The biggest blockbuster the year you graduated from high school: Millennial edition
Millennials graduated high school between 1999 and 2012, and the top domestic box office results of those years represent the decade’s cinematic obsessions. Superhero franchises, animated sequels, fantasy epics and at least one film about a boy wizard. The Millennial graduation box office is inextricable from the rise of the franchise model.
Find your graduation year below.
Class of 1999: “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace”
George Lucas returned to the franchise after a 22-year absence. According to Box Office Mojo, The Phantom Menace grossed $431 million domestically in 1999, making it the top-grossing film of the year by far. Critical reception was divided. Fan enthusiasm was not.
Class of 2000: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Jim Carrey in full prosthetics, Ron Howard directing and a domestic gross of $260 million, confirmed by Billboard as the top-grossing film of 2000. The class of 2000 graduated to a film that was the last major holiday comedy to dominate a full box office year.
Class of 2001: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
The first film in the franchise grossed $317 million domestically, the top total of 2001, according to Wikipedia. It introduced a generation of readers to the film version of a story they had already memorized. Warner Bros. had its franchise for the decade.
Class of 2002: “Spider-Man”
Sam Raimi’s origin story grossed $403 million domestically, the highest domestic total of 2002, Wikipedia confirms.
Class of 2003: “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Peter Jackson’s trilogy concluded with $377 million domestically, the top-grossing film of 2003, per Wikipedia. It won 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Class of 2004: “Shrek 2”
DreamWorks Animation’s sequel grossed $441 million domestically, the highest total of 2004, according to Box Office Mojo. For several years it held the record as the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Class of 2005: “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith”
The conclusion of the prequel trilogy grossed $380 million domestically and topped 2005, per Billboard. It was the only prequel that fans of the original trilogy broadly accepted.
Class of 2006: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
Johnny Depp’s second outing as Jack Sparrow grossed $423 million domestically, the highest total of 2006, according to Box Office Mojo.
Class of 2007: “Spider-Man 3”
Sam Raimi’s final Spider-Man film grossed $336 million domestically and topped the 2007 annual chart, per Wikipedia.
Class of 2008: “The Dark Knight”
Christopher Nolan’s second Batman film grossed $534 million domestically, the top-grossing film of 2008, Box Office Mojo. Heath Ledger’s Joker remains one of the most studied performances in blockbuster history.
Class of 2009: “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
Michael Bay’s sequel grossed $402 million domestically to top the 2009 chart, according to Billboard.
Class of 2010: “Toy Story 3”
The trilogy’s conclusion grossed $415 million domestically, the top-grossing film of 2010, according to Box Office Mojo.
Class of 2011: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2”
The series concluded with $381 million domestically, the highest-grossing film of 2011, Wikipedia confirms.
Class of 2012: “The Avengers”
Marvel assembled its franchise cast for the first time and grossed $623 million domestically, the top total of 2012, according to Box Office Mojo. The class of 2012 graduated into the year the superhero blockbuster became the defining format of American cinema for the decade to follow.
The bottom line
Fourteen graduation years, dominated by franchises and cinematic universes still expanding today. The Millennial graduation box office is truly the origin story of the modern entertainment industry. Which film was yours?
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