Everyone accidentally saw Avatar and made it the highest-grossing film ever, but did you know that movie cost, like, nine figures to make? It really did. Therefore, James Cameron's 3-D coloring book doesn't rank among the most profitable films ever made based on how much it grossed compared to its investment. CNBC's new list of the 15 most profitable films is based on that figure, with multiple films earning back over 2,500x their budget. Let's investigate ahead.
All figures' budgets are adjusted for inflation.
15. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)
Return on investment: 1008% (Budget $111 million / Gross revenue $1.1 billion)
14. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Return on investment: 1160% (Budget $38 million / Gross revenue $441 million)
13. There's Something About Mary (1998)
Return on investment: 1194% (Budget $31 million / Gross revenue $370 million)
12. The Hangover (2009)
Return on investment: 1297% (Budget $36 million / Gross revenue $467 million)
11. Jaws (1975)
Return on investment: 1308% (Budget $36 million / Gross revenue $471 million)
10. Ghost (1990)
Return on investment: 1446% (Budget: $35 million / Gross Revenue: $506 million)
9. Home Alone (1990)
Return on investment: 1590% (Budget $30 million / Gross revenue $477 million)
8. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Return on investment: 1749% (Budget: $35 million / Gross Revenue: $612 million)
7. American Beauty (1999)
Return on investment: 1780% (Budget $20 million / Gross revenue $356 million)
6. Star Wars (1977)
Return on investment: 1938% (Budget $40 million / Gross Revenue: $775 million
5. Grease (1978)
Return on investment: 1975% (Budget $20 million / Gross revenue $394 million)
4. Pretty Woman (1990)
Return on investment: 2013% (Budget $23 million / Gross revenue $463 million)
3. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Return on investment: 2520% (Budget $15 million / Gross revenue $378 million)
2. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Return on investment: 3172% (Budget: $25 million / Gross Revenue: $793 million)
1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Return on investment: 6150% (Budget $6 million / Gross revenue $369 million)
My God: Top-ten standing for American Beauty? Top-three placement for Slumdog Millionaire and My Big Fat Greek Wedding? It boggles the mind, even if you know that Greek is the highest-grossing romantic comedy ever. Something is sinister about the term "profitable," like we've been duped by cheap toy makers. Damn you and your Pet Rock of a romcom, Nia Vardalos!
Did you contribute to all these enormous successes? Even the embarrassing ones? How many of the Best Picture winners did you see after they took home the prize? And how much do you resent Christ and the year 2004 right about now?
ยท The 15 Most Profitable Films [CNBC via Moviefone]