Seven of today's top 10 high-grossing science fiction films were released after 2000, and that number will likely get even bigger in the future. In recent years, science fiction films have been doing particularly well at the box office.
These films grossed total ranging from nearly $310 million to more than $760 million. Here are 10 science fiction films that made most money:
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1. "Avatar"
Directed by James Cameron, "Avatar" follows former space Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he finds his allegiance torn between the corporation that lets him walk again and the indigenous tribe it is trying to eliminate.
According to late veteran film critic Roger Ebert, the film cost somewhere between $250 and $300 million to produce, and it has the visual quality to match. Released in December 2009, "Avatar" grossed $761 million domestically, making it the top-grossing science fiction title ever released.
2. "The Avengers"
"The Avengers" follows "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" as they fight the super-villain Loki. "The Avengers" was an enormous production, and no expense was spared to make the action feel large-scale. Released in May 2012, "The Avengers" grossed a mammoth $623 million in the U.S. alone,
reports Box Office Mojo.
3. "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace"
This 1999 prequel to 1977's "Star Wars" follows the young Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), as they unravel a conspiracy against the democratically-elected Galactic Republic.
Metacritic says the film received a lukewarm critical reception, but moviegoers were undeterred — and director George Lucas's long-awaited film grossed $475 million.
4. "Star Wars"
According to Hollywood.com, this pop-culture icon was a nightmare to produce — the desert was a difficult place to film, the movie was rejected by studios, and the original cut was a mess. Despite all these hardships, "Star Wars" was a hit, and director George Lucas's classic 1977 film grossed $461 million domestically.
5. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
Based on the hugely popular young adult novel by Suzanne Collins, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is the sequel to 2012's "The Hunger Games." "Catching Fire" follows protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) as she develops into a revolutionary icon for the country of Panem. The film was released in November 2013, and Metacritic says it was better received than its already well-liked predecessor. This translated into big money at the box office, as "Catching Fire" grossed $425 million.
6. "Iron Man 3"
Released in May 2012, "Iron Man 3," directed by Shane Black, follows billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) as he investigates a conspiracy against the U.S.
SciFiNow called the film's Air Force One rescue scene one of the most difficult stunts scenes ever, and audiences and critics alike were pleased. The film grossed $409 million domestically.
7. "The Hunger Games"
Based on the popular young adult novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, the 2012 film "The Hunger Games" revolves around Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) as she tries to survive a fight to the death between 24 young adults that is mandated by the totalitarian government of Panem.
The Los Angeles Times said it was promoted with a risky marketing campaign that showed little of the film, which ended up grossing $408 million at the U.S. box office.
8. "Jurassic Park"
"Jurassic Park" was the highest-grossing movies in the world from its release in 1993 to the release of "Titanic" in 1997. The movie follows a billionaire who invites two scientists to preview his new amusement park, which features live dinosaurs cloned from the DNA of prehistoric insects.
According to IMDb, the movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, grossed $402 million domestically.
9. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"
Michael Bay's 2009 action blockbuster was panned by critics, and
according to Boston.com, it was dominated the Razzies, an awards ceremony dedicated to the worst films each year. The science-fiction romp follows Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) as he and the Autobots fight off the evil Decepticons. The movie hauled in a formidable $402 million domestically, making it the highest-grossing "Transformers" film.
10. "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith"
"Revenge of the Sith," the final installment of the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, was directed by George Lucas and released in May 2005. In the movie, the militarized Galactic Republic inches closer to becoming the Galactic Empire as it does battle with the villainous Separatist Alliance. According to the Internet Movie Database, the film grossed $308 million, making it the 10th-highest grossing science fiction movie ever released.
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