Biggest U.S. movie openings of all time
In recent years, a number of Hollywood films have shattered the record for highest-grossing domestic opening; raking in piles of cash as larger-than-life as the dinosaurs and Death Stars they depict on the screen.
These opening figures take into account the money a movie makes from the day that it opens through its first Sunday in theaters. And when you look at the the list of movies with the biggest ever U.S. opening weekends, one thing is clear: Action and fantasy sell.
In December 2015, "Star Wars: Episode VII" raked in a cosmic $528 million worldwide and roughly $247 million domestically, stealing the top spot from "Jurassic World" in a sort of lightsaber battle of cash.
By CBS News staff writer Christina Capatides
"Jurassic World"
In June 2015, "Jurassic World" -- the anxiously anticipated sequel to Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster hit "Jurassic Park" -- surpassed "The Avengers," cashing in at a groundbreaking $208.8 million domestically and $524.9 million globally... Making it both the biggest opening in U.S. history (at the time) and the biggest opening worldwide since the last "Harry Potter." Now, of course, it's been dethroned by "Star Wars: Episode VII" in both categories.
"Marvel's The Avengers"
Now let's take a look at the other movies on the list...
When "Marvel's The Avengers" opened in 2012, it proved it had superpowers for getting people to the movies, raking in a Hulk-sized $207.4 million domestically on its opening weekend...
And holding that top spot for three years, until "Jurassic World" roared into theaters in June 2015.
"The Avengers: Age of Ultron"
"The Avengers" sequel, "The Avengers: Age of Ultron," flew into theaters in 2015, cashing in at just under the original, taking in $191.3 million.
Perhaps a larger number of superheroes equals a larger number of tickets sold.
"Captain America: Civil War"
"Captain America: Civil War" swooped into theaters on May 6, 2016 with a supersized matchup that flipped the scripts and pitted beloved Marvel characters Tony Stark and Steve Rogers against each other.
So, perhaps it's no surprise that the film raked in an equally supersized $181.8 million domestically in its opening weekend alone. No matter whose side fans were on, they "marveled" at the flick.
"Iron Man 3"
When "Iron Man 3" hit theaters in 2013 -- with all of its Tony Stark goodness -- the Marvel mega-hit took in $174.1 million domestically on its opening weekend.
The last "Harry Potter"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," the final installment of the global "Harry Potter" phenomenon, came out in 2011, and --Wingardium Leviosa! -- its opening weekend numbers levitated to a magical $483.2 million.
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"The Dark Knight Rises" rose to a staggering $160.9 million on its opening weekend in 2012.
"The Dark Knight"
Hype surrounding this 2008 Batman flick erupted after Heath Ledger, the actor playing its villain, overdosed on prescription drugs just months after he finished filming.
"The Dark Knight" then had an eery, yet stellar domestic opening weekend of $158.4 million in gross box office sales.
"Catching Fire"
In 2013, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark were called back into the Arena to compete in the Quarter Quell.
It was horrifying. It was unjust. And it raked in a staggering $158.1 million domestically for the "Hunger Games" franchise on its opening weekend.
"The Hunger Games"
In 2012, the slogan for the first film in the "Hunger Games" franchise read, "The world will be watching."
And as it turned out, the world was watching. In its opening weekend alone, the dystopian action flick, based on Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel, scored a whopping $152.5 million domestically and $211.8 million globally.
This caption volunteers as tribute.
"Spider-Man 3"
"Spider-Man 3" captivated American superhero fans in a web of action and duplicity; raking in a soaring $151.1 million on its opening weekend...
A figure sure to have excited its producers' spidey senses.
"Furious 7"
The 2015 action flick "Furious 7" -- the last in the popular "Fast and Furious" franchise -- sped into theaters with a fuel-charged $147.2 million in gross box office sales, its opening weekend.
Much like "The Dark Knight" before it, "Furious 7" was the subject of much hype ahead of its release, due to the tragic death of its star Paul Walker.
"The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
"New Moon" -- the second installment in the "Twilight Saga" film series -- sucked in a whopping $142.8 million domestically, during its opening weekend in 2009.
That's a lot of lifeblood, even for vampires.
"Breaking Dawn - Part 2"
"Breaking Dawn - Part 2" -- the final installment in the Young Adult book series phenomenon, "The Twilight Saga" -- brought hordes of vampire fans back to the theaters in 2012; earning $141.1 million in its opening weekend.
"Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
And when the first half of the last "Twilight" book was made into a film in 2011, Edward fans across the country flocked to the theaters to watch their dream man wed someone else.
That's $138.1 million worth of unrequited love and crushed teenage dreams, in just a weekend.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" #2
In 2006, Captain Jack Sparrow swaggered into theaters once again with "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
When all the swords fights, drinking and weddings were said and done, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel looted an astounding $135.6 million from domestic moviegoers in its opening weekend.
Of course, though, it's important to keep in mind that -- with ticket prices soaring over the past several years -- older movies that had hugely successful domestic openings have now been knocked off the list.
