Rogue One at the Box Office: How does it rank?

Four Ways to Look at Rogue One at the Box Office

Highest Domestic Box Office

1. The Force Awakens                2015             $936,662,225

2. Avatar                                         2009             $760,507,625
3.Titanic                                         1997             $658,672,302
4. Jurassic World                          2015             $652,270,625
5. The Avengers                            2012             $623,357,910
6. The Dark Knight                      2008             $534,858,444       
7. Rogue One                                 2016             $525,444,763
8. Finding Dory                             2016             $486,295,561
9. The Phantom Menace             1999             $474,544,677
10. Star Wars                                 1977             $460,998,007

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28. Revenge of the Sith              2005             $380,270,577
57. Attack of the Clones             2002             $310,676,740
59. Return of the Jedi                 1983             $309,306,177
75. Empire Strikes Back            1980             $290,475,067

In this first category we see that Rogue One is a ‘force’ to be reckoned with and is well worth the Disney’s investment. It only made around half of what Force Awakens did, but the film has still made a ton of money. However, there is one reason this chart makes me sad. The 1977 film Star Wars has spent 40 years in the top ten of this chart, and sometime in 2017 it will drop to #11. Although it may survive until December when "The Last Jedi" releases.

Highest International Box Office

1. Avatar                                          2009             $2,778 million
2. Titanic                                         1999             $2,186 million
3. The Force Awakens                 2015             $2,068 million
4. Jurassic World                           2015             $1,670 million
5. The Avengers                             2012             $1,518 million
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21. Rogue One                                2016             $1,042 million
24. The Phantom Menace          1999             $1,029 million
53. Revenge of the Sith               2005             $848 million
67. Star Wars                                 1977             $775 million
103. Attack of the Clones           2002             $649 million
147. Empire Strikes Back          1980             $538 million
177. Return of the Jedi               1983             $475 million

In this second category we see how weak Star Wars is overseas. Rogue One drops from #7 on our domestic chart to number 21 on this chart, and it hasn't made much more than Phantom Menace (although Phantom did have that 3D re-release that added over 40 million to its total). This is the only chart where you see “Revenge of the Sith” actually surpassing the original “Star Wars”. The fact that the original trilogy films didn’t get much international exposure, probably contributes to the fact that “Force Awakens” and “Rogue One” didn’t do so great abroad. This isn’t to say that Star Wars can’t eventually be successful internationally, it’s just that it is currently much more popular in The States.

Domestic Grosses Adjusted for Inflation

1. Gone with the Wind               1939             $1,719,399,800
2. Star Wars                                  1977             $1,515,797,800
3. The Sound of Music               1965             $1,211,954,800
4. ET                                                1982             $1,207,180,400   
5. Titanic                                       1999             $1,152,887,700
6. Ten Commandments             1956             $1,114,810,000   
7. Jaws                                            1975             $1,089,950,700
8. Doctor Zhivago                        1965             $1,056,392,700

9. The Exorcist                             1973             $941,198,900
10. Snow White                           1937             $927,590,000
11. The Force Awakens             2015             $920,059,500
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13. Empire Strikes Back            1980             $835,517,200
16. Return of the Jedi                 1983             $800,445,600
18. The Phantom Menace         1999             $768,555,700
59. Rogue One                              2016             $519,466,000
64. Revenge of the Sith              2005             $504,852,200       
93. Attack of the Clones            2002             $455,016,700

When we adjust for inflation Rogue One drops even further down the list. Even “The Force Awakens” can’t break the top ten. Only the original Star Wars, reigns supreme on this chart. It may seem now that we have evened the field by adjusting for inflation, there are a few things still wrong with this chart.

For one “Gone With the Wind” had 10 shots at the Box Office. In a time where there was no VHS, DVD, streaming, or home media of any kind, you had to visit the box office to see movies. Some films would run for years, and some would get multiple releases over decades. That’s why in our fourth category we adjust for home media as well.

Domestic Grosses Adjusted for Inflation since 1977

1. Star Wars                                   1977             $1,515,797,800
2. ET                                                1982             $1,207,180,400   
3. Titanic                                        1999             $1,152,887,700
4. The Force Awakens                2015             $920,059,500

5. Empire Strikes Back               1980             $835,517,200

6. Avatar                                          2009             $760,507,625

7. Return of the Jedi                    1983             $800,445,600

8. Jurassic Park                             1993             $782,255,800

9. The Phantom Menace            1999             $768,555,700

10. The Lion King                         1994             $758,636,100

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27. Rogue One                               2016             $519,466,000
30. Revenge of the Sith              2005             $504,852,200                   
48. Attack of the Clones             2002             $455,016,700

This is obviously my favorite chart. We have my favorite four Star Wars films safe within the top seven and even the Phantom Menace at number nine. This chart clearly shows that half of the biggest films in the last 40 years are Star Wars films. Rogue One falls short of this chart as well, and lands near the other prequel films. Obviously it is a successful film (the most successful film of 2016), but through the lens of history it really doesn’t make much of a mark.

Is this because “Rogue One” is not an episodic film- or is it because “The Force Awakens” was so hyped? Could any Star Wars film ever top TFA? I guess we’ll find out next December when 'Episode VIII: The Last Jedi' releases.