Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World: Dominion, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness led the global box office in 2022, locking in their places as the most successful films of the year across major markets in Canada, the United States, and beyond. These titles not only topped the charts but also sparked conversations about franchise longevity, fan anticipation, and the evolving economics of modern cinema.
The second installment in the Maverick saga, featuring naval aviator Pete Mitchell, portrayed by Tom Cruise, crossed a remarkable international total, surpassing 1.488 billion dollars in global box office revenue. According to Box Office Mojo, the United States accounted for roughly 48.3% of that achievement, underscoring the film’s broad domestic appeal alongside its international legs.
Tom Cruise has a history of box office success that continues to resonate. In the same year, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, released in 2018, demonstrated Cruise’s enduring draw by grossing over 791 million dollars worldwide, reinforcing his track record of high-performing action franchises that consistently engage wide audiences around the world.
The Maverick narrative revisits the 1986 original directed by Tony Scott, presenting a veteran pilot now serving as an instructor who confronts a perilous mission that could redefine his career and the future of those under his tutelage. The story builds on decades of aviation culture and sea‑air, high-stakes mentorship, and the personal costs of leadership in testing times.
At the Cannes Film Festival, the Maverick film captured considerable attention, positioning itself as a strong contender during awards season. It earned nominations in two major categories for Golden Globes consideration and appeared among the first‑tier candidates for the Academy Awards in 2023, notably in themes tied to original music, sound design, and visual effects. This recognition reflects a broader appreciation for filmmaking craft within blockbuster entertainment.
Even though the film sits among the highest grossing titles in cinematic history, its box office tally does not surpass the 2021 record set by Spider-Man: No Way Home, which reached about 1.906 billion dollars worldwide. The comparison illustrates how revenue milestones shift with new releases, while Maverick remains a standout achievement within its period.
A definitive list of 2022’s worldwide box office reveals Jurassic World: Dominion in second place, having accumulated over 1.001 billion dollars. This film brought together a familiar ensemble that spans generations of fans, featuring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, and Sam Neill in a conclusion-like turn of the overarching Jurassic World universe, which began in 2015 and directly built on the legacy of Steven Spielberg’s iconic Jurassic Park saga.
Despite a mixed critical response, reflected in Rotten Tomatoes scores that trended toward the lower end of the spectrum, the public reception appeared enthusiastic and nostalgic, especially among fans who cherished the 1990s era of the franchise. The film’s reception underscores a broader pattern in contemporary cinema where audience affection can outweigh critical divisiveness in determining commercial success.
In third place on the 2022 list is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, part of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe adaptation, which drew audiences with the promise of multiversal adventures and familiar characters played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The film’s global box office surpassed 955 million dollars, marking it as a major entry in the year’s superhero lineup and signaling the strength of long-running comic book franchises in attracting large-scale attendance.
Doctor Strange marked the second feature in Marvel’s sorcerer series, continuing a storyline that blends mysticism with high‑concept action. The film’s performance contributed to a broader discussion about franchise strategy and the appeal of interconnected storytelling across films and streaming platforms alike.
Beyond these headliners, the year’s chart also includes titles such as Minions: The Rise of Gru, which earned more than 939 million dollars, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with revenue around 789 million, The Batman, approaching 770 million, and Thor: Love and Thunder, which surpassed 760 million. These entries reflect the breadth of popular genres—from animated family fare to superhero epics and crime dramas—that attracted diverse audiences worldwide.
Despite a late December release, Avatar: The Way of Water continued to attract attention as it closed the year with earnings surpassing 609 million, placing it within the upper tier of the list and highlighting James Cameron’s enduring visual storytelling appeal. The film, a sequel to a landmark blockbuster, helped extend the year’s narrative about expansive water-themed worlds and immersive cinematic experiences.
The ongoing saga of Avatar, James Cameron’s epic project, continues to draw audiences as the initial installment remains the most successful film in cinema history, approaching a near 3 billion dollar benchmark. Its continued presence in theaters underscores the magnetism of large-scale, high‑production-value storytelling and long-tail audience engagement that can sustain a franchise across multiple chapters and years.