The movie business has had a weird ten years. The highest of highs, sudden shutdowns, empty theatres, then packed houses again. Furthermore, the pandemic really turned things around, but audiences didn’t disappear. They just waited. And when they came back, they showed up for big, familiar franchises. Superheroes, dinosaurs, space operas, fast cars. The usual.
Since 2015, the biggest box office hits all have one thing in common: they’re not just movies. They brought sequels, spinoffs, merch, theme park rides, games, and even slot machines.
Let’s look at the movies that dominated the global box office over the last decade.
Jurassic World (2015)
Jurassic World did something studios dream of: it revived a classic franchise and made it feel new again. Dinosaurs were suddenly cool all over again.
The movie crossed $1.6 billion globally and kicked off a whole new trilogy. Beyond movies, Jurassic World expanded into games, toys, VR experiences, and theme park attractions. The franchise isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
This was the movie that brought Star Wars back to the center of pop culture.
The Force Awakens earned over $2 billion and proved that nostalgia can be incredibly powerful. Since then, Star Wars lives through movies, TV, games, and just about every format imaginable.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Marvel put everything they had into Infinity War. Dozens of characters, nonstop action, and an ending that genuinely shocked people.
It made over $2 billion and set the stage for what would become the biggest Marvel movie ever. The MCU was no longer just a movie series.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Endgame was a global event. Years of storytelling came together in one massive finale that rewarded long-term fans.
With nearly $2.8 billion in earnings, it became one of the highest-grossing movies ever. Even now, it’s hard to imagine another superhero movie matching that level of hype.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Spider-Man has always been popular, but No Way Home took things to another level.
The multiverse angle, the returning characters, the emotion. It all worked. The movie earned close to $2 billion and became one of the defining hits of the decade.
What makes Spider-Man especially interesting is how adaptable the brand is. Beyond movies and console games, Spider-Man also shows up in online gaming spaces, including slot games by Playtech and Cryptologic, inspired by the character and his universe. Curious fans can play the games at Free Spins US, which has all the latest slots games to satisfy everyone's tastes, showing just how far this franchise can go outside traditional movies.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick was one of the biggest success stories of the post-pandemic era.
Tom Cruise’s return beat all expectations and earned $1.48bn globally. It proved that franchises, when revisited carefully, can still feel fresh and exciting decades later.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
James Cameron took his time, but when Avatar returned, audiences were ready.
The Way of Water delivered massive box office returns and set up a long line of sequels. Like the first Avatar, it’s built to last, with games and theme park experiences taking the world even further.
Final Thoughts
These films live on through sequels, spinoff series, merch, games, and interactive experiences. Marvel is the clearest example, but it’s happening everywhere, from Star Wars shows to Jurassic World attractions and Spider-Man games and slots.
The biggest movie earners of the last decade didn’t just sell tickets. They built worlds people wanted to keep visiting. And judging by how packed future release schedules are, that approach is here to stay.
