While many of the films listed have finished their runs, a lot are still in theaters. Grosses listed are projected final domestic takes.
1. IRON MAN 3 - $409m
Highest grossing film in the Iron Man franchise and second highest in the overall Avengers franchise. I can't greet this film being #1 of the summer with anything other than a big yawn.
2. DESPICABLE ME 2 - $362m
This means we're guarenteed another of these and at least 2 Minion films, one of which is due Christmas 2014. I suspect the gross of the first Minion film will be closer to this film than the first Despicable Me. This is a definite surprise that this was able to make this much.
3. MAN OF STEEL - $292m
Almost exactly where most predicted it would end up, though we expected a better movie based on those spectacular trailers. Ah well. I still prefer Superman Returns. That was so much better than this destruction porn. Is destruction porn the new torture porn? The next Man of Steel movie, due in 2015, will feature Ben Affleck as an ageing Batman (in case you haven't heard). That might give this rebooted franchise some box-office oomph. I just wonder how many cities we'll see destroyed in that movie.
4. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY - $266m
Just about equaled the gross of Monsters Inc, but that was released 12 years ago. I doubt we'll get another sequel to this, but Pixar's next sequel Finding Dory is going to be a real box-office monster. Can't believe Despicable Me 2 made almost $100m more than this.
5. FAST AND FURIOUS 6 - $239m
Audiences will be getting 2 more, and I wouldn't be surprised of even more given this franchise shows no signs of slowing down. I don't get it, but whatever.
6. STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS - $229m
The four year gap in the series may have led to this underperforming slightly stateside.
7. WORLD WAR Z - $203m
Hey, remember when everyone thought this was going to bomb because of the hellish production and out of control budget? Turns out all those reshoots may have saved the film, as reviews were decent and worldwide box-office was huge. Put this one with The Bourne Identity and Charlie's Angels as films that were a nightmare to film that ended up succeeding critically and commercially. It's rare, but it does happen. Still, I'd say the studio should skip making a sequel.
8. THE HEAT - $159m
Melissa McCarthy = box-office superstar of 2013. Sandra Bullock = still as strong as ever and let's hope Gravity continues that. The most important lesson Hollywood needs to learn: women = money.
9. THE GREAT GATSBY - $145m
The opening proved that Leo more than still has it. I never understood why so many people rooted against this and I'm glad it ended up doing well.
10. WE'RE THE MILLERS - $138m
This is probably the big surprise in a summer full of them. While most (dumbass) watchers will just look for excuses to give Aniston zero credit for it, I'm giving a lot of it to her and say that striptease in the trailer moreso than the storyline is what got asses in seats. Go Jennifer!
(Hey, everything in the top 10 was a success, to varying degrees.)
11. THE CONJURING - $137m
Another big success, but I saw this one coming. The budget was only $20m and the studio is really reaping the rewards with a potential franchise on their hands. Great reviews helped this crossover past the standard horror audience.
12. GROWN UPS 2 - $132m
Hey, everyone involved with this: Did you have fun throwing a three month keg party in which you used the downtime to film a "movie"?
13. THE WOLVERINE - $131m
Well, let's hope the next reboot is a musical! Who would have thought Hugh's last film Les Miserables would gross more than his newest Wolverine film? The next X-Men film hits next summer, though that one might do well given it mingles the casts.
14. NOW YOU SEE ME - $118m
Another surprise. Notice how most of the overperformers the summer were films that weren't franchises but had somewhat original concepts. Okay, this film is basically a combination of The Prestige and The Italian Job, but whatever. If they make a sequel, we all know what it needs to be called.
15. LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER - $114m
Proof that adult aimed prestige pics can thrive as alternatives to the big franchises. We hope you like adult-aimed prestige films as the next four months are filled with them. Maybe next year Hollywood will learn to put some in summer instead of dumping all of them in fall. It helps them stand out more during award season if they were already financially successful.
16. THE HANGOVER 3 - $112m
Hooray, we're finally done with this franchise!
17. EPIC - $108m
It did well enough, but not something anyone will remember a few months time.
18. PACIFIC RIM - $102m
Despite all the articles proclaiming this a bomb before it was released, its international gross saved the day.
19. THIS IS THE END - $101m
See Grown Ups 2, this is how you make a movie that is one big in-joke and actually make it clever and, you know, good.
20. ELYSIUM - $92m
Well, its not District 9. That's for sure. Probably the biggest disappointment of the summer from a critical perspective.
21. THE LONE RANGER - $90m
If they had made this a traditional western more in the vein of the True Grit remake and Django Unchained, it might have done well. Instead, we get the usual Johnny Depp in facepaint bullshit. Hopefully, this leads to him reevaluating some of his career choices. Hopefully, everyone else involved does the same.
22. PLANES - $90m
Cars it wasn't.
23. TURBO - $82m
This and Planes should've been spaced out a little more. They bring up a good point I've been trying to make all year that family films need to be spaced out better. There should always be something in release that is aimed at kids/families, but not too many at once.
24. 2 GUNS - $75m
I'll just reiterate a joke I read about this film: it's already playing on FX.
25. WHITE HOUSE DOWN - $73m
I never thought Olympus Has Fallen would've beat this given Channing's box office power last year. Then again, I was one of the only people saying Tatum's box-office last year had less to do with him and more the films themselves being released at the right time.
26. THE SMURFS 2 - $70m
This failed. There is a god?
27. PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS - $65m
This did better than I anticipated. Not saying much.
28. THE PURGE - $64m
Yes, it sank like a rock after its strong opening, but who cares? It cost $3 million so its a big profit for the studio and proof of why keeping budgets low is so important. The sequel is going to fail, though.
29. AFTER EARTH - $61m
Dear movie stars, your kids aren't that talented and may not want to be in movies. How about you only create vanity vehicles for them if they really want to be in movies and have more charisma than, say, a rock? I know you'll still keep your job if these vehicles fail, but a lot of hardworking other people won't. Just something to consider. Love, everyone that isn't related to you.
30. RED 2 - $53m
Stop making sequels to movies that weren't that huge and that no one remembers.
31. THE INTERNSHIP - $45m
I'm sure this would've done well 6 years ago.
32. INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED - $45m
I really have no idea where this will end up and if it will continue to expand strongly. I played it safe and offered a conversative estimate, but it could end up a mini-My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Who knows?
33. R.I.P.D. - $34m
Did I already declare something the bomb of the summer? If I did, I apologize. Because this is it. Whoever thought it was a good idea to spend over $100 million on this should not be working in the movie industry. Or any industry.
34. KEVIN HART: LET ME EXPLAIN - $32m
I don't think this ever played in more than a thousand theaters, which means it probably could have grossed more than it did.
BLUE JASMINE - $32m
Another Woody summer success. And just think - next year he has a movie with Colin Firth and Emma Stone! Box-office gold, I tell ya!
THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES - $32m
Is the sequel still going forward? Those people should be fired, too.
ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US - $32m
They are releasing an expanded edition this weekend with over 20 minutes of new footage. So, obviously that will add $100 million to its gross.
38. KICK-ASS 2 - $30m
Another sequel that never should have been made.
39. THE WORLD'S END - $27m
About what expected, as far as domestic box-office. These films really thrive on DVD/cable.
40. THE WAY WAY BACK - $22m
No Little Miss Sunshine. The gross is 'good enough' but it seemed like this would have done better with mainstream audiences.
41. YOU'RE NEXT - $19m
Lionsgate has no idea how to make well reviewed horror movies a success in August.
42. JOBS - $17m
This was the most it could possibly make, so it can't be called a disappointment. Expectations are so low for Ashton Kutcher.
43. FRUITVALE STATION - $16m
Despite the timeliness, had trouble crossing over to mainstream audiences.
44. GETAWAY - $12m
Stay away, stay away.
45. PEEPLES - $9m
Proof that slapping Tyler Perry's name on anything doesn't work.
46. BEFORE MIDNIGHT - $8m
Adjusted for inflation, the first installment is still higher. Outside of cinephiles, there isn't any interest.
47. THE SPECTACULAR NOW - $7m
A24 is new, so this probably would have crossed over better had a different studio been behind it. Despite the great reviews, the reception has been oddly muted.
48. PARANOIA - $7m
Lowest grossing wide release in awhile. Maybe Liam should just give up and do porn.
49. CLOSED CIRCUIT - $7m
It might have done better with different leads as I don't think Eric Bana ever really clicked with audiences and Rebecca Hall probably isn't going to, either. Sadly.
50. THE GRANDMASTER - $7m
I guess the controversy over the cut footage may have dwindled its potential?
51. THE BLING RING - $6m
Probably should've done a tad better, but A24 being still new...yeah..blah blah blah.
I think it's been a very fun summer from a box-office watching perspective. More good surprises than all out bombs.
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