40 movie sequels have hit $1 billion or more at the box office — here they all are

The cast of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." Eamonn M. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" recently crossed the $2 billion threshold. It's the fourth installment in the Tom Holland-led "Spider-Man" series. It joins 39 other sequels that have made seven figures at the box office. 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) Universal Studios Worldwide gross: $1,001,978,080 39. "The Dark Knight" (2008) "The Dark Knight." Warner Bros. Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,008,480,529 38. "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" (2026) "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,013,045,939 37. "Finding Dory" (2016) "Finding Dory." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,029,266,989 36. "Despicable Me 3" (2017) "Despicable Me 3." Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,034,800,131 35. "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (2011) "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,046,721,266 34. "Moana 2" (2024) "Moana 2." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,059,242,164 33. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (2006) "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." Buena Vista Pictures Distribution Worldwide gross: $1,066,179,747 32. "Toy Story 3" (2010) "Toy Story 3." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,067,316,101 31. "Toy Story 4" (2019) "Toy Story 4." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,073,841,394 30. "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (2019) "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,077,022,372 29. "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012) "The Dark Knight Rises." Warner Bros. Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,085,429,692 28. "Transformers: Age of Extinction" (2014) Here's a bunch of Transformers standing around in "Transformers: Age of Extinction." They are all hideous. And that's fine. Paramount Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,105,261,713 27. "Skyfall" (2012) "Skyfall." Sony Pictures Releasing Worldwide gross: $1,108,594,137 26. "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (2011) "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." Paramount Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,123,794,079 25. "Toy Story 5" (2026) "Toy Story 5." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,128,693,939 24. "Spider-Man: Far From Home" (2019) "Spider-Man: Far From Home." Sony Pictures Releasing Worldwide gross: $1,132,723,226 23. "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003) "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." New Line Cinema Worldwide gross: $1,149,453,674 22. "Captain America: Civil War" (2016) "Captain America: Civil War." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,155,046,416 21. "Iron Man 3" (2013) "Iron Man 3." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,215,577,205 20. "The Fate of the Furious" (2017) "The Fate of the Furious." Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,236,009,236 19. "Incredibles 2" (2018) "Incredibles 2." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,243,225,667 18. "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" (2018) "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom." Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,308,566,455 17. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2017) "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,334,407,706 16. "Deadpool & Wolverine" (2024) "Deadpool & Wolverine." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,338,073,645 15. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011) "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." Warner Bros. Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,342,942,050 14. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) "Avengers: Age of Ultron." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,405,018,048 13. "Frozen II" (2019) "Frozen II." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,453,683,476 12. "Avatar: Fire and Ash" (2025) "Avatar: Fire and Ash." 20th Century Studios Worldwide gross: $1,485,999,890 11. "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022) "Top Gun: Maverick." Paramount Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,503,260,455 10. "Furious 7" (2015) "Furious 7." Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,515,342,457 9. "Jurassic World" (2015) "Jurassic World." Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,671,537,444 8. "Inside Out 2" (2024) "Inside Out 2." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,698,863,816 7. "Zootopia 2" (2025) "Zootopia 2." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,866,647,950 6. "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021) "Spider-Man: No Way Home." Sony Pictures Releasing Worldwide gross: $1,921,426,073 5. "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018) "Avengers: Infinity War." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $2,052,415,039 4. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015) "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $2,071,310,218 3. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (2026) "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." Sony Pictures Releasing Worldwide gross: $2,229,461,878 2. "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022) "Avatar: The Way of Water." 20th Century Studios Worldwide gross: $2,334,484,620 1. "Avengers: Endgame" (2019) "Avengers: Endgame." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $2,799,439,100 Read the original article on Business Insider

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