The Biggest Release In All of Entertainment History Happened 12 Years Ago Today (& Still Hasn’t Been Beaten)

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Entertainment is more popular and widespread than ever before. While those in the industry sometimes worry about box office numbers or the future of physical media like game discs, entertainment continues to thrive. Thanks to numerous devices and the rise of streaming and subscription services, it’s now easier to access than ever before.

It’s amazing how quickly things are changing and improving. Just recently, Warner Bros. made history by having seven consecutive films open at number one in theaters and each earn over $40 million within the US. Simultaneously, the independent game *Hollow Knight: Silksong* had a hugely successful launch, selling millions of copies in just a few days.

We’re living in an era of incredible achievements and record-breaking moments. However, there’s one record that remains unbroken – in the last twelve years, only a single instance has even approached it.

Grand Theft Auto V Set the Record for Biggest Entertainment Launch of All Time

Wow, can you believe it’s been 12 years since *Grand Theft Auto V* came out? It launched on September 17, 2013, and it absolutely blew up! Seriously, it became the fastest-selling entertainment product *ever* – beating out every game and movie before and since. It made over a billion dollars – that’s around 16.6 million copies sold – in just its first three days. It was insane!

On top of all that, the game earned an astonishing $800 million on its very first day – a number any game studio would be thrilled to achieve over the entire lifespan of a product, let alone in just 24 hours. Since then, *GTA V* has become the second best-selling video game ever, with 215 million copies sold across various re-releases on three different console generations and PC. It only trails *Minecraft*, which has sold a massive 350 million copies over 14 years.

Avengers: Endgame Came Close to Beating GTA V’s Record

It’s hard to imagine anything surpassing the success of *GTA V*. The only event that might compare is a massive crossover movie built from over two decades of filmmaking. Six years ago, Marvel’s *Avengers: Endgame* became the fastest film to earn $1 billion worldwide, doing so in just five days. However, *GTA V* achieved that same milestone even faster – in only three days. Before that, *Avengers: Infinity War* held the record, taking eleven days to reach $1 billion.

Looking at initial sales – comparing movie tickets to game copies – *Avengers: Endgame* was definitely seen by more people in its opening weekend than people bought *GTA V*. This is because movie tickets generally cost $15-$25, while the game costs around $60. While it’s impossible to know for sure, *GTA V* still earned over a billion dollars faster. It’s impressive that *Endgame* even got close, but it didn’t quite reach that milestone – and that was before the pandemic impacted blockbuster movie numbers.

Will GTA 6 Beat the Record (Or Will Another 2026 Release)?

Just like Thanos’s attempt to handle things alone, no game has been able to surpass the incredible success of *GTA V*. Now, all eyes are on Rockstar’s *Grand Theft Auto 6*, scheduled for release in May 2026. It’s easily the most anticipated game ever – even the studio predicts it will be the biggest launch in gaming history – making it the most likely candidate to finally break *GTA V’s* record. This makes sense, as excitement for *GTA 6* is higher than ever, game prices have increased (potentially reaching $80 for this release), and there’s a larger global audience of potential buyers.

I’m confident *GTA 6* will make over $1 billion very quickly – ideally within three days to surpass the record held by *GTA V*. Even matching *GTA V*’s record would be impressive. If *GTA 6* takes longer than three days, another potential contender for the billion-dollar mark next year could be *Avengers: Doomsday*. As the first Avengers film since *Endgame*, there’s a lot of excitement around the return of familiar heroes, the introduction of new ones, and Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback – this time playing the villain, Doctor Doom. With a release date in December 2026, it will be a while before we know if it can compete, but it’s fascinating to think about an Avengers movie going head-to-head with *GTA* and potentially challenging the record.

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2025-09-17 18:10