JuicyTalk
Sci-fi is a fascinating and inventive genre that has produced many captivating films. The genre has introduced many memorable characters and worlds, but has also delivered thought-provoking ideas about technology, scientific advancements, and the possibilities of the future.
Throughout film’s history, science fiction has also been one of Hollywood’s most successful genres. It has generated major franchises like Star Wars and Jurassic Park, along with solo hits like Gravity, Interstellar, and The Martian.
This list features the 10 highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office, rather than worldwide. While superhero films can be considered sci-fi, they are not on this list as they belong in their own category. However, one franchise does appear frequently throughout this list. Check out the list below, which includes box office totals according to Box Office Mojo.
E.T. is a heartwarming sci-fi story about a friendship between a boy and an alien. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Henry Thomas as Elliott, a young boy who meets an alien he names E.T. Though from different worlds, the two form a bond as Elliott tries to keep E.T. a secret and help him find his way home.
The film was a critical and box office hit, and currently holds a 99% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. At the domestic box office, E.T. made around $439.5 million. Worldwide, the film made $797.3 million. When adjusted for inflation, E.T. is the fourth highest-grossing film of all time, earning over $1.297 billion, according to Box Office Mojo.
9
Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope – $460.9 million
While A New Hope may not be the highest-grossing film on this list, it’s arguably the most influential. Released in 1977, the first Star Wars film ignited one of Hollywood’s most successful franchises, and made sci-fi a more popular genre within the film industry. Almost 50 years later, the franchise is still producing new projects, including 2026’s The Mandalorian and Grogu.
The film made over $460.9 million at the domestic box office and around $775.4 million worldwide. When adjusted for inflation, A New Hope is the second highest-grossing film ever, earning over $1.6 billion, sitting behind Gone With the Wind. Star Wars still continues to find success over the years, as shown by the rest of this list.
8
Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace – $487.58
16 years after the original trilogy’s conclusion, audiences were thrilled to return to the galaxy that George Lucas introduced in 1977. The Phantom Menace was the beginning of Lucas’ prequel trilogy. It introduced younger versions of familiar characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, as well as new characters like Darth Maul and Padmé Amidala.
The Phantom Menace made around $487.58 million domestically and has grossed over $1 billion worldwide through its initial release and re-releases. While the film received mixed reactions from critics with a 54% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, it has grown a fanbase over the years, along with the other two films in the prequel trilogy.
7
Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker – $515.2 million
The Rise of Skywalker ended the sequel trilogy on a divisive note within the Star Wars fanbase. On a critical level, it was met with mixed reception from critics, and is currently the lowest-rated live-action Star Wars film on RT with a 51%. However, it was still a commercial success, both domestically and internationally.
At the domestic box office, The Rise of Skywalker earned $515.2 million, while worldwide, it grossed around $1.08 billion. It didn’t perform as well as the other two films in the sequel trilogy, but it still crossed the billion-dollar mark. Despite Episode IX‘s box office success, Star Wars hasn’t released another film since, but that streak is set to end in 2026.
6
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – $533.5 million
After Star Wars returned for the sequel trilogy in 2015, the franchise went back to a familiar era the following year with Rogue One. Directed by Gareth Edwards, this spinoff took place shortly before the beginning of the original trilogy, and told the story of the heroic mission by the Rebellion to retrieve the plans to destroy the Death Star.
Rogue One earned over $533.5 million domestically, and around $1.06 billion worldwide. The film took a grittier approach to Star Wars, focusing on a small crew within the Rebellion as they stand up to the empire. This tone worked for the film, and was expanded upon in Andor, a spinoff series that centered around Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor.
5
Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi – $620.2 million
After the sequel trilogy began in 2015, anticipation was high for Episode VIII, especially after the last film ended with the return of Luke Skywalker. However, The Last Jedi is arguably the most divisive film in the whole franchise. It currently holds a 91% RT critic score, and a 41% RT audience score.
It’s a film that sparked a multitude of opinions, but also generated success at the box office. It garnered around $620.2 million domestically, and over $1.3 billion worldwide. It may not be the most universally beloved in the franchise, but it’s the second highest-grossing Star Wars film.
4
Jurassic World – $653.4 million
Jurassic World reinvigorated the Jurassic franchise, 14 years after the last film, Jurassic Park III. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the film starred Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, and introduced a fully realized version of John Hammond’s dream theme park. However, it eventually turns disastrous, as the dinosaurs break free and terrorize the tourists.
Jurassic World was a massive hit, grossing $653.4 million at the domestic box office and $1.67 billion worldwide. It led to a new trilogy of films with Pratt and Howard, with each film crossing the billion-dollar mark. The franchise recently soft-rebooted with Jurassic World Rebirth, which didn’t hit $1 billion, but was still a box office hit.
3
Avatar: The Way of Water – $688.46
After 13 years, director James Cameron finally brought audiences back to the world of Pandora. In the sequel, Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their family travel to an oceanic region of Pandora to flee the RDA. Living with the Metkayina Na’vi clan, the Sully’s learn to adapt to their new home before the battle comes to them.
The Way of Water earned around $688.46 domestically, and over $2.3 billion worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing film of all time at the worldwide box office. The sequel continued the massive success of the first film, and gave Cameron three $2 billion films.
2
Avatar – $785.2 million
2009’s Avatar was a worldwide hit, bringing audiences to Pandora through extraordinary special effects and immersive 3D. It was Cameron’s follow-up to 1997’s Titanic, which, at the time, was the highest-grossing film ever, until the director beat his own record with this sci-fi spectacle.
Avatar earned over $785.2 million domestically, and has earned over $2.9 billion worldwide. It’s still the highest-grossing film of all time at the worldwide box office, though it did lose this title briefly to Avengers: Endgame, before eventually regaining it after it “returned to movie theaters in China” in 2021, per Variety.
1
Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens – $936.7 million
While Avatar holds the top spot at the worldwide box office, The Force Awakens is the highest-grossing film at the domestic box office. The 2015 film kicked off Star Wars‘ sequel trilogy, introducing new characters like Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren, and brought back classic heroes, including Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Leia Organa.
The sci-fi film earned around $936.7 million, and $2.07 billion worldwide. The Force Awakens does share similar plot elements to A New Hope, but it added engaging characters and an intriguing conflict that laid the groundwork for a new trilogy. It revitalized people’s passion for Star Wars and introduced a new story to a new generation.
