The list of highest grossing US movies since 1937 is misleading – only two of the 10 are pre-1997 and six are since 2002. Are we truly in the midst of a cinema revolution where great films attract national attention. Nope. Once you adjust for inflation, the list changes dramatically to the point where only one film on the list was released post 1982.
Highest Grossing Movies in US since 1937
1. Titanic
2. Star Wars
3. Shrek 2
4. ET
5. Star Wars – The Phantom Menace
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
7. Spider-Man
8. Star Wars – Revenge of the Sith
9. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
10. Spider-Man 2
Adjusted for Inflation
1. Gone with the Wind
2. Star Wars
3. Sound of Music
4. ET
5. Ten Commandments
6. Titanic
7. Jaws
8. Doctor Zhivago
9. Exorcist
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
I agree with the point that the list is not a true reflection of popularity, but inflation may not be the right way to adjust for that. I would like to measure popularity by counting people who watched the movies (not $$) may be divide it by the average cost of ticket in that time (this will give us true inflation of ticket price – and not basket of goods, as the common inflation number measures)
This list isn’t correct! when you adjust the 90 million Gone with the Wind made in 1939 = 1.35 Billion in 2009. When you adjust the 1.8 Billion Titanic made in 1997 to 2009 = 2.5 Billion. Nothing Has come CLOSE to touching Titanic