How would you rank (in terms of your preference) the highest gross film of each of the last 50 years? Based on Domestic. And it's actually 51 years because I couldn't resist putting TGM in for this year.

2022 Top Gun: Maverick
2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home
2020 Bad Boys for Life
2019 Avengers: Endgame
2018 Black Panther
2017 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2015 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
2014 American Sniper
2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2012 The Avengers
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2010 Toy Story 3
2009 Avatar
2008 The Dark Knight
2007 Spider-Man 3
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2004 Shrek 2
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2002 Spider-Man
2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1998 Saving Private Ryan
1997 Titanic
1996 Independence Day
1995 Toy Story
1994 Forrest Gump
1993 Jurassic Park
1992 Aladdin
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1990 Home Alone
1989 Batman
1988 Rain Man
1987 Three Men and a Baby
1986 Top Gun
1985 Back to the Future
1984 Beverly Hills Cop
1983 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1981 Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
1980 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
1979 Kramer vs. Kramer
1978 Grease
1977 Star Wars
1976 Rocky
1975 Jaws
1974 Blazing Saddles
1973 The Sting
1972 The Godfather

Have to admit - it wasn't that easy and there are a strong batch of films on the list. I'm sure i'll rearrange many of these.

My rankings:

1972 The Godfather
1998 Saving Private Ryan
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
2008 The Dark Knight
2014 American Sniper
2010 Toy Story 3
1993 Jurassic Park
1990 Home Alone
2022 Top Gun: Maverick
1980 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
1996 Independence Day
1994 Forrest Gump
1995 Toy Story
2002 Spider-Man
2015 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
1997 Titanic
2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home
1983 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
1977 Star Wars
2019 Avengers: Endgame
2018 Black Panther
2004 Shrek 2
2012 The Avengers
1976 Rocky
1975 Jaws
2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2017 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1986 Top Gun
2009 Avatar
2007 Spider-Man 3
1978 Grease
1987 Three Men and a Baby
1981 Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
1985 Back to the Future
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Unranked as ether not seen or been too long since I have seen them to fairly rank:

2020 Bad Boys for Life
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1992 Aladdin
1989 Batman
1988 Rain Man
1984 Beverly Hills Cop
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1979 Kramer vs. Kramer
1974 Blazing Saddles
1973 The Sting

I went with my heart:

1977 Star Wars
1980 The Empire Strikes Back
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark
1983 Return of the Jedi
2017 The Last Jedi
1984 Beverly Hills Cop
1985 Back to the Future
1993 Jurassic Park
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1997 Titanic
1996 Independence Day
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2015 The Force Awakens
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2018 Black Panther
1998 Saving Private Ryan
1990 Home Alone
1992 Aladdin
2004 Shrek 2
2008 The Dark Knight
2010 Toy Story 3
2022 Top Gun: Maverick
1986 Top Gun
1995 Toy Story
2012 The Avengers
2019 Avengers: Endgame
1994 Forrest Gump
1989 Batman
2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home
2002 Spider-Man
2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2009 Avatar
1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1988 Rain Man
2014 American Sniper
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
1978 Grease
2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
1987 Three Men and a Baby
2020 Bad Boys for Life
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2007 Spider-Man 3

Unranked due to never seen:
1979 Kramer vs. Kramer

Love
1. 2004 Shrek 2
2. 1992 Aladdin
3. 1981 Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
4. 2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
5. 2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
6. 2019 Avengers: Endgame
7. 2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home
8. 1993 Jurassic Park
9. 1995 Toy Story
10. 1990 Home Alone
11. 1980 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
12. 2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
13. 2010 Toy Story 3
14. 2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Really like
15. 1979 Kramer vs. Kramer
16. 2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
17. 2002 Spider-Man
18. 1983 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
19. 2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
20. 2008 The Dark Knight
21. 1997 Titanic
22. 1994 Forrest Gump
23. 2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Like kind of
24. 2017 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
25. 2007 Spider-Man 3
26. 1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
27. 2018 Black Panther
28. 2012 The Avengers
29. 2022 Top Gun: Maverick
30. 2009 Avatar

Meh
31. 1989 Batman
32. 2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
33. 2014 American Sniper
34. 1986 Top Gun

Bad
35. 2015 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Never seen or saw too long ago to remember
2020 Bad Boys for Life
1998 Saving Private Ryan
1996 Independence Day
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1988 Rain Man
1987 Three Men and a Baby
1985 Back to the Future
1984 Beverly Hills Cop
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1978 Grease

First of all, I love your confidence that Top Gun: Maverick will win the year. Fingers crossed it does. Secondly, in the first post you've only given 46 years. Thirdly, it's quite amazing that apart from two occasions whenever a Star Wars movie came out, it won the year. Now my ranking:

The Best:
1. Rocky
2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
3. Home Alone
4. Rain Man
5. Saving Private Ryan
6. Top Gun
7. Kramer vs. Kramer
8. Avatar
9. Batman
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best of the Rest:
12. Back to the Future
13. Beverly Hills Cop
14. Grease
15. The Dark Knight
16. Jurassic Park
17. Titanic
18. Forrest Gump
19. Jaws
20. Shrek 2
21. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
22. Spider-Man: No Way Home
23. American Sniper
24. Toy Story 3
25. Toy Story
26. Avengers: Endgame
27. Independence Day
28. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
29. Star Wars
30. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
31. Spider-Man
32. The Avengers
33. Spider-Man 3
34. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
35. Aladdin
36. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

The Worst:
37. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
38. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
39. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
40. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
41. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
42. Bad Boys for Life
43. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
44. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
45. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
46. Black Panther

Should Watch Again:
The Godfather
Three Men and a Baby

Not Seen:
Top Gun: Maverick
Blazing Saddles
The Sting

Aggh - don't know how that happened. I've edited to include the other 5.

I'm hoping TGM stays at No.1 for the year. If it doesn't, it still gets included here anyway.

Kramer vs Kramer was so much bigger than a movie like that could ever be today, even in the 70s all the other number 1s feel blockbuster ish.

Would be like having Marriage Story or something similar make $400m now. Quite incredible but back then adult films dominated.

Great idea!

Not seen: Grease, Rain Man, 3 Men and a Baby ... and I'll throw Home Alone in here too since I haven't seen it since I was a kid.

2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2008 The Dark Knight
1980 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
1977 Star Wars
2019 Avengers: Endgame
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1993 Jurassic Park
1975 Jaws
1974 Blazing Saddles
1981 Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
2012 The Avengers
1985 Back to the Future
2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home
2017 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
1997 Titanic
1994 Forrest Gump
1972 The Godfather
1998 Saving Private Ryan

1983 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
1996 Independence Day
2018 Black Panther
2009 Avatar
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2004 Shrek 2
1992 Aladdin
2010 Toy Story 3
1995 Toy Story
1984 Beverly Hills Cop
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2015 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2020 Bad Boys for Life
1989 Batman
1976 Rocky
1973 The Sting
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

2002 Spider-Man
2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2022 Top Gun: Maverick
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1979 Kramer vs. Kramer
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
2014 American Sniper

1986 Top Gun
2007 Spider-Man 3


It's a strong set of films. The only ones I don't really like are the last two.

Most surprising part of the thread. I figured you would have sailed down to Australia to see it by now.

I know, I know. I'm very upset that not only I haven't seen it but that I cannot see it.

See, I thought we were friends. :-(

Sorry. But despite seeing them a lot, the Star Wars movies just aren't that special to me. Not one would enter my Top 200 films. The Last Jedi's not even necessarily bad, it's just forgettable to me. I also sort of merge it in my mind with Rogue One - which was dull, dull, dull. It's a mix of being part of an underwhelming/bad New Trilogy and all the other top grossing films in the last 50 years being good-to-excellent.

To each his/her own I suppose.

Fun, and also an exercise, to rank them.

A+
1. 1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
2. 1976 Rocky
3. 1996 Independence Day

A
4. 2022 Top Gun: Maverick
5. 1986 Top Gun
6. 1988 Rain Man
7. 1997 Titanic
8. 1985 Back to the Future

A-
9. 2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
10. 2009 Avatar
11. 1972 The Godfather
12. 1984 Beverly Hills Cop
13. 1993 Jurassic Park
14. 1998 Saving Private Ryan
15. 1990 Home Alone
16. 1978 Grease
17. 1981 Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
18. 1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
19. 2019 Avengers: Endgame
20. 2014 American Sniper
21. 1994 Forrest Gump
22. 1989 Batman
23. 1979 Kramer vs. Kramer
24. 2002 Spider-Man
25. 2017 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
26. 2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home

B+
27. 2012 The Avengers
28. 2008 The Dark Knight
29. 2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
30. 1995 Toy Story
31. 1992 Aladdin
32. 2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
33. 1980 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
34. 1977 Star Wars
35. 2020 Bad Boys for Life
36. 1983 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
37. 2015 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

B
38. 2007 Spider-Man 3
39. 2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
40. 2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
41. 2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

B-
42. 1975 Jaws
43. 2018 Black Panther

C
44. 2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
45. 1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Not seen recent enough/ at all to rank
2010 Toy Story 3
2004 Shrek 2
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1987 Three Men and a Baby
1974 Blazing Saddles
1973 The Sting