Oscars
The highest-grossing Best Picture Oscar winning films
Here’s a look at the 10 highest-grossing Best Picture winners.
The most prestigious honor a film can receive is winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards. This, of course, gives the movie a spot in history and often propels box office numbers.
Let’s take a look at the 10 highest-grossing films to win Best Picture with numbers adjusted for inflation.
10 - ‘My Fair Lady’ (1964)
This romantic musical tells the story of Henry Higgens (Rex Harrison), a pretentious phonetics professor, who aims to transform Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn), a working-class girl, into a member of high society.
The movie grossed over $549 million.
The film also won Best Director, Best Actor (Harrison), Best Art Direction - Color, Best Cinematography - Color, Best Costume Design - Color, Best Scoring of Music - Adaptation or Treatment and Best Sound.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Rex Harrison), Best Supporting Actress (Gladys Cooper), Best Screenplay - Based on Material from Another Medium and Best Film Editing.
9 - ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
The conclusion to the ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy shows Frodo and Sam reaching Mordor to destroy the ring as Aragorn leads forces against the evil Sauron.
It grossed over $563 million.
The film also won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.
8 - ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ (1956)
When Englishman Phillip Fogg (David Niven) proclaims to be able to journey around the globe in 80 days, he sets off on a quest to do just that.
It grossed over $591 million.
The film also won Best Screenplay - Adapted, Best Cinematography - Color, Best Film Editing and Best Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Director, Best Art Direction - Color and Best Costume Design - Color.
7 - ‘Forrest Gump’ (1994)
Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) is a slow-witted man who leads a fulfilling life. However, he may not be able to save his childhood sweetheart, the kind yet troubled Jenny (Robin Wright).
It grossed over $719 million.
The film also won Best Director, Best Actor (Hanks), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Sound Effect Editing.
6 - ‘The Godfather’ (1972)
This crime-drama centers around the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone as the youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino) falls deeper into the violence and betrayal of the family business.
It grossed over $722 million.
The film also won Best Actor (Marlon Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Pacino, Robert Duvall and James Caan), Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing and Best Sound.
5 - ‘The Sting’ (1973)
Following the murder of his friend, con artist Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) teams up with Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to exact revenge on the one responsible, the ruthless crime boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw).
It grossed over $815 million.
The film also won Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing and Best Scoring: Adaptation.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Actor (Redford), Best Cinematography and Best Sound.
4 - ‘Ben-Hur’ 1959
The movie tells the story of an aristocratic Jew in Judaea who incurs the wrath of his childhood friend, a Roman tribune.
It grossed over $896 million.
The film also won Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Charleton Heston), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Hugh Griffith), Best Art Direction - Color, Best Cinematography - Color, Best Costume Design - Color, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Recording, Best Music and Best Special Effects.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.
3 - ‘Titanic’ (1997)
This romantic drama is a fictional retelling of the sinking of the Titanic. It follows the tragic love story of Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio).
It grossed over $1.24 billion.
The film also won Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Actress (Winslet), Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart) and Best Makeup.
2 - ‘The Sound of Music’ (1965)
Based on the real story of the Von Trapp Family, one of the world’s best-known concert groups immediately preceding WWII, the movie features Julie Andrews in the lead role.
It grossed over $1.30 billion.
The film also won Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Scoring of Music and Best Sound.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Actress (Andrews), Best Supporting Actress (Peggy Wood), Best Art Direction - Color, Best Cinematography - Color and Best Costume Design - Color.
1 - ‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939)
The movie tells the tale of Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) and her survival throughout the Civil War and Reconstruction.
It grossed over $1.85 billion.
The film also won Best Director, Best Actress (Leigh), Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel), Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography - Color, Best Film Editing alongside two honorary awards.
Additionally, it was nominated for Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Supporting Actress (Olivia de Havilland), Best Original Score, Best Sound Recording and Best Visual Effects.