The Highest Grossing Summer Movies of All Time at the US Box Office

2020-07-06T15:33:00.000Z

The modern summer blockbuster began in June 1975, when Steven Spielberg made us scared to go into the water thanks to "Jaws."

Since then, Spielberg has dominated summer movie seasons with blockbusters like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Jurassic Park."

With this year's summer movie season at theaters canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, we looked back at the highest-grossing summer movies of all time in the US. We ranked the list based on domestic box office (from IMDb Pro) adjusted for inflation and counted movies released in May, June, July, and August.

It's not just Spielberg who has ruled the summer box office. Until "The Force Awakens" in 2015, which was released in December, the "Star Wars" movies had been summer spectacles.

Below are the 10 highest-grossing summer movies at the domestic box office of all time:

10. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) — $700 million

Release date: June 12, 1981

Original domestic gross: $248 million

Original worldwide gross: $390 million

9. "Jurassic World" (2015) — $705 million

Release date: June 12, 2015

Original domestic gross: $652.2 million

Original worldwide gross: $1.67 billion

8. "Jurassic Park" (1993) — $715 million

Release date: June 11, 1993

Original domestic gross: $402.8 million

Original worldwide gross: $1.03 billion

7. "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" (1999) — $730 million

Release date: May 19, 1999

Original domestic gross: $474.5 million

Original worldwide gross: $1.03 billion

6. "The Lion King" (1994) — $731 million

Release date: June 24, 1994

Original domestic gross: $422.8 million

Original worldwide gross: $968.5 million

5. "Return of the Jedi" (1983) — $796 million

Release date: May 25, 1983

Original domestic gross: $309.3 million

Original worldwide gross: $475 million

4. "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) — $903 million

Release date: June 20, 1980

Original domestic gross: $290.2 million

Original worldwide gross: $548 million

3. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) — $1.16 billion

Release date: June 11, 1982

Original domestic gross: $435.1 million

Original worldwide gross: $793.5 million

2. "Jaws" (1975) — $1.24 billion

Release date: June 20, 1975

Original domestic gross: $260 million

Original worldwide gross: $471.2 million

1. "Star Wars" (1977) - $1.95 billion

Release date: May 25, 1977

Original domestic gross: $461 million

Original worldwide gross: $775.5 million

The 10 highest-grossing summer blockbuster movies of all time at the US box office

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The 10 highest-grossing summer blockbuster movies of all time at the US box office

10. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) — $700 million

9. "Jurassic World" (2015) — $705 million

8. "Jurassic Park" (1993) — $715 million

7. "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" (1999) — $730 million

6. "The Lion King" (1994) — $731 million

5. "Return of the Jedi" (1983) — $796 million

4. "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) — $903 million

3. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) — $1.16 billion

2. "Jaws" (1975) — $1.24 billion

1. "Star Wars" (1977) - $1.95 billion

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know