Advertisement

25 Years Later: The 25 Highest-Grossing Movies of 1997

Merie W Wallace/20th Century Fox
Merie W Wallace/20th Century Fox

The year was 1997. Square pizza, body glitter and denim-on-denim -- sometimes on even more denim -- were all the rage.

Going to the movies was a really big deal, as streaming services were far from a thing yet. The average cost of a movie ticket was $4.59, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners. That probably seemed like a lot more then than it does now.

Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered
See: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans

A total of 310 movies were released that year, with U.S. box offices grossing a total of $6.2 billion, according to BoxOfficeMojo. The average film brought in $19.9 million; but, of course, some outperformed this number many, many times over. In fact, the stars of some of the year's most popular films earned more than that.

For example, Jim Carrey was paid $20 million for "Liar Liar" (according to Variety), Arnold Schwarzenegger earned $25 million for "Batman & Robin (according to the Los Angeles Times), Leonardo DiCaprio ultimately cashed in at $40 million for "Titanic" and Sandra Bullock earned $10 million for "Speed 2" (according to CelebrityNetWorth). Here's a look at the 25 most profitable films turning 25 this year.

Warner Bros/Monarchy/Kobal/Shutterstock
Warner Bros/Monarchy/Kobal/Shutterstock

25. 'The Devil's Advocate'

  • Domestic distributor: Warner Bros.

  • Release date: 10/17/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $60.9 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $109.8 million

  • Original release international box office: $92 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $165.7 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $152.9 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $275.5 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $12.2 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $21.9 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Take Our Poll: Have You Ever Lost Wealth Due To a Natural Disaster?

Eli Reed/Universal/Mutual Film/Kobal/Shutterstock
Eli Reed/Universal/Mutual Film/Kobal/Shutterstock

24. 'The Jackal'

  • Domestic distributor: Universal Pictures

  • Release date: 11/14/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $54.9 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $98.9 million

  • Original release international box office: $104.4 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $188.1 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $159.3 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $287 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $15.2 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $27.3 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

23. 'Alien: Resurrection'

  • Domestic distributor: Twentieth Century Fox

  • Release date: 11/26/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $47.8 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $86.1 million

  • Original release international box office: $113.6 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $204.6 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $161.4 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $290.7 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $16.5 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $29.7 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Twocoms / Shutterstock.com
Twocoms / Shutterstock.com

22. 'Speed 2: Cruise Control'

  • Domestic distributor: Twentieth Century Fox

  • Release date: 6/13/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $48.6 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $87.6 million

  • Original release international box office: $115.9 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $208.8 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $164.5 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $296.3 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $16.2 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $29.1 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

lev radin / Shutterstock.com
lev radin / Shutterstock.com

21. 'Contact'

  • Domestic distributor: Warner Bros.

  • Release date: 7/11/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $100.9 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $181.8 million

  • Original release international box office: $70.2 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $126.5 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $171.1 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $308.2 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $20.6 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $37.1 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock

20. 'Scream 2'

  • Domestic distributor: Dimension Films

  • Release date: 12/12/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $101.4 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $182.6 million

  • Original release international box office: $71 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $127.9 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $172.4 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $310.5 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $32.9 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $59.3 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Marsha Blackburn/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Marsha Blackburn/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

19. 'George of the Jungle'

  • Domestic distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

  • Release date: 7/18/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $105.3 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $189.6 million

  • Original release international box office: $69.2 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $124.7 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $174.5 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $314.3 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $16.5 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $29.8 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

18. 'Flubber'

  • Domestic distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

  • Release date: 11/26/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $93 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $167.5 million

  • Original release international box office: $85 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $153.1 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $178 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $320.6 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $26.7 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $48.1 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

17. 'Dante's Peak'

  • Domestic distributor: Universal Pictures

  • Release date: 2/7/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $67.1 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $120.9 million

  • Original release international box office: $111 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $199.9 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $178.1 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $320.9 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $18.5 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $33.3 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Touchstone/Jerry Bruckheimer Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock
Touchstone/Jerry Bruckheimer Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock

16. 'Con Air'

  • Domestic distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

  • Release date: 6/6/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $101.1 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $182.1 million

  • Original release international box office: $122.9 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $221.4 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $224 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $403.5 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $24.1 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $43.5 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

George Kraychyk/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock
George Kraychyk/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

15. 'Good Will Hunting'

  • Domestic distributor: Miramax

  • Release date: 12/5/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $138.4 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $249.4 million

  • Original release international box office: $87.5 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $157.6 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $225.9 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $407 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $272,912

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $491,597

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

14. 'Batman & Robin'

  • Domestic distributor: Warner Bros.

  • Release date: 6/20/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $107.3 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $193.3 million

  • Original release international box office: $130.9 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $235.8 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $238.2 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $429.1 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $42.9 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $77.2 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): $238.2

Paramount/Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
Paramount/Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock

13. 'Face/Off'

  • Domestic distributor: Paramount Pictures

  • Release date: 6/27/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $112.3 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $202.2 million

  • Original release international box office: $133.4 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $240.3 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $245.7 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $442.5 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $23.4 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $42.1 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Suzanne Hanover/Polygram/Kobal/Shutterstock
Suzanne Hanover/Polygram/Kobal/Shutterstock

12. 'Bean'

  • Domestic distributor: Gramercy Pictures

  • Release date: 10/17/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $45.3 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $81.6 million

  • Original release international box office: $205.9 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $370.9 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $251.2 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $452.5 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $2.3 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $4.1 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Kelvin Jones/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Kelvin Jones/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

11. 'Hercules'

  • Domestic distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures

  • Release date: 6/15/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $99.1 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $178.5 million

  • Original release international box office: $153.6 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $276.7 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $252.7 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $455.2 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $249,567

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $449,546

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Fox Searchlight/Kobal/Shutterstock
Fox Searchlight/Kobal/Shutterstock

10. 'The Full Monty'

  • Domestic distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures

  • Release date: 8/15/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $46 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $82.8 million

  • Original release international box office: $212 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $381.9 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $257.9 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $464.6 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $176,585

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $318,083

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures

9. 'The Fifth Element'

  • Domestic distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment

  • Release date: 5/9/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $63.8 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $115 million

  • Original release international box office: $200 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $360.2 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $263.8 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $475.2 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $17 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $30.7 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): $263.9 million

Suzanne Tenner/Tri-Star/Kobal/Shutterstock
Suzanne Tenner/Tri-Star/Kobal/Shutterstock

8. 'My Best Friend's Wedding'

  • Domestic distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment

  • Release date: 6/20/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $127.1 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $229 million

  • Original release international box office: $172.2 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $310.1 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $299.3 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $539.1 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $21.7 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $39 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Moviestore/Shutterstock
Moviestore/Shutterstock

7. 'Liar Liar'

  • Domestic distributor: Universal Pictures

  • Release date: 3/21/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $181.4 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $326.8 million

  • Original release international box office: $121.3 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $218.5 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $302.7 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $545.3 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $31.4 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $56.6 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Ralph Jr Nelson/Tristar/Gracie/Kobal/Shutterstock
Ralph Jr Nelson/Tristar/Gracie/Kobal/Shutterstock

6. 'As Good as It Gets'

  • Domestic distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment

  • Release date: 12/23/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $148.5 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $267.5 million

  • Original release international box office: $165.7 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $298.5 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $314.2 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $565.9 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $12.6 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $22.7 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Columbia Tri Star/Kobal/Shutterstock
Columbia Tri Star/Kobal/Shutterstock

5. 'Air Force One'

  • Domestic distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment

  • Release date: 7/25/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $173 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $311.5 million

  • Original release international box office: $142.2 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $256.1 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $315.2 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $567.7 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $37.1 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $66.9 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Eon Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock
Eon Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

4. 'Tomorrow Never Dies'

  • Domestic distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

  • Release date: 12/19/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $125.3 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $225.7 million

  • Original release international box office: $207.7 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $374.1 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $333 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $599.9 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $25.1 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $45.3 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures

3. 'Men in Black'

  • Domestic distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment

  • Release date: 7/2/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $250.7 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $451.6 million

  • Original release international box office: $338.7 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $610.1 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $589.4 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $1.1 billion

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $51.1 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $92 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Universal/Amblin/Kobal/Shutterstock
Universal/Amblin/Kobal/Shutterstock

2. 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park'

  • Domestic distributor: Universal Pictures

  • Release date: 5/23/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $229.1 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $412.7 million

  • Original release international box office: $389.6 million

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $701.7 million

  • Original release worldwide box office: $618.6 million

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $1.1 billion

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $72.1 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $129.9 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): N/A

Merie W Wallace/20th Century Fox
Merie W Wallace/20th Century Fox

1. 'Titanic'

  • Domestic distributor: Paramount Pictures

  • Release date: 12/19/97

  • Original release domestic box office: $600.8 million

  • Original release domestic box office (adjusted to 2022): $1.1 billion

  • Original release international box office: $1.2 billion

  • Original release international box office (adjusted to 2022): $2.2 billion

  • Original release worldwide box office: $1.8 billion

  • Original release worldwide box office (adjusted to 2022): $3.3 billion

  • Opening domestic weekend box office: $28.6 million

  • Opening domestic weekend box office (adjusted to 2022): $51.6 million

  • Total worldwide box office (if any change): $2.2 billion

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates used Box Office Mojo data to find the 25 highest-grossing films released in 1997 in terms of (1) original release worldwide box office. For each of the 25 films, GOBankingRates also found the following: (2) original release domestic box office; (3) original release domestic box office adjusted to 2022 dollars; (4) original release international box office; (5) original release international box office adjusted to 2022 dollars; (6) original release worldwide box office adjusted to 2022 dollars; (7) opening domestic weekend box office; (8) opening domestic weekend box office adjusted to 2022 dollars, as well as (9) domestic distributor and (10) release date of film. All data was collected and is up to date as of May 23, 2022.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 25 Years Later: The 25 Highest-Grossing Movies of 1997