260,000,000

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,153,990,148

Often referred to as the first summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” debuted in 1975, selling around 128 million tickets and ruining an untold number of beach vacations. That’s equivalent to $1.15 billion at today’s ticket prices.

Universal Pictures

6. “The Ten Commandments” (1956)

Estimated admissions: 131,000,000

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $65,500,000

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,180,310,000

Cecil B. DeMille’s biblical epic sold an estimated 131 million tickets during its 1956 run, earning $65.5 million. When adjusted for inflation, the Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner vehicle would have earned $1.18 billion at the box office, even with its 3-hour-and-40-minute runtime.

Paramount Pictures

5. “Titanic” (1997)

Estimated admissions: 143,501,591

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $658,672,302

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,292,949,334

Even without adjustments for inflation, James Cameron’s high-seas romance sits just below “Avengers: Infinity War” as the sixth highest-grossing film at the domestic box office and just under “Avatar” as the third highest-grossing film globally. The film has been in theaters three times — an initial run, a 3D rerelease and a 20th anniversary rerelease — selling about 143.5 million tickets in total. By today’s ticket prices, the movie would have earned around $1.29 billion. 

Paramount Pictures

4. “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)

Estimated admissions: 147,950,537

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $434,974,579

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,333,034,339

Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi adventure has brought in $434.9 million since it was first released in 1982. It sold about 147.9 million tickets over the course of three releases, with two rereleases in 1985 and 2002, which equates to around $1.33 billion using today’s average ticket price. The movie’s effect on Reese’s Pieces sales remains in dispute, though.

Universal Pictures

3. “The Sound of Music” (1965)

Estimated admissions: 157,218,258

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $159,509,250

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,416,536,505

The hiiills are alive…with the sound of 157 million tickets…

This musical was released twice in theaters, first in 1965 and again in 2018, selling the majority of its tickets in the initial run and making $158.8 million in the U.S. Adjusted for today’s ticket prices, that’s $1.41 billion.

Twentieth Century Fox

2. “Star Wars” (1977)

Estimated admissions: 178,119,595

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $460,998,007

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,604,857,551

The original “Star Wars” (“Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” for the sticklers in the audience) has been rereleased in theaters at least twice since it first wowed audiences in 1977, earning $460.9 million in the United States. It sold an estimated 178.1 million tickets, which comes out around $1.6 billion in modern box office terms.

Twentieth Century Fox

1. “Gone with the Wind” (1939) 

Estimated admissions: 201,068,305

Non-adjusted domestic gross: $203,078,988

Estimated domestic adjusted gross: $1,811,625,428

1939’s Civil War-era romance has been rereleased at least seven times since its premiere, according to Comscore, selling around 201 million tickets, which equates to about $1.81 billion in modern ticket prices. That leaves Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh’s Southern drama a theoretical billion dollars ahead of the latest Marvel flick’s domestic gross.

MGM