20 Highest Grossing Films of 2017 (so far)
20 Highest Grossing Films of 2017 (so far)
The summer movie box office heat wave has come and gone, and the annual shift from tent-pole blockbusters to prestige, awards-bait films should commence at any moment. That's not to say summer films won't receive any Academy Awards love — Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" is already generating buzz as a best picture favorite — or that end-of-the-year, accolade-seeking movies won't hit it big at the box office. 2014's "American Sniper" — released on Christmas Day — topped the domestic box office that year, grossing over $350 million, beating out summer releases like "Guardians of the Galaxy" ($333 million), "Transformers: Age of Extinction" ($245 million) and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" ($233 million). Hits can come at any time of the year, it's just that studios typically stack the deck during the summer months.
With the autumn nearly upon us, it feels like a good time to reflect back on the year in movies so far to see which films have raked in the most at the box office. Using data from Box Office Mojo, we'll run through the 20 highest-grossing films of 2017 (so far). For this ranking, we'll focus solely on domestic box office returns. All 20 films have grossed at least $100 million mark in the U.S. Five of the top 10 are superhero films, not including the highest-grossing film of the year — the sole movie to top $500 million.
Note: All box office numbers are as of Aug. 29. Production budget numbers are from Box Office Mojo, unless otherwise noted.
#20. “Baby Driver”
Release date: June 28
Total gross: $103.5 million
Production budget: $34 million
The latest from director Edgar Wright drew rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. “Baby Driver” is a heist film set and shot in Atlanta, featuring an ensemble cast: Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Lily James and Jon Bernthal all appear, with Ansel Elgort in the title role. “Baby Driver” has made over $194 million worldwide, easily Wright’s biggest box office hit.
#19. “Girls Trip”
Release date: July 21
Total gross: “$108.4 million
Production budget: $19 million
“Girls Trip” was one of the biggest sleeper hits of the summer. Starring Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith, the film opened at No. 2 behind “Dunkrik,” making $31.2 million in its first weekend. It was the sixth film released by Universal to top $100 million domestically this year.
#18. “Fifty Shades Darker”
Release date: February 10
Total gross: $114.4 million
Production budget: $55 million
The sequel to 2015’s “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Fifty Shades Darker” fared far worse than its predecessor. It opened at $46.6 million in its first weekend, compared to the $85.2 million for “Grey.” “Fifty Shades Darker” still pulled in $378.8 million worldwide, and another sequel — “Fifty Shades Freed” — is set for a 2018 release.
#17. “Transformers: The Last Knight”
Release date: June 21
Total gross: $130.2 million
Production budget: $217 million
Michael Bay was back at it again this summer, this time with the fifth installment in the “Transformers” series. Shia LaBeouf is long gone by now, replaced by Mark Wahlberg as the lead in 2014’s “Transformers: Age of Extinction.” “The Last Knight” made $473.8 million overseas for a $604 million worldwide take. If you think this is the end of the series, think again: a spin-off titled “Bumblebee” — starring Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena — is scheduled for release in December 2018, while “Transformers 6” will come out in summer 2019.
#16. "Split"
Release date: January 20
Total gross: $138.1 million
Production budget: $9 million
Director M. Night Shyamalan's career was ridiculed and left for dead after 2013's disaster "After Earth." His comeback began with 2015's hit "The Visit," which made $98.5 million worldwide against a $5 million budget. "Split" blew those numbers away, holding the top spot domestically for three consecutive weekends. Its final worldwide haul was nearly $277 million, and a sequel — titled "Glass" — has already been announced.
#15. “War for the Planet of the Apes”
Release date: July 14
Total gross: $142.9 million
Production budget: $150 million
The third installment of the “Planet of the Apes” reboot series opened at No. 1 at the box office, bringing it $56.3 million. It beat out “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in its second weekend. “War for the Planet of the Apes” made over $217 million internationally for a worldwide total of $359.9 million.
#14. “Cars 3”
Release date: June 16
Total gross: $149.1 million
Production budget: $175 million*
“Cars 3” had the lowest opening weekend ($53.7 million) of the three installments in the “Cars" series, though it still debuted at No. 1, ahead of “Wonder Woman” and “All Eyez on Me.” So far, it has made $325.3 million worldwide.
*Note: Budget reported by IMDb.
#13. “Kong: Skull Island”
Release date: March 10
Total gross: $168.1 million
Production budget: $185 million
The second in Legendary Entertainment’s “MonsterVerse” — following 2014’s “Godzilla — “Kong: Skull Island” is unrelated to the Peter Jackson-directed 2005 film “King Kong.” With an ensemble cast featuring Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly, the film opened at No. 1 and grossed $566.7 million worldwide
#12. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”
Release date: May 26
Total gross: $172 million
Production budget: $230 million
The fifth installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series pits Captain Jack Sparrow against the undead Captain Armando Salazar, played by Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem, respectively. It is the first movie in the series since 2011’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” To date, the film has made $791.7 million worldwide.
#11. "Dunkirk"
Release date: July 21
Total gross: $172.5 million
Production budget: $100 million
In his first film since 2014's "Interstellar," Christopher Nolan appears to have nailed it with the war epic "Dunkirk," portraying the Dunkirk evacuation from World War II. Nolan wrote the script — which has little dialogue — and the movie features an ensemble cast, including Fionn Whitehead, James D'Arcy, Kenneth Branaugh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles and Tom Hardy. "Dunkirk" has brought in $413.1 million worldwide so far and is being tabbed as an Oscars favorite come awards season, with particular praise for its cinematography and sound mixing.
#10. “The Boss Baby”
Release date: March 31
Total gross: $174.9 million
Production budget: $125 million*
“The Boss Baby” is directed by Tom McGrath, who helmed the “Madagascar” series and directed 2010’s “Megamind.” Featuring voice acting from Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel and Lisa Kudrow, “The Boss Baby” made $498.1 million worldwide and has a sequel slated for a 2021 release.
*Note: Budget reported by IMDb
#9. “Get Out”
Release date: February 24
Total gross: $175.5 million
Production budget: $4.5 million
Written and directed by Jordan Peele — one-half of the comedy duo “Key & Peele” — “Get Out” is one of the biggest sleeper hits of the year. The horror film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and drew rave reviews. It opened at No. 1, bringing in over $33 million during its first weekend, and has made over $252 million worldwide
#8. “The LEGO Batman Movie”
Release date: February 10
Total gross: $175.8 million
Production budget: $80 million
The first spin-off of 2014’s “The LEGO Movie” focuses on Batman and his battle with the Joker (as well as his innermost fears). Will Arnett and Zach Galifianakis voice Batman and the Joker, respectively. The film has made over $311 million worldwide and received positive reviews, scoring a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer with an 80 percent audience score.
#7. “The Fate of the Furious”
Release date: April 14
Total gross: $225.8 million
Production budget: $250 million
“The Fate of the Furious” didn’t score as well with domestic audiences as its predecessor, 2015’s “Furious 7.” Still, “Fate” was no slouch overall, bringing in over $1 billion internationally for a worldwide gross of $1.2 billion. Universal has already announced plans for two more sequels, the first of which is set to be released in 2019.
#6. "Logan"
Release date: March 3
Total gross: $226.3 million
Production budget: $97 million
The 10th film overall in the "X-Men" series, "Logan" is the third solo Wolverine movie, following 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and 2013's "The Wolverine." It is the first film in the franchise to receive an R-rating, with "Logan" feature more graphic violence than its predecessors. Star Hugh Jackman has stated that "Logan" will be his final appearance as the character. The movie has pulled in $616.2 million worldwide to date.
#5. “Despicable Me 3”
Release date: June 30
Total gross: $254.8 million
Production budget: $80 million
The sequel to 2013’s “Despicable Me 2,” “Despicable Me 3” had the second-lowest opening weekend of the franchise (including 2015’s “Minions). “Despicable Me 3” brought in $72.4 million in its first weekend, placing first ahead of “Baby Driver” ($20.6 million).
#4. “Spider-Man: Homecoming”
Release date: July 7
Total gross: $319.3 million
Production budget: $175 million
In what was (incredibly) the sixth feature film centered on the “Spider-Man” character, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” seems to have set the franchise in the right direction. Now incorporated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the newest version of the web-slinging hero had a much lighter feel than its recent predecessors. Starring Tom Holland in the title role, “Homecoming” made $737.5 million worldwide and featured a supporting cast of Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Marissa Tomei, Donald Glover and Zendaya.
#3. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”
Release date: May 5
Total gross: $389.4 million
Production budget: $200 million
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” did nearly 56 percent better in its opening weekend ($146.5 million) than its predecessor in 2014 ($94.3 million). Both films were directed by James Gunn, and “Vol. 2” has grossed over $862 million worldwide.
#2. “Wonder Woman”
Release date: June 2
Total gross: $406.4 million
Production budget: $149 million
Taking the No. 2 spot for 2017 is “Wonder Woman,” the fourth installment of the DC Extended Universe. Directed by Patty Jenkins — who also helmed 2003’s “Monster” — “Wonder Woman” is the first studio superhero movie to be directed by a woman. Starring Gal Gadot in the title role, the film drew positive reviews and has made $806.4 million worldwide so far.
#1. "Beauty and the Beast"
Release date: March 17
Total gross: $504 million
Production budget: $160 million
The top spot for 2017 goes to "Beauty and the Beast," which has made nearly $100 more domestically than any other film to date. The live-action adaptation of the 1991 animated film of the same name is directed by Bill Condon and stars Emma Watson as Belle, with supporting roles from Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor and Stanley Tucci. "Beauty and the Beast" has made $758.8 million internationally, good for a worldwide gross of over $1.2 billion.
