The Biggest Movie the Year You Were Born
There’s nothing quite like the magic of movies to capture a moment in time. Every era of American history has its unforgettable films that stayed with us, and looking back at the biggest movies of each decade gives us a chance to remember the stories, stars, and cultural moments that defined generations.
This list spotlights the films that topped the domestic box office in the U.S. and Canada from the 1920s to the 2020s, revealing what audiences lined up to see each year. Because many movies continued to earn through long theatrical runs and later rereleases, each title on the list reflects the top-earning film in the year it was released. And while reliable box-office tracking dates back only to 1977, earlier titles on the list are based on the best available studio records and industry estimates.
So grab your popcorn, settle in, and take a trip through more than a century of movie history to rediscover the biggest film the year you were born.
1920s
The 1920s cemented Hollywood’s status as the world’s movie capital and transformed film into the decade’s defining form of entertainment. Audiences loved films such as The Ten Commandments and The Big Parade, while matinee idols including Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolph Valentino, and Clara Bow captured the glamour and energy of the Jazz Age. By decade’s end, cinema itself was transformed — 1927’s The Jazz Singer introduced synchronized sound, marking the birth of the “talkie” and forever changing the way audiences experienced the movies.
1920 – Way Down East
1921 – The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
1922 – Robin Hood
1923 – The Ten Commandments
1924 – The Sea Hawk
1925 – The Big Parade
1926 – What Price Glory?
1927 – The Jazz Singer
1928 – The Singing Fool
1929 – The Broadway Melody
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1930s
Hollywood’s golden age on display in the 1930s as audiences flocked to theaters to escape the harsh realities of the Great Depression. Grand musicals, screwball comedies, and sweeping historical epics provided the glamour and adventure people craved. Walt Disney revolutionized animation with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, while Gone With the Wind closed the decade as a record-breaking movie phenomenon.
1930 – Whoopee!
1931 – City Lights
1932 – Shanghai Express
1933 – King Kong
1934 – It Happened One Night
1935 – Mutiny on the Bounty
1936 – San Francisco
1937 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1938 – Alexander’s Ragtime Band
1939 – Gone With the Wind
1940s
Shaped by World War II and its aftermath, the 1940s saw Hollywood balance patriotism, hope, and realism. Wartime dramas such as Sergeant York rallied the home front, while postwar hits such as The Best Years of Our Lives explored the challenges of returning home. The Hollywood studio system reached its height, turning out polished stars and prestige pictures that defined midcentury American film.
1940 – Boom Town
1941 – Sergeant York
1942 – Mrs. Miniver
1943 – For Whom the Bell Tolls
1944 – Going My Way
1945 – The Bells of St. Mary’s
1946 – The Best Years of Our Lives
1947 – Forever Amber
1948 – The Red Shoes
1949 – Samson and Delilah
1950s
The 1950s were a decade of reinvention that brought sweeping change to Hollywood as studios battled the rise of television. Epic spectacles such as The Ten Commandments (a loose remake of the 1923 silent film) and Ben-Hur drew audiences back to theaters, while innovations such as Cinerama and CinemaScope made movies bigger and more immersive than ever.
1950 – Cinderella
1951 – Quo Vadis
1952 – The Greatest Show on Earth
1953 – Peter Pan
1954 – White Christmas
1955 – Lady and the Tramp
1956 – The Ten Commandments
1957 – The Bridge on the River Kwai
1958 – South Pacific
1959 – Ben-Hur
1960s
The 1960s bridged Hollywood’s golden age and a bold new era of filmmaking. Movies including The Sound of Music and Cleopatra carried on Old Hollywood’s grandeur, even as films such as The Graduate captured a younger generation’s restless spirit. Tradition and rebellion shared the screen, signaling the cultural and creative shift that would give rise to New Hollywood.
1960 – Spartacus
1961 – West Side Story
1962 – The Longest Day
1963 – Cleopatra
1964 – Mary Poppins
1965 – The Sound of Music
1966 – Hawaii
1967 – The Graduate
1968 – Funny Girl
1969 – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
1970s
The 1970s reinvented Hollywood and gave birth to the modern blockbuster. With The Godfather, Jaws, and Star Wars, visionary directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas proved that artistic vision and audience appeal could go hand in hand. From Rocky’s underdog triumph to Grease’s nostalgic musicality, audiences embraced movies that blended grit, hope, and spectacle — laying the foundation for the franchises that still dominate cinema today.
1970 – Love Story
1971 – Fiddler on the Roof
1972 – The Godfather
1973 – The Exorcist
1974 – Blazing Saddles
1975 – Jaws
1976 – Rocky
1977 – Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
1978 – Grease
1979 – Kramer vs. Kramer
1980s
The 1980s cemented Hollywood’s blockbuster era, driven by bigger budgets, dazzling special effects, and unforgettable soundtracks. Franchises such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future dominated theaters, while hits including Ghostbusters and Top Gun captured the decade’s high-energy style.
1980 – Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
1981 – Raiders of the Lost Ark
1982 – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1983 – Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
1984 – Ghostbusters
1985 – Back to the Future
1986 – Top Gun
1987 – Three Men and a Baby
1988 – Rain Man
1989 – Batman
1990s
The 1990s saw the rise of CGI take blockbuster spectacle to a whole new level. Jurassic Park and Titanic shattered box-office records, while Disney’s renaissance reached new heights with Aladdin and The Lion King. The decade also marked the birth of fully computer-animated features with Toy Story and cemented event filmmaking (movies capturing real-life events) as a cultural phenomenon, blending cutting-edge technology with emotional storytelling.
1990 – Home Alone
1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1992 – Aladdin
1993 – Jurassic Park
1994 – The Lion King
1995 – Toy Story
1996 – Independence Day
1997 – Titanic
1998 – Saving Private Ryan
1999 – Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
2000s
The 2000s were defined by sprawling franchises, fantasy worlds, and technological leaps in filmmaking. Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean drew devoted audiences, while Spider-Man and The Dark Knight signaled the rise of the modern superhero era. Avatar pushed the boundaries of visual effects and 3D cinema, and animated hits such as Shrek 2 captivated viewers of all ages.
2000 – How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2001 – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
2002 – Spider-Man
2003 – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004 – Shrek 2
2005 – Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
2006 – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
2007 – Spider-Man 3
2008 – The Dark Knight
2009 – Avatar
2010s
The 2010s were a decade of cinematic universes and blockbuster dominance as streaming and digital distribution began reshaping how audiences accessed films. Marvel redefined franchise filmmaking with The Avengers, Black Panther, and Avengers: Endgame, while legacy franchises such as Star Wars proved they could still break records.
2010 – Toy Story 3
2011 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2012 – The Avengers
2013 – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2014 – American Sniper
2015 – Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
2016 – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2017 – Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
2018 – Black Panther
2019 – Avengers: Endgame
2020s
The 2020s began amid major disruption as the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered theaters and delayed movie releases. As audiences returned, films such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Top Gun: Maverick, and Barbie showcased the enduring appeal of big-screen nostalgia. The decade continues to evolve, with streaming, hybrid releases, and changing audience habits likely shaping the future of cinema.
2020 – Bad Boys for Life
2021 – Spider-Man: No Way Home
2022 – Top Gun: Maverick
2023 – Barbie
2024 – Inside Out 2
