7 Fastest Movies to Gross $2 Billion at the Box Office, Ranked

The world of cinema has witnessed numerous blockbuster films that have shattered box office records, but only a select few have achieved the monumental feat of grossing over $2 billion worldwide. As of the latest figures, only seven movies have crossed this threshold, with James Cameron being the only director to have three films on this prestigious list: Avatar, Titanic, and Avatar: The Way of Water.

The fastest film to reach this milestone is Avengers: Endgame, following its release in 2019. This Marvel epic not only broke box office records but also marked the culmination of a decade-long narrative arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, drawing in fans from around the globe.

The rapid ascent to the $2 billion mark by these films underscores the power of storytelling and the impact of cinematic experiences on audiences worldwide. Other notable films that have achieved this milestone include Avengers: Infinity War, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and more recently, Ne Zha 2, an animated film from China, has also joined this elite group, highlighting the growing influence of international cinema on global box office trends.

These films demonstrate how a combination of compelling narratives, innovative filmmaking techniques, and strategic marketing can propel movies to unprecedented heights of commercial success. In this article, we will delve into the factors that contributed to these films’ remarkable achievements and explore what makes them stand out in the history of cinema.

7. Titanic (2012) – 5233 Days

Directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron, Titanic blends historical events with fictional storytelling, bringing to life the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912.

The film follows a love story between two passengers from different social classes, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, set against the backdrop of the ill-fated voyage. The ensemble cast includes Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill, Jonathan Hyde, Danny Nucci, David Warner, and Bill Paxton.

Upon its release, Titanic made history at the box office. On March 1, 1998, it became the first film to surpass $1 billion in worldwide earnings. Years later, during its 3D re-release, it became the second film to cross the $2 billion milestone, achieving this feat 5,233 days after its initial debut.

6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2016) – 53 Days

A direct sequel to Return of the Jedi (1983) and the seventh installment in the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens became a box office phenomenon, taking just 53 days to surpass $2 billion globally. Deadline Hollywood estimated the film’s net profit at $780.1 million, factoring in production costs, marketing, talent deals, and other expenses. With its massive box office earnings and home media sales, it was ranked as 2015’s most valuable blockbuster.

Co-produced, co-written, and directed by J.J. Abrams, the film features a star-studded cast, including Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Max von Sydow.

5. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – 48 Days

On June 12, 2018, Avengers: Infinity War surpassed the $2 billion mark at the global box office, becoming only the fourth film to achieve this milestone, following Avatar (2009), Titanic (1997), and The Force Awakens (2015). It reached this benchmark in just 48 days, making it the second-fastest at the time, behind Avatar’s 47-day record. However, with Avengers: Endgame later setting an 11-day record and Ne Zha 2 (2025) entering the rankings, Infinity War now stands as the fifth-fastest film to hit $2 billion.

Serving as a sequel to The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Infinity War is the 19th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

The film features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldaña, Josh Brolin, and Chris Pratt.

4. Avatar (2010) – 47 Days

Avatar is an epic science fiction film co-produced, co-edited, written, and directed by James Cameron. Serving as the first installment in the Avatar film series, it features an ensemble cast including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver.

On January 31, Avatar became the first film to surpass $2 billion in global box office earnings. It later set another record by becoming the first film to gross over $700 million in the United States and Canada on February 27, achieving this milestone 72 days after its release.

3. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – 40 Days

Avatar: The Way of Water is James Cameron’s third film to surpass the $2 billion mark at the global box office, following Titanic and Avatar. Co-produced and co-written by Cameron, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver from a story the trio wrote with Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno, the film continues the epic saga of Pandora, blending groundbreaking visuals with an immersive story.

The film features returning cast members Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, and Sigourney Weaver in a new role, while also introducing Kate Winslet to the ensemble.

On January 22, Avatar: The Way of Water became the first film of the pandemic era—and only the sixth in history—to cross the $2 billion milestone. It achieved this feat in just 42 days, making it the fastest film to do so since Avengers: Endgame.

2. Ne Zha 2 (2025) – 38 Days

Ne Zha 2 is a Chinese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Jiaozi. Adapted from Chinese mythology and the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), it serves as a direct sequel to 2019’s Ne Zha and is the third installment in Enlight Pictures’ Fengshen Universe, following 2020’s Jiang Ziya.

The film features returning voice actors from the original, including Lü Yanting as Ne Zha, Joseph as Ao Bing, and Han Mo as Taiyi Zhenren. New additions to the cast include Zhang Jie as Yang Jian and Ji Guanlin as Su Daji.

Ne Zha 2 has achieved remarkable box office success, grossing over $2 billion worldwide against a production budget of approximately $80 million. It became the highest-grossing film in a single market within China, surpassing previous records held by both domestic and international films.

Globally, it stands as the highest-grossing animated film and the highest-grossing non-English language film, marking the first time a non-English language film has crossed both the $1 billion and $2 billion thresholds. Notably, it is also the first animated film in history to reach the $2 billion mark. As of March 14, 2025, Ne Zha 2 ranks as the highest-grossing film of the year and the sixth-highest-grossing film of all time.

1. Avengers: Endgame (2019) – 11 Days

Avengers: Endgame is a superhero blockbuster based on Marvel Comics’ iconic Avengers team. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it serves as a direct sequel to Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and marks the 22nd installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the film boasts an ensemble cast featuring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin.

Upon its release, Avengers: Endgame shattered box office records, earning an unprecedented $1.2 billion globally during its opening weekend—nearly doubling the previous record of $640 million set by Infinity War. It became the fastest film to gross $1 billion and $1.5 billion, reaching these milestones in just five and eight days, respectively.

The film also set a new record by hitting the $2 billion mark in just 11 days, a feat that Avatar previously achieved in 47 days. It became only the fifth film to surpass this milestone, joining the ranks of Avatar, Titanic (1997), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), and Infinity War. Additionally, Endgame crossed the $2.5 billion mark in just 20 days—significantly faster than Avatar, which took 72 days to do the same.

List of Fastest Movies to Gross $2 Billion at the Box Office

List of Fastest Movies to Gross $2.5 Billion at the Box Office

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