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Summary
Every now and then , there ’s a movie that comes as a surprise at the box office . Typically , flick with enceinte boxful office act add up from the action musical style or are franchise films . These picture show have larger budgets , dedicated devotee foundation , or well - known actors as their leads . Each of the top movies at the box power of this class includes one of these factor , if not multiple . However , audience can be irregular .
Occasionally , there ’s an underdog at the box agency that acquire audience and other studio by surprise . These films generally have diminished budgets and concepts audiences might be skeptical about . The unexpected success of these pic can be credit to conversations and congratulations on societal media , selling tactics , and simply being made at the right metre .
The numbers provided are amass from Box Office Mojo unless stated otherwise .
11My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Box Office Total: $368.7 million
star Nia Vardalos as Toula and John Corbett as Ian , the film is about the two somebody with differing backgrounds , as they fall in love and seek the acceptance of Toula ’s family . uprise as a one - woman show written and perform by Vardalos prior to the fashioning of the film , no one could have predictedit would gather such huge success and acclaim years later . After expanding to a panoptic acquittance months after its original vent , the pic , budgeted with $ 5 million , earned a totality of $ 368.7 million .
Aside from its endearing characters and family dynamics , the picture show is also widely recognized for its boxwood - office attainment . To this day , My Big Fat Greek Weddingis the highest - grossing romantic comedy , with a 2nd and third picture show follow old age later . However , neither were quite able to achieve the accomplishment of the first film .
10Get Out (2017)
Box Office Total: $255.7 million
Cast
Get Out , the directorial introduction by Jordan Peele , follows a valet de chambre , played by Daniel Kaluuya , who uncovers the chilling truth about his girlfriend and her family . The combined elements of social commentary , considering the time of its release , and suspense earned praise from both audiences and critics . During the time of its release , Get Outtook the issue one spot forhighest - grossing films by a Black director(Creators For The Culture ) . Since then , this accomplishment has been take over by directors of franchise films such asThe Fate of the FuriousandBlack Panther . However , the celebration of Peele ’s work has continue as he ’s put out other films with likewise eerie musical theme .
With three acclaimed plastic film under his swath , Jordan Peele has cemented his status as a top theatre director , and here ’s how his movies order , worst to best .
9Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Box Office Total: $378.4 million
Dev Patel in his first film role , toy Jamal Malik , a son who contend on a game show for a cash prize . The picture show follows Jamal as he recounts moments in his life that led him to the show and allow for him with the answers to question asked of him . After initial and expanded theatrical sacking , the film gradually garnered earnings , but it was n’t until after the Academy Awards in other 2009 that the profits would quickly grow , totaling over $ 378.4 million . The film won eight Academy Awards that year , including Best Picture , fete for its filming , soundtrack , and screenplay .
8Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Box Office Total: $1.49 billion
Top Gun : Maverickis a sequel toTop Gunfrom 1986 , following Maverick tenner after the events of the original . The picture gross a sum of over $ 1.49 billion . Differing from other listed titles , Top Gun : Maverick ’s key broker that contributed to its achiever include the well - cognize actor , succeed up the cinema from the 80s , and get a large budget . The surprise ingredient , however , comes into gaming when thetime of its release is lease into consideration . Still exist within the pandemic - ridden era and a time when new story are more mostly prefer over sequels , the winner ofTop Gun : Maverickshould be noted .
7The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Box Office Total: $248.6 million
The Blair Witch Projectis a horror pic that follows the story of three students who went lacking while investigating the Blair Witch . Many audience and critic praise the movie for go through " find footage . " In addition to the footage , the film also market itself in a unequalled way that engaged audiences and prompted viral results . fabricated interview and police reports , as well as missing posters for the film ’s leads , were broadcast aroundasking audience members to report any information they had . conversation were sparked about the events in the moving-picture show and whether they took place and , as a result , the film earned a gross of $ 248.6 million .
The squad behind The Blair Witch Project presented the motion-picture show as if it was a straight story . Here ’s how their marketing tactics managed to play a joke on audiences .
6Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Box Office Total: $46 million
Napoleon Dynamiteis about the titular character , played by Jon Heder , and his aliveness in Preston , Idaho . The cinema shows Napoleon ’s family relationship with family members , his compeer at school day , and the graphic symbol of the small - township localisation . In the early day of production , manager Jared Hess get off the script to throw away director butwas traverse because of the quirky elements of the filmand its principal characters .
Napoleon Dynamitehad a small budget , which meant filming on placement and take people Hess hump previously . With these cistron in thinker , it would n’t be easy to predict the achiever the film would have . Earning $ 46 million and to this day , Napoleon Dynamiteis appreciated for its repeatable eccentric , its spell , and Napoleon ’s famous dance shot .
5Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)
Box Office Total: $255 million
Video game adaptations run to eitherexcite fans of the original source or vex othersabout adapting the factor in the right way . The fast success ofFive Nights At Freddy’sspeaks to both side tune up in to see how or if they were able to pull it off . The motion-picture show , directed by Emma Tammi , is based on the pop video game about creepy-crawly animatronics at an abandoned home entertainment heart .
It was released at the same metre in theaters and for cyclosis on Peacock and as of now , just a few week after its release , the picture has earned a gross of over $ 255 million . The consensus from critic has n’t been positive and while the numbers and fan - fare have dwindled , it earned the deed of being the large opening for its output party , Blumhouse .
4Bridesmaids (2011)
Box Office Total: $306.4 million
As the highest - grossing celluloid by Apatow Productions ( IMDb),Bridesmaidsgrossed a total of $ 306.4 million . The motion picture follows Annie , played by Kristen Wiig , and the adventures that occur leading up to the wedding 24-hour interval of her good ally . Comedy picture show at the time were more often than not centered around human , but the success ofBridesmaidsproved audiences were accepting of and want to see women in roles involving unprocessed humor . The celluloid can also be seen asa kickstarter for women - track comediesthat would espouse , such asThe HeatandGirls Trip .
3Jaws (1975)
Box Office Total: $476.5 million
direct by Steven Spielberg , Jawsis about the hunt of a shark that has been assail people at the beach . During the time of its release , the musical theme of a summertime megahit was still fairly newfangled . photographic film were put out during the season in an attempt to point unseasoned moviegoers due to the availability they had and the air - conditioned theaters that provided an escape from the weather condition outside .
Two other factors that bring to the succeeder ofJawswere its television candidacy and its wide theatrical passing . Jawsopened in over 400 theaters and in 78 days , claimed the rubric of the highest - grossing film in North America , previously given toThe Godfather(PBS ) . In all , the film ’s gross totaled $ 476.5 million .
2Twister (1996)
Box Office Total: $494.5 million
The 1996 filmTwisterfollows a group of tempest chasers as they attempt to habituate a data - go after machine during a strong tempest . The photographic film became thesecond highest - gross film of that yr , earning $ 494.5 million . At the clock time of its release , it was also the highest - grossing film by Warner Bros. ( The Numbers ) . Similar toJaws , the film ’s self-aggrandizing threat was created by VFX and while it was a challenge , many critics favour to praise the technological acquisition and thrilling tonus of the film over the story itself . A continuation titledTwistersis also set to be released on July 19 , 2024 .