At one time, sequels were expected to have diminishing returns — but not anymore. Now, if a sequel doesn’t outgross its predecessor, it can be considered something of a failure.
Perhaps that’s why, among the 64 films released by US studios that have made $1 billion at the box office, a whopping 40 of them are direct sequels to other movies — 44 if you count “Rogue One,” “Minions,” “The Phantom Menace,” or “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” which are technically prequels.
This year alone, three sequels — “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “Toy Story 5,” and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” — have made at least $1 billion, with “Brand New Day” entering even more rarefied air by grossing over $2 billion, just the seventh film released by a US studio to do so.
Here are all 40 sequels to have hit $1 billion at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo data, from “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” to “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
40. “Jurassic World Dominion” (2022)
Worldwide gross: $1,001,978,080
39. “The Dark Knight” (2008)
Worldwide gross: $1,008,480,529
38. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” (2026)
Worldwide gross: $1,013,045,939
37. “Finding Dory” (2016)
Worldwide gross: $1,029,266,989
36. “Despicable Me 3” (2017)
Worldwide gross: $1,034,800,131
35. “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011)
Worldwide gross: $1,046,721,266
34. “Moana 2” (2024)
Worldwide gross: $1,059,242,164
33. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (2006)
Worldwide gross: $1,066,179,747
32. “Toy Story 3” (2010)
Worldwide gross: $1,067,316,101
31. “Toy Story 4” (2019)
Worldwide gross: $1,073,841,394
30. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (2019)
Worldwide gross: $1,077,022,372
29. “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)
Worldwide gross: $1,085,429,692
28. “Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014)
Worldwide gross: $1,105,261,713
27. “Skyfall” (2012)
Worldwide gross: $1,108,594,137
26. “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (2011)
Worldwide gross: $1,123,794,079
25. “Toy Story 5” (2026)
Worldwide gross: $1,128,693,939
24. “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (2019)
Worldwide gross: $1,132,723,226
23. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003)
Worldwide gross: $1,149,453,674
22. “Captain America: Civil War” (2016)
Worldwide gross: $1,155,046,416
21. “Iron Man 3” (2013)
Worldwide gross: $1,215,577,205
20. “The Fate of the Furious” (2017)
Worldwide gross: $1,236,009,236
19. “Incredibles 2” (2018)
Worldwide gross: $1,243,225,667
18. “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018)
Worldwide gross: $1,308,566,455
17. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (2017)
Worldwide gross: $1,334,407,706
16. “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024)
Worldwide gross: $1,338,073,645
15. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011)
Worldwide gross: $1,342,942,050
14. “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015)
Worldwide gross: $1,405,018,048
13. “Frozen II” (2019)
Worldwide gross: $1,453,683,476
12. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (2025)
Worldwide gross: $1,485,999,890
11. “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022)
Worldwide gross: $1,503,260,455
10. “Furious 7” (2015)
Worldwide gross: $1,515,342,457
9. “Jurassic World” (2015)
Worldwide gross: $1,671,537,444
8. “Inside Out 2” (2024)
Worldwide gross: $1,698,863,816
7. “Zootopia 2” (2025)
Worldwide gross: $1,866,647,950
6. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)
Worldwide gross: $1,921,426,073
5. “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
Worldwide gross: $2,052,415,039
4. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2015)
Worldwide gross: $2,071,310,218
3. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (2026)
Worldwide gross: $2,229,461,878
2. “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022)
Worldwide gross: $2,334,484,620
1. “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
Worldwide gross: $2,799,439,100
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