The Top Grossing Films of All Time

Is there a formula for creating a top grossing, box office smashing film? Looking at the list of the all-time highest grossing films, it would seem the key elements to success would be bringing to life the characters from much loved books and comics to the big screen. Sequels, trilogies and series also seem to be the big hits.

Harry Potter has captured the hearts of children (and their parents) the world over and although the films do not feature in the top 20 money spinners that I will detail below, it's interesting to note that all of the films make up a part of the top 50.

The Star Wars movies (all of them), feature highly, as do the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and, our favourite comic book characters, Spiderman and Batman.

Let's take a look at the top 20 highest grossing films of all time, which have earned more than a staggering 8 billion dollars between them.

1. Titanic. $600,788,188

Yes, James Cameron is still "king of the world". Released in 1997, this enduring love story has, so far, stood the test of time.

2. The Dark Knight. $522,106,180

Released in July 2008, this is the latest installment in the Batman series, and Heath Ledger's final performance.

3. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. $460, 998,007

The highest ranking of the Star Wars series, this was the one that started them all in 1977.

4. Shrek 2. $437,212,000

It would seem we can't get enough of the lovable ogre and his sidekick, Donkey. This 2004 release has trumped the original for box office sales.

5. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. $434,974,579

The beloved, classic 1982 film featuring a very young Drew Barrymore.

6. Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. $431,088,301

Sixteen years since the third of the original trilogy was released, this 1999 film was much anticipated as the first in the prequel trilogy.

7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. $423,416,000

Another trilogy! The second in the tales of Captain Jack Sparrow, this 2006 release stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley sailing the high seas of box office success.

8. Spider-Man. $407,681,000

Amazingly, all three of the big screen adventures of the web-throwing superhero have found their place in the top 20. Released in 2002.

9. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. $380,270,522

Released in 2005. Will we ever get enough of this series?

10. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. $377,019,252

The final instalment of the classic J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy, this one was released in 2003.

11. Spider-Man 2. $373,377,893

Released two years after the original, in 2004, this sequel was almost as popular as the first.

12. The Passion Of The Christ. $370,773,867

This controversial 2004 film by Mel Gibson, drew as many to the theatres out of curiosity than out of genuine interest.

13. Jurassic Park. $357,067,947

The 1993 tale of dinosaurs bought to life, was the biggest film of the year and one of the biggest of all time.

14.The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. $341,748,130

The second of this massive, and long waited for, trilogy was released a year after the first, in 2002.

15. Finding Nemo. $339,714,978

This animated classic of a clown fish's search for his son was released in 2003.

16. Spider-Man 3. $336,530,303

From 2007, another fight for good vs. evil waged by the human spider.

17. Forrest Gump. $329,693,974

"Run, Forrest, Run!" And run this 1994 film has - all the way to the bank.

18. The Lion King. $328,538,000

Another Disney animated classic, this one from 1994, has spawned a hugely successful theatre musical.

19. Shrek the Third. $320,706,665

Shrek and Donkey are back - this time with families. Released in 2007, theatre goers flocked to see their favourite fairy tale characters...far, far away.

20. Transformers. $319,222,000

One of our favourite childhood cartoons was finally bought to life on the silver screen in 2007.

So, what will it take to trump "Titanic" at the box office? No amount of special effects or comic book resurrections seems to be able to meet the cut. Perhaps it will take another tear-jerking, fictionalised version of a major disaster by "The King of the World", to see Titanic finally sink.