The most popular movies of all time by ticket sales as a percentage of world population
Why This List?
Lists like
Rotten Tomatoes Top 100
and
IMDB Top 100
are full of bias, and in particular are biased towards new movies.
Lists that focus on revenue like
Box Office Mojo Top Lifetime Grosses
are objective, but also unreliable because inflation and world population, at the time the movie was shown, highly distort the results.
The most accurate measure of a movie's true popularity is raw ticket sales as shown in
Wikipedia List of films by box office admissions,
but still these results are skewed by the fact that the world's population has changed dramatically over time.
Therefore, the most objective measurement you can have of a movies populator for all time is the ticket sales of a movie
divided by the population of the world during that year as a percentage. That listing is given below by using two lists from
wikipedia, the list given above of admissions, also known as ticket sales, and the world population from
Wikipedia Estimates of historical world population.
I'm also using the values in
WorldOMeter World Population by Year
for dates greater than 2016.
Fascinating revelations
-
A Chinese movie, Legend of White Snake, still tops the list regardless of dividing by the worlds population.
-
Gone with the Wind is still the most popular English movie of all time, followed by Birth Of A Nation, The Ten Commandments,
The Sound of Music, Star Wars, and Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.
-
One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and the Exorcist are near the top of the English list, which is very hard to believe.
-
The highest ranked movie made after 2000 is Avatar, at the 37th position.
-
Batman and Spiderman are by far the most popular super heroes.
-
The most popular James Bond movie of all time is Thunderball.
-
There are many action movies listed but also many musicals.
-
Aladdin is the only live action comedy in this list of 119 films.
Shrek 2 is the only animated comedy in the list.
Table of The most popular movies of all time by ticket sales as a percentage of world population (December 2, 2023)
Movie List Starting With Most Popular
| Film | Year | Total Ticket Sales | Territory | World Population | World Ticket Sales Per Population (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legend of the White Snake (Bai she zhuan) | 1980 | 700,000,000 | China | 4,451,362,735 | 15.7255 |
| In-Laws (Full House of Joy) | 1981 | 650,000,000 | China | 4,534,410,125 | 14.3348 |
| Gunshots in the CIB (Bao mi ju de qiang sheng) | 1979 | 600,000,000 | China | 4,379,013,942 | 13.7017 |
| Murder in 405 (405 mou sha an) | 1980 | 600,000,000 | China | 4,451,362,735 | 13.4790 |
| Wudang (The Undaunted Wudang) | 1983 | 610,000,000 | China | 4,695,736,743 | 12.9905 |
| Gone with the Wind | 1939 | 285,663,720 | Worldwide | 2,300,000,000 | 12.4201 |
| Sesame Official (Qi pin zhi ma guan) | 1980 | 500,000,000 | China | 4,451,362,735 | 11.2325 |
| The Disciple of the Shaolin Temple (Shaolin Brothers) | 1983 | 520,000,000 | China | 4,695,736,743 | 11.0738 |
| Shaolin Temple | 1982 | 500,994,065 | China, Hong Kong, South Korea | 4,614,566,561 | 10.8567 |
| Cong Nu Li Dao Jiang Jun | 1979 | 470,000,000 | China | 4,379,013,942 | 10.7330 |
| Deadly Fury (Pride's Deadly Fury) | 1984 | 500,000,000 | China | 4,774,569,391 | 10.4721 |
| The Xi'an Incident | 1981 | 450,000,000 | China | 4,534,410,125 | 9.9241 |
| The Birth of a Nation | 1915 | 171,428,571 | United States | 1,793,000,000 | 9.5609 |
| The Ten Commandments | 1956 | 262,000,000 | Worldwide | 2,835,299,673 | 9.2406 |
| Mysterious Buddha (Shen mi de da fo) | 1980 | 400,000,000 | China | 4,451,362,735 | 8.9860 |
| Tunnel War | 1965 | 300,000,000 | China | 3,350,425,793 | 8.9540 |
| Awaara (The Vagabond) | 1951 | 230,100,000 | India, Soviet Union, China, Turkey | 2,594,939,877 | 8.8672 |
| Kimi yo Fundo no Kawa o Watare (Manhunt) | 1976 | 363,700,000 | China, Soviet Union | 4,160,185,010 | 8.7423 |
| Ji Hongchang | 1979 | 380,000,000 | China | 4,379,013,942 | 8.6777 |
| The Sound of Music | 1965 | 283,300,000 | Worldwide | 3,350,425,793 | 8.4556 |
| Caravan | 1971 | 319,000,000 | China | 3,790,326,948 | 8.4161 |
| Star Wars | 1977 | 338,400,000 | Worldwide | 4,232,084,578 | 7.9960 |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1937 | 167,048,864 | Worldwide | 2,231,000,000 | 7.4876 |
| Doctor Zhivago | 1965 | 248,200,000 | Worldwide | 3,350,425,793 | 7.4080 |
| Kai Qiang, Wei Ta Song Xing | 1982 | 330,000,000 | China | 4,614,566,561 | 7.1512 |
| Titanic | 1997 | 389,792,470 | Worldwide | 5,857,972,543 | 6.6540 |
| One Hundred and One Dalmatians | 1961 | 199,800,000 | Worldwide | 3,083,966,929 | 6.4786 |
| Sholay (Embers) | 1975 | 250,021,329 | India, Soviet Union, Brazil, Europe, USA | 4,089,083,233 | 6.1143 |
| E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | 1982 | 276,998,207 | Worldwide | 4,614,566,561 | 6.0026 |
| Jaws | 1975 | 243,277,230 | Worldwide | 4,089,083,233 | 5.9494 |
| Du Shiniang | 1981 | 260,000,000 | China | 4,534,410,125 | 5.7339 |
| Ben-Hur | 1959 | 168,893,565 | Worldwide | 3,000,716,593 | 5.6284 |
| A General Wearing the Sword (Pei jian jiang jun) | 1983 | 260,000,000 | China | 4,695,736,743 | 5.5369 |
| Little Heroes (Young Heroes) | 1983 | 260,000,000 | China | 4,695,736,743 | 5.5369 |
| The Exorcist | 1973 | 214,900,000 | Worldwide | 3,942,096,442 | 5.4514 |
| The Burning of Imperial Palace | 1983 | 240,000,000 | China | 4,695,736,743 | 5.1110 |
| Avatar | 2009 | 331,298,685 | Worldwide | 6,788,214,394 | 4.8804 |
| Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | 351,491,996 | Worldwide | 7,764,951,032 | 4.5266 |
| The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya | 1942 | 100,000,000 | Japan and its occupied territories | 2,300,000,000 | 4.3478 |
| Fei lai de nu xu (Son-in-Law Flew Out of Nowhere) | 1982 | 199,500,000 | China | 4,614,566,561 | 4.3232 |
| Holy Robe of the Shaolin Temple | 1985 | 200,000,000 | China | 4,856,462,699 | 4.1182 |
| The Jungle Book | 1967 | 137,915,958 | Worldwide | 3,490,333,715 | 3.9513 |
| Thunderball | 1965 | 122,235,389 | UK, USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland | 3,350,425,793 | 3.6483 |
| Cleopatra | 1963 | 116,470,333 | USA, Canada, Soviet Union, Europe, South Korea | 3,209,827,882 | 3.6285 |
| Lan dun bao xian xiang (Blue Shield Safe) | 1983 | 170,000,000 | China | 4,695,736,743 | 3.6203 |
| The Red Snowball Tree | 1974 | 140,000,000 | Soviet Union | 4,016,608,813 | 3.4855 |
| Mother India | 1957 | 100,011,812 | India, France, UK | 2,891,349,717 | 3.4590 |
| Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | 265,084,467 | Worldwide | 7,683,789,828 | 3.4499 |
| Juvenile Delinquents (Innocent Teenagers) | 1985 | 161,000,000 | China | 4,856,462,699 | 3.3151 |
| The Godfather | 1972 | 128,176,173 | USA, Canada, UK, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, South Korea | 3,866,568,653 | 3.3149 |
| Mughal-e-Azam (The Great Mughal) | 1960 | 100,041,453 | India, USA, Canada, UK | 3,043,001,508 | 3.2875 |
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens | 2015 | 239,302,925 | Worldwide | 7,426,597,537 | 3.2222 |
| Jurassic Park | 1993 | 178,346,628 | Worldwide | 5,538,268,316 | 3.2202 |
| Mary Poppins | 1964 | 105,507,268 | USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Spain | 3,281,201,306 | 3.2155 |
| Amphibian Man | 1962 | 100,000,000 | Soviet Union | 3,140,093,217 | 3.1846 |
| Romance on Lushan Mountain | 1980 | 140,000,000 | China | 4,451,362,735 | 3.1451 |
| The Sting | 1973 | 123,048,854 | USA, Canada, Europe, South Korea | 3,942,096,442 | 3.1214 |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home | 2021 | 245,287,629 | Worldwide | 7,909,295,151 | 3.1012 |
| Goldfinger | 1964 | 100,150,318 | UK, USA, Canada, Europe, South Korea | 3,281,201,306 | 3.0522 |
| Disco Dancer | 1982 | 135,000,000 | India, Soviet Union | 4,614,566,561 | 2.9255 |
| The Lion King | 2019 | 227,008,637 | Worldwide | 7,764,951,032 | 2.9235 |
| A Policeman with a Special Identity | 1982 | 130,000,000 | China | 4,614,566,561 | 2.8171 |
| Jurassic World | 2015 | 206,287,661 | Worldwide | 7,426,597,537 | 2.7776 |
| The Lion King | 1994 | 153,959,873 | Worldwide | 5,618,682,132 | 2.7401 |
| Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back | 1980 | 121,693,138 | USA, Canada, Europe, South Korea | 4,451,362,735 | 2.7338 |
| Grease | 1978 | 117,075,584 | Worldwide | 4,304,105,753 | 2.7200 |
| Furious 7 | 2015 | 199,183,691 | Worldwide | 7,426,597,537 | 2.6820 |
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | 2001 | 164,512,878 | Worldwide | 6,165,219,247 | 2.6684 |
| Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | 1999 | 158,978,082 | Worldwide | 6,012,074,922 | 2.6443 |
| Bobby | 1973 | 102,900,000 | India, Soviet Union | 3,942,096,442 | 2.6102 |
| At Middle Age (Ren dao zhong nian) | 1982 | 120,000,000 | China | 4,614,566,561 | 2.6004 |
| She an | 1983 | 120,000,000 | China | 4,695,736,743 | 2.5555 |
| Yellow River Fighter | 1988 | 130,000,000 | China | 5,114,557,167 | 2.5417 |
| Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi | 1983 | 118,207,387 | USA, Canada, Europe, South Korea | 4,695,736,743 | 2.5173 |
| Great Shanghai 1937 (Da Shang Hai 1937) | 1986 | 121,000,000 | China | 4,940,571,232 | 2.4491 |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | 2003 | 149,735,814 | Worldwide | 6,318,590,956 | 2.3697 |
| Raiders of the Lost Ark | 1981 | 107,227,185 | USA, Canada, Europe, Brazil, Seoul | 4,534,410,125 | 2.3647 |
| Our Niu Baisui (Zan men de niu bai sui) [zh] | 1983 | 110,000,000 | China | 4,695,736,743 | 2.3425 |
| The Avengers | 2012 | 166,366,729 | Worldwide | 7,161,697,921 | 2.3230 |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | 2001 | 142,597,767 | Worldwide | 6,165,219,247 | 2.3129 |
| Frozen II | 2019 | 177,007,599 | Worldwide | 7,764,951,032 | 2.2795 |
| Mirage (Hai shi shen lou) | 1987 | 113,000,000 | China | 5,027,200,492 | 2.2477 |
| Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | 166,509,843 | Worldwide | 7,426,597,537 | 2.2420 |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | 2002 | 139,804,845 | Worldwide | 6,242,016,348 | 2.2397 |
| First Blood | 1982 | 101,187,271 | USA, Canada, China, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, South Korea | 4,614,566,561 | 2.1927 |
| Dong fang jian | 1982 | 100,000,000 | China | 4,614,566,561 | 2.1670 |
| Independence Day | 1996 | 124,051,234 | USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Brazil | 5,779,440,593 | 2.1464 |
| Wolf Warrior 2 | 2017 | 160,322,273 | Canada, China, Germany, South Korea, UK, USA | 7,599,822,404 | 2.1095 |
| Finding Nemo | 2003 | 132,171,209 | Worldwide | 6,318,590,956 | 2.0917 |
| Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | 2018 | 160,547,160 | Worldwide | 7,683,789,828 | 2.0894 |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 2023 | 168,100,000 | Worldwide | 8,045,311,447 | 2.0894 |
| Incredibles 2 | 2018 | 159,064,742 | Worldwide | 7,683,789,828 | 2.0701 |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | 2006 | 134,528,334 | USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Korea | 6,551,263,534 | 2.0534 |
| Spider-Man | 2002 | 126,654,574 | Worldwide | 6,242,016,348 | 2.0290 |
| Frozen | 2013 | 142,925,342 | Worldwide | 7,092,128,094 | 2.0152 |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 | 2011 | 137,832,956 | Worldwide | 6,935,999,491 | 1.9872 |
| Black Panther | 2018 | 149,894,217 | Worldwide | 7,683,789,828 | 1.9507 |
| Shrek 2 | 2004 | 123,023,527 | USA, Canada, Europe, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, South Korea | 6,395,699,509 | 1.9235 |
| Star Wars: The Last Jedi | 2017 | 140,827,080 | Worldwide | 7,599,822,404 | 1.8530 |
| Zhou Enlai [zh] | 1992 | 100,000,000 | China | 5,456,136,278 | 1.8327 |
| Forrest Gump | 1994 | 101,939,833 | USA, Canada, Europe, South Korea, Brazil | 5,618,682,132 | 1.8143 |
| Spider-Man: Far From Home | 2019 | 140,345,269 | Worldwide | 7,764,951,032 | 1.8074 |
| Ne Zha | 2019 | 140,000,000 | China | 7,764,951,032 | 1.8029 |
| The Dark Knight Rises | 2012 | 121,771,548 | Worldwide | 7,013,871,313 | 1.7361 |
| The Dark Knight | 2008 | 116,062,961 | Worldwide | 6,709,049,780 | 1.7299 |
| The Sixth Sense | 1999 | 103,747,446 | Worldwide | 6,012,074,922 | 1.7256 |
| The Jungle Book | 2016 | 125,061,672 | USA, Canada, India, China, Europe, Morocco, South Korea | 7,325,996,709 | 1.7070 |
| Spider-Man 3 | 2007 | 111,669,999 | Worldwide | 6,629,913,759 | 1.6843 |
| Spider-Man 2 | 2004 | 105,707,690 | Worldwide | 6,395,699,509 | 1.6527 |
| Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | 2017 | 125,075,856 | India, China, USA, Canada, Europe, Japan | 7,599,822,404 | 1.6457 |
| Beauty and the Beast | 2017 | 124,368,330 | USA, Canada, Europe, Morocco, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil | 7,599,822,404 | 1.6364 |
| The Battle at Lake Changjin | 2021 | 125,000,000 | China | 7,909,295,151 | 1.5804 |
| Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | 2016 | 113,043,258 | USA, Canada, Europe, South Korea | 7,325,996,709 | 1.5430 |
| Hi, Mom | 2021 | 121,000,000 | China | 7,909,295,151 | 1.5298 |
| The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | 2012 | 102,947,949 | Worldwide | 7,013,871,313 | 1.4677 |
| The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies | 2014 | 101,523,762 | Worldwide | 7,169,968,185 | 1.4159 |
| Aladdin | 2019 | 109,617,189 | USA, Canada, Europe, South Korea, China, Japan, India, Brazil | 7,764,951,032 | 1.4116 |
| Spider-Man: Homecoming | 2017 | 106,696,120 | Worldwide | 7,599,822,404 | 1.4039 |
| The Wandering Earth | 2019 | 105,965,100 | China, United States, Canada | 7,764,951,032 | 1.3646 |