2010's Mid-Decade Report: Highest Grossing Original Movies

Believe it or not, we are now over halfway through the 2010's.  As we look forward to the last half of this decade, let's look back at what the first half of the 2010's has given us in terms of film.  If it hadn't been fully established yet, the biggest trend that has been solidified over this decade so far is the dominance of blockbusters based on previous material.  Whether it is comic book movies, sequels, remakes, or bringing a popular book to life, our decade has been dominated by known commodities.  It is as if no one wants to waste their time and money on something that is unknown.  In the past, a movie would become a blockbuster simply because the right movie superstar was in it.  Although there is still a little of that, it is nowhere near as prevalent as it was, say, in the 90's.

With these trends in mind, this article is celebrating the highest grossing original films of the first half of the 2010's.  Of the 159 films that grossed over $100 million from 2010-2014, only 36 movies were original.  That is 22.6% of the blockbusters.  Of those 36 films, 12 of them are comedies, 8 are animated, 6 are sci-fi, 5 Best Picture nominees, and 3 are action films.  All but 10 of the 36 films have positive scores on Rotten Tomatoes.  Of those 10, most were popular due to the stars in the cast like Grown Ups (Adam Sandler), Ride Along (Kevin Hart), and Due Date (Robert Downey, Jr. and Zach Galifianakis).

Here are films #11-36 on this list.

36.  Bad Teacher (2011) - $100,292,856

35.  Due Date (2010) - $100,539,043

34.  Pacific Rim (2013) - $101,802,906

33.  The Expendables (2010) - $103,068,524

32.  Black Swan (2010) - $106,954,678

31.  Hop (2011) - $108,085,305

30.  Valentine's Day (2010) - $110,485,654

29.  Magic Mike (2012) - $113,721,571

28.  Horrible Bosses (2011) - $117,538,559

27.  Now You See Me (2013) - $117,723,989

26.  Salt (2010) - $118,311,368

25.  The Other Guys (2010) - $119,219,978

24.  Rango (2011) - $123,477,607

23.  Safe House (2012) - $126,373,434

22.  Lucy (2014) - $126,663,600

21.  Super 8 (2011) - $127,004,179

20.  Identity Thief (2013) - $134,506,920

19.  Ride Along (2014) - $134,938,200

18.  The Conjuring (2013) - $137,400,141

17.  Rio (2011) - $143,619,809

16.  Megamind (2010) - $148,415,853

15.  American Hustle (2013) - $150,117,807

14.  Neighbors (2014) - $150,157,400

13.  We're the Millers (2013) - $150,394,119

12.  The Heat (2013) - $159,582,188

11.  Grown Ups (2010) - $162,001,186

With all this said, let's look at the 10 highest grossing original films of the first half of the 2010's.

10.  Django Unchained

(2012)

$162,805,434

This is a rarity on this list as it is not what you would consider a "mainstream" movie.  However, the appeal of a filmmaker like Quentin Tarantino has become pretty universal.  I have said many times before that Tarantino has pretty much created a genre for himself that nobody else has been able to duplicate.  That makes a film like Django Unchained a must-see movie event.  This is Tarantino's only film so far this decade, but it is pretty safe to assume that this year's The Hateful Eight will join this list eventually.

9.  Bridesmaids

(2011)

$169,106,725

The last 10 years or so has seen a rise in the quality R-rated laugh-out-loud comedy.  One of the highest grossing of these movies was one of the few that featured the girls.  Gathering all the funniest women in the industry today led to box office gold and the rarity of a few Oscar nominations for a comedy of this nature.  It also helped jumpstart the career of scene-stealer Melissa McCarthy.

8.  The Croods

(2013)

$187,168,425

I was surprised to find this film so high up on this list.  However, with 8 animated films among the 36 listed here, and 4 of them in the top ten, it shows one of the ways to make an original hit is to make a family-friendly film.  Family-friendly movies seem to be few and far between, especially high-quality non-animated ones.  However, like I said, this trend shows a deficiency in an area of film that could easily be capitalized on in the years to come.

7.  Interstellar

(2014)

$188,020,017

Much like Tarantino, Christopher Nolan films have become events simply because he is directing them.  Although he became a household name through his Dark Knight trilogy, it is his original material that has made him one of the top directors working today.  Although Interstellar is not his best, the ambitious nature of this film and his reputation made this a top grossing film.

6.  Wreck-It Ralph

(2012)

$189,422,889

This animated film combined two things that are loved by the masses: cartoons and video games.  This film shows how animated films have changed over the years.  When I was growing up watching Disney classic cartoons like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, very few voices were known names.  Now we have films like Wreck-It Ralph, where not only do we have a family-friendly animated film, but also there are top billed actors like John C Reilly, Sara Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Mindy Kaling, Ed O'Neill, Dennis Haysbert, and others.  So now you have the appeal not only of it being an animated film, but also some of your favorite stars are in it.

5.  Ted

(2012)

$218,815,487

Our first film over $200 million is as original a comedy as we saw so far this decade.  Only Seth MacFarlane could make a story about a man and his talking R-rated teddy bear a hit success.  After the huge success of Family Guy, everyone was anxious to see what MacFarlane could do on the big screen.  His first attempt produced this breakout hit that led to a great year for MacFarlane that ended with him hosting the Oscars and getting nominated for a song from this movie (unfortunately, the song was not "Thunder Buddies").

4.  Brave

(2012)

$237,283,207

Although there are 8 animated films on this list, this is the only film to come from animation giant Pixar.  There is one primary reason for this: it was Pixar's only original story in the last 5 years.  Pixar is known for its ability to come up with truly original and groundbreaking stories.  However, it almost felt like they were tapped out of material for a little while as they relied on sequels at the start of this decade.  Brave was the one exception, however it was also one of the lesser Pixar films.  However, putting the Pixar label on the film single-handedly made a top grossing film.

3.  Despicable Me

(2010)

$251,513,985

Few original movies start phenomenons quite like what happened with Despicable Me.  This film just came out 5 years ago, and we are about to see its second sequel get released this weekend!  Again, it was started by billing names like Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, and Kristen Wiig on the marquee.  Also, as is the case with many animated films, it's cute for the kids while still having elements that adults will appreciate.  Also, who doesn't love the minions?  (Okay, you might be sick of them now, but who didn't love them when you first saw them?)

2.  Gravity

(2013)

$274,092,705

This is one of 5 Best Picture nominees on this list and one of three to make the top ten.  This sci-fi thriller has a simple premise: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock are stranded in space.  However, this film ended up having something for everyone.  It had star power, it had suspense, it had incredible visuals, and it was wonderfully executed.  It is also one that had its box office helped by 3D viewings.  The public seems to have a fascination with space and the unknown that it produces.  This film's success shows that.

1.  Inception

(2010)

$292,576,195

Coming into the decade, no one was hotter than Christopher Nolan.  He had just made what is widely thought to be the greatest superhero movie of all time in The Dark Knight.  Then he started the new decade with this groundbreaking thriller that is as original as they come.  This film had everything: stars (LEO!!!), A-list director, completely original sci-fi premise, mind-bending visuals, and an incredible ending that just makes you want to start the movie over again.  All this leads to the highest grossing original movie of the first half of this decade.

By the way, if 2015 movies had been included in this list, there would be a different number one as Inside Out has been dominating the box office.  See what happens when Pixar truly gets original?

Power Rankings: Most anticipated films for the rest of 2012

It has been quite a while since I have seen a really good film at the theater. My number one of the year is still God Bless America, just edging out Moonrise Kingdom. Both are totally solid 3.5 star films, but neither film should be at the top of any list in September. Maybe I just do not live close enough to a major festival, but either way I need something to look forward to. Here are a rundown of my most anticipated films for the rest of the year…

Others receiving votes: Frances Ha, Lincoln, The Man with the Iron Fists, Not Fade Away, On the Road, Promised Land, Seven Psychopaths, Zero Dark Thirty

10. To the Wonder (Terrence Malick). When Terrence Malick makes a movie, I pay attention. Each one of his five films has ended up in my top 10 of its respective year. This film does not necessarily look like one that will continue that trend, but Malick’s track record alone warrants its spot on this list. How did we get so lucky to have back-to-back years with a Malick film?! Whenever we get to its release date (who honestly knows when we can finally see it) I will be first in line.

Release date: sometime in 2012 (hopefully)

9. Wreck-It Ralph (Rich Moore). This is a very personal choice for me. It just looks like so much fun. The idea of it, the clever animation, the voice of John C. Reilly. Has there been a more consistently interesting actor in the last 5 years than Reilly? From Walk Hard to Cyrus to Cedar Rapids to Carnage. The guy is on a roll, and this looks like the animated embodiment of the actor. Much like Jack Black with Kung Fu Panda in that way, but I digress. This is definitely my most anticipated animated film since Toy Story 3.

Release date: November 2

8. Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell). The trailer for this movie is pretty good, but early word on the performances and Best Picture aspirations definitely solidified its spot on this list. Winning the Audience Award in Toronto is nothing to take lightly. Toronto jumpstarted previous unknowns Precious, The King’s Speech, Slumdog Millionaire, and Hotel Rwanda. This movie is going to be the real deal, and it may finally be that De Niro comeback we have all been waiting for.

Release date: November 21

7. This Is 40 (Judd Apatow). All three of Apatow’s feature films are brilliant, each ending somewhere in or near my top 10 lists. The best one is of course Knocked Up, one of the most watchable movies of the past decade. I never really thought a sequel would come, and supposedly I was “sort of” wrong. A movie about Pete and Deb is sheer brilliance, and I cannot wait to see what people like Lena Dunham, John Lithgow, and Albert Brooks are doing there.

Release date: December 21

6. Rust and Bone (Jacques Audiard). I loved the last film by Audiard (A Prophet), and this one seems like a return to more of a Read My Lips (also great) type of tone. Marion Cotillard can do wonders with the right director, and Audiard just feels like the guy to pull the best out of her. Expect a career performance and possibly a second Best Actress award if enough people see it.

Release date: November 23 (limited)

5. The Grandmasters (Wong Kar Wai). I wasn’t really a fan of My Blueberry Nights, but when Wong Kar Wai is directing Tony Leung, few directors are more interesting and colorful. The story is Ip Man seems like something custom built for the duo. I am not sure if this passion piece is a sure-fire 2012 release since there isn’t a trailer yet, but it is set for a Chinese run in December. Hopefully there will be some buzz or awards that will bring it to the States as soon as possible.

Release date: sometime in 2012 (probably LA-NY for awards season)

4. The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson). When PTA makes a film (just 2 in the last 10 years), every film buff in the world hypes it to the point that it cannot meet expectations. Somehow, amazingly, PTA makes his films fresh, different, and better than anyone could have imagined. This film looks like it could feature three of the best performances of the year, and the material feels like PTA’s most audience-friendly ever. It has been called a “new American classic”. Maybe this will finally be his world-renowned film that crosses all barriers.

Release date: September 21 (expanded)

3. Smashed (James Ponsoldt). This was one of the big winners at Sundance. I do not really have a solid reason why I want to see this so much, other than I am curious to see how Jesse Pinkman, I mean Aaron Paul, comes off on the big screen. He has all the makings of major movie star if he gets the right roles. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is an Oscar-contender for this film as well. Together, they could make one of the most interesting and endearing on-screen couples in years. We will see how it turns out, but if it is anything like Ponsoldt’s debut feature Off the Black, then we are in for something special.

Release date: October 12

2. Argo (Ben Affleck). I have loved both of Affleck’s features thus far, so this was instantly on my must-see list the moment it was announced. In all honesty, it is only a matter of time before Affleck becomes one of the most respected, go-to directors in the industry. He has all the directing talent in the world, and this is easily his most ambitious film yet. The cast, the story, the cinematography all elevate this to being potentially the film to beat at the Oscars. Aside from a late-bloomer like Silver Linings Playbook or Hyde Park on Hudson, this will be the most talked-about film of the year, unless Lincoln and Daniel Day-Lewis can somehow exceed their lofty expectations.

Release date: October 12

1. Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino). I really should start to disqualify Tarantino films from my lists. It is almost not fair to compare them to anything else. The original Django is a spaghetti western classic. It is like it was made just to inspire Tarantino to make another masterpiece. The trailer is brilliant. The suddenly legit actor Jonah Hill’s casting is beyond intriguing. I can’t wait to see what kind of roles Don Johnson, Franco Nero (original Django!), and Zoe Bell get. It may finally be Leo’s Oscar film. I have tried to downplay my anticipation, but screw it! Tarantino makes a film and it is instantly an event to start counting down the days to! 98 days and counting!

Release date: December 25

So what do you all think? What is on your must-see list? Let me know!