It's no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic upended the movie theater business in 2020, but in the years since, the industry has slowly climbed back. In 2021, 14 movies were able to cross the coveted $100 million mark at the U.S. box office. In 2022, that number jumped up to 18 films. And in 2023, there were a whopping 25 such blockbusters. So how many features released during the current 2024 calendar year will end up becoming box office behemoths? Stay tuned.
To date, the biggest money-makers of the year are the highly anticipated sequels Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, both with well over $600 million. Scroll through our gallery below to see all of the 2024 box office hits so far that made more than $100 million in the United States. The number will continue to grow as high-profile movies like Nosferatu will be released later in the year.
UPDATED: Dec. 19, 2024
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1. ‘Inside Out 2’
Image Credit: Pixar Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 2
In June 2024, this highly anticipated Pixar sequel officially became the biggest box office success since “Barbie” the prior year. This time around, our favorite emotions (led by Amy Poehler as Joy) must deal with a new set of feelings (led by Maya Hawke as Anxiety) as the human child they inhabit enters adulthood.
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2. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
Image Credit: Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 2
This blockbuster serves as the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is a direct sequel to “Deadpool 2” (2018). Ryan Reynolds returns as the quirky superhero Deadpool, but this time he’s joined by Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine as they embark on a quest to save the universe. Shawn Levy directed the movie from a script co-written by Reynolds, among others.
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3. ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Universal Pictures Distributor: Universal Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 3
Jon M. Chu’s long-awaited adaptation of the popular Broadway stage musical finally arrived on Nov. 22, and fans flew to the theaters on their figurative broomsticks. Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande plays Galinda Upland, aka Glinda the Good Witch. Other notable cast members include Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
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4. ‘Despicable Me 4’
Image Credit: Universal Distributor: Universal Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 4
Steve Carell’s supervillain-turned-special agent Gru returns (along with his cute yellow sidekicks) in this fourth chapter in the “Despicable Me” series and the sixth franchise film overall counting the two “Minions” spin-offs. This time around, Gru and his ever-growing family must seek out safety from the terrifying Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), who’s out for revenge.
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5. ‘Moana 2’
Image Credit: Disney Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 3
Disney’s long-awaited sequel to “Moana” (2016) re-teams the titular adventurer (voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho) with the shapeshifting demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson). Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the project was originally conceived to be a limited series for Disney+, but was later made into a one-hour, 40-minute feature film.
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6. ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor: Warner Bros.
Days to reach $100 million: 3
A whopping 36 years after the original “Beetlejuice” (1988) debuted in theaters, a sequel was finally produced that welcomes back many of the original characters including Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) and Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara). Tim Burton returns to direct the project from a script written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.
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7. ‘Dune: Part Two’
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Days to reach $100 million: 6
Denis Villeneuve returns to direct the sequel to his 2021 “Dune” movie, which won a whopping six Academy Awards. This time around, the characters played by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya team up on the desert planet Arrakis as a war wages against House Harkonnen. “Dune: Part Two” was originally intended for a 2023 release, but it was delayed due to the Hollywood strikes.
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8. ‘Twisters’
Image Credit: Universal Pictures Distributor: Universal Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 5
A whopping 28 years after the original “Twister” spun its way into theaters in 1996, this stand-alone sequel debuted with a new cast led by Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos. This time around, a group of storm chasers are hoping to reduce a tornado’s intensity through science.
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9. ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Distributor: Warner Bros.
Days to reach $100 million: 7
The official sequel to “Godzilla vs. Kong” (2021), “The New Empire” actually marks the 38th “Godzilla” movie and the 13th “King Kong” film. Director Adam Wingard oversees the project that brings back Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilene Andrews and Brian Tyree Henry as Bernie Hayes, as the two enormous monsters come together to stop an epic foe.
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10. ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’
Image Credit: Universal Pictures Distributor: Universal Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 10
In this fourth sequel, Po the panda (Jack Black) and Zhen the fox (Awkwafina) come together to defeat an evil chameleon (Viola Davis) who wants to steal the kung-fu abilities of every Chinese master. Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine serve as the co-directors of their first “Kung Fu Panda” film.
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11. ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Days to reach $100 million: 10
They’re baaack! Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as their classic “Bad Boys” character in this fourth installment of the popular cop franchise. This one is directed by Adil & Bilall and features the main characters trying to clear the name of their late captain (Joe Pantoliano).
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12. ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’
Image Credit: 20th Century Studios Distributor: 20th Century Studios
Days to reach $100 million: 10
Wes Ball oversees this fourth installment of the “Planet of the Apes” reboot and the 10th film overall in the decades-long franchise. Notable cast members include Owen Teague as Noa, Freya Allan as Mae and Kevin Durand as Proximus Caesar. This entry takes place a whopping 300 years after “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017) and focuses on apes and humans trying to come together in harmony.
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13: ‘Gladiator II’
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 9
A whopping 24 years after the original “Gladiator” (2000) won five Oscars including Best Picture, director Ridley Scott is back with part two of his Roman epic. This time around, Paul Mescal plays Lucius, the grown-up son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus, as he fights in the arena to avenge his family.
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14. ‘It Ends with Us’
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Days to reach $100 million: 11
Based on the popular romance novel by Colleen Hoover, “It Ends with Us” stars Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, a flower shop owner who struggles with overcoming her abusive childhood. She sparks an intense love connection with a neurosurgeon (played by director Justin Baldoni), just as her former boyfriend (Brandon Sklenar) makes his return.
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15. ‘The Wild Robot’
Image Credit: Universal Pictures Distributor: Universal Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 24
DreamWorks Animation’s latest film stars Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, a long-abandoned tech robot that must adapt to its new environment after washing ashore onto a forest island. Chris Sanders wrote and directed the movie based on the 2016 novel “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown.
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16. ‘Venom: The Last Dance’
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Days to reach $100 million: 15
This marks the third and final installment of the Marvel character’s feature film trilogy following “Venom” (2018) and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” (2021). “Venom: The Last Dance” is directed by Kelly Marcel and features Tom Hardy’s Eddie and Venom on the run and faced with a harrowing choice.
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17. ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 13
This marks the third film in John Krasinski’s creepy horror franchise, following “A Quiet Place” (2018) and “A Quiet Place Part II” (2020), only this one takes place during the first moments of the worldwide alien invasion. Joining the cast are Lupita Nyong’o as Sam and Joseph Quinn as Eric, while Djimon Hounsou as Henri returns from the second installment.
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18. ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Days to reach $100 million: 30
Gil Kenan, who co-wrote “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021) with that film’s director Jason Reitman, now helms the 2024 sequel. The massive cast includes all of the original surviving Ghostbusters (Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts), teaming up with the new Spengler family members (Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace).
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19. ‘IF’
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 31
Writer/director/producer/star John Krasinski created this film with families in mind, as it tells the story of a young girl who is able to see other peoples’ imaginary friends. The voice cast is a who’s-who of Hollywood, with Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Awkwafina, Emily Blunt and more playing the titular “IFs”
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20. ‘Alien: Romulus’
Image Credit: 20th Century Studios Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Days to reach $100 million: 30
Set between the original two films in the franchise, “Alien” (1979) and “Aliens” (1986), this latest feature stars Cailee Spaeny as Rain, an orphaned miner who comes into contact with the classic movie villains. Fede Álvarez directs the project from a script written by himself and Rodo Sayagues.
