First Seven Movies To Open Over $100 Million

2024 saw an impressive five films earning over $100 million in their first domestic weekend, which is a significant increase compared to 2016 when eight movies managed the same feat. This trend indicates that it’s increasingly common for major theatrical releases to debut with opening weekends worth eight figures. In fact, some movies can now open to over $250 million in a single weekend without much effort! Such numbers would have seemed impossible as recently as 2001, the year no movie had ever surpassed $100 million during a three-day opening weekend.

Between 2002 and 2007, a total of seven films demonstrated that it was feasible to earn over $100 million in domestic box office revenue during their opening weekends. This wasn’t a one-off event achieved by a solitary movie, but rather an achievable opening weekend figure for multiple blockbusters. These movies were the first in history to gross more than $100 million domestically during their opening weekends, and their records have since been surpassed by more recent blockbuster debuts, thanks to factors like inflation and the wider availability of IMAX ticket prices. Nevertheless, these films remain historically significant for altering the face of the box office industry forever.

Spider-Man

The film Spider-Man truly marked a turning point in the Hollywood blockbuster scene. Its staggering $114 million opening was not just the first time a movie opened to over $100 million domestically, but it also significantly surpassed the opening weekend of X-Men from 2000. This set a new standard for Marvel Comics adaptations, a benchmark that would continue to rise in the following years. The first appearance of Spider-Man, played by Tobey Maguire, demonstrated that $100+ million openings were achievable, effectively clearing the path for Marvel films to dominate the first weekends in May.

Shrek 2

2003’s top box-office hits, “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” both premiering either on Wednesday or Thursday, prevented any 2003 films from earning over $100 million in a weekend. It wasn’t until May 2004, with the release of “Shrek 2,” that this feat was achieved again, marking two years since the premiere of “Spider-Man.” The incredible opening weekend of “Shrek 2” totaled an astounding $108 million, setting a new record for the biggest animated movie debut ever. This lovable ogre certainly proved to be a box-office sensation with such an impressive first appearance.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

The ominous side of The Force is said to lead to numerous powers, and it seems that pathway also led to an impressive box office performance. Despite dampening demand with a pre-release on Thursday, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith earned an astounding $108.4 million in its debut. Coming very close behind Shrek 2, this made it the second-largest domestic opening weekend in history. Right from its premiere, Revenge of the Sith demonstrated its dominance at the box office. Opening 35% higher than Attack of the Clones’ domestic debut, Episode III became only the third movie to ever open with over $100 million in the US.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2005 marked a remarkable milestone for the domestic box office as it became the first year to witness two movies opening with over $100 million. Previously considered unattainable, this feat was now happening repeatedly within a single year. Six months after the impressive $108.4 million debut of “Revenge of the Sith,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” was released, grossing an astounding $102.6 million. This significant opening also represented a first as it occurred outside of May. The high box office numbers were no longer confined to just the summer months, even extending to the pre-Thanksgiving slot that “Goblet of Fire” occupied.

X-Men: The Last Stand

Six years following the successful box office streak of X-Men, the release of X-Men: The Last Stand demonstrated how far the franchise had progressed. Directed by Brett Ratner, this production debuted with an impressive $102 million, a 20% increase over the opening of X2: X-Men United in 2003. Moreover, it underscored May as a thriving period for box office successes, since The Last Stand was the fourth film to open with over $100 million during this month. Unfortunately, its performance dipped significantly after the initial weekend, primarily due to poor word-of-mouth, making it the first $100+ million opener to conclude its run with less than $250 million in North America.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Four years after “Spider-Man” set a record for the highest domestic box office opening weekend, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” overtook that title by earning an impressive $136 million during its opening weekend. This was a significant increase of $22 million compared to the opening of “Spider-Man.” The extraordinary success of “Dead Man’s Chest” was further solidified when it became the first movie ever to make over $100 million in North America in just two days. Like “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” a $100+ million debut could occur at any time of year.

Spider-Man 3

The release of Spider-Man 3 in May 2007 significantly marked a shift in movie openings grossing over $100 million, as it was the catalyst for three such openings in one month. Prior to its release, there were only six movies that opened domestically with more than $100 million, but this number swelled to nine within four weeks, a 50% increase. Although these large debuts were still impressive, they were starting to become more frequent if three could occur in a month. Five years later, the trend had shifted, and Spider-Man 3‘s $151 million opening weekend solidified this change.

Spider-Man 3 is now streaming on Netflix and Disney+.

2025-01-27 01:40