Making high budget films has not been an easy task in recent times, with the economic recession shutting down many production houses for a short while. But who can stop Hollywood! You never get tired of watch such amazing movies, but what makes such movies huge money-makers? Is it the story, the direction, the acting, the cinematography? The answer is, all that, plus a lot of hard work and dedication which makes them a must-see. Some Top Grossing Movies in History Avatar Everyone has been talking about this film, and once again James Cameron proves why is he one of the best directors in the world. Avatar was released in 2009, and it collected up to $2,702,332,678. The film was released in 3-D, and is considered a benchmark in special effects and cinematic technology. The plot of the movie is set in the year 2154 and the prime actors are computer generated. It was nominated for nine academy awards and won three. Titanic Everyone cried in this film (oh come on, admit it!), an epic romantic tale between a rich girl and a poor boy, Titanic is considered a cinematic masterpiece. Such was the effect of this film that Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, the lead actors, got almost overnight stardom and success. It was released in 1997, and was an instant hit. The movie was nominated for 14 Academy awards, bagging 11. It grossed more than $1,835,300,000 and was the #1 highest grosser of all time for 12 years until it was surpassed by Avatar, another James Cameron classic. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Directed by Peter Jackson, this movie is the conclusion of the fantasy epic adventure based on J. R. R. Tolkien's book. Released in 2003, it collected $1,129,219,252. The Return of the King was nominated for 11 Oscars and won all of them, making it one of the best movies ever made. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest This is the second film of the famous Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy. Released in 2006, it grossed $1,060,332,628, and was nominated for four Oscars. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Gore Verbinski, this movie bags the #4 spot on my list. The Dark Knight Many consider The Dark Knight as the best Batman film ever. Captivating performances by all the actors meant that this 2008 movie grossed $1,001,921,825. This movie was gaining mainstream attention before its release due to the tragic death of Heath Ledger, who plays Joker in the movie. It was nominated for various awards, but received two Oscars, for sound editing and for the Best Supporting Actor for Ledger. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone This fantasy film adapted from J.K. Rowling's first book made Harry Potter and Hogwarts household names. This is the first film in the Harry Potter series, and grossed $968,657,891. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End This eccentric team of pirates struck gold again with the final installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Banking on amazing performances by Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley, this movie was released n 2007, and grossed $958,404,152. It also received two Academy nominations. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter is back with his loyal friends, and this time his mission is far more dangerous. It's the fifth film in the Harry Potter franchise, and the first to be released in IMAX-3D. It hit the screens in 2007 and collected $937,000,866. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry Potter made Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint household names (and heartthrobs). The sixth part is a great watch. It was released in 2009, and grossed $933,956,980. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Grossing $922,379,000 when it was released in 1999, this space opera was directed and written by George Lucas. It was the fourth installment in the Star Wars Saga, and the first of a three-part prequel story to the original film trilogy in the 1970s. The Phantom Menace bags the last spot. More Successful Movies at the Box Office Other than the top 10 biggies, let's have a look at some more movies that have also broken box office records and have entertained you for many years.

Highest Grossing Movies of All Time	Box Office Collections
Alice in Wonderland (2010)	$1,019,689,394
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)	$921,600,000
Jurassic Park (1993)	$919,700,000
Spider-Man 3 (2007)	$885,430,303
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)	$887,773,705
Shrek 2 (2004)	$880,871,036
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)	$892,194,397
The Lion King (1994)	$783,400,000
Finding Nemo (2003)	$865,000,000
Independence Day (1996)	$811,200,000
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)	$860,700,000
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)	$795,458,727
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)	$783,011,114
The Da Vinci Code (2006)	$758,236,138
Forrest Gump (1994)	$679,400,000
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)	$738,809,845
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)	$735,600,000
Ratatouille (2007)	$615,935,493
The Passion of the Christ (2004)	$604,370,943
Iron Man 2 (2010)	$606,882,000
Casino Royale (2006)	$587,607,184
Night at the Museum (2006)	$571,063,268
King Kong (2005)	$547,051,260
WALL·E (2008)	$532,506,889
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)	$471,856,431

The list of commercially successful movies is endless, these were just some hand picked names of the top grossing movies. If you want to include any other names please leave your suggestions in the comment box.