The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, first took place in 1929. They remain the most prestigious honors in film, recognizing outstanding cinematic achievement while reflecting cultural trends and audience tastes. Over more than nine decades, more than 100 films have been nominated for Best Picture. Many of those nominees performed strongly at the box office, and a remarkable nine surpassed the $1 billion mark worldwide. Below we examine those nine Best Picture nominees that achieved extraordinary commercial success, blending critical recognition with mass appeal.
In this Ranked feature from The Film Magazine, we profile these billion-dollar Best Picture nominees. These films range from visual-effects milestones to emotionally resonant dramas and crowd-pleasing sequels. Each one combined broad audience reach with awards-season attention, leaving a lasting impact on popular cinema. Here is Every $1 Billion+ Best Picture Nominee, ranked.
9. Joker (2019)
Joker Review
Set in the corrupt, volatile city of Gotham, Joker follows Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a struggling comedian who slowly unravels after repeated abuse and a violent subway incident. The film charts Arthur’s descent into madness and his unintended rise as a symbol of social unrest.
Joker’s popularity can be traced to its stark departure from mainstream superhero formulas. Director Todd Phillips abandons comic-book spectacle in favor of a grim, intimate character study influenced by Scorsese-era urban dramas such as Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Though some critics regarded the film as self-serious and thematically muddy, its darker, psychological approach resonated with audiences seeking something different from standard franchise fare.
The movie’s strongest attribute is its central performance: Joaquin Phoenix, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor, delivers a haunting, transformative portrayal that redefines a familiar figure. Joker earned 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, setting a new record for superhero-related films and demonstrating that genre cinema can cross into awards recognition when it foregrounds character and craft.
8. Avatar (2009)
James Cameron’s Avatar redefined visual storytelling when it premiered in 2009. The director waited years for the right technology and then showcased groundbreaking motion-capture and visual-effects innovations. Avatar unseated Titanic as the highest-grossing film of all time, earned nine Academy Award nominations and won three.
Set in a future where Earth’s resources are depleted, Avatar follows Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he participates in the avatar program on Pandora and becomes entangled with the native Na’vi and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). While the narrative borrows familiar beats and at times feels predictable, its visual scope, technical achievements, and accessible themes helped it connect with global audiences.
7. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick Review
Delayed repeatedly by the COVID-19 pandemic, Top Gun: Maverick ultimately reinforced the value of the theatrical experience. Tom Cruise insisted on a traditional theatrical release, and the film rewarded that faith by crossing $1 billion in global box office within a month of release. Praised for its aerial cinematography, practical stunts, and emotional core, the sequel earned six Oscar nominations including Best Picture.
Set 35 years after the original, Maverick now mentors a new generation of pilots, including the son of his late friend Goose. The film thrives as a high-octane, nostalgia-laced spectacle built for the big screen and driven by Cruise’s enduring star power.
6. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Avatar: The Way of Water Review
The long-awaited Avatar sequel expanded Pandora with new environments and technical feats, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2022 and one of the top earners of all time. Taking place 16 years after the original, the story centers on Jake and Neytiri as parents forced into exile when human colonizers return. The film won praise for its visuals and world-building and received multiple Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
Although the sequel impresses on a sensory level and introduces memorable new characters, its plot echoes the original too closely. Still, The Way of Water is a vivid, ambitious continuation of Cameron’s vision of Pandora.
5. Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther Review
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther was the first superhero film nominated for Best Picture. It earned seven Oscar nominations and won three for Costume Design, Original Score, and Production Design. The film crossed the $1 billion mark in 26 days and became a cultural milestone, praised for its performances, world-building, and cultural significance.
Set in the technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda, Black Panther follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) as he assumes the throne and confronts the challenge posed by his cousin Erik “Killmonger” (Michael B. Jordan). The film’s emotional depth, political themes, and powerful performances helped it stand out in a crowded superhero landscape.
4. Barbie (2023)
Barbie Review
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie became a global phenomenon in 2023, earning record opening numbers and becoming the highest-grossing debut for a female director. The film’s release coincided with the cultural moment dubbed “Barbenheimer,” and Barbie proceeded to rack up critical praise and eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.
The film follows Barbie (Margot Robbie) on a surreal journey from the perfect, plastic world of Barbieland into the complexities of reality. Gerwig’s approach channels classic soundstage musicals, using elaborate practical sets and colorful design to create a nostalgic yet modern satire. Though the script occasionally loses focus in its second half, Barbie balances sharp humor with genuine heart and striking production design.
3. Toy Story 3 (2010)
Directed by Lee Unkrich and written by Michael Arndt, Toy Story 3 is one of only three animated films in history to receive a Best Picture nomination, joining Beauty and the Beast and Up. The film was 2010’s highest-grosser with over $1.067 billion worldwide and resonated deeply by confronting the bittersweet realities of growing up.
Set roughly a decade after Toy Story 2, the story finds Andy heading to college and his toys facing an uncertain future. A mistaken trip to Sunnyside Daycare leads to an emotional and suspenseful adventure as Woody, Buzz, and the gang fight to return home. The animation remains detailed and expressive, and the film delivers a poignant, satisfying conclusion that balances humor with heartfelt themes of loyalty and letting go.
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
10 Best The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Moments
Peter Jackson’s epic conclusion to the Lord of the Rings trilogy delivered the grand finale fans expected. The Return of the King won the Academy Award for Best Picture and swept every category in which it was nominated.
Following the fractured fellowship, Aragorn rallies forces against Sauron while Frodo, Sam, and Gollum journey toward Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. The film’s pioneering use of motion-capture and seamless integration of practical and digital effects advanced the craft of visual storytelling. With a sweeping score, committed performances, and emotional stakes that match its spectacle, Return of the King remains one of modern cinema’s most triumphant conclusions.
1. Titanic (1997)
James Cameron’s Titanic stands as the quintessential modern blockbuster: a sweeping romantic epic with unmatched commercial and awards success. In 1998 it became the first film to surpass $1 billion worldwide and went on to win 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, out of 14 nominations.
Titanic intertwines a doomed love story with a meticulously staged disaster narrative. The film follows treasure hunter Brock Lovett, who discovers a sketch hinting at a lost necklace, and then listens as an elderly survivor, Rose, recounts her experience aboard the RMS Titanic, with Kate Winslet portraying Rose in the flashback and Leonardo DiCaprio as her romantic counterpart, Jack. Cameron’s combination of practical effects—miniatures and massive water tanks—alongside carefully integrated CGI, crafts a visceral depiction of the sinking that remains powerful decades later.
Titanic’s broad emotional scope, technical ambition, and iconic performances helped it connect with global audiences and secure its lasting place in film history.
Which of these billion-dollar Best Picture nominees resonates most with you? Which do you think is most deserving of Academy recognition? Share your thoughts and revisit these films to appreciate how they balanced artistic craft with mass appeal.
Updated to include Barbie on 29 January 2024. Originally published 1 March 2023.