Some of the highest-grossing movies of the 21st century involve superhero or Star Wars franchises, but if you’re accounting for inflation—and when aren’t we—the list looks a little different. The films that have earned the most domestically, after adjusting for inflation, span nearly a century. They’re all classics in their own right and make up the shiny goal posts for American cinema and box-office success. Here’s a list of the top 10 highest-grossing movies of all time, and where to stream them.
The highest grossing movies of all time
1) Gone With the Wind (1939)
This Civil War drama unravels Old South history with a 222-minute runtime and iconic performances from Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.
Gross: $1.8 billion
How to watch: Amazon, YouTube
2) Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
There are many theories about which order the Star Wars movies should be watched in, but this is the one that ignited the fandom and set off countless parodies and tributes.
Gross: $1.5 billion
How to watch: Amazon, YouTube
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3) The Sound of Music (1965)
Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews star in this musical rom-com, set in the Alps and etched with Broadway-pop numbers.
Gross: $1.2 billion
How to watch: Amazon, YouTube
4) E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The influence of Steven Spielberg’s alien love story can be seen in modern entertainment like Stranger Things, but revisiting the relationship between E.T. and Elliott (Henry Thomas) will still bring a tear to your eye.
Gross: $1.2 billion
How to watch: Amazon, Netflix, YouTube
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5) Titanic (1997)
Two decades after its release, people are still arguing about Titanic. The story of two star-crossed lovers—Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet)—on a doomed ship struck a chord with audiences, making this the most contemporary title on the list.
Gross: $1.2 billion
How to watch: Amazon, Hulu, YouTube
6) The Ten Commandments (1956)
Cecil B. DeMille’s epic, four-hour story of Moses and Exodus requires some commitment, but the film itself showed its dedication to scale, scope, and theatrics.
Gross: $1.1 billion
How to watch: Amazon, YouTube
7) Jaws (1975)
Jaws seems tame by today’s standards, but in 1975 it really did make people afraid to go into the water. Steven Spielberg’s thriller has an obvious villain, but even more frightening is the fear that humanity can’t stop it.
Gross: $1.1 billion
How to watch: Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, Hulu (with Showtime add-on)
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8) Doctor Zhivago (1965)
A story of love during the Russian Revolution, David Lean’s Doctor Zhivago is a heaving exploration of loyalty and betrayal in a time of war, starring Julie Christie and Omar Sharif.
Gross: $1.1 billion
How to watch: Amazon, YouTube
9) The Exorcist (1973)
If you happened to watch this as a kid when you definitely shouldn’t have, you know the staying power of The Exorcist, which was rated X upon release. After a demonic entity possesses a young girl (Linda Blair), her mother and a priest fight to free her.
Gross: $987 million
How to watch: Amazon, HBO Go, YouTube
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10) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
In Disney’s 1937 musical fairy tale, Snow White must battle the Evil Queen and find her prince.
Gross: $973 million
How to watch: Amazon
Editor’s note: This article is regularly updated for relevance.
