star trek beyond global box office

Why Star Trek Beyond Wasn't A Box Office Hit, According To Simon Pegg

Since 2009, the Star Trek films have been following the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the U.S.S. Enterprise crew as they explore strange new worlds and all that jazz in an alternate timeline. 2016 brought the third entry of this reboot series, Star Trek Beyond , and while critically it was well received, commercially it underwhelmed, making only $343.5 million worldwide off a $185 million budget. As Simon Pegg , who reprised Scotty in Beyond and co-wrote the screenplay, sees it, the reason the movie failed to pick up traction at the box office is because it was poorly marketed ahead of time. In Pegg's words:

I think it was poorly marketed, to be honest. If you look at a film like Suicide Squad, that was around for such a long time before it finally came out and people were so aware of it. Whereas with Star Trek Beyond, it was left too late before they started their marketing push. It still did great business, but it was disappointing compared to Into Darkness.

Of the three Star Trek reboot movies, Beyond is the one that performed the worst commercially. While they were both also made off a $185 million budget, Star Trek walked away with $385.7 million worldwide, while Into Darkness collected $467.4 million worldwide. While Beyond did release a teaser trailer in December of 2015, seven months before the movie arrived in theaters, Simon Pegg 's comments to Screen Geek indicate that he was disappointed overall with Paramount's marketing push for Beyond . The use of the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" was certainly an unusual choice for that first trailer, and even though it was eventually revealed that the song was actually important to the story, Pegg was disappointed that this was indirectly spoiled through that preview. Beyond 's marketing also didn't play into the fact the movie was being released the same year as the franchise's 50th anniversary, so maybe that might have helped improve its box office haul.

Even with Star Trek Beyond not making the big bucks, the Star Trek film series is moving forward. Shortly before Beyond 's release, it was officially announced that Star Trek 4 would see Chris Pine 's James Kirk meeting his father George , who was played by Chris Hemsworth in Star Trek and died only minutes after James was worn in this alternate timeline. However, last December, Paramount and Bad Robot hired Mark L. Smith to write a screenplay based on an idea that director Quentin Tarantino pitched, and if this particular movie goes forward, Tarantino would direct. Perhaps Beyond 's box office return made the studio bigwigs think that the film series needs to branch off in a new direction, but for right now, there hasn't been any official word on which of the two projects will get the green light.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates concerning the Star Trek film series. You can also keep up with the TV side of the franchise by watching Star Trek Discovery on CBS All Access.

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Connoisseur of Marvel, DC, Star Wars, John Wick, MonsterVerse and Doctor Who lore, Adam is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He started working for the site back in late 2014 writing exclusively comic book movie and TV-related articles, and along with branching out into other genres, he also made the jump to editing. Along with his writing and editing duties, as well as interviewing creative talent from time to time, he also oversees the assignment of movie-related features. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Journalism, and he’s been sourced numerous times on Wikipedia. He's aware he looks like Harry Potter and Clark Kent.

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‘Star Trek Beyond’ beams up a big weekend while ‘Ice Age’ faces extinction

Director Justin Lin’s spin on the rebooted Star Trek universe raked in a respectable (but not fantastic) $59.6 million for its debut, on a rare weekend when five movies all managed to earn at least $20 million. It was only the sixth time such a thing has happened in U.S. theaters, and the first occurrence since May 2015.

As for the weekend’s big winner,  Star Trek Beyond ended up with the lowest opening of all three films in the “Kelvin” timeline that began with J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot,  Star Trek , despite debuting in the highest number of theaters.  Beyond earned good reviews from critics and general audiences, though, so pundits are expecting it to have a decent run in theaters when all is said and done.

It was a mixed bag for the weekend’s other two new releases, with the horror film Lights Out  enjoying a relatively big, $21.6 million debut, given that the film only cost $4.9 million to make.

The news wasn’t as positive for the animated sequel Ice Age: Collision Course , which appears to be one of the first animated features in quite a while  not to do well at the box office — although it did manage to earn quite a bit of cash internationally. Brace yourselves: The five-film franchise that began with 2002’s Ice Age  could be nearing extinction, folks.

In its second week in theaters, Paul Feig’s  Ghostbusters  continued to have a good-but-not-great weekend, tying  Lights Out  and dropping 53 percent from its opening-weekend ticket sales. Somewhere around 50 percent tends to be the industry average, so  Ghostbusters continues to reside in the “wait and see” realm as far as final judgement goes.

The biggest movie opening for the upcoming week is the spy sequel Jason Bourne , which will certainly challenge  Star Trek Beyond at the box office. Right now, it feels like the calm before the storm, as  Suicide Squad hits theaters the following week and is riding a wave of positive buzz out of Comic-Con.

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Box Office Top 20: ‘Star Trek Beyond’ beams up $59.3 million

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Star Trek Beyond” easily topped the domestic box office in its first weekend in theaters with $59.3 million, but the real winner was “Lights Out,” which cost Warner Bros. $5 million to make and landed in third place with $21.7 million out of the gate, studios said Monday.

“Star Trek Beyond,” the third film in the rebooted series, cost an estimated $185 million to produce. While its debut was healthy, it is over $10 million shy of the second installment’s opening in 2013.

“Ice Age: Collision Course” bombed in its domestic debut with $21.4 million, putting it in fourth place behind “Lights Out,” and the more direct competitor, “The Secret Life of Pets,” which hung in second place with $29.6 million after three weeks in theaters.

Sony’s “Ghostbusters” reboot fell to fifth place with $21 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to $86.3 million.

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by comScore:

1. “Star Trek Beyond,” Paramount, $59,253,211, 3,928 locations, $15,085 average, $59,253,211, 1 week.

2. “The Secret Life Of Pets,” Universal, $29,607,210, 4,048 locations, $7,314 average, $260,985,955, 3 weeks.

3. “Lights Out,” Warner Bros., $21,688,103, 2,818 locations, $7,696 average, $21,688,103, 1 week.

4. “Ice Age: Collision Course,” 20th Century Fox, $21,373,064, 3,992 locations, $5,354 average, $21,373,064, 1 week.

5. “Ghostbusters,” Sony, $21,009,831, 3,963 locations, $5,301 average, $86,266,570, 2 weeks.

6. “Finding Dory,” Disney, $7,234,806, 2,576 locations, $2,809 average, $460,213,925, 6 weeks.

7. “The Legend of Tarzan,” Warner Bros., $6,576,417, 2,844 locations, $2,312 average, $115,970,501, 4 weeks.

8. “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,” 20th Century Fox, $4,385,285, 2,137 locations, $2,052 average, $40,343,032, 3 weeks.

9. “Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party,” Quality Flix, $3,964,646, 1,217 locations, $3,258 average, $4,056,170, 2 weeks.

10. “Kabali (Tamil & Telugu),” Cinegalaxy, $3,899,441, 240 locations, $16,248 average, $3,899,441, 1 week.

11. “The Infiltrator,” Broad Green Pictures, $3,328,382, 1,537 locations, $2,166 average, $12,274,291, 2 weeks.

12. “Central Intelligence,” Warner Bros., $2,820,284, 1,602 locations, $1,760 average, $123,138,447, 6 weeks.

13. “The Purge: Election Year,” Universal, $2,379,900, 1,701 locations, $1,399 average, $76,622,120, 4 weeks.

14. “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie,” Fox Searchlight, $1,861,118, 313 locations, $5,946 average, $1,861,118, 1 week.

15. “The BFG,” Disney, $1,012,646, 686 locations, $1,476 average, $50,955,703, 4 weeks.

16. “Independence Day: Resurgence,” 20th Century Fox, $902,718, 730 locations, $1,237 average, $101,227,043, 5 weeks.

17. “Cafe Society,” Lionsgate, $849,937, 50 locations, $16,999 average, $1,352,316, 2 weeks.

18. “The Shallows,” Sony, $638,077, 513 locations, $1,244 average, $53,626,202, 5 weeks.

19. “Captain Fantastic,” Bleecker Street, $597,845, 104 locations, $5,749 average, $1,145,109, 3 weeks.

20. “Hunt For The Wilderpeople,” The Orchard, $579,283, 200 locations, $2,896 average, $2,316,394, 5 weeks.

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by 21st Century Fox; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

‘Star Trek Beyond’ Dominates in Its Box Office Debut

“Star Trek Beyond” debuted to a solid $59.6 million this weekend, signaling that after six television series, 13 movies and 50 years in the pop culture conversation, there’s still life left in one of Hollywood’s most durable franchises.

And there are more intergalactic missions to come. As boon to Trekkies, Paramount took the unusual step of announcing yet another sequel was in the works even before this latest USS Enterprise adventure sailed into theaters. The studio has lined up Chris Hemsworth to reprise his role as Capt. Kirk’s father despite the fact that he was incinerated in a spaceship disaster in a previous film. In science-fiction, it seems, death is merely a temporary predicament.

“You can count on one hand the brands that have this kind of longevity and viability over time,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at comScore. “These characters are so clearly defined and people just respond to their sense of camaraderie.”

The latest chapter in the “Star Trek” saga performed respectably, but its opening is down from the two previous films in the series. “Star Trek Beyond” couldn’t match the $70.2 million launch of 2013’s “Star Trek Into Darkness” nor could it top the $75.2 million bow of 2009’s “Star Trek.” Moreover, with a price tag of $185 million, plus tens of millions in promotional spending, the film needs to perform well overseas if it’s going to make a profit.

That’s not a problem for one of the weekend’s other new releases, Fox’s “Ice Age: Collision Course.” Its issues are coming closer to home. The fifth film in the animated series brings back a band of Paleolithic creatures. It racked up $21 million from 3,992 locations. That would be a worrisome, even disastrous result for a film that carries a $105 million budget. However, the “Ice Age” films have always been received more warmly overseas than they are stateside.

“The movie is going to make money,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s domestic distribution chief. “If you go back and look at past ‘Ice Ages,’ the share of international has always been weighted very heavily.”

The most recent installment, 2012’s “Continental Drift,” did 81.6% of its $877.2 million global total overseas, while its predecessor, 2009’s “Dawn of the Dinosaur,” picked up 77.8% of its $886.7 million worldwide haul in foreign markets. “Collision Course” has already grossed over $140 million internationally in 60 markets, so even though its domestic results are disappointing, there might be more “Ice Age” films to come.

In a triumph of profit margins, New Line Cinema’s “Lights Out” racked up $21.6 million in its debut. That’s a healthy return on its $5 million budget. Though its parent studio, Warner Bros., has struggled of late, fielding duds such as “The Legend of Tarzan” and “The Nice Guys,” New Line is enjoying a hot hand at the multiplexes. Earlier this summer, the label scored with the action comedy “Central Intelligence,” the romantic drama “Me Before You,” and the horror sequel “The Conjuring 2.” “Lights Out” centers on a family that is haunted by an evil spirit and was developed by director David F. Sandberg from a 2013 short film.

“It’s always nice when you quadruple what you spent to make a movie in a single weekend,” said Jeff Goldstein, distribution executive vice president at Warner Bros. “New Line always does a great job with horror movies. It’s just a genre they understand.”

“Star Trek Beyond” represented a passing of the baton. J.J. Abrams, the director who revitalized the series by arming it with a youthful cast and sprinkling in lens flares, departed “Star Trek” to make “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” That left Justin Lin, who made his bones on the “Fast & Furious” series, manning the Enterprise. He brought back cast members Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban and mixed in a new villain, played by Idris Elba. In North America, the film got a lift from Imax screenings, earning $8.4 million from 387 locations.

On Sunday, Paramount brass argued that under Abrams, the “Star Trek” series has broadened its international appeal. The film’s emphasis on action and the studio’s decision to partner with the likes of Alibaba have strengthened its connection to foreign audiences, they said.

“This is a big global franchise now,” said Rob Moore, Paramount’s vice chairman. “It was a series that traditionally did well domestically or with English-speaking audiences. But since J.J. took over, the franchise has become much more accessible globally.”

Among holdovers, Illumination Entertainment and Universal’s “The Secret Life of Pets” continues to be one of the year’s biggest hits, adding $29.3 million to its $260.7 million haul for a second place finish.

In its second weekend of release, Sony’s “Ghostbusters” is neck-and-neck with “Lights Out” with $21.6 million and tied for third place. The paranormal comedy has earned $86.9 million, but it needs to do well overseas in order to make back its $144 million budget.

In its fifth weekend of release, “Independence Day: Resurgence” crawled over the $100 million mark, earning less than $1 million for the weekend. The $165 million production has gotten a little assistance overseas, earning nearly $250 million, but it may be the end of the line for the alien invasion series.

A week after debuting in a handful of theaters, “Hillary’s America” expanded to 1,217 locations, picking up $3.7 million. The controversial documentary alleges that the Democratic Party has covered up its historical support of slavery and racism. It’s the latest work from Dinesh D’Souza, the director of “2016: Obama’s America,” and is pitched firmly towards conservative moviegoers for whom a Hillary Clinton presidency is tantamount to the apocalypse.

Woody Allen’s “Cafe Society” also did well in its expansion, moving from five theaters to 50, and picking up $875,000 in the process. The nostalgic look at old Hollywood has earned $1.4 million. Amazon is releasing the film through a distribution partnership with Lionsgate.

Among limited releases, Fox Searchlight debuted “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” in 313 theaters where the big screen version of the cult series about two hard-partying best friends earned $1.9 million.

The Film Arcade’s “Don’t Think Twice” bowed to $90,126 in a single location, representing the year’s highest per-screen average. Mike Birbiglia (“Sleepwalk With Me”) directs the look at the members of an improv group, as they face career crossroads.

The summer box office has been a roller coaster ride with a fair share of steep drops. Although animated fare like “Finding Dory” and “The Secret Life of Pets” have resonated, several high-profile, live-action sequels, such as “Alice Through the Looking Glass” and “Independence Day: Resurgence,” have faltered.

But year-over-year this weekend was an improvement. Receipts were up nearly 30% from the same period in 2015. As victories go, this one comes with a caveat. It was a weekend that saw “Pixels” debut to an anemic $24 million. Still, some executives are hopeful that “Star Trek Beyond’s” relative success coupled with upcoming releases such as “Jason Bourne” and “Suicide Squad” will galvanize the domestic marketplace.

“We’re starting to see some momentum,” said Greg Foster, CEO of Imax Entertainment. “We’re heading back in a positive direction.”

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Ranking Star Trek Movies By How Much They Made At The Box Office

Space may be the final frontier for humanity to venture into, but somewhere even more important for "Star Trek" features is the movie theater. Here is where audiences experience new adventures starring beloved captains, admirals, and assorted crew members with countless other strangers, all bonded over the emotions that only "Star Trek" can deliver. This realm is also where box office receipts are collected, a critical factor in determining the course trajectory of the "Star Trek" franchise. Dating back to the days of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" becoming a big enough success to spawn several sequels, dollars and cents have played as big a part in determining the future of "Star Trek" as anything else in this eternal saga.

Ranking the "Star Trek" movies by how much money they grossed at the worldwide box office , from lowest to highest-grossing, it becomes clearer than ever why certain entries in this series took off like a rocket with general audiences while others just sank like a stone and nearly capsized the entire franchise. Given that these movies have been released over multiple decades, this practice also gives one a peek into box office trends of different eras. Most importantly, though, breaking down the reasons the most lucrative "Star Trek" titles were so successful is bound to make one further appreciate the specific joys "Star Trek" has been unleashing for so long now.

Star Trek: Nemesis

Around 2002, the "Star Trek" film series wasn't a massive blockbuster property, but it had turned into a steady moneymaker for Paramount Pictures. The three preceding installments in the series, each starring the cast members of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," had all managed to crack $117 million globally, while 1996's "Star Trek: First Contact" had even hit $150 million worldwide. All that good financial fortune would come grinding to a halt with "Star Trek: Nemesis," which ended its worldwide box office run with a dismal $67.3 million , including an atrocious $43.2 million in North America.

That worldwide gross was down 43% from the global total  of the last "Star Trek" title, "Star Trek: Insurrection" and was beneath all prior "Star Trek" adventures. A multitude of problems plagued "Nemesis" at the box office, including getting dwarfed at the box office by other blockbusters. Opening one week before "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," "Nemesis" had much more competition  to face than prior "Star Trek" titles. For comparison's sake, the biggest wide releases "Star Trek: Insurrection" had to face four years earlier were "Jerry Maguire" and "Mighty Joe Young." Meanwhile, that four-year gap since "Insurrection" also hurt "Nemesis," especially since the former garnered a divisive response . Considering all these factors, it becomes significantly less surprising that "Star Trek: Nemesis" hit a new box office low for the "Star Trek" saga.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

The "Star Trek" film series was coming off a box office high note with "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," and "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" hoped to keep the good times rolling. Paramount's renewed confidence in this saga was reaffirmed by scheduling "Star Trek V" for release in the heart of summertime, instead of the Thanksgiving launch of "The Voyage Home." Unfortunately, "The Final Frontier" ended up coming up short on box office expectations with only $70.2 million worldwide , down 45% from the global box office gross of "The Voyage Home" and the lowest-grossing "Star Trek" title up to that point.

The biggest issue "The Final Frontier" faced was its release date. This "Star Trek" entry wasn't just opening in the summertime, it was opening in June 1989 . The summer of 1989 was a famously crowded corridor that saw "The Final Frontier" opening right after "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and directly before the debuts of "Ghostbusters II" and "Batman." With all these heavyweight franchises to contend with, it's no wonder "The Final Frontier" got lost in the shuffle. Downright negative critical reviews also didn't help, especially since this installment was coming off the well-liked "The Voyage Home." Though not a total box office failure, "The Final Frontier" brought the "Star Trek" series back down to Earth after a big boost in financial clout.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

At the end of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," Spock had perished...or had he? "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," as the title implied, would be all about whether or not this Vulcan would be returning to the franchise full time. The prospect of seeing a fan-favorite character come back wasn't enough to make "The Search for Spock" bigger than all other preceding "Star Trek" movies, but it did manage to deliver a solid showing all the same.

In North America, "The Search for Spock" dropped into theaters in June 1984 and  grossed $76.4 million , roughly on par with the $78.9 million gross of "The Wrath of Khan." On an $18 million budget, that was more than enough to make this a profitable venture and enough to make it one of the 10 biggest films in North America in 1984. The positive buzz from "The Wrath of Khan" and the promise of seeing Spock return had lured in moviegoers once more. The biggest problem here, though, was the international figures, which reflected that overseas audiences had finally given up on "Star Trek." International box office amounted to only $10.6 million, a far cry from the $56.8 million "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" accumulated from those same territories in 1979. Still, the domestic gross was solid enough to make "The Search for Spock" a reasonable success.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

In modern discussions about the "Star Trek" movies, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" tends to be talked  about in the same manner as "The Empire Strikes Back" or "The Godfather Part II" as a sequel that vastly surpasses its predecessor. Given this reputation, it's shocking to remember that "The Wrath of Khan" is one of the lower-grossing "Star Trek" movies worldwide. Just because it's not as lucrative as other "Star Trek" features, though, doesn't mean "The Wrath of Khan" was a total wipeout financially.

In its entire box office run, "The Wrath of Khan" managed to score $95.8 million worldwide , a 30% drop from the global gross of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." Much of this appears to be due to international grosses, as "The Wrath of Khan" only decreased from its predecessor by 5% domestically but was down a staggering 70% from the first movie globally. Perhaps the novelty of seeing the "Star Trek" characters on the big screen had just worn off for moviegoers in these territories by the time "The Wrath of Khan" rolled around. Still, solid domestic grosses and positive reviews ensured that "Star Trek II" was nowhere near the end of the road for the Enterprise crew at the movies.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

The U.S.S. Enterprise has often gotten out of tricky situations, but by 1991, the "Star Trek" franchise was in a conundrum that could have stumped even Captain Kirk. "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" had brought the franchise to a new low at the worldwide box office. The financial viability of this property as a big-screen enterprise was suddenly more questionable than ever. The pressure was on for "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" to bring home the box office bacon and reignite people's passion for this series.

Luckily, several factors coalesced into making "The Undiscovered Country" a needed box office hit. This included the film scoring positive reviews and its release date tying into the 25 th anniversary of the original "Star Trek" TV series . The latter event helped "The Undiscovered Country" rocket its way to $96.9 million worldwide , a great haul for a $27 million-budgeted movie. That was also enough to make this installment the 13 th biggest movie of 1991 . While below the global grosses of two preceding "Star Trek" titles, "The Undiscovered Country" managed to conquer some daunting challenges and get this franchise back into shape at the box office.

Star Trek: Insurrection

With "Star Trek: First Contact," the "Next Generation" era of "Star Trek" movies had hit a new financial high. Naturally, there would be a sequel in the form of "Star Trek: Insurrection." The hope here was to maintain the box office momentum of "First Contact" and, initially, it looked like "Insurrection" would be able to do just that. Box Office Guru reported that the film cracked $22.1 million on opening weekend. That was beneath the domestic debuts of its two predecessors, but the hope was that opening in December (in contrast to the November launch pads of the previous "Star Trek" installments) would keep this one around longer. Plus "Insurrection" opened atop all other movies in North America, giving Paramount Pictures its 19 th instance of ruling a domestic box office weekend in 1998.

In the end, "Star Trek: Insurrection" didn't quite hold on as strongly as it could have, with the film eventually grossing just $70.1 million domestically , a sharp 25% decline from "Star Trek: First Contact." Worse, its worldwide haul was only $117 million, a disappointing sum for a title that cost $70 million to produce. After hitting a high with "First Contact," "Insurrection" charted the "Star Trek" franchise into bumpier terrain.

Star Trek: Generations

When it came to "Star Trek: Generations," the box office pressure was on. This franchise wasn't exactly in the doldrums when "Generations" was preparing to hit movie theaters, but it wasn't in peak shape either. The last two entries in the saga had failed to clear $100 million worldwide and now it was time for the "Next Generation" cast members to headline movies. It was understandable to be concerned over whether or not people would flock to movie theaters to see Picard and company the same way they had to see the highest-grossing movies headlined by Kirk's U.S.S. Enterprise crew.

"Generations" did have an ace up its sleeve, though, in the form of William Shatner coming back as Kirk to pass the torch. Melding the old and the new like this made for a perfect marketing gimmick to hinge the whole film on. As a result, "Generations" was able to make $120 million globally , the third-biggest haul for a "Star Trek" title up to that point. The only downside was that this was the installment where it became clear that "Star Trek" wasn't gaining much momentum internationally. "Generations" grossed a mere $44.3 million in overseas territories and wound up the 18 th biggest movie of 1994 worldwide , a far cry from when "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" was the fourth-biggest movie of 1979 globally. Still, "Generations" was a hit in every other respect and a rousing start to the "Next Generation" crew's tenure as "Star Trek" movie stars.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

In the context of "Star Trek" as an entire franchise, "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" can best be described as "the one with the whales." The simpler and lighter plot of this outing could have made it the movie where "Star Trek" jumped the shark and embraced flights of fancy over more intellectual pursuits. Instead, this premise helped inspire a movie that's still generating positive responses to this day, with many calling it a high point in the entire franchise. This extremely appreciative response can be traced back to the film's initial theatrical release in 1986, when "The Voyage Home" scored significant box office results.

In its worldwide run, "The Voyage Home" grossed $133 million , including a $109.7 million North American haul. The latter sum made it the only "Star Trek" title to exceed $100 million domestically until "Star Trek" in 2009. Made on a $24 million budget, "The Voyage Home" was wildly profitable and was the fifth-biggest movie released in 1986 globally. Even back then, audiences were wild about "The Voyage Home," as seen by how it was given an A+ CinemaScore grade by audiences . When you make a film that resonates with people, especially when it involves whales, the sky is the limit for your box office potential.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

The "Star Trek" film series began in 1979, with the fittingly titled "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." This being the first time the franchise played on the big screen, not to mention the first time cast members like William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy worked together since "The Original Series" went off the air a decade earlier, "The Motion Picture" was a theatrical event. Its eventual box office run managed to live up to the hype, scoring $139 million worldwide .

That was enough to make "The Motion Picture" the fourth-biggest movie of 1979 globally and, for nearly two decades, the biggest entry in the "Star Trek" series worldwide. All the anticipation for this production no doubt fueled its box office success, but it didn't hurt that "The Motion Picture" was able to premiere right after "Star Wars" and "Superman: The Movie" fueled the hunger of audiences for big-budget sci-fi blockbusters. Though its tone was more "2001: A Space Odyssey" than "Star Wars," the concept of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" was right in line with what moviegoers were hungering for. Though a sizeable (for that era) $44 million budget meant that it wasn't an enormously profitable venture, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" still did more than well enough to launch the next era of "Star Trek" adventures.

Star Trek: First Contact

The website TrekMovie did a breakdown in 2008 of the marketing campaigns for each of the "Star Trek" films. When it came to 1996's "Star Trek: First Contact," the site observed that this feature had the most widespread marketing campaign of any of the "Star Trek" movies starring the "Next Generation" cast members. The ubiquitous presence of promotional materials culminated in "Star Trek: First Contact" becoming a major box office hit, one that became the biggest "Star Trek" entry globally until 2009.

Scoring such a noticeable achievement came largely down to the positive reception that the film stoked among "Star Trek" devotees. In a retrospective on the film for The Hollywood Reporter , "First Contact" cast and crew members such as screenwriter Brannon Braga recalled that the movie played like gangbusters to theatrical audiences, a sign that word-of-mouth was bound to be strong. This was borne out in the picture's box office performance, as it soared across the cinematic landscape with $150 million worldwide, including a notable $92 million domestically . The latter number was enough to make it the 17 th biggest movie of 1992  and the third-biggest feature of the year for Paramount in North America. Launching at Thanksgiving, not to mention an avalanche of marketing, made "First Contact" a prime moviegoing option for people everywhere.

Star Trek Beyond

The third entry in the rebooted "Star Trek" film series, "Star Trek Beyond" brought director Justin Lin to the franchise while also attempting to bring things a bit closer to the meditative and ensemble nature of the original "Star Trek" (albeit with motorcycle stunts and a Beastie Boys needle drop). However, arriving seven years after the 2009 "Star Trek" movie, the novelty of seeing young Kirk and Spock had worn off a bit. Exacerbating matters was that "Star Trek Beyond" was opening in late July 2016, a crowded month for summertime fare that meant this new installment would be opening directly before "Jason Bourne" and "Suicide Squad."

"Star Trek Beyond" would eventually gross $158.1 million domestically , a 28% drop from the North American haul of "Star Trek Into Darkness," but beyond all pre-2009 "Star Trek" movies in the territory. The bigger problem, though, was the $176.8 million international gross, a lackluster sum for a summer tentpole that cost $185 million to make. Grossing only $335.6 million globally, "Star Trek Beyond" was undoubtedly hindered by strong competition from other blockbusters . However, it didn't help that the marketing failed to establish an especially strong villain, while the divisive nature of "Star Trek Into Darkness" hurt the public's perception of this iteration of the franchise. Even as it wound up the third-biggest installment in the saga, "Star Trek Beyond" couldn't help but come off as underwhelming.

The 2009 "Star Trek" movie wasn't just a reboot of the "Star Trek" series. It was also a do-or-die moment for the franchise's box office prospects. After "Star Trek: Nemesis" had flopped at the box office seven years earlier, the cinematic landscape had changed further. "Star Trek" would now be opening in May 2009 in a summer blockbuster scene defined by superheroes and transforming robots. Would there be room anymore for Captain Kirk and friends? Could this saga get the "Batman Begins" treatment or would "Star Trek" go into the wastebasket of pop culture properties?

Turns out, those understandable concerns were not warranted. "Star Trek" took off like a rocket at the box office, especially in North America. While no prior "Trek" movie had exceeded $110 million domestically, "Star Trek" managed to speed past that mark in its second weekend of release, on its way to a $257.7 million haul . Overseas, the franchise was more subdued, but the $119.1 million intake from international countries was still a sizeable increase from all other entries in the saga. "Star Trek" managed to exceed all box office norms, thanks to a reboot that promised familiar characters like Kirk and Spock but told in a fast-paced, action-heavy manner that could appeal to 21 st -century moviegoers. It was the perfect blend of the old and the new, and when you throw in excellent reviews , then it seems like "Star Trek" was always destined to reenergize the saga.

Star Trek Into Darkness

It took a little while to get a sequel to the 2009 "Star Trek" reboot off the ground. Thanks to director J.J. Abrams committing to the 2011 sci-fi hit "Super 8," he couldn't get around to delivering a further "Star Trek" movie until May 2013. Arriving four years after its predecessor, this project was wrapped up in mystery, particularly around who exactly new cast member Benedict Cumberbatch was playing.

All the speculation and anticipation resulted in "Star Trek Into Darkness" grossing $467.3 million worldwide . This sizable haul made it the first "Star Trek" title to crack $400 million globally and also the first installment in the franchise to gross more internationally than domestically. That was big enough to make the project the 14th largest title of 2013 globally . The only downside here was that "Into Darkness" made less than the 2009 "Star Trek" movie in North America. This result was likely due to the lengthy wait for the sequel and "Into Darkness" opening between "Iron Man 3" and "Fast and Furious 6."  On the other hand, "Into Darkness" maintaining 88% of its predecessor's domestic haul despite these obstacles speaks to how much the 2009 "Star Trek" had resonated with audiences. In the end, "Star Trek Into Darkness" still managed to take the saga where no "Star Trek" movie had gone before at the box office.

Here’s How Much Each Star Trek Movie Made at the Box Office Upon Release

Star Trek is one of the most lucrative franchises of all time. Let's look at each film's box office numbers.

Star Trek is a fascinating franchise. Originating as a television series that was canceled after three seasons, it quickly grew into a cult classic when it hit syndication, inspiring some of the first fan conventions. The series then made the leap to the big screen and is one of the most successful film franchises based on a television series. The film series has been both a continuation of the original series, a spin-off for Star Trek: The Next Generation , and a reboot.

There is a perception that Star Trek has never been mainstream, and it is certainly more "geeky" than other pop culture properties. Yet the box office results of the Star Trek franchise show that the franchise, for most of its history, was able to captivate mainstream audiences, even those who had never watched an episode of the television series.

The film series has had its ups and downs, and while it was never the box office sensation that Star Wars was, it was and still is popular. While fans wait for news on Star Trek 4 , here is how much every Star Trek film made at the worldwide box office adjusted for inflation.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) - $595,630,333

Star trek: the motion picture.

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Star Trek: The Motion Picture premiered in 1979, 10 years after Star Trek: The Original Series was canceled. The movie originated as a new series titled Star Trek: Phase II before being upgraded to a feature film following the box office success of Star Wars . With Academy Award-winning director Robert Wise at the helm, the movie follows James Kirk, now an admiral, assuming command of the recently refitted Starship USS Enterprise to lead a mission to save the planet and determine the origins of a new cosmic threat that they soon will discover have ties to Earth. The movie was highly anticipated, but it also had many problems behind the scenes and did not even have test screenings due to the film being edited to the last minute.

A Disappointing Box Office Hit

At the time of its release, Star Trek: The Motion Picture set a box office record for the highest opening weekend gross , making $11.9 million in its first three days, beating the record set by Superman: The Movie , which opened the previous year. The movie was the fifth-highest-grossing movie of 1979, and it sold more tickets than any other Star Trek film until 2009's Star Trek . Adjusted for inflation, the movie's worldwide gross would be $595 million. Despite all that, Paramount Pictures saw the movie as a disappointment compared to expectations and marketing costs.

The movie's massive opening weekend was offset by the fact that it was the most expensive movie at the time, with a budget of $44 million. The movie received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. It did make enough money to warrant a sequel, but it was clear they would need to go back to the drawing board. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) - $308,074,930

Star trek 2: the wrath of khan.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan looked to get the franchise back on track, with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry having less creative control than he did on the previous film. The movie brought back Ricardo Montalbán as Khan from The Original Series episode "Space Seed", with the movie acting as a continuation of that episode.

Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise must stop Khan from gaining control of the Genesis device, a machine that can restore or destroy planets. While Kirk defeats his former enemy, it comes at great cost as Spock sacrifices himself to save the crew. This moment shocked fans and helped make the movie a must-see. The Wrath of Khan still influences the franchise to this day.

Star Trek Truly Returns

Much like Star Trek: The Motion Picture , Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan broke the opening weekend box office record when it opened in theaters on June 4, 1982, grossing $14 million over the three-day weekend. The film ended its run with $78 million domestically and $96 million worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, that is $308 million worldwide.

Despite bringing in less money than Star Trek: The Motion Picture , due to the fact that The Wrath of Khan cost less to make, it was a more profitable film as Wrath of Khan had a budget of $12 million, a cost it made back in its opening weekend and was almost four times less expensive than Star Trek: The Motion Picture . It also received stronger critical reviews from fans and critics alike, with the movie still considered the best Star Trek film yet. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) - $259,849,489

Star trek iii: the search for spock.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock looked to undo the bold ending of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . While this certainly would anger fans today, what helped was the fact that Leonard Nimoy stepped into the director's chair and was the man who guided the resurrection of his popular character.

The movie centers on the crew of the Enterprise looking to bring Spock back from the dead after they discover he left part of his soul inside Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, while a Vulcan named Kurge (Christopher Lloyd) looks to take the secrets of the Genesis device. Kirk is able to resurrect Spock but pays a heavy price as Kurge kills his son, leaving Kirk with a hatred for Vulcans that will carry over into the sixth film.

Star Trek Is Here to Stay

Star Trek: The Search for Spock cost $16 million, which is also what the film made back in its opening weekend to take the number one spot. The movie grossed $76.5 million domestically and $87 million worldwide (adjusted for inflation $259 million), so it did gross less than Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan and cost more, but it was not seen as a disappointment.

The movie did face heavy competition that summer, as it was released the week after Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and a week before Ghostbusters and Gremlins. The film turned a healthy profit due to its low budget and the high demand for Star Trek , which the creators would capitalize on by beginning development on a new series, Star Trek: The Next Generation , which would air in 1987. Stream on Paramount+.

Related: Star Trek Movies in Order: How to Watch Chronologically and by Release Date

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) - $376,581,733

Star trek iv: the voyage home.

Even if one has not seen Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , they most likely know it as "the whale movie." When an alien probe threatens to destroy Earth as it attempts to contact now-extinct humpback whales, the crew of the Enterprise travels to Earth's past to find whales who can answer the probe's call.

In contrast to many of the films in the franchise, there is no villain, and it also takes place in the then contemporary present of 1986. Leonard Nimoy returned to direct the film in what would become one of the biggest films in the franchise.

A Breakout Hit with Non-Fans

The less sci-fi heavy premise, fish-out-of-water comedy angle of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home made it a big hit with audiences, for both hardcore Star Trek fans and even those who never watched the original series or movies . Opening over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend of 1986, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home made $39.6 million in its first five days of release, ending the eight-week run of Crocodile Dundee .

By the sixth week of release, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home sold more tickets than the previous two films and was close to approaching the total of Star Trek: The Motion Picture . By the end of its run, it grossed $109 million domestically, which made it the highest-grossing Star Trek film domestically until 2009's Star Trek . Combine that with an impressive $133 million worldwide total ($376 million adjusted for inflation) against a $21 million budget. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is one of the biggest hits in the franchise and is still beloved by fans today. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) - $175,684,558

Star trek v: the final frontier.

After Nimoy got to direct the previous two Star Trek films, Shatner would only return for a fifth film if he got to direct, so he was given the reigns of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier . Inspired by the phenomenon of televangelism at the time, the film focuses on the crew of the Enterprise confronting Spock's half-brother Sybok, looking to contact God at the center of the universe. The film was rushed into production during the 1988 Writer's Strike, which resulted in a mess of a movie that almost killed the franchise .

Disappointment Both Critically and Financially

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is often seen as both the worst entry in the origina l Star Trek films but also in the wider franchise. It opened in the summer of 1989, the poor audience and critical reaction, combined with competition from films like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Ghostbusters 2, Honey I Shrunk the Kids , and, of course, Tim Burton's Batman , made Star Trek V: The Final Frontier look worse by comparison.

The film had a budget of $30 million and grossed $52 million domestically and $70 million worldwide, which was not only a major fall from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home but also the second and third film. Even with the $175 million adjusted for inflation, it is still a big disappointment. With The Next Generation now on the air and becoming the new face of Star Trek , it was clear the original cast time might be coming to an end, but they wanted to make sure the cast got to go out on a high note. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) - $220,757,522

Star trek vi: the undiscovered country.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country looked to give the crew of The Original Series the final farewell they deserved. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer returned to helm the movie with a story by Leonard Nimoy that looked to be the space version of the Berlin Wall coming down and the end of the Cold War as the Federation and the Klingons, two sworn enemies, finally make peace.

Kirk, blinded by his hatred for the species after one of them killed his son back in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , is easily framed for the murder of the Klingon ambassador, and the film becomes a conspiracy thriller to find the real killer, clear Kirk's name, and assure peach between the Federation and Klingon Empire.

A Fitting Farewell

Released in December 1991, hoping to repeat the same success Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home had during the holiday season, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country had a budget of $27 million and grossed $74 million at the domestic box office with a $96 million worldwide total which is $220 million adjusted for inflation. The movie grossed $18 million in its opening weekend, setting the three-day opening weekend record for the franchise.

Released to tie in with the franchise's 25th anniversary, the movie received a large amount of publicity, which included Leonard Nimoy appearing on Star Trek: The Next Generation 's two-part episode "Unification," which aired a month before the film's release. Combined with strong reviews, it was a worthy final installment for the crew of Star Trek: The Original Series , and the stage was set for a new crew: The Next Generation. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Generations (1994) - $247,237,111

Star trek: generations.

Star Trek: Generations saw the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation take over the film franchise. The movie premiered only six months after the last episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation aired. The film's big hook was the meeting fans had been hoping to see for years: William Shatner's James T. Kirk would meet Patrick Stewart's Jean-Luc Picard. The two most famous Captains in the history of Star Trek would finally meet and that was enough of a pitch to sell the movie to audiences and would also kill off Captain Kirk .

Passing the Box Office Torch

Star Trek: Generations got a big marketing push, including being the first movie ever to have an official website to market a feature film. The movie opened number one at the box office with $23.1 million in its opening weekend. The movie grossed $75 million at the domestic box office and $118 million worldwide, which, adjusted for inflation, would be $247 million worldwide.

With a budget of $35 million, the movie was a box office hit and set the stage for The Next Generation cast to have their own Star Trek film series, with the sequel set to be even bigger. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) - $288,822,500

Star trek: first contact.

Star Trek: First Contact looked to combine the two most popular Star Trek films, The Wrath of Khan and The Voyage Home , into one movie. It featured a revenge story with The Next Generation 's biggest enemies, The Borg , similar to The Wrath of Khan , bringing back the character of Khan mixed with a time travel story like The Voyage Home .

The crew of The Next Generation travels back in time to stop the Borg from conquering the planet, while Jean-Luc Piccard also confronts his own PTSD from being assimilated by The Borg back in the Next Generation two-part episode "The Best of Both Worlds."

Star Trek Feels Bigger Than Ever

Putting the most popular villain of Star Trek: The Next Generation front and center in the marketing certainly helped as Star Trek: First Contact opened with $30 million and then went on to gross $92 million and a worldwide total of $146 million, which was the best box office for the franchise since Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ten years prior.

Until the release of Star Trek in 2009, it was the highest-grossing Star Trek film at the worldwide box office. With an adjusted worldwide total of $288 million, this certainly painted the picture that The Next Generation cast could go for as many years as the original crew, but sadly, they would face two disappointing sequels that would kill any momentum. S tream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) - $214,348,942

Star trek: insurrection.

Star Trek: Insurrection follows the crew of the USS Enterprise -E as they rebel against Starfleet after they discover a conspiracy with a species known as the Son'a to steal the peaceful Ba'ku's planet. Insurrection is known for having a troubled production, as the movie underwent many rewrites and even major changes following test screenings. While two other Star Trek series, Deep Space Nine and Voyager , were on the air, this was the beginning of the Star Trek franchise beginning to lose audiences.

Audiences Start to Lose Interest

Star Trek: Insurrection was seen as a big stumble. Despite taking the number one spot in its opening weekend with $22.1 million, that was below the opening weekend of Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek: First Contact . The film received mixed negative reactions from fans and critics, who felt that the movie felt more like an expensive episode of the television show than a big-screen epic.

The movie did gross $70 million domestically, but that was also the price of its production budget, so this movie needed the $117 million worldwide to be deemed a hit. Unfortunately, things were only about to get worse for Star Trek . Stream on Paramount+.

Related: Star Trek 4: Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know

Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)-$116,154,849

Star trek: nemesis.

Star Trek: Nemesis saw the Star Trek franchise enter the 21st century in a rough way. The film had a big hook, with a clone of Jean-Luc Picard named Shinzon ( played by a young Tom Hardy ) taking control of the Romulan Empire as he declares war with the Federation and with the original Picard. The movie looked to be the darkest entry in the franchise, with an ending that killed off Data in a manner similar to the death of Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .

The Film That Killed The Franchise (For a While)

Star Trek: Nemesis was a box office disaster in many ways. It grossed $18 million in its opening weekend, which was not only lower than the previous three Star Trek films but also the first time a Star Trek movie did not open to number one at the box office as the movie was beaten by the Jennifer Lopez/Matthew McConaughey rom-com, Maid in Manhattan . It grossed $43 million domestically, the lowest-grossing film in the franchise, and that is unadjusted for inflation.

With just $67 million worldwide, it barely made more than its $60 million budget, which made the movie an outright flop. Facing stiff competition from films like Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , Die Another Day, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , and The Santa Clause 2 , Star Trek: Nemesis 's failure kept the franchise off the big screen for seven years. For the series to properly return, it would need to be rebooted. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek (2009) - $557,883,582

Director J.J. Abrams looked to update Star Trek for a modern audience, rebooting the series with new actors taking on the iconic roles of the crew of the Enterprise. The film's script features a clever twist as it is a reboot, but also is a prequel, as it features younger versions of the characters, but also a sequel to The Original Series, as the film's rebooted timeline is kicked off by an older Spock (Leonard Nimoy reprising his role) creating the new timeline by traveling back.

The movie gave Star Trek a summer blockbuster infusion, with big bombastic trailers and state-of-the-art visual effects that looked to give fans the Star Trek of the original series on a budget like never before.

Star Trek Blasts Off Into a New Era

J.J Abrams's Star Trek roared into the summer movie season with a $75 million opening weekend, which was the biggest opening weekend for the franchise but adjusted and unadjusted for inflation. The movie became the highest-grossing entry in the Star Trek film franchise, unadjusted for inflation, with $257 million, which also made it the seventh highest-grossing movie of 2009.

Worldwide, it had a total of $385 million ($557 million adjusted for inflation). The film was originally supposed to be released on Christmas 2008 but was delayed to summer 2009, a decision that paid off as the movie looked even better by comparison as it was a blockbuster that got rave critical reviews due to not being impacted by the 2007-2008 writer's strike such as other summer movies that year like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Terminator Salvation, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen or G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra . Star Trek was back in a big way. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) - $622,585,229

Star trek into darkness.

Star Trek Into Darkness was the sequel to 2009's Star Trek . The movie used the rebooted timeline to put a new spin on The Wrath of Khan , featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as this new incarnation of Khan while dropping the new young crew of the Enterprise into a mission that involves a political conspiracy regarding a secret black ops subsection of Starfleet, the Klingon Empire, and a push for war following the events of the destruction of Vulcan.

Like many of J.J. Abrams's films, the movie put a great deal of emphasis on mysteries and secrets, even hiding the fact that Cumberbatch was playing Khan despite fans calling it early on.

A Mixed but Successful Result

Star Trek Into Darkness opened to $84.1 million over its extended four-day opening (it was released on a Thursday as opposed to a Friday). While it grossed less than its predecessor domestically, with $228 million, worldwide, it actually outperformed the previous movie. Star Trek Into Darkness grossed $467 million worldwide, with $238 million coming from foreign markets.

Considering how Star Trek had always been a franchise that never translated well overseas to big box office numbers, this was a big win for Paramount Pictures as, to date, the film is the highest-grossing Star Trek film worldwide. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek Beyond (2016) - $444,104,691

Star trek beyond.

Despite being a box office hit, Star Trek Into Darkness was seen as a disappointment for many, and the studio wanted to go in a different direction for the next film, putting the emphasis on new plots and villains to celebrate the franchise's fiftieth anniversary. J.J. Abrams would move on to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens , allowing Justin Lin to step into the director's seat for Star Trek Beyond .

The film looked to be the true big-budget version of an episode of The Original Series that the films had never actually done, with the plot involving the crew of the Enterprise investigating a strange message on a deserted planet only to be stranded by a mysterious villain with ties to the Federation. Split up on the planet, the crew will need to reunite and test the unity of the Federation against a threat that believes unity has made the galaxy weak.

A Disappointing Box Office for a Strong Movie

Despite the Star Trek 50th anniversary push and strong positive reviews, Star Trek: Beyond disappointed at the box office. While it claimed the number one spot in its opening weekend, it grossed $59.3 million, which was well below the $70 million plus opening weekends of Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness . It finished its domestic run with $158 million, $99 million below 2009's Star Trek .

Worldwide, it brought in $343 million (adjusted for inflation $444 million). Star Trek Beyond was just one of many high-profile box office disappointing sequels released in the summer of 2016 , including X-Men: Apocalypse, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Independence Day Resurgence, and Jason Bourne .

While Star Trek Beyond certainly looked better by comparison to them, it was still a major hit to the franchise and one it has not been able to shake as Star Trek 4 has languished in development hell for eight years now, making for the longest gap between Star Trek films in the franchise's history. Stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

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The Highest-Grossing Actors Of All Time, Ranked

Quick links, harrison ford, chris hemsworth, bradley cooper, zoe saldaña, chris pratt, scarlett johansson, robert downey jr., samuel l. jackson.

• Samuel L. Jackson tops the list of highest-grossing actors ever, with an impressive $28 billion in total box office earnings.
• Zoe Saldaña ranks as the second highest-grossing actress, accumulating $15.5 billion from her diverse filmography.
• A-list actors like Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, and Chris Pratt are box office titans, with collective totals exceeding $12 billion.

Box office success is a complex beast, driven by factors like franchise power, international appeal, and star recognition.

Hollywood has long been fascinated by the idea of the bankable movie star – an actor whose name alone can draw crowds , virtually ensuring box office gold.

Traditionally, A-listers were celebrities with such onscreen charisma and star power that they guaranteed a film's financial success.

Today, the highest-grossing actors are not just faces on the screen; they are entertainment brands. Their involvement in blockbuster franchises has helped drive them to stratospheric heights of fame and fortune.

While the landscape of stardom may have changed, the allure of these bankable actors remains as potent as ever.

What sets these actors apart is not just their talent, but their ability to transcend borders and cultures, drawing audiences to theaters worldwide.

The international box office, particularly in booming markets like China, has amplified the influence of specific actors. This global appeal helps explain why so many of today's highest-grossing actors are linked with big franchises.

Franchise familiarity, of course, is a significant game-changer that influences box office numbers.

The dominance of financially colossal properties like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars means actors attached to these films can run up box office totals.

However, true stardom still resides in the ability to draw fans even outside these lucrative universes.

Let's explore the highest-grossing actors of all time, whose collective ticket sales speak volumes about their influence.

Forbes' Highest-Paid Actors List: Who Made The Top Ten?

Harrison ford's total box office gross - $10,563,753,618.

Harrison Ford is one of the few actors in the industry to be associated with not one big role but two: Han Solo, and Indiana Jones.

With 36 leading roles under his belt, Ford has amassed a worldwide aggregate box office of $6.3 billion.

He rose to prominence with his portrayal of Han Solo in the legendary Star Wars series, a role he reprised in four sequels spanning four decades.

The space opera franchise has grossed over $10.3 billion worldwide, contributing significantly to Ford's box office success.

Additionally, Ford is renowned for his portrayal of the adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones in the beloved franchise, starting with Raiders Of The Lost Ark in 1981.

His films have grossed over $5.4 billion in North America alone and more than $10 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

Notably, Ford is set to make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in the 2025 superhero films Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts , replacing William Hurt , who played the character in previous MCU films.

Surely his stock will rise with this exciting addition to his already illustrious career.

Chris Hemsworth's Total Box Office Gross - $12,443,189,114

With his chiseled physique and comedic charm, Chris Hemsworth , an Australian import, has become a box office draw, especially due to his involvement in the MCU.

After building his acting career in Australia, particularly with his role in the soap opera Home And Away, Hemsworth took on Hollywood, landing a memorable part in the Star Trek reboot.

Yet nothing could prepare him for the meteoric rise that awaited him as the mighty Thor within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Chris Hemsworth has starred in over 29 films, with up to 27 of those being leading roles, collectively grossing $12.44 billion at the worldwide box office.

2017 was a particularly fruitful year for the Extraction actor, and Forbes estimates his earnings at $31 million , largely driven by his success in Ghostbusters and Thor: Ragnarök .

Chris Hemsworth's Net Worth: How Thor Earns And Spends His $130 Million Fortune

Bradley cooper's total box office gross - $13,018,467,857.

Bradley Cooper has headlined 18 films, with a worldwide aggregate box office gross of $2,887,507,090.

Although Cooper's voice work as Rocket Raccoon in James Gunn's Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy and the Avengers franchise helps his total gross, his superstardom extends far beyond the multi-billion dollar franchise.

With starring roles in blockbuster hits like American Hustle , American Sniper , and The Hangover series, Cooper has established his leading man reputation across various genres, churning out box office hits.

Additionally, his directorial debut came with A Star Is Born , where he also delivered a remarkable performance and showcased his musical abilities.

Cooper's films have grossed $13 billion worldwide , and he has consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid actors, earning this distinction four times, according to Forbes.

Tom Cruise's Total Box Office Gross - $12,777,548,769

Tom Cruise is the embodiment of the Hollywood action hero.

His relentless dedication to jaw-dropping stunts and charisma have made him one of the industry's most enduring stars. Tom Cruise has appeared in a total of 47 films, with 42 of them featuring him in leading roles.

Across his extensive filmography, Cruise's movies have collectively grossed over $12.78 billion worldwide. He is consistently one of the world's highest-paid actors.

In 2023, Forbes ranked Cruise as the third highest-paid actor of the year, with his earnings totaling $45 million . He has earned more than $100 million per film on three occasions.

Cruise's career began in the early 1980s, with breakthrough roles in Risky Business and Top Gun.

Throughout the 1990s, he starred in commercially successful films like A Few Good Men and The Firm , establishing himself as a leading Hollywood star.

His box office appeal makes him a bona fide megastar in an industry where A-list fixtures are increasingly rare.

Toy Story And Beyond: These Are Tom Hanks' Highest Grossing Movies

Tom hanks' total box office gross - $11,774,917,693.

Tom Hanks is America's sweetheart, a Hollywood icon whose films radiate warmth, humor, and often a touch of profound human drama.

Hanks has starred in 55 films as a leading actor, contributing to a total aggregate box office of $9.3 billion.

Despite not frequently appearing in major blockbuster films – aside from his iconic role as Woody in the Toy Story series – Hanks remains one of the highest-grossing stars in the world.

Hanks' films have grossed more than $11.8 billion worldwide , and his ability to shift effortlessly between comedy and drama is a hallmark of his talent.

Hanks has forged long-standing collaborations with legendary directors like Steven Spielberg , resulting in box office hits like Saving Private Ryan and Catch Me If You Can .

From the charming splash he made in Big to his Oscar-winning performance in Forrest Gump , he consistently delivers unforgettable characters that have taken audiences to the theater and money to his bank.

Zoe Saldaña's Total Box Office Gross - $15,531,970,441

Queen of the box office, Zoe Saldaña, ranks second as the highest-grossing actress of all time, with a total of $15.5 billion at the global box office .

This accomplishment is all the more impressive, considering she has not necessarily been the sole lead in many of her biggest films.

Saldana's box office dominance is largely fueled by her appearances in some of the highest-grossing films ever made.

She holds the unique distinction of starring in four of the top six: Avatar , Avatar: The Way Of Water , Avengers: Infinity War , and Avengers: Endgame .

On top of her work in the MCU and James Cameron 's Avatar , she starred in other chart-toppers like the first Pirates Of The Caribbean film, and played Uhura in all three Star Trek reboot movies.

Looking ahead, Saldana is contracted to appear in the upcoming Avatar sequels, signaling her reign at the top of the box office charts will likely continue for years to come.

These Are The Highest-Grossing Zoe Saldana Movies

Chris pratt's total box office gross - $15,678,536,964.

Chris Pratt 's rise from lovable sitcom star to action hero was swift, and he has quickly become one of the most in-demand leading men in Hollywood.

First rising to fame for his lovable goofball persona in Parks And Recreation , he has transformed into a bona fide action hero.

Pratt has starred in two of the most successful film franchises of all time, securing a remarkable $5.6 billion at the global box office across 13 leading roles.

His breakout role as the charismatic space outlaw Star-Lord in Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy launched him into the stratosphere.

He further consolidated his action-star status with the revitalization of the Jurassic World franchise, bringing fresh energy and humor to the role of dinosaur handler extraordinaire Owen Grady.

Pratt's appeal does not stop with live-action blockbusters. He has proven his versatility as a voice actor, lending his talents to blockbusters like The Lego Movie and its sequel and the smash hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie , which grossed over $1.36 billion.

In total, Pratt has appeared in over 33 films, all of which have grossed a combined sum of $15.7 billion.

Scarlett Johansson's Total Box Office Gross - $15,432,591,515

Scarlett Johansson is the highest-grossing actress of all time, with a total worldwide gross of $15 billion.

Her impressive career trajectory is marked by a unique blend of critically acclaimed independent films and blockbuster franchises.

Johansson's long-standing role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been the primary catalyst for her remarkable total gross.

She brought the skilled assassin to life across eight films, culminating in her own solo feature, Black Widow, in 2021.

Before joining the MCU, Johansson established herself as a talented actress with roles in independent smash hits like Don Jon and Lost In Translation .

She consistently balanced superhero showdowns with thought-provoking dramas like Marriage Story and Under The Skin .

Even forays into animated films like the Sing franchise have contributed to her immense box office total.

Robert Downey Jr.'s Remarkable Journey, From Rock Bottom To Box Office Gold

Robert downey jr.'s total box office gross - $16,304,964,180.

Robert Downey Jr. is a true box office titan, with his films alone scoring over $16.3 billion globally.

He is a master of charisma and rapid-fire wit, traits perfectly embodied in his defining role as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Downey has experienced a remarkable resurgence in both his career and public perception.

Beginning with Jon Favreau's Iron Man , RDJ starred in ten iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe films, cresting in the cash cow Avengers: Endgame .

Throughout the past decade of the franchise, he has chalked up quite a few box office smash hits, but projects like the Sherlock Holmes movies have also helped to bolster his reputation.

Robert Downey Jr. has starred in 29 lead roles, adding $2.4 billion to his overall box office total.

In addition to his box office haul, Downey was listed by Forbes as Hollywood's highest-paid actor from 2013 to 2015 .

Samuel L. Jackson's Total Box Office Gross - $28,077,348,325

Samuel L. Jackson's total box office gross stands at $28 billion – an all-time record, making him the undisputed highest-grossing actor of all time.

Jackson's box office dominance is built on his ability to seamlessly transition between genres, from intense dramas to explosive action films and animated features.

His portrayal of Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe clearly contributed to his box office total, with appearances across eleven MCU films.

It is important to note that Jackson established his box office draw long before becoming a superhero mainstay, with memorable roles in the Star Wars prequels, Jurassic Park, and his voice work in Pixar's The Incredibles.

As a prolific leading man with 55 top-billed credits, Jackson has fueled a remarkable $4.6 billion in global box office earnings.

His filmography includes big-budget productions like Die Hard: With A Vengeance, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kong: Skull Island, and Glass.

Screen Rant

Star trek 4 is "final chapter", movie gets boost as writer is named.

Star Trek 4 may finally be taking flight as a new report reveals the long-delayed movie starring Chris Pine's Starship Enterprise crew has a writer.

• Star Trek 4 gets new screenwriter for "final chapter" of Kirk's crew after 8-year hiatus.
• J.J. Abrams' alternate timeline Enterprise team may reunite in long-awaited upcoming movie.
• Promising news for fans as Steve Yockey pens the new script, signaling potential return to big screen.

Star Trek 4 may finally take flight as a new screenwriter is penning what is billed as "the final chapter" of the Starship Enterprise crew led by Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk. The J.J. Abrams-produced and Justin Lin-directed Star Trek Beyond was the last Star Trek movie to hit theaters in the summer of 2016. Now 8 years later, this is the longest time there hasn't been a Star Trek movie in theaters since Star Trek: The Motion Picture launched Gene Roddenberry's 1960s TV series as a film franchise in 1979.

A new Variety cover story about the Star Trek franchise reports a promising update about Star Trek 4 , as the next movie has a new screenwriter. This could mean J.J. Abrams' alternate Kelvin Timeline USS Enterprise crew could finally reunite on the big screen. Read the Variety quote below:

The studio still intends to make what it’s dubbed the “final chapter” for the Pine-Quinto-Saldaña cast, and Steve Yockey (“The Flight Attendant”) is writing a new draft of the script.

Star Trek Beyond Ending & Why No Sequel 7 Years Later Explained

Star trek 4's development hell explained, many filmmakers have taken a crack at star trek 4 and failed.

Numerous filmmakers have attempted to develop Star Trek 4 but departed due to "creative differences", including heavy hitters like Quentin Tarantino and Fargo' s Noah Hawley. Variety's Star Trek cover story has a brief rundown of the development hell Star Trek 4 has faced:

First, a movie reuniting Pine’s Capt. Kirk with his late father — played in the 2009 “Star Trek” by Chris Hemsworth — fell apart in 2018. Around the same time, Quentin Tarantino publicly flirted with, then walked away from, directing a “Star Trek” movie with a 1930s gangster backdrop. Noah Hawley was well into preproduction on a “Star Trek” movie with a brand-new cast, until then-studio chief Emma Watts abruptly shelved it in 2020. And four months after Abrams announced at Paramount’s 2022 shareholders meeting that his 2009 cast would return for a movie directed by Matt Shakman (“WandaVision”), Shakman left the project to make “The Fantastic Four” for Marvel. (It probably didn’t help that none of the cast had been approached before Abrams made his announcement.)

Variety' s report also mentions an origin movie for the entire Star Trek timeline written by Seth Grahame-Smith and directed by Toby Haynes ( Star Wars: Andor, Black Mirror 's "USS Callister" ), is preparing to start preproduction at the end of 2024. If that happens this new Star Trek origin movie would beat Star Trek 4 to theaters, but fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Chris Pine's Captain Kirk and his Starship Enterprise.

Source: Variety

J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies are streaming on Paramount+

‘Star Trek 4’ Beams Up New Screenwriter: ‘The Flight Attendant’ Creator Steve Yockey (EXCLUSIVE)

By Adam B. Vary

Adam B. Vary

Senior Entertainment Writer

• Jerrod Carmichael Was Terrified of Being Seen, So He Made a Reality Show: ‘This May Be Unhealthy. It Is a Little Dangerous’ 5 days ago
• ‘Star Trek 4’ Beams Up New Screenwriter: ‘The Flight Attendant’ Creator Steve Yockey (EXCLUSIVE) 6 days ago
• The Future of ‘Star Trek’: From ‘Starfleet Academy’ to New Movies and Michelle Yeoh, How the 58-Year-Old Franchise Is Planning for the Next Generation of Fans 6 days ago

Steve Yockey , creator of the Max series “The Flight Attendant,” is joining Starfleet as the new screenwriter for “ Star Trek 4.”

Story details remain under a powerful cloaking device, but Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot still intend the project to be the final chapter for the cast that rebooted the franchise in movie theaters with 2009’s “Star Trek,” including Chris Pine (as Capt. James T. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (as Cmdr. Spock), Zoe Saldaña (as Lt. Nyota Uhura), Karl Urban (as Dr. Leonard McCoy), John Cho (as Lt. Hikaru Sulu) and Simon Pegg (as chief engineer Montgomery Scott). ( Variety first reported the news in its cover story on the future of the “Star Trek” franchise.)

Yockey’s involvement is the most promising sign of forward momentum the project has had since. The playwright started his TV writing career on the MTV series “Awkward” and “Scream,” before joining the writing staff of “Supernatural” for four seasons. His latest series, the Sandman universe adaptation “Dead Boy Detectives,” will premiere on Netflix in April.

Paramount is also developing a separate “Star Trek” project, with writer Seth Grahame-Smith (“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”) and director by Toby Haynes (“Black Mirror: USS Callister”), that would feature a new cast in a story meant as a kind of origin story for the franchise. A project with screenwriter Kalinda Vazquez (“Fear the Walking Dead”) first announced in 2021 also remains in development.

Yockey is represented by CAA and Slate PR.

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They have risen: ‘godzilla x kong’ conquers easter box office with $80m opening; legendary monsterverse franchise crosses $2 billion – sunday am box office, ‘godzilla x kong’ reigns with $194m worldwide bow; ‘dune 2’ rises to $626m & ‘oppenheimer’ opens in japan – international box office.

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SUNDAY UPDATE: Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment’s Godzilla x Kong : The New Empire has roared to a $194M global opening, of which $114M is from 63 international box office markets. The monster mash exceeded expectations, with over-performance in several offshore areas as well as domestic .

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Before we dig into the latest from the Monsterverse, let’s note some other weekend highlights. Kung Fu Panda 4 kicked up another $43.7M offshore to near the $200M milestone (it’s at $347M global); Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire crossed $100M worldwide, Germany has a big local hit in Chantal in Fairyland and Best Picture Oscar winner Oppenheimer opened strongly in Japan .

About the latter, the release date came eight months after initial rollout given sensitivities to the subject matter. The opening is impressive and has driven discussion. The weekend estimate is $2.6M and has logged the biggest IMAX opening in Japan for a Christopher Nolan film. We hear that even though IMAX is a naturally big draw, the film broadened out over the weekend to more general audiences. Oppenheimer is set to become the biggest studio opening weekend of 2024 to date in the market. 

The movie, which had a three-day bow in Japan whereas rollout often starts on a Saturday there, is comping above such Nolan titles as Interstellar  (+109%), Batman Begins  (+39%),  Dunkirk  (+24%) and  The Dark Knight  (+21%); and just behind  The Dark Knight Rises  (-10%),  Tenet  (-11%) and  Inception  (-48%).

The IMAX portion is $810K on 50 screens which reps a strong 30% of the overall opening weekend total. The global IMAX total for the film now stands at $188.7M.

Turning back to GxK before we get into holdovers, the Adam Wingard-directed pic tore up predictions. Latin America and India were standouts while China leaned in. The latter led all markets with $44M and ranked a dominant No. 1. 

Elsewhere, Mexico delivered a huge $12.8M for the biggest opening weekend of the Monsterverse and the top start of 2024.

India surprised at No. 1, ahead of the opening of three Bollywood films and logged the best start ever for a WB movie, best of the Monsterverse and tops for Hollywood and IMAX this year.

The UK and Australia ranked No. 1 with $5.3M and $3.7M, respectively. Also notable, Indonesia gave the fellas an 80% share for the biggest Hollywood opening weekend of 2024 and best of the Monsterverse.

Overall, Latin America overperformed with a 65% share of the total and the biggest industry opening weekend in 2024 as well as best of the Monsterverse. GxK has already surpassed the lifetime gross of King of the Monsters in the region.

Strong starts were also seen in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

There are still 15 markets to come including the Middle East, France, Germany and Japan.

Punching up another big number was Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 with $43.7M from 73 offshore markets. This takes the overseas cume to $195.6M and global to $347.3M . Excluding China, performance through Sunday is well above  Kung Fu Panda 3  and above  HTTYD3  at the same point.

The UK was the top opener this weekend, playing across 1,600 screens and grossing $6.5M including $1.4M of previews on Thursday. The title ranked at No.1 and the bow is above  Zootopia  and well above  KFP3 . This was the 4th highest post-pandemic animation opening, behind three of Uni’s own titles:  Super Mario Bros ,  Minions: The Rise of Gru  and  Sing 2,  and the 2nd highest opening of the franchise behind  KFP1.

France  debuted to $4.9M, the No.1 film in the market. Korea is still due to bow on April 10.

Meanwhile, Dune: Part Two spiced up another $18.4M  on 18,437 screens in 73 international markets this weekend, representing another good drop of 41% (-36% excluding China). The international total now stands at  $373.7M  and the worldwide tally is  $626.1M  through Sunday. The IMAX total is now $133.7M global, including $72M from overseas.

Sony’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in its sophomore frame added $11.2M from 27 overseas markets as it continues a staggered release. The international cume is now $35.1M for $108.5M global. The offshore holdovers were down just 38%. New this weekend was Japan with $1.1M, 29% above the launch of Ghostbusters: Afterlife .

Still to come on the sequel are Netherlands, Poland, France, Brazil, Italy, Korea and Saudi Arabia.

As we noted coming into the weekend, Constantin Film has a hit on its hands in Germany with Chantal in Fairyland . A spinoff of the hugely successful Fack Ju Göhte movies, the time-travel comedy led play in the home market with 577K admissions through Saturday for about $6.24M. The bow is running 5% above the start of Barbie which did not have a holiday weekend. Given Easter Sunday is a family affair, and the clement weather following a long winter, full weekend estimates are tough, but we are expecting a debut around $7.6M and will update accordingly. 

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE Migration (UNI): $1.3M intl weekend (80 markets); $165M intl cume/$292.2M global Bob Marley: One Love (PAR): $700K intl weekend (40 markets); $79.5M intl cume/$175.8M global

As noted yesterday (see below), China opened on Friday to $13.4M for the beasts. They dominated the market with an 80% share on 35,698 screens. This puts the opening day there on par with Jurassic World Dominion , 51% ahead of Godzilla , and more than double the opening days of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Warner Bros/Legendary’s own Dune: Part Two . This is a great start in the current China climate and bodes for a $100M+ final — basically a bonus these days in China.

Elsewhere, and through true Friday play, the UK opened to $2.4M on 1,080 screens and ranked No. 1 ahead of fellow opener Kung Fu Panda 4. Premium formats are performing very strongly with IMAX at 11% of the total box office, both 3D and 4DX at 5% apiece and Screen X capturing 2%. These results are the biggest opening day for a Monsterverse film as well as higher than several comps.

India  on Friday had a notable opening taking in $1.9M on 2,882 screens and ranking No. 1 ahead of the opening of three local titles. This marked the biggest opening day for a WB Film, the best of 2024 for a U.S. title and tops for the Monsterverse. IMAX represented 9% of the total box office from 29 screens.

The top markets through Friday outside China are Mexico ($7.2M), UK ($2.4M), Spain ($2.2M), Australia ($1.9M) and India ($1.9M)

Updates to come…

PREVIOUS, FRIDAY: Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is out and roaring at the international box office, generating $15.9M from 49 markets through its first two days overseas (Wed/Thurs). Not included in that total is the strong China opening day today which came in at an estimated RMB 96.9M ($13.4M).

Among highlights through Thursday, Latin America gave the beasts the biggest opening day of the year and the best ever for the Monsterverse. In Cambodia, the Adam Wingard-directed pic scored the best opening day of all time for a Warner Bros movie.

The top overall market on Thursday was Mexico with $4.1M including previews and a 69% share of the Top 5 films. That’s the best start of the year and is above all comps.

Australia debuted to $782K on Thursday, ranking No. 1 with a 50% share of the Top 10 titles. The result is above Godzilla Vs Kong (+11%), Mission: Impossible 7 (+45%), Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (+115%),  Godzilla: King of the Monsters (+170%), Meg 2 (+188%) and Kong: Skull Island (+523%).

Spain , which bowed on Wednesday, held the No. 1 landing, now with $1.4M through two days.

Overall, the Top 5 markets to date (and excluding the China Friday as noted above) are Mexico ($4.1M), Spain ($1.4M), Indonesia ($881K), Taiwan ($819K) and Malaysia ($797K).

As regards China (where Legendary East distributes its modern monster series), the film has a 9.4 from audiences on Maoyan which is currently forecasting an RMB 781.3M ($108.2M) total run. It’s early days and these projections do tend to fluctuate, but the Friday start bodes well given that Hollywood films have been doing far less business in the market of late and means that GxK could get to a very solid $40M opening frame.  

We’ll have more updates through the weekend.

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‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ Pushes MonsterVerse Past $2 Billion at Global Box Office

It took a decade, a pandemic, and the complete abandonment of the series' original tone.

The Big Picture

• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has pushed the MonsterVerse past the $2 billion mark at the global box office.
• Among non-MCU cinematic universes, MonsterVerse is one of the few successful ones, alongside The Conjuring series.
• The MonsterVerse franchise has expanded to streaming, with the latest installment exceeding expectations globally.

Thanks to an excellent opening weekend haul posted by Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire , Warner Bros., and Legendary’s MonsterVerse franchise has passed a monumental milestone at the global box office. Five movies down, the shared universe on Sunday crossed the $2 billion mark globally . This comes mere days after fellow W.B. and Legendary movies Dune and Dune: Part Two passed a combined global box office total of $1 billion .

Godzilla x Kong debuted with $80 million domestically and nearly $115 million from overseas markets, for a combined global gross of $194 million . The movie exceeded expectations pretty much everywhere around the world, but mainly in North America, where it was initially projected to gross around $50 million. Godzilla x Kong was also successful in China , where it generated $44 million in its first three days of release, rekindling interest in Hollywood films at a time when the Middle Kingdom had mostly cordoned them off.

Including Godzilla x Kong ’s $194 million haul, the MonsterVerse franchise’s global box office total now stands at $2.135 billion , making it one of the rare shared universes that have succeeded outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe . After the MCU gained traction around a decade and change ago, rival studios put into motion varied attempts to replicate its success. While most of them disintegrated — the DC Extended Universe and the Dark Universe spring to mind — a couple of others survived. The only other shared franchise that has witnessed this kind of success is perhaps James Wan ’s Conjuring series , which has generated $2.3 billion worldwide.

The MonsterVerse Has Also Expanded to Streaming

The MonsterVerse began a decade ago, with director Gareth Edwards ’ grounded reboot Godzilla , which grossed $530 million globally. In 2017, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts ’ Kong: Skull Island expanded the series, grossing $560 million globally. The series hit a bit of a speed bump in 2019, when director Michael Doherty ’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters failed to pass the $400 million milestone worldwide, but bounced back in peak-pandemic 2021 with director Adam Wingard ’s Godzilla vs. Kong . Despite being released simultaneously on streaming, the movie grossed $470 million globally. Wingard returned to direct Godzilla x Kong , which is already pacing way ahead of its predecessor.

W.B. and Legendary kept the budget for the film in check; the movie cost a reported $135 million to produce , as compared to the $155 million to $185 million budget range that the franchise’s previous entries occupied. Incidentally, two other franchises also crossed box office milestones in the last week or so — the Ghostbusters series hit the $1 billion mark worldwide, while the Kung Fu Panda series hit the $2 billion mark . Godzilla x Kong landed in theaters just a few months after the unrelated Japanese film Godzilla Minus One became a word-of-mouth hit in the domestic market, grossing over $50 million and winning an Oscar for visual effects. Interest in the iconic kaiju seems to be at an all-time high. You can watch the movie in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Kong and the fearsome Godzilla face off against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own.

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