MEGA Opening Weekends- The progression through the years

Dark 33Legend of the Sith · December 29, 2017

I enjoy this type of stuff. Some of you will find it worthless, others may find it interesting. I put together a progression of some of the biggest opening weekends and where they ranked in the top 5 throughout the years. I started with the top 5 openings of 1982 (as that is when Mojo's info begins). Each time a new film entered the top 5 opening weekends of all time, I update a new top 5 list with it's opening day and how it stacks up. I think it's really interesting to see how big some openings were for their time. Many times a great way to understand how big something was, is to look at how it stacked up in that era. Some of these movies and openings are really eye openers. Hope you enjoy.....

END OF 1982

1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

2. Rocky III $12.4 (5-28-82)

3.The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas $11.9 (7-27-82)

4. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial $11.8 (6-4-82)

5.Conan the Barbarian $9.6 (5-14-82)

5-25-83

1.The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

3. Rocky III $12.4 (5-28-82)

4.The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas $11.9 (7-27-82)

5. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial $11.8 (6-4-82)

6-17-83

1.The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

3. Superman III $13.4 (6-17-83)

4. Rocky III $12.4 (5-28-82)

5.The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas $11.9 (7-27-82)

7-15-83

1.The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

3. Superman III $13.4 (6-17-83)

4. Rocky III $12.4 (5-28-82)

5. Staying Alive $12.1 (7-15-83)

7-22-83

1.The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

3. Jaws 3-D $13.42 (7-22-83)

4. Superman III $13.4 (6-17-83)

5. Rocky III $12.4 (5-28-82)

5-23-84

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

3. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

4. Jaws 3-D $13.42 (7-22-83)

5. Superman III $13.4 (6-17-83)

6-1-84

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $16.7 (6-1-84)

4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

5. Jaws 3-D $13.42 (7-22-83)

6-8-84

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $16.7 (6-1-84)

4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

5. Ghostbusters $13.6 (6-8-84)

12-5-84

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $16.7 (6-1-84)

4. Beverly Hills Cop $15.2 (12-5-84)

5. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $14.3 million (6-4-82)

5-22-85

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

3. Rambo: First Blood Part II $20.2 (5-22-85)

4. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $16.7 (6-1-84)

5. Beverly Hills Cop $15.2 (12-5-84)

11-27-85

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

3. Rambo: First Blood Part II $20.2 (5-22-85)

4. Rocky IV $20.0 (11-27-85)

5. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $16.7 (6-1-84)

11-26-86

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

3. Rambo: First Blood Part II $20.2 (5-22-85)

4. Rocky IV $20.0 (11-27-85)

5. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home $16.9 (11-26-86)

5-20-87

1. Beverly Hills Cop II $26.3 (5-20-87)

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

3. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

4. Rambo: First Blood Part II $20.2 (5-22-85)

5. Rocky IV $20.0 (11-27-85)

5-25-88

1. Beverly Hills Cop II $26.3 (5-20-87)

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

3. Crocodile Dundee II $24.5 (5-25-88)

4. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

5. Rambo: First Blood Part II $20.2 (5-22-85)

6-29-88

1. Beverly Hills Cop II $26.3 (5-20-87)

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

3. Crocodile Dundee II $24.5 (5-25-88)

4. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

5. Coming to America $21.4 (6-29-88)

5-24-89

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $29.4 (5-24-89)

2. Beverly Hills Cop II $26.3 (5-20-87)

3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

4. Crocodile Dundee II $24.5 (5-25-88)

5. The Return of the Jedi $23.0 (5-25-83)

6-16-89

1. Ghostbusters II $29.5 (6-16-89)

2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $29.4 (5-24-89)

3. Beverly Hills Cop II $26.3 (5-20-87)

4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

5. Crocodile Dundee II $24.5 (5-25-88)

6-23-89

1. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

2. Ghostbusters II $29.5 (6-16-89)

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $29.4 (5-24-89)

4. Beverly Hills Cop II $26.3 (5-20-87)

5. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $25.3 (5-23-84)

11-22-89

1. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

2. Ghostbusters II $29.5 (6-16-89)

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $29.4 (5-24-89)

4. Back to the Future Part II $27.8 (11-22-89)

5. Beverly Hills Cop II $26.3 (5-20-87)

7-3-91

1. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

2. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $31.8 (7-3-91)

3. Ghostbusters II $29.5 (6-16-89)

4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $29.4 (5-24-89)

5. Back to the Future Part II $27.8 (11-22-89)

5-15-92

1. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

2. Lethal Weapon 3 $33.2 (5-15-92)

3. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $31.8 (7-3-91)

4. Ghostbusters II $29.5 (6-16-89)

5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $29.4 (5-24-89)

6-19-92

1. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

2. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

3. Lethal Weapon 3 $33.2 (5-15-92)

4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $31.8 (7-3-91)

5. Ghostbusters II $29.5 (6-16-89)

11-13-92

1. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

2. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

3. Lethal Weapon 3 $33.2 (5-15-92)

4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $31.8 (7-3-91)

5. Bram Stoker's Dracula $30.5 (11-13-92)

11-20-92

1. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

2. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

3. Lethal Weapon 3 $33.2 (5-15-92)

4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $31.8 (7-3-91)

5. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York $31.1 (11-20-92)

6-11-93

1. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

2. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

3. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

4. Lethal Weapon 3 $33.2 (5-15-92)

5. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $31.8 (7-3-91)

6-24-94

1. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

2. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

3. The Lion King $40.9 (6-24-94)

4. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

5. Lethal Weapon 3 $33.2 (5-15-92)

11-11-94

1. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

2. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

3. The Lion King $40.9 (6-24-94)

4. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

5. Interview With a Vampire $36.4 (11-11-94)

6-16-95

1. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

2. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

3. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

4. The Lion King $40.9 (6-24-94)

5. Batman $40.5 (6-23-89)

5-10-96

1. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

2. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

3. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

4. Twister $41.1 (5-10-96)

5. The Lion King $40.9 (6-24-94)

5-22-96

1. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

2. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

3. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

4. Mission: Impossible $45.4 (5-22-96)

5. Twister $41.1 (5-10-96)

7-3-96

1. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

2. Independance Day $50.2 (7-3-96)

3. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

4. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

5. Mission: Impossible $45.4 (5-22-96)

5-23-97

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

3. Independance Day $50.2 (7-3-96)

4. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

5. Batman Returns $45.7 (6-19-92)

7-2-97

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

3. Men in Black $51.1 (7-2-97)

4. Independance Day $50.2 (7-3-96)

5. Jurassic Park $47.0 (6-11-93)

5-19-99

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

3. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

4. Men in Black $51.1 (7-2-97)

5. Independance Day $50.2 (7-3-96)

6-11-99

1. The Lost World: Jurassica Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

3. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me $54.9 (6-11-99)

4. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

5. Men in Black $51.1 (7-2-97)

11-24-99

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

3. Toy Story 2 $57.4 (11-24-99)

4. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me $54.9 (6-11-99)

5. Batman Forever $52.8 (6-16-95)

5-24-00

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

3. Mission: Impossible II $57.8 (5-24-00)

4. Toy Story 2 $57.4 (11-24-99)

5. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me $54.9 (6-11-99)

11-17-00

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

3. Mission: Impossible II $57.8 (5-24-00)

4. Toy Story 2 $57.4 (11-24-99)

5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas $55.1 (11-17-00)

2-9-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

3. Hannibal $58.0 (2-9-01)

4. Mission: Impossible II $57.8 (5-24-00)

5. Toy Story 2 $57.4 (11-24-99)

5-4-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. The Mummy Returns $68.1 (5-4-01)

3. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

4. Hannibal $58.0 (2-9-01)

5. Mission: Impossible II $57.8 (5-24-00)

5-25-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. The Mummy Returns $68.1 (5-4-01)

3. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

4. Pearl Harbor $59.1 (5-25-01)

5. Hannibal $58.0 (2-9-01)

7-27-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Planet of the Apes $68.5 (7-27-01)

3. The Mummy Returns $68.1 (5-4-01)

4. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

5. Pearl Harbor $59.1 (5-25-01)

8-3-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

2. Planet of the Apes $68.5 (7-27-01)

3. The Mummy Returns $68.1 (5-4-01)

4. Rush Hour 2 $67.4 (8-3-01)

5. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $64.8 (5-19-99)

11-16-01

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

2. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

3. Planet of the Apes $68.5 (7-27-01)

4. The Mummy Returns $68.1 (5-4-01)

5. Rush Hour 2 $67.4 (8-3-01)

5-3-02

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

3. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

4. Planet of the Apes $68.5 (7-27-01)

5. The Mummy Returns $68.1 (5-4-01)

5-16-02

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

3. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $80.0 (5-16-02)

4. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

5. Planet of the Apes $68.5 (7-27-01)

7-26-02

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

3. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $80.0 (5-16-02)

4. Austin Powers in Goldmember $73.1 (7-26-02)

5. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72.1 (5-23-97)

11-15-02

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $88.4 (11-15-02)

4. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $80.0 (5-16-02)

5. Austin Powers in Goldmember $73.1 (7-26-02)

5-2-03

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $88.4 (11-15-02)

4. X2: X-Men United $85.6 (5-2-03)

5. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $80.0 (5-16-02)

5-15-03

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. The Matrix Reloaded $91.8 (5-15-03)

3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $88.4 (11-15-02)

5. X2: X-Men United $85.6 (5-2-03)

5-19-04

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Shrek 2 $108.0 (5-19-04)

3. The Matrix Reloaded $91.8 (5-15-03)

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $88.4 (11-15-02)

6-4-04

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Shrek 2 $108.0 (5-19-04)

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban $93.7 (6-4-04)

4. The Matrix Reloaded $91.8 (5-15-03)

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $90.3 (11-16-01)

5-19-05

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $108.4 (5-19-05)

3. Shrek 2 $108.0 (5-19-04)

4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban $93.7 (6-4-04)

5. The Matrix Reloaded $91.8 (5-15-03)

11-18-05

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $108.4 (5-19-05)

3. Shrek 2 $108.0 (5-19-04)

4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire $102.7 (11-18-05)

5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban $93.7 (6-4-04)

5-26-06

1. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

2. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $108.4 (5-19-05)

3. Shrek 2 $108.0 (5-19-04)

4. X-Men: The Last Stand $102.8 (5-26-06)

5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire $102.7 (11-18-05)

7-7-06

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $135.6 (7-7-06)

2. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

3. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $108.4 (5-19-05)

4. Shrek 2 $108.0 (5-19-04)

5. X-Men: The Last Stand $102.8 (5-26-06)

5-4-07

1. Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $135.6 (7-7-06)

3. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

4. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $108.4 (5-19-05)

5. Shrek 2 $108.0 (5-19-04)

5-18-07

1. Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $135.6 (7-7-06)

3. Shrek the Third $121.6 (5-18-07)

4. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

5. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $108.4 (5-19-05)

5-25-07

1. Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $135.6 (7-7-06)

3. Shrek the Third $121.6 (5-18-07)

4. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End $114.7 (5-25-07)

7-18-08

1. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

2. Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $135.6 (7-7-06)

4. Shrek the Third $121.6 (5-18-07)

5. Spider-Man $114.8 (5-3-02)

11-20-09

1. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

2. Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

3. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $142.8 (11-20-09)

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $135.6 (7-7-06)

5. Shrek the Third $121.6 (5-18-07)

5-7-10

1. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

2. Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

3. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $142.8 (11-20-09)

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $135.6 (7-7-06)

5. Iron Man 2 $128.1 (5-7-10)

7-15-11

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $169.2

2. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

3 Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $142.8 (11-20-09)

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $135.6 (7-7-06)

11-18-11

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $169.2

2. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

3 Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $142.8 (11-20-09)

5. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 $138.1 (11-18-11)

3-23-12

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $169.2

2. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

3. The Hunger Games $152.5 (3-23-12)

4 Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

5. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $142.8 (11-20-09)

5-4-12

1. The Avengers $207.4 (5-4-12)

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $169.2

3. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

4. The Hunger Games $152.5 (3-23-12)

5 Spider-Man 3 $151.1 (5-4-07)

7-20-12

1. The Avengers $207.4 (5-4-12)

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $169.2

3. The Dark Knight Rises $160.9 (7-20-12)

4. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

5. The Hunger Games $152.5 (3-23-12)

5-3-13

1. The Avengers $207.4 (5-4-12)

2. Iron Man 3 $174.1 (5-3-13)

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $169.2

4. The Dark Knight Rises $160.9 (7-20-12)

5. The Dark Knight $158.4 (7-18-08)

5-1-15

1. The Avengers $207.4 (5-4-12)

2. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $191.3 (5-1-15)

3. Iron Man 3 $174.1 (5-3-13)

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $169.2

5. The Dark Knight Rises $160.9 (7-20-12)

6-12-15

1. Jurassic World $208.8 (6-12-15)

2. The Avengers $207.4 (5-4-12)

3. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $191.3 (5-1-15)

4. Iron Man 3 $174.1 (5-3-13)

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $169.2

12-18-15

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens $248.0 (12-18-15)

2. Jurassic World $208.8 (6-12-15)

3. The Avengers $207.4 (5-4-12)

4. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $191.3 (5-1-15)

5. Iron Man 3 $174.1 (5-3-13)

5-6-16

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens $248.0 (12-18-15)

2. Jurassic World $208.8 (6-12-15)

3. The Avengers $207.4 (5-4-12)

4. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $191.3 (5-1-15)

5. Captain America: Civil War $179.1 (5-6-16)

12-15-17

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens $248.0 (12-18-15)

2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi $220.0 (12-15-17)

3. Jurassic World $208.8 (6-12-15)

4. The Avengers $207.4 (5-4-12)

5. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $191.3 (5-1-15)

Dark 33Legend of the Sith · December 29, 2017

Some things I have noticed:

*Return of the Jedi was one of the all time greats. $23 million when the previous biggest opening was $14 million. It stayed in the top 5 for for a little over 6 years.

*Temple of Doom was also a massive opening and stayed in the top 5 for 5.5 years.

*The power of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise in the 80's was enormous as BHC II was the biggenst opener of all time in 1987.

*Batman (1989) was one of, if not the greatest opening weekend event of all time at 40 million. The previous biggest opening weekend was 29.5. It stayed #1 for 3 years with the only movie able to beat it was it's own sequel (Batman Returns) in 1992. Batman stayed in the top 5 for 7 years.

*The popularity of the Lethal Weapon franchise is evident as Lethal Weapon 3 had the 2nd biggest opening weekend ever.

*The Lost World: Jurassic Park was huge. Opening to 72 million when the previous record was 53. It held number one for 4.5 years, the longest run of any movie at the top.

*Spider-Man ranks among the elites. When it opened with $115, it beat 2nd by 25 and 3rd by 42. It stayed in the top 5 for a record 7.5 years.

*The Dark Knight was a behemoth, holding the top spot for 3 years and was in the top 5 nearly 7 years.

Edited December 30, 2017 by Dark 33Legend of the Sith

JB33 · December 29, 2017

Cool thread. It will be interesting to see how long certain movies can remain in the top 5. Right now I'm looking at THE AVENGERS. It's been there since 2012. 2 more bigger weekends and it gets booted out. It could happen in 2019.

Dark 33Legend of the Sith · December 29, 2017

A couple of notes on some franchises.

Star Wars is probably the biggest opener of them all:

-Of the 6 "episode films" 2 have broken the OW record by enormous margins (ROJ and TFA).

- All of the episode films opened in the top 2 for OW except for Attack of the Clones which opened at #3. The incredible thing is that all the prequel films didn't open on a Friday. The Phantom Menace opened on a Wed, while AOC and ROS opened on Thursday. TPM and ROS would have certainly broken the OW record if opening on a Friday.

-Currently Star Wars owns the top 2 spots on the list by a significant margin despite opening in December- a time known for more modest openings.

-The only Star Wars film not to open in the top 5 was Rogue One- a spin off film- that opened with $155 in December.

The Batman franchise is a HUGE opener. It has had 4 films break the opening weekend record. (Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, The Dark Knight) With a 5th (DKRises) opening at #3.

- In 1992, it owned the top 2 spots on the all time OW list

- For almost a year from 1995 -1996, Batman had 3 of the top 5 all time opening weekends.

The Harry Potter franchise broke the OW record twice. 5 of the 6 Potter films that opened on a Friday had top 5 all time openings. Deathly Hallows I was the only one that failed to do so and it was only 3 million shy.

The Avengers is the other franchise to join Star Wars and Batman to own the top 2 spots. Both Avengers films held the top 2 spots for a month in 2015.

Walt Disney · December 29, 2017

It's amazing to look at this list and see how it's so dominated by Disney currently. This list starts in the 80's, so it makes sense to see the other studios dominating OW. However, now it is heavily Disney.

JB33 · December 29, 2017

10 minutes ago, Walt Disney said:

It's amazing to look at this list and see how it's so dominated by Disney currently. This list starts in the 80's, so it makes sense to see the other studios dominating OW. However, now it is heavily Disney.

Unless the Jurassic franchise somehow takes another big leap, I don't know what other studio will be able to gain footing at the top of the opening weekend list or any other big box office records. Warner Bros. had a chance with DC but they've bungled it. Fox just sold themselves out, otherwise they could have made a dent with the Avatar franchise.

I think Warner Bros. has the best chance if they can do something big with Batman again, judging by how proven and lucrative the property has been in NA for years. If Fantastic Beasts can elevate the franchise back to Harry Potter heights with the next installments then that's possibly another card they can play as well.

StarWarsBGFan · December 29, 2017

So loooking at this. Return of the Jedi seems to have had the biggest increase percentage-wize, with over 60%.

Porthos · December 30, 2017

I hope @Dark 33Legend of the Sith doesn't mind, but I am going to redo his list with adjusted numbers. I love the fact that he had them as unadjusted, as it shows the leaps and bounds over the years. Still might be a little interesting to get a feel for what they would be close to nowadays (yes, I know PLF/3D, frontloading, multiplexes change things. As well as an imperfect relationship between inflation, ticket inflation, AND entertainment choice. Still interesting though )

I also decided to sprinkle some commentary throughout the years. Mostly noting ticket price changes, but sometimes other stray observations as well.

====

END OF 1982

1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

2. Rocky III $37.8 (5-28-82)

3.The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas $36.1 (7-27-82)

4. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial $35.9 (6-4-82)

5.Conan the Barbarian $29.2 (5-14-82)

5-25-83

1.The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

3. Rocky III $37.8 (5-28-82)

4.The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas $36.1 (7-27-82)

5. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial $35.9 (6-4-82)

6-17-83

1.The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

3. Superman III $37.9 (6-17-83)

4. Rocky III $37.8 (5-28-82)

5.The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas $36.1 (7-27-82)

7-15-83

1.The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

3. Superman III $37.9 (6-17-83)

4. Rocky III $37.8 (5-28-82)

5. Staying Alive $34.4 (7-15-83)

7-22-83

1.The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

3. Jaws 3-D $38.05 (7-22-83)

4. Superman III $37.9 (6-17-83)

5. Rocky III $37.8 (5-28-82)

5-23-84

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

3. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

4. Jaws 3-D $38.05 (7-22-83)

5. Superman III $37.9 (6-17-83)

6-1-84

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $44.3 (6-1-84)

4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

5. Jaws 3-D $38.05 (7-22-83)

6-8-84

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $44.3 (6-1-84)

4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

5. Ghostbusters $36.1 (6-8-84)

12-5-84

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $44.3 (6-1-84)

4. Beverly Hills Cop $40.4 (12-5-84)

5. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn $43.6 million (6-4-82)

5-22-85

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

3. Rambo: First Blood Part II $50.8 (5-22-85)

4. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $44.3 (6-1-84)

5. Beverly Hills Cop $40.4 (12-5-84)

11-27-85

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

3. Rambo: First Blood Part II $50.8 (5-22-85)

4. Rocky IV $50.3 (11-27-85)

5. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock $44.3 (6-1-84)

11-26-86

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

2. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

3. Rambo: First Blood Part II $50.8 (5-22-85)

4. Rocky IV $50.3 (11-27-85)

5. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home $40.6 (11-26-86) [Note: this bumps off the 44.3 Star Trek III from 1984]

5-20-87

1. Beverly Hills Cop II $60.2 (5-20-87) [The first real instance where ticket inflation matters, took three years for it to catch up]

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

3. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

4. Rambo: First Blood Part II $50.8 (5-22-85)

5. Rocky IV $50.3 (11-27-85)

5-25-88

1. Beverly Hills Cop II $60.2 (5-20-87)

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

3. Crocodile Dundee II $53.2 (5-25-88)

4. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

5. Rambo: First Blood Part II $50.8 (5-22-85)

6-29-88

1. Beverly Hills Cop II $60.2 (5-20-87)

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

3. Crocodile Dundee II $53.2 (5-25-88)

4. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

5. Coming to America $46.5 (6-29-88)

5-24-89

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $66.0 (5-24-89) [Still not quite a ‘true’ #1, but very close. So it RotJ]

2. Beverly Hills Cop II $60.2 (5-20-87)

3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

4. Crocodile Dundee II $53.2 (5-25-88)

5. The Return of the Jedi $65.2 (5-25-83)

6-16-89

1. Ghostbusters II $66.3 (6-16-89)

2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $66.0 (5-24-89)

3. Beverly Hills Cop II $60.2 (5-20-87)

4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

5. Crocodile Dundee II $53.2 (5-25-88)

6-23-89

1. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

2. Ghostbusters II $66.3 (6-16-89)

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $66.0 (5-24-89)

4. Beverly Hills Cop II $60.2 (5-20-87)

5. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom $67.3 (5-23-84)

11-22-89

1. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

2. Ghostbusters II $66.3 (6-16-89)

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $66.0 (5-24-89)

4. Back to the Future Part II $62.6 (11-22-89)

5. Beverly Hills Cop II $60.2 (5-20-87)

7-3-91

1. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

2. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $67.4 (7-3-91)

3. Ghostbusters II $66.3 (6-16-89)

4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $66.0 (5-24-89)

5. Back to the Future Part II $62.6 (11-22-89)

5-15-92

1. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

2. Lethal Weapon 3 $71.5 (5-15-92)

3. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $67.4 (7-3-91)

4. Ghostbusters II $66.3 (6-16-89)

5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade $66.0 (5-24-89)

6-19-92

1. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

2. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

3. Lethal Weapon 3 $71.5 (5-15-92)

4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $67.4 (7-3-91)

5. Ghostbusters II $66.3 (6-16-89)

11-13-92

1. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

2. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

3. Lethal Weapon 3 $71.5 (5-15-92)

4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $67.4 (7-3-91)

5. Bram Stoker's Dracula 65.7 (11-13-92)

11-20-92

1. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

2. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

3. Lethal Weapon 3 $71.5 (5-15-92)

4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $67.4 (7-3-91)

5. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York $66.98 (11-20-92)

6-11-93

1. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93) [Appropriately the first 100 OW under current numbers]

2. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

3. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

4. Lethal Weapon 3 $71.5 (5-15-92)

5. Terminator 2: Judgement Day $67.4 (7-3-91)

6-24-94

1. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93)

2. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

3. The Lion King $87.4 (6-24-94) [in just five years, ticket inflation can make a difference]

4. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

5. Lethal Weapon 3 $71.5 (5-15-92)

11-11-94

1. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93)

2. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

3. The Lion King $87.4 (6-24-94)

4. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

5. Interview With a Vampire $77.7 (11-11-94)

6-16-95

1. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

2. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93)

3. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

4. The Lion King $87.4 (6-24-94)

5. Batman $91.1 (6-23-89)

5-10-96

1. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

2. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93)

3. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

4. Twister $82.95 (5-10-96)

5. The Lion King $87.4 (6-24-94)

5-22-96

1. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

2. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93)

3. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

4. Mission: Impossible $91.8 (5-22-96)

5. Twister $82.95 (5-10-96)

7-3-96

1. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

2. Independance Day $101.48 (7-3-96)

3. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93)

4. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

5. Mission: Impossible $91.8 (5-22-96)

5-23-97

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97) [3,500+ theaters; perhaps the most ‘modern’ OW on this list so far]

2. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

3. Independance Day $101.48 (7-3-96)

4. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93)

5. Batman Returns $98.3 (6-19-92)

7-2-97

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

3. Men in Black $99.4 (7-2-97)

4. Independance Day $101.48 (7-3-96)

5. Jurassic Park $101.43 (6-11-93)

5-19-99

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99) [‘only’ 2970 theaters, nearly 600 less than TLW]

3. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

4. Men in Black $99.4 (7-2-97)

5. Independance Day $101.48 (7-3-96)

6-11-99

1. The Lost World: Jurassica Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

3. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me $96.5 (6-11-99)

4. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

5. Men in Black $99.4 (7-2-97)

11-24-99

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

3. Toy Story 2 $100.9 (11-24-99)

4. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me $96.5 (6-11-99)

5. Batman Forever $108.4 (6-16-95)

5-24-00

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

3. Mission: Impossible II $95.8 (5-24-00)

4. Toy Story 2 $100.9 (11-24-99)

5. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me $96.5 (6-11-99)

11-17-00

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

3. Mission: Impossible II $95.8 (5-24-00) [ticket estimation can get a little weird, just roll with it]

4. Toy Story 2 $100.9 (11-24-99)

5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas $91.2 (11-17-00)

2-9-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

3. Hannibal $91.5 (2-9-01)

4. Mission: Impossible II $95.8 (5-24-00)

5. Toy Story 2 $100.9 (11-24-99)

5-4-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. The Mummy Returns $107.5 (5-4-01)

3. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

4. Hannibal $91.5 (2-9-01)

5. Mission: Impossible II $95.8 (5-24-00)

5-25-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. The Mummy Returns $107.5 (5-4-01)

3. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

4. Pearl Harbor $93.2 (5-25-01)

5. Hannibal $91.5 (2-9-01)

7-27-01

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Planet of the Apes $108.1 (7-27-01)

3. The Mummy Returns $107.5 (5-4-01)

4. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

5. Pearl Harbor $93.2 (5-25-01)

8-3-01 [The OW list is now all 100m+ adj]

1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

2. Planet of the Apes $108.1 (7-27-01)

3. The Mummy Returns $107.5 (5-4-01)

4. Rush Hour 2 $106.3 (8-3-01)

5. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace $113.9 (5-19-99)

11-16-01

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

2. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

3. Planet of the Apes $108.1 (7-27-01)

4. The Mummy Returns $107.5 (5-4-01)

5. Rush Hour 2 $106.3 (8-3-01)

5-3-02

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02) [This would be impressive today; this was 15+ years ago, on 3600+ screens with no 3D/PLF]

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

3. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

4. Planet of the Apes $108.1 (7-27-01)

5. The Mummy Returns $107.5 (5-4-01)

5-16-02

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

3. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $123.0 (5-16-02) [the power of five years of ticket inflation]

4. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

5. Planet of the Apes $108.1 (7-27-01)

7-26-02

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

3. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $123.0 (5-16-02)

4. Austin Powers in Goldmember $112.3 (7-26-02) [ditto]

5. The Lost World: Jurassic Park $140.3 (5-23-97)

11-15-02

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $135.8 (11-15-02)

4. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $123.0 (5-16-02)

5. Austin Powers in Goldmember $112.3 (7-26-02)

5-2-03

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $135.8 (11-15-02)

4. X2: X-Men United $126.7 (5-2-03)

5. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $123.0 (5-16-02)

5-15-03

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. The Matrix Reloaded $135.9 (5-15-03)

3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $135.8 (11-15-02)

5. X2: X-Men United $126.7 (5-2-03)

5-19-04

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Shrek 2 $155.4 (5-19-04)

3. The Matrix Reloaded $135.9 (5-15-03)

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $135.8 (11-15-02)

6-4-04

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Shrek 2 $155.4 (5-19-04)

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban $134.7 (6-4-04) [three years later, comes slightly under HP1 not bad at all, really]

4. The Matrix Reloaded $135.9 (5-15-03)

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $142.4 (11-16-01)

5-19-05

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $151.1 (5-19-05)

3. Shrek 2 $155.4 (5-19-04)

4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban $134.7 (6-4-04)

5. The Matrix Reloaded $135.9 (5-15-03)

11-18-05

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $151.1 (5-19-05)

3. Shrek 2 $155.4 (5-19-04)

4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire $143.1 (11-18-05)

5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban $134.7 (6-4-04)

5-26-06

1. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

2. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $151.1 (5-19-05)

3. Shrek 2 $155.4 (5-19-04)

4. X-Men: The Last Stand $140.6 (5-26-06) [It took NINE years, but Lost World (104.3) finally drops off the ‘real’ Top Five OW list, adj ]

5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire $143.1 (11-18-05)

7-7-06

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $184.9 (7-7-06)

2. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

3. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $151.1 (5-19-05)

4. Shrek 2 $155.4 (5-19-04)

5. X-Men: The Last Stand $140.6 (5-26-06)

5-4-07

1. Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07) [knocking on the $200m door]

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $184.9 (7-7-06)

3. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

4. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $151.1 (5-19-05)

5. Shrek 2 $155.4 (5-19-04)

5-18-07

1. Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $184.9 (7-7-06)

3. Shrek the Third $157.9 (5-18-07)

4. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

5. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith $151.1 (5-19-05)

5-25-07

1. Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $184.9 (7-7-06)

3. Shrek the Third $157.9 (5-18-07)

4. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End $148.9 (5-25-07)

7-18-08

1. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

2. Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $184.9 (7-7-06)

4. Shrek the Third $157.9 (5-18-07)

5. Spider-Man $176.5 (5-3-02)

11-20-09

1. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

2. Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

3. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $167.6 (11-20-09)

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $184.9 (7-7-06)

5. Shrek the Third $157.9 (5-18-07)

5-7-10

1. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

2. Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

3. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $167.6 (11-20-09)

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $184.9 (7-7-06)

5. Iron Man 2 $145.2 (5-7-10) [three years can make about 12m difference, sometimes]

7-15-11

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $190.2 (7-15-11)

2. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

3 Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $167.6 (11-20-09)

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $184.9 (7-7-06)

11-18-11

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $190.2 (7-15-11)

2. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

3 Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $167.6 (11-20-09)

5. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 $157.5 (11-18-11)

3-23-12

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $190.2 (7-15-11)

2. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

3. The Hunger Games $171.98 (3-23-12)

4 Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

5. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $167.6 (11-20-09)

5-4-12

1. The Avengers $228.1 (5-4-12) [First real AND adj 200m OW. What a monster]

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $190.2 (7-15-11)

3. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

4. The Hunger Games $171.98 (3-23-12)

5 Spider-Man 3 $196.1 (5-4-07)

7-20-12

1. The Avengers $228.1 (5-4-12)

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $190.2 (7-15-11)

3. The Dark Knight Rises $184.7 (7-20-12)

4. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

5. The Hunger Games $171.98 (3-23-12)

5-3-13

1. The Avengers $228.1 (5-4-12)

2. Iron Man 3 $185.6 (5-3-13)

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $190.2 (7-15-11)

4. The Dark Knight Rises $184.7 (7-20-12)

5. The Dark Knight $197.0 (7-18-08)

5-1-15

1. The Avengers $228.1 (5-4-12)

2. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $198.4 (5-1-15) [If this had happened today, maybe Puerto Rico could have fudged it over 200m ]

3. Iron Man 3 $185.6 (5-3-13)

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $190.2 (7-15-11)

5. The Dark Knight Rises $184.7 (7-20-12)

6-12-15

1. Jurassic World $226.0 (6-12-15) [Going to guess there were talking points exchanged back then ]

2. The Avengers $228.1 (5-4-12)

3. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $198.4 (5-1-15)

4. Iron Man 3 $185.6 (5-3-13)

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II $190.2 (7-15-11)

12-18-15

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens $254.5 (12-18-15) [Talking point THIS! Also: Woof]

2. Jurassic World $226.0 (6-12-15)

3. The Avengers $228.1 (5-4-12)

4. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $198.4 (5-1-15)

5. Iron Man 3 $185.6 (5-3-13)

5-6-16

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens $254.5 (12-18-15)

2. Jurassic World $226.0 (6-12-15)

3. The Avengers $228.1 (5-4-12)

4. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $198.4 (5-1-15)

5. Captain America: Civil War $183.2 (5-6-16) [Poor Iron Man 3 ]

12-15-17

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens $254.5 (12-18-15)

2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi $220.0 (12-15-17)

3. Jurassic World $226.0(6-12-15)

4. The Avengers $228.1 (5-4-12)

5. The Avengers: Age of Ultron $198.4 (5-1-15)

===

One can see the slow rise of multiplexes in the mid 90s as well as the current CBM/SciFi takeover in the late 90s. Also a LITTLE surprising/scary that 2002 doesn't look all that out of place for 2017. Not sure if that says a good or bad thing, tbh. :lol:

More thoughts later, gotta run for a bit.

Edited December 30, 2017 by Porthos

Dark 33Legend of the Sith · December 30, 2017

Awesome. Thanks for the addition @Porthos!

Porthos · December 30, 2017

Alright thoughts on the Adjusted list. I actually lived through all of this so I can provide some perspective on it all.

There were indeed multiplexes back in the 80s, but the norm was four or six screens per theater, at least for a town like Sacramento. I still remember being surprised when an eight screen multiplex opened up at the edge of town. Unheard of! This obviously meant that you just couldn't have the wild 100m openings back then, even when adjusted for ticket price. It also explains the longer legs of movies back then. The really good ones would last for months at certain places, before being shuffled to the dollar theaters.

Then there's the internet factor. Never mind the lack of social media, practically no one was 'on line' in the early 80s and only goober geeks like me started to go on local bulletin boards or national outfits like CompuServe (the prehistoric ancestor to forums like this one) in the mid to late 80s. This meant that while one could be spoiled in the schoolyard or around the water cooler, you didn't have Trolly McTollster ruin a movie for you on MyTwit or Facespace or wherever the heck you youngins are hanging about nowadays. And that doesn't even bring up cable or streaming or home media or anything else. So there just wasn't the rush factor.

Getting to the actual movies, what this adjusted list helps show is kinda the 'eras'. One from the early 80s to the late 80s/early 90s. Then the early 90s to the early 00s. And finally from the early 00s to now. There might even be a split between post-Avengers and pre-Avengers. Broadly speaking one could see this as: The VHS era, the Cable era, the Internet era and finally the PLF era. One way to look at it at least.

As I mentioned in my other post, it's striking to see just how much comic book movies and sci-fi/fantasy took over as far back as 2002. With the notable exception of Shrek 3, there isn't a single comedy on the list past 2002. And even Shrek was an animated series. The 'standard' action-adventure film is nowhere to be seen in the last two decades.

In fact, looking at the 90s list and, well, everything after it, it's night and day. Want variety? Have to find it within CBM/Sci-Fi Fantasy.

I do have more thoughts, but I don't want to make this post TOO long, so I'll save it for another post, but perhaps the true break on the list is The Lost World. It blew up the list by over 30m adj. It would stick in the Adj Top Five for nine years (it does fall off the unadj list thanks to ticket inflation). While some other 80s/90s films would still come in after TLW, that really was a sea change. To us sitting here in 2017, a 140 OW still looks pretty good, if not gangbusters. But when we consider that was twenty years ago, it suddenly looks a hell of a lot better.

The film that sits right with it in being a sea-change is, IMO, The Avengers. It blew up the previous record holder by 40m adj. It's still on the Top Five, five and a half years later, basically tied for second (I don't feel like splitting hairs here between it and JW ). Even TLJ can't match it when figures are adj.

The Avengers could very well sit on this list for as long as The Lost World did.

Which makes The Force Awakens even more impressive. It like TA and TLW will almost certainly be on the adjusted list for a long long loooooooong time.

Porthos · December 30, 2017

One other quick thought.

A legit underrated movie on this list when it comes to impact is Tim Burton's Batman. Much like The Lost World, Spider-Man. The Avengers, and The Force Awakens after it, it would smash the OW adj record by over 24m dollars. That was hard to do back in 1989. IMO Batman signals the end of the 80s movie going era and the start of the 90s one that would last all the way to The Lost World.

From the time Return of the Jedi hit the screens in 1983 to 1989's Batman, all of the films were bouncing around in the mid to low 60s range, adjusted.

Then Batman blew things up just like RotJ had in 1983.

Just goes to show how popular and deeply embedded Batman is in the North American psyche.

Edited December 30, 2017 by Porthos
Added Spidey to the SMASH PRIOR MOVIE list

Dark 33Legend of the Sith · December 30, 2017

10 minutes ago, Porthos said:

One other quick thought.

A legit underrated movie on this list when it comes to impact is Tim Burton's Batman. Much like The Lost World, The Avengers, and The Force Awakens after it, it would smash the OW adj record by over 25m dollars. That was hard to do back in 1989. IMO Batman signals the end of the 80s movie going era and the start of the 90s one that would last all the way to The Lost World.

From the time Return of the Jedi hit the screens in 1983 to 1989's Batman, all of the films were bouncing around in the mid to low 60s range, adjusted.

Then Batman blew things up just like RotJ had in 1983.

Just goes to show how popular and deeply embedded Batman is in the North American psyche.

Totally agree. If one was to do a "Mount Rushmore" of opening weekends, Batman might make that list. I'm old enough to remember the line at my local theater as an 11 year old being the longest I've ever seen it to this day.

Porthos · December 30, 2017

3 minutes ago, Dark 33Legend of the Sith said:

Totally agree. If one was to do a "Mount Rushmore" of opening weekends, Batman might make that list. I'm old enough to remember the line at my local theater as an 11 year old being the longest I've ever seen it to this day.

The Mount Rushmore would probably be, IMO:

Batman

The Lost World

Spider-Man

The Avengers

The Force Awakens

Yeah, it's five. I don't care.

I'd forgotten to include Spider-Man, but it blew up the adj by 24 million. It was the first 100m OW, unadjusted. LotR, SW, AND DC loonies united in anger to spit hotfire takes at it. Thanks to Spider-Man we had both the infamous BKB Hulk club and Kal-el's crazy Superman Returns club (have to dive into internet archives to see what they were exactly). Spider-Man set something of an expected range for movies all the way up to The Avengers. Yes, there was a slow creep upwards, but nothing as breathtaking as that SM OW. It completely redefined what could be done in an OW.

It's a bit underrated today, as it sits between TLW and TA, but it was just as much a game changer as anything on this list.

Barnack · December 30, 2017

5 hours ago, Dark 33Legend of the Sith said:

Star Wars is probably the biggest opener of them all:

-Of the 6 "episode films" 2 have broken the OW record by enormous margins (ROJ and TFA).

Jurassic Park did it 3 times too (not all by big margin, just 2), nice competition.

Spielberg itself has an argument for the biggest opener (could be missing some), some of is movies that appeared on that list:

Jaws (biggest ever)

E.T.

Jaws 3-D

Indiana Jones temple of doom (biggest ever)

Indiana Jones last Crusades (biggest ever)

Jurassic Park (biggest ever)

Jurassic Park Lost World (biggest ever)

Non directional entry (producer or otherwise):

Batman 1989 (biggest ever)

Back to the future 2

Men In Black

Star wars Revenge of the Sith

Jurassic World (biggest ever)

Spielberg directed 5 times an opening weekend record breaker and produced 2 others. Not sure if anyone else directed 3 or more opener record in the post Jaws era.

And Jaws 2 record is a bit because of him I guess.

Be curious too list how many of those movie are scored by John Williams...

Edited December 30, 2017 by Barnack

AndyChrono · December 30, 2017

Shout out to Independence Day (1996). That film opened on a Wednesday with 11.1m in Tuesday previews and burned off 45.9m worth of business before the traditional 3-day weekend even started. It then came within 2.6m (just 4.9%) of the record held by Batman Forever. For a completely new IP to manage that is just incredible.

To put that in today's terms, it would be like if a completely new IP opened on a Wednesday and then managed to come within 4.9% of TFA's opening 3-day weekend... which is a 235.8m opening weekend! Absolutely insane. Credit should go to arguably the greatest marketing campaign of all time.

Dark 33Legend of the Sith · December 30, 2017

12 minutes ago, Porthos said:

The Mount Rushmore would probably be, IMO:

Batman

The Lost World

Spider-Man

The Avengers

The Force Awakens

Yeah, it's five. I don't care.

I'd forgotten to include Spider-Man, but it blew up the adj by 24 million. It was the first 100m OW, unadjusted. LotR, SW, AND DC loonies united in anger to spit hotfire takes at it. Thanks to Spider-Man we had both the infamous BKB Hulk club and Kal-el's crazy Superman Returns club (have to dive into internet archives to see what they were exactly). Spider-Man set something of an expected range for movies all the way up to The Avengers. Yes, there was a slow creep upwards, but nothing as breathtaking as that SM OW. It completely redefined what could be done in an OW.

It's a bit underrated today, as it sits between TLW and TA, but it was just as much a game changer as anything on this list.

I don't know if I've ever been more awestruck and stunned by a number like I was with Spideys 115 in 2002.

Dark 33Legend of the Sith · December 30, 2017

25 minutes ago, Barnack said:

Jurassic Park did it 3 times too (not all by big margin, just 2), nice competition.

Great call on Jurassic Park. For some reason it slipped by me that it has 3 OW records out of 4 films. Incredible.

Edited December 30, 2017 by Dark 33Legend of the Sith

Dark 33Legend of the Sith · December 30, 2017

One that makes me chuckle in an 80's nostalgia way is that Crocodile Dundee II was 1.9 million away from breaking the OW record in 1988. The series hasn't stood the test of time but the popularity of Crocodile Dundee in the 80's was no joke.

Porthos · December 30, 2017

6 minutes ago, Dark 33Legend of the Sith said:

One that makes me chuckle in an 80's nostalgia way is that Crocodile Dundee II was 1.9 million away from breaking the OW record in 1988. The series hasn't stood the test of time but the popularity of Crocodile Dundee in the 80's was no joke.

Speaking of the 80s, your list shows that while it is a shadow of itself now in the movie world, back in the day, Star Trek was no joke. II, III, and IV all made it to your OW list at one time or another.

I maintain to this day that Star Trek works far better as a TV show than a movie. But for a brief time, it was able to be both. Not too shabby, all things considered.

Taruseth · December 30, 2017

10 hours ago, Porthos said:

I hope @Dark 33Legend of the Sith doesn't mind, but I am going to redo his list with adjusted numbers. I love the fact that he had them as unadjusted, as it shows the leaps and bounds over the years. Still might be a little interesting to get a feel for what they would be close to nowadays (yes, I know PLF/3D, frontloading, multiplexes change things. As well as an imperfect relationship between inflation, ticket inflation, AND entertainment choice. Still interesting though )

I also decided to sprinkle some commentary throughout the years. Mostly noting ticket price changes, but sometimes other stray observations as well.

I am a bit confused did you adjust them and kept the order they were unadjusted?

7 hours ago, Porthos said:

Speaking of the 80s, your list shows that while it is a shadow of itself now in the movie world, back in the day, Star Trek was no joke. II, III, and IV all made it to your OW list at one time or another.

I maintain to this day that Star Trek works far better as a TV show than a movie. But for a brief time, it was able to be both. Not too shabby, all things considered.

Definitely agree with you. Star Trek is far better as a TV show, like right now with Discovery.

8 hours ago, Porthos said:

The film that sits right with it in being a sea-change is, IMO, The Avengers. It blew up the previous record holder by 40m adj. It's still on the Top Five, five and a half years later, basically tied for second (I don't feel like splitting hairs here between it and JW ). Even TLJ can't match it when figures are adj.

The Avengers could very well sit on this list for as long as The Lost World did.

Which makes The Force Awakens even more impressive. It like TA and TLW will almost certainly be on the adjusted list for a long long loooooooong time.

In 2018 I think Infinity War is the only film, that has a chance if grossing more than TA unadjusted, I would give it less than a 1% chance to gross more than TA adjusted on Opening Weekend.

In 2019 I think three other Disney films have a chance Avengers 4, The Lion King (I think this will be their biggest Live Action film, the release Date alone shows that, it's the same as TDK etc.) and SW IX.

And after that I have no idea.

I doubt that the Avengers Sequels will be able to top the Avengers, so I think SW IX will kick The Avengers out of the unadjusted List.

To be honest I think by 31st December 2019 the list unadjusted might look like this:

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens $248.0 (12-18-15)

2. Star Wars: IX $240.0 (12-20-19)

3. The Lion King $225.0 (07-19-19)

4. Star Wars: The Last Jedi 220.0 (12-15-17)

5. Jurassic World $208.8 (6-12-15)

So Adjusted it might look something like this:

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens $275.0 (12-18-15)

2. The Avengers $247 (5-4-12)

3. Jurassic World $244 (6-12-15)

4. Star Wars: IX $240.0 (12-20-19)

5. Star Wars: The Last Jedi $238 (12-15-17)

So I think TFA and Avengers will stay in that list for quite some time.

Of course TLK, IX could perform stronger and become the first $250+M Opening Weekend(s), but right now I don't really want to make any guesses in that direction.

What I think is really interesting though is the fact, that HP1 wasn't really a out of this world opening weekend, while in Germany it is the highest Opening Weekend of all time and the only one to ever top 2.5M Admissions, actually the three highest Opening Weekends are HP1, 2, 4.

Edited December 30, 2017 by Taruseth

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